10 First Steps on my Content Creation Path Part I
There are many rules to content creation. I chose these 10 specific processes to stay really involved in what I do.
Keys to my motivation in content creation
Getting started on the content creation journey wasn’t easy. I focused on what I wanted that journey to look like. Here are 5 things that were the most important in staying on this path. 6 to 10 (Part II) is in this post. Please click here.
1. Exploring new ideas while remaining consistent
Some of my favorite are magazines are Wired, and New Scientist. The beauty of these magazines, both online, and offline is their variety of content. I focused on topics that I found interesting, that I thought my readers might be interested in as well.
Each topic gets a day.
- For example, on Monday I start the week with a business article.
- On Tuesday, any article I post will be about tech, and so on.
[Monday = Business, Tuesday = Tech, Wednesday = Food, Thursday = Science, Friday = Psychology, Saturday = Art, Sunday = Travel/Language)
If you read my posts (on Facebook, and LinkedIn), you will start to see a pattern in my content creation process. Doing this helps me have a level of consistency, and keeps me focused. It also gives me the freedom to try out different topics. Having to look for the same topic, each and every day, would make finding fresh content stressful, and more difficult.
2. Content creation journey: first steps
I’m just getting started, so surely there are better ways of doing this. I am sure I can really ramp down on Google Analytics, market research, as well as SEO. I do focus on some of these types of data now, but getting started is hard. Consistent posting is even harder. But the more I do it, the better I will get. But at this stage is just important to do it.
3. Learning the mechanics of how it works
The only way you can learn how a machine works is to use it (after you have read the basic instruction manual of course). Theorizing can only get you so far.
But as you use the machine, or in this case, the “content creation machine”, you will see both the limitations, and the strengths of the process. Then you can build on this knowledge.
4. Incremental improvements
As I do more and more posts, I will see what needs improvement.
Once you get the hang of it, you can ask yourself a very important question:
- How can I improve this?
It’s helpful to look into the KAIZEN approach that focuses on incremental improvement. Change is difficult, and this is one of the best ways of making sure your process is getting better.
- How are people responding to my content creation?
- Is there any way I can focus what I post about?
Gathering data to get a clearer picture of what is actually happening will help you see what to work on the most.
5. Finding my Tribe
At the end of the day, I don’t want just a customer. I want a community. We are all more motivated to keep doing something if we feel we are making a difference. Keeping that in mind will highlight what material will be interesting to my “tribe” , or to those that may want more than just content. Maybe they want connection or support.
Also, once I do have a product, they might be more ready to buy. I can only solve any problems if I can get to know my tribe. That takes time and effort to have a content creation process that fulfills this need, but it’s well worth it.
To view Part II of this post (6 to 10), click here. Looking forward to seeing you there!