In an age when websites truly rate a "dime a dozen," discovering a really great website feels more like finding a $10 bill on sidewalk than merely surfing Internet.

Whether their creators did it on purpose or not, virtually all successful websites share following characteristics:

First, every good website focuses on a specific, narrow, "niche" audience.

Imagine difference between a light bulb and a laser beam.

Both provide light, but laser focuses its light with pinpoint precision, while light bulb diffuses its light in every direction.

In other words, successful websites don't try to sell cooking supplies to people interested in latest fishing or hunting equipment.

They specifically provide content on exact topics of interest to their target audience, instead of trying to offer all things to all people.

Second, with exception of personal, family, or hobby websites, every website operates with ultimate purpose of turning a profit.

Unfortunately many websites make this their only purpose and, thus, fail miserably in their attempts to succeed online.

We saw how blatantly greedy, self-centered websites failed in "dot-bomb" era... and it got ugly.

On other hand, successful websites make money as a result of providing products, services, and information of obvious value for their targeted visitors.

They win by putting needs and desires of visitors first and get rewarded in process.

Here are 10 tips to help you find good article ideas...

#1. Make an Ideas List

If you've been writing articles for a while, you know your brightest ideas don't usually come to your mind when you need them. Actually, you usually get best ideas when you're doing something else and thinking about another thing.

But everything changes when you decide to sit and write an article... you get writer's block. You really need a good idea for your next issue... but your mind doesn't help a bit.

The solution is creating an idea list. Whenever you get a bright idea, just add it to your list. After a short time, you'll have a list full of creative ideas for your next 20 issues at least. So whenever you want to write an article, you simply take a look at your list and choose an idea you feel like writing about.

I've been using this technique for almost a year and it has really helped me write better articles faster and easier!

#2. Do a Little Keyword Research

Find out which keywords your target market are searching in search engines. Then write an article about it. So not only you will provide your subscribers with exact information they're looking for, but you may also get a top ranking for that article in search engines - which will bring you lots of targeted traffic for free.

Wordtracker is an essential keyword research tool that I always use to get many keyword ideas and find out how many times people have searched for them. You can use it at: http://www.wordtracker.com/

You can also use Overture free keyword suggestion tool at: http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/

#3. Ask Your Readers

To turn your subscribers into loyal readers and win their trust, you should provide them with exact information they're looking for.

The easiest way to find out "what" exactly they want to know is simply adding a "Ask Editor" section to your newsletter. Soon you will receive lot of emails from your readers asking you for advice about various topics.

You can choose most common questions and problems and write an article about it. So you'll get lots of great article ideas for your future issues. What's more, your readers will love your newsletter for providing them with exact information they need!

#4. Study Forums where Your Target Market Hangs out

More and more people participate in forums these days. One of reasons is because you can get professional advice for free. And this is exactly what makes forums a great place for you to get bright ideas for your newsletter content.

You simply need to go to forums where your target market hangs out. There you will discover many of most common questions and problems your target market has. So you can write helpful articles about them.

#5. Browse Article Directories

There are many article directories available online. You just need to browse related categories to your newsletter topic and take a look at article titles. They will inspire you and give you awesome content ideas for your newsletter.

Here are some of largest article directories...

* http://www.ezinearticles.com * http://www.goarticles.com * http://www.articlefinders.com * http://www.articlecentral.com * http://www.article-directory.net * http://www.articlesfactory.com * http://www.connectionteam.com

#6. Review Other People's Products

You might know many great books, software programs, and services that will benefit your newsletter readers. So why not write an honest review about one of them to help your subscribers make right decision?