10 Simple Content Creation Tips
Producing content on a consistent basis is a much harder task than any individual video, post, or article could ever hope to be. The secret to doing it without giving yourself a mental breakdown after a few weeks is having these ten simple habits under your belt, which will help you to create content easier and use less overall effort, even if you are doing it every week or every day.
Batch similar content types
The more you context switch between writing scripts, recording videos, then switching to your phone to make more content, the more drain that is on you. Instead, batch similar content items together, record or write a few, and then go back and edit them. This cuts down on the setup and tearing down time of a more scattered schedule.
Keep a running idea list
Don't expect inspiration to hit you right when you sit down to make something. Instead, keep a running list, of anywhere from full-fledged ideas to a phrase or two, in a notes file or a spreadsheet that you can turn to anytime. That way, when you need to make something, you aren't just winging it, but instead have several options to choose from.
Repurpose instead of inventing
A lot of the time, one article or video can be repurposed into many smaller variants of itself, and this should be done far more often than not. It's much faster to edit something that already exists than it is to make it from scratch, and it helps to get content out more often.
Write down your structure before you create
Even just writing down a rough, three to five bullet point structure for the piece you're making can save a lot of time, compared to writing it all out when you're winging it. It also generally results in a better final product, since you have something to follow, so you don't ramble as easily and can follow a more strict format for your writing or speaking.
Set a reasonable, and realistic schedule
If you're going to put out content once a week, it's better to do that consistently, rather than do it everyday for two weeks, then not at all for the next month. Pick one that works for you that you can keep up with, and stick to it, no matter what, as opposed to something that will only last you a few days.
Make a template for repetitive content
If there are certain aspects or parts of your content that always show up, try making a basic, simple template that you can use and refer to every time you make something similar, so you don't have to think too hard about these specific parts every single time.
Review your past content to see what works best
Look at what you did previously, what worked well, and what didn't. Keep track of trends in what your audience enjoys, and use this data as often as possible, not just right after you make one thing. The more time goes on, the more trends change, so it's not something that just happens once.
Don't forget to edit
A quick pass over a piece to cut out extra fluff or to fix pacing or editing issues will always make something better than it would have been without it, so it's better to spend some time on it, rather than not at all. Just give yourself some time to let a draft sit before going back and doing this, so that you can spot issues more easily, as right after you make something, it might not be apparent.
Get to know your audience
Respond to comments, questions, and other feedback that you get on your content, and keep track of what your audience likes. Doing so will not only help to bolster your relationship to your audience, but can act as a source of inspiration for things to add in the future.
Remember to take breaks
One of the big reasons that people don't keep doing something for very long is that they don't take breaks in between, which burns out their motivation. Make sure to give yourself breaks, so that you don't feel as though you just need to make more content all the time, and try to keep this schedule up for at least a couple of years, instead of a few weeks or months. Your content will always be better when made by a rested person, rather than someone who is running on fumes.