5 Tips To Improve Consistency As A Content Creator

Take into consideration 5 content material creators you admire. No matter who they’re, there is a frequent thread: consistency. 

Now, consistency may sound easy, however let’s be actual—it is robust. I do know firsthand as a result of I struggled with it myself.

Earlier than 2019, I used to be a contract author attempting to make a reputation for myself. I joined LinkedIn hoping for alternatives, however my sporadic and lackluster posts went unnoticed, and my on-line presence was, to place it bluntly, a flop.

Then, the whole lot shifted once I crossed paths with Mary Imasuen, the Social Media Advertising and marketing Lead at a legislation agency the place I interned. Mary shared her success story—options on the Huffington Put up, worldwide gigs—all stemming from her consistency as a content material creator.

Impressed, I revamped my method: dedicated to an everyday posting schedule, targeted on enhancing the standard of my content material, and engaged with my viewers. Quick ahead 4 years, and I am nonetheless right here, extra constant than ever.

I have never hit the massive leagues with a whole bunch of 1000’s of followers, however over the past 4 years, my dedication to displaying up has led to some fairly cool stuff, comparable to: 

Unsolicited job gives:

A present on Africa’s main tech weblog:

Talking gigs:

Unique occasion invites:

Occasional virality:

Spectacular year-on-year development:

On this article, I am going to spotlight my tried-and-true ideas for consistency, hoping they’re going to enable you carve out your individual path.

Anchor your content material technique on the three Whats

Earlier than 2019, my content material creation was like throwing spaghetti on the wall. I printed based mostly on my emotions on the time. Even once I dedicated to consistency, the outcomes have been elusive till I cracked the code with what I name the three Whats. These aren’t simply fancy phrases; they’re the heartbeat of a content material technique that clicks.

1. What you realize 

Earlier than diving right into a content material technique, pinpoint the subjects that gas your experience and set your soul on fireplace. Ask your self, “What am I each educated and obsessed with?” You wish to create content material that showcases your experience and real enthusiasm. 

In my case, I discovered my candy spot in content material advertising, the African startup and VC scene, and profession improvement – the pillars of my content material technique.

2. What individuals wish to know 

Understanding your stuff is nice, however it’s a two-way road. You have to be speaking about what your viewers needs to listen to. It is like throwing a celebration—you wish to play the music individuals wish to dance to. So, dig into social media, fireplace up some key phrase analysis instruments, and get nosy about what your viewers is buzzing about. 

My target market – VCs, CMOs, founders, and fellow content material entrepreneurs – crave insights into content material advertising and startup constructing. And so, I exploit instruments like SparkToro and watch occasions they attend to remain on high of related subjects.

3. What makes you distinctive

Understanding your stuff and aligning together with your viewers’s pursuits is not the end line. The true magic occurs whenever you infuse your uniqueness into your content material. What units you aside? It might be a narrative, a trait, or an expertise. 

As an example, in case you’re a scientist-turned-marketer, that is a story goldmine! I carve out my distinctiveness by highlighting my numerous journey – from company roles to in-house positions and freelancing. 

However this is the twist: Do not rely solely in your perspective. Sprinkle in others’ viewpoints by means of interviews, knowledgeable roundups, or curated content material. It provides layers to your narrative and retains issues removed from boring.

Armed with these three guiding ‘Whats’ – what you realize, what individuals wish to know, and what makes you distinctive – I’ve discovered my content material creation groove. No extra exhaustion, no extra sounding bored – only a real reference to my viewers amidst the noise.

Develop a easy course of 

Creating content material was once an actual puzzle for me. I would spend an excessive amount of time looking down planning templates, solely to appreciate I wasn’t sticking to any plan. That each one modified once I adopted a simple 3-step course of that has made my content material creation not simply doable however fulfilling. 

Here is the lowdown:

1. Brainstorm an concept

Each Sunday, I dedicate a while to let the creativity stream. Whether or not it is for a weblog put up or social media content material, I brainstorm concepts. Generally, I am so pumped with inspiration that I can generate concepts to final me virtually a month. I do not field myself right into a inflexible timeline – concepts can hit me anytime throughout random actions like studying or simply taking a stroll. I’ve realized to jot down notes frequently, preserving a treasure trove of artistic concepts.

2. Doc the thought

To maintain these sensible sparks from fading away, I make it a behavior to doc all my concepts, even when they’re simply of their infancy. My trusty Google Sheets is like my content material concept vault – the place no concept will get misplaced.

3. Develop the thought into content material

That is the place the magic occurs. I take the concepts that I imagine will ring a bell with my viewers and switch them into precise content material. Google Docs, Grammarly, and my good pal ChatGPT play key roles in shaping my ideas into participating items.

And this is a bit secret weapon: I save time by repurposing long-form content material into bite-sized bits. It is a game-changer that retains my weekly content material creation workload to a candy spot of two to 4 hours. 

In adopting this method, not solely have I made content material creation extra manageable, however I’ve additionally discovered pleasure within the course of. Now, I move the torch to you – make content material creation your playground, not a battleground.

Don’t search inspiration; construct a behavior as an alternative

After I began utilizing LinkedIn, I fell into the entice of posting solely when the artistic spark struck. Initially, it appeared to work. Nonetheless, that magic rapidly pale, and I discovered myself caught in a disheartening cycle of demotivation. It was at this level that I noticed the actual secret lies in constructing a behavior.

Inspiration, like a fleeting burst of power, is highly effective however transient. Liz Fosslien’s insightful chart superbly depicts this—displaying how motivation is sort of a fleeting burst of power whereas consistency turns into the cornerstone of lasting progress.

In response to this realization, I made a dedication: a thrice-a-week publishing schedule. This resolution remodeled content material creation from a sporadic burst of creativity into an everyday a part of my routine. It grew to become a behavior.

So, quite than ready for inspiration to strike, domesticate the behavior of constant motion by sticking to an agreed-upon frequency. Set a publishing schedule that aligns together with your capability and resonates together with your viewers. This is not only a routine; it is a dedication to your development as a content material creator. 

Leverage the ability of automation 

Implementing the steps talked about above will not magically erase the challenges that always accompany content material creation – the stress of writing, modifying, and scheduling. This battle is a standard motive many creators battle to take care of consistency. I have been there myself; the calls for of writing and scheduling started affecting my full-time job. Nonetheless, I’ve found sensible methods to alleviate this stress by exploring automation.

Take, as an example, the time it used to take me to create an episode of The Buyers Nook, my biweekly tech sequence, over 5 hours. Now, with instruments like ChatGPT and Airgram at my disposal, I’ve streamlined the method to a bit over 2 hours.

Here is how I make it work:

• Transcribing interviews with Airgram: To chop down on time spent transcribing interviews, I depend on Airgram. It has grow to be a useful asset in expediting this significant step.

• Modifying effectivity with ChatGPT: In terms of modifying and refining content material for readability, I’ve enlisted the assistance of ChatGPT. This not solely saves time but additionally ensures a cultured and coherent content material.

• Scheduling with Buffer and LinkedIn: To remain organized and guarantee well timed content material supply, I make use of Buffer for put up scheduling. Moreover, I make the most of LinkedIn’s scheduling function when it aligns with my technique. 

By embracing automation and incorporating these instruments into my workflow, I’ve not solely reclaimed treasured hours but additionally discovered a sustainable approach to stability content material creation with different elements of my life.

Discover your rhythm and keep it up

Earlier than diving into the guidelines shared on this article, take a second to find your individual distinctive method and decide to it.

I realized this the laborious method. Initially, I attempted the entire every day posting routine as a result of that is what everybody appeared to advocate. Nonetheless, it burned me out quicker than a candle in a windstorm. Again to sq. one. 

Then, I experimented with posting thrice per week. Out of the blue, creating content material felt much less like a chore and extra like one thing I genuinely loved. Since then, I’ve maintained a constant schedule.

Furthermore, I found that written content material fits me method higher than video content material. Seems, I am not the digicam’s largest fan. And that is completely okay.

So, my recommendation to you is to transcend the one-size-fits-all solutions. What actually clicks for you?

To determine that out, maintain experimenting. Discover what you’ll be able to comfortably maintain over time, and follow it. Certain, issues may evolve, and that is wonderful. Keep open-minded and at all times be prepared to check new waters.

Key takeaways 

Consistency will be laborious to attain as a content material creator, however as you’ll be able to see from my story, it’s fairly doable. To reiterate, all you could do is:

• Anchor your content material technique on 3 Whats
• Develop and comply with a easy course of 
• Cease searching for inspiration; construct a behavior as an alternative
• Leverage the ability of automation 
• Discover your rhythm and keep it up 

Keep in mind, it is not about perfection; it is about progress. Consistency is a journey, and with the correct mindset and method, you’ve got acquired this!