# How do you come up with ideas when you're stuck?

> Every creator gets stuck sometimes. Instead of waiting for inspiration, go looking for it. Reread the brief, read customer reviews of the product, think about the moments when you use it, and look at formats and trends that work. Write down lots of ideas quickly without judging them, keep an idea bank, and just film a test. Ideas often come once you start.

- Canonical: https://www.influentials.com/en-us/knowledge/for-creators/content-ideas-when-youre-stuck
- Locale: en-us
- Hub: creators
- Published: 2026-11-05
- Updated: 2026-11-05

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Staring at a blank page or an empty camera screen happens to everyone. The good news is that creativity isn't something you either have or don't have. There are concrete ways to find new ideas, even when you feel completely stuck.

## 1. Go back to the brief

Reread the brief with fresh eyes. Who is the target audience? What problem does the product solve? What does the brand want viewers to feel or do? The answers often contain the start of an idea.

## 2. Read customer reviews

Reviews of the product, on the brand's website or in online stores, are a goldmine. You'll read what customers like, what problems they had before, and the words they use. You can turn these directly into hooks and stories.

## 3. Think about when and where you use the product

List all the moments when the product plays a role: in the morning, on the go, at work, with friends, on vacation. Each moment can be a video. Also think about who else could use it: a partner, your children, a roommate.

## 4. Look at what works

Scroll through TikTok and Reels in the brand's category and look at which videos get a lot of engagement. Pay attention to the format, the hook and the pace, not just the content. Get inspired, but don't copy: always make your own version. TikTok's Creative Center can also help you discover trends.

## 5. Use proven formats

You don't have to reinvent the wheel every time. Formats that often work are before and after, "I tried this for a week", a day in the life, expectation versus reality, three reasons why, a tutorial or a myth you debunk. Pick a format and fill it in with the product.

## 6. Brainstorm without judging

Set a timer for 10 minutes and write down as many ideas or hooks as you can. Don't judge anything while you're writing. Most ideas won't be usable, but there's often a good one in there. Quantity leads to quality.

## 7. Change one element

Take an existing idea and change one thing: a different location, a different character, a different perspective or a different emotion. "Unboxing a product" becomes "unboxing a product as an extremely critical grandmother".

## 8. Keep an idea bank

Ideas often come at unexpected moments: in the shower, while walking or just before you fall asleep. Write them down straight away in a note on your phone. Save inspiring videos in a folder. When you get stuck, you'll have a stock of ideas ready.

## 9. Change your environment

Go for a walk, work somewhere else or do something completely different for a while. A break or a new environment often gives your brain room for new connections.

## 10. Just start

Waiting for the perfect idea rarely works. Film a quick test, even if you're not sure about it yet. Often a better idea comes up while you're filming, or you discover what does and doesn't work.

## Tip: make it personal

Your own life is your best source of inspiration. What happened this week? What made you laugh, what annoyed you? Linking the product to a real moment from your life makes your content unique and authentic.

Ready to start? [Sign up as a creator](https://www.influentials.com/become-a-creator) and get matched with brands looking for content like yours.