Stop Losing Your Best Content Ideas: Build a Content Brain Dump System
You know those brilliant content ideas that always seem to show up at the worst possible time?
In the shower.
Driving between shoots.
Mid-scroll at 11pm when you definitely should be asleep.
By the time you sit down for “proper” content planning, they’ve vanished. You’re left staring at a blank screen thinking, “Didn’t I have a really good idea the other day?”
It’s not that you don’t have ideas.
It’s that you don’t have a system to catch them.
At Soda Creatives, this is one of the biggest content problems we see with clients. You’re saving things “for later” in Instagram folders, random notes apps, screenshots and emails… but when you go back, there’s no context, no thread, and no energy left from the original idea.
Let’s fix that.
The Problem: Ideas Are Messy. Your System Needs To Handle That.
Most of your content ideas don’t arrive neatly packaged with a caption, hook and CTA.
They show up as:
Half-thought sentences
A screenshot of someone else’s post
A question a client asked you
A line from a podcast
A random “oh that could be a post” moment
And because it happens in motion – at the shops, between meetings, on the couch at night – you fall back on whatever is closest:
Instagram saved folders
A random Notes entry
“I’ll remember this later” (you won’t)
The result?
Your best ideas end up scattered across ten different places, with no easy way to review, sort or build from them.
You don’t need more ideas.
You need one place for them to land.
The Content Brain Dump: One Home For Every Idea
Instead of trying to be more disciplined in the moment, create a system that can handle how your brain actually works.
That’s where a content brain dump comes in.
A content brain dump is a single, central space where every raw idea goes – no pressure, no perfection, no structure required. Just:
Links and screenshots
Voice memos
Images and videos
Random words and phrases
Client questions and conversation snippets
Think of it as a messy moodboard for future content, not a polished content calendar.
When it’s time to plan, you’re no longer starting from zero. You’re simply sifting through a pile of genuine, organic ideas that came from real moments in your day and real people you talk to.
Choosing Your Brain Dump Tool
The tool itself isn’t the magic.
The magic is in using one place consistently.
Here are a few options we love and recommend to clients:
Freeform (Apple) – For Visual Thinkers
Perfect if you need to see everything laid out.
Infinite canvas to drag, drop and scribble
Mix screenshots, images, links and notes
Great for connecting related ideas visually
Notion – For System Lovers
If you like structure and tags, this is your playground.
Create databases for ideas, drafts and published content
Tag by topic, platform, format, campaign
Add links, embeds, checklists and more
Milanote – For Creative Brains
Built with creative projects in mind.
Moodboard-style boards
Drag-and-drop for references, ideas and inspiration
Great for campaigns, shoots and launches
Apple Notes / Google Keep – For Simplicity
Zero learning curve. Already on your device.
Quick capture when you’re on the go
Easy to paste links and short thoughts
Searchable so you can find recurring themes later
Voice Memos + Any of the Above
Some of your best ideas won’t arrive when your hands are free.
Record a quick memo while driving or walking
Later, drop a summary into your main brain dump
Ideal if you think out loud or talk through ideas
The best tool is the one you’ll actually use.
Pick one, set it up, and commit to it for the next month.
How To Use Your Content Brain Dump Day-To-Day
Here’s a simple workflow you can follow (and adapt to your own style):
In the moment:
Idea pops up? Capture it as it is in your chosen space. Don’t overthink the format.
Once a week:
Sit down with your content brain dump open. Scan through and highlight:
Ideas that are still exciting
Questions that would make great posts
Stories you want to tell
Turn ideas into content:
Take one idea and ask:
Who is this for?
What problem are they facing?
What do I want them to do next? (save, comment, enquire, book, share)
From there, you can build:
A blog post (like this one)
A carousel
A short video or Reel
A meme or quote graphic
An email to your list
Link it back:
When you turn an idea into content, tick it off or move it to a “Used” section.
That way your brain dump stays active, not overwhelming.
Why This System Actually Works
A content brain dump isn’t just another productivity hack. It works because it respects how creativity actually shows up:
Captures in the moment – You no longer rely on memory.
Handles multiple formats – Text, audio, visual – all welcome.
Supports future planning – When it’s time to create, you’re starting from something, not nothing.
Reduces pressure – Your ideas don’t have to be “good” yet. They just have to be captured.
Instead of trying to force inspiration into scheduled time blocks, you’re collecting it as you go, then shaping it later.
How We Help Clients With This at Soda Creatives
When we work with clients on their social media and content, we don’t just talk about posting schedules and platforms.
We look at:
How ideas naturally show up in their workday
What tools they already use and like
Who on the team is most likely to capture ideas
Where the breakdown usually happens (usually between “this is a good idea” and “this is a published post”)
From there, we help them build a simple, sustainable content idea system that fits their actual life and business.
Because the truth is:
You don’t have a content problem.
You have a catching problem.
Fix that, and suddenly your content calendar feels easier, more authentic, and a lot more you.
Your Turn: Set Up Your Content Brain Dump
If you’ve been feeling like you “never have ideas” when you sit down to create, start here:
Choose one tool from this list.
Create a “Content Brain Dump” board, page or note.
For the next two weeks, drop every idea in there – no matter how small or random.
Then, when it’s content planning time, open it up and see what’s really been living in your brain.
Chances are, you’re more creative than you think.
You’ve just been letting your best ideas slip away.
What are you currently using to capture your content ideas – and is it actually working for you?
