Content creation is a massive part of business ownership that every brand owner will look at differently. Some may cringe away from it, others thrive from it, and others could really do without it.
But the truth of the matter is: a business without content creation isn’t going far.
With 77% of companies having a content marketing strategy, it’s clear that content creation has to be implemented into our daily lives as business owners.
And trust me, before I figured out how to streamline my content creation, I was a giant ball of stress.
I would spend hours creating content. That included content for my blog (along with all the SEO research that went into it), my social media pages, and my marketing emails. Trying to juggle all of these content avenues without external help felt impossible.
And, to be honest, without having tactics to streamline the process, it really is impossible.
I mean, I operate a copywriting agency and I create copywriting courses. I could do it for my clients no problem. Why was I having such a hard time doing it for myself?!
And then I figured out a way to streamline my content creation process while saving time and WITHOUT sacrificing quality.
So, today I’m going to be sharing some epic, indispensable pointers that helped me on my journey to streamlining content creation without the quality being impacted.
First, What Qualifies As Content?
Before creating content without losing your marbles, we need to acknowledge what counts as content.
Content includes (but is not limited to):
- Blog posts
- Articles
- Lists
- Guides
- White Documents (i.e., PDFs)
- Infographics
- Slideshows/Presentations
- Videos
- Social Media Posts
- Non-Promotional Marketing Emails
Don’t confuse content with copywriting. Copywriting is all about words that sell. Content, however, tells. Copywriting uses direct response techniques to make a sale or convert a prospect into a lead.
On the other hand, content is a long-term strategy that focuses on brand reputation, building trust, and being an authority within your niche. Generally speaking, the content will educate, inspire, entertain, or motivate your audience. Content very rarely sells immediately.
How To Speed Up Content Creation (Without Losing Quality)
The reality is: content creation can take a long time. And I mean a really long time. This is true for just one platform, let alone if you’re trying to make omnipresence a part of your brand.
That said, there are ways to speed up your content creation without harming the quality.
1. Determine Your Content Buckets
Also known as content pillars, laying down 3-5 core content buckets will naturally help ideas flow, with a more specific focus on your niche.
A content bucket is a theme that your content should surround.
If, for example, your brand sold wedding dresses, your content buckets could be wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and money-saving dress tips (depending on the angle of your brand, of course).
Too many content buckets go against the point, so it’s important to limit them to no more than 5.
Think carefully about the themes that resonate with your target audience, using websites like Reddit to determine the overall messages spoken about within the industry by your target audience.
2. Focus On One Or Two Distribution Platforms
Omnipresence (i.e., being present across all platforms) is an excellent method for businesses that have a large team. For solopreneurs or business owners with a small team, Omnipresence is a one-way ticket to low quality.
Therefore, it’s best to focus on one or two distribution platforms and do them well.
The platforms you choose shouldn’t revolve around what you find easiest to use. Instead, it should be a platform your target audience spends most of their time and is most active on.
Then, do some healthy competitor research to see how others create content and where they may be missing out. Their loss is your gain, after all!
3. Create And Use A Content Calendar
Getting ahead of the game is all about organization. If you can organize, you’ll keep the overwhelm at bay.
This is why content calendars are so fabulous.
Use a project management platform like AirTable, Trello, or Asana. Many platforms have pre-existing templates for content calendars, meaning you’ll save time by not needing to set it up.
Then, map out the next week or fortnight’s content on your content calendar. If you want to stick to just adding the ideas, then fine. For a more significant grasp, though, you could write the caption for each of them ahead of time, too.
Schedule in an hour or so per day to keep on top of your content creation inside the content calendar, and you’ll find it far easier to avoid total overwhelm and creative block.
4. Use A Scheduler
This depends greatly on the distribution channels you’re using. However, there are schedulers available for all platforms. So, make sure you know where you want to be posting first.
For example, if you’re focusing on social media content, then using a social media scheduler like SkedSocial or Planoly will help you simplify your marketing efforts. You can schedule weeks ahead of time, allowing you the chance to add to it daily, keeping on top of the wave.
Is Creating Content Worth It?
Not only will you see a clear return on investment for a successful content creation strategy, but nowadays, not posting content is business suicide. With every business out there posting content frequently, alongside the massive number of hours people spend online every day, choosing to avoid content creation altogether would be an enormous mistake.
Of course, I do understand the fear of content creation. Sometimes, when you’re overwhelmed, you feel like you’re pulled into the tide. But by following the four pointers I’ve listed today, which helped me in my journey to riding the waves, you’ll find content creation far more manageable.
And who knows? You may even enjoy it.
Author Bio
Over the past decade, Liz has worked as a copywriter and digital marketing executive for a multitude of companies from startups to and mid-sized businesses to working as the VP of marketing for award-winning, platinum-selling artists. Leveraging an understanding of the nuance of language in marketing, Liz founded Amplihigher, a content marketing and copywriting agency, designed to connect consumers to companies in a way that results in next-level brand expansion.