You can never create good content, if you don’t try this one thing...
Whether it’s photo, video or graphics, you’d not be alone in feeling overwhelmed by content creation.
It’s hard to keep up with the algorithm, squishing yourself into a concept of ‘what’s trending’ or simply getting the hang of planning, shooting and editing. It can all feel a bit much… oh, and even when you do finally publish it, crickets.
If this is familiar, but you really want to up your content game, I have the secret sauce.
Right, let’s get straight to the point… here’s the kicker: You’ll never make good content if you don’t do it in a way that feels good. It’s gotta’:
Feel inspiring to plan
Feel fun to create
Feel exciting to edit
Feel empowering to publish
You can buy all the content courses you like, commit to the very best algorithmic ideals, go by the gospel of IG CEO Adam Mosseri… and still fail.
Why? Well, you simply won’t create the optimal (or any) content for your platform.
It will feel like a chore
You will feel uninspired, tired and unmotivated
You may be unsatisfied with how it looks or sounds
All because you are trying to fit yourself into someone else’s cookie-cutter of ‘success’. So why would you bother?
You put the phone down, pack your tripod away and shrink into the abyss of AI generated promos and maybe the same 7 stock images on rotation. Boo, boring!
The key to creating really good content is to kiss-goodbye to the theory of a formula, and simply show up, experiment and trust the process.
When we give ourselves permission to simply try, we open up opportunities to (re)discover a sense of personal style, structure and rhythm that suits you as an individual. When you are guided by this sense-of-self, your ideal audience will naturally gravitate towards you; also, filtering out anyone who may be misaligned.
Here’s what happened on my platform…
When I first went freelance, I filmed everything I did, documenting my first few months of being a photographer. I would use the b-roll clips to create videos that I would then voiceover. People loved them and I found them easy and fun to make - ultimately, the footage was always ready to go and I could record the voiceover in my own time, often in my pyjamas with no makeup and messy hair.
It was a win-win situation. I loved making them and my audience loved watching them. These videos offered a personal ‘dear diary’ feel, letting people into my inner-world, while I got to maintain my own comfort.
Then, I tried another method - talking heads. No, not the band… the videos where someone sits and chats to a camera.
I published a few, and my audience also loved these, but the truth was, I hated filming them.
I felt like I had to look presentable
I was constantly fumbling my words and struggling to get my point across
My camera roll was filling up with ridiculous outtakes
Editing them became a chore
And so, I lost my mojo, fell off the wagon, stopped filming my own b-roll, and honestly, my reach slowed, my social media ‘performance’ reduced and enquiries slowed down.
This spring, I pootled down memory lane and scrolled through my old videos. I noticed how much more engagement they got and how excited my audience got about my work.
And so, I tried it again. One video, old b-roll clips, a quick voiceover that I recorded with my dog on my lap… and boom, over 300% increase in engagement overnight.
What changed? I rediscovered the style, format and rhythm that worked for me.
It became easier for my to create more
I had more fun doing it
It attracted my ideal audience
Woohoo! Problem solved.
The thing is, finding your own personal style isn’t done overnight. It takes time, energy and a willingness to perhaps look a little daft at times.
You have to be open to trying new options, committing to others, failing, succeeding… the lot.
Finding what works for you is a journey, but one that’s worth going on.
I know it can be tough, so if you fancy a chat, head on over to my Instagram, where I support small businesses and try to keep you up to date with my won work… when I remember to actually film!
So, to conclude my waffle: you’re doing great, give yourself a pat on the back.
Lots of love,
Soph x