6 ways to boost your game as a content creator
When it comes to creating great content, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. There are tons of different types of creators out there covering all different types of fields and interests. But no matter what your specialty is or will be, the game of creativity is always changing and there are always ways to improve! Whether you’re looking to start your own YouTube channel, boost your engagement on Instagram or increase the visibility of your blog, we’ve got a few ways to help you become a better content creator.
How to be a better content creator
Know your audience
First and foremost, it’s critical that you know your audience inside and out. Without an audience in mind, it’s impossible to create content that’s meaningful and engaging. You can’t be everything to everyone, so make sure you define who your target audience is and where you fit in with them. Check out the audiences of similar creators and see what types of content/topics their users are engaging with the most. What’s working for other creators in your field/industry?
Then when it comes to your target audience, think about who exactly you’re going after and ask yourself, “what questions can I answer and what problems can I solve for them?” What content would be meaningful, useful, entertaining and/or informational for this group of people? What content would they best relate to? The better you know your audience, the better you can tailor your content to them.
Defining and understanding your target audience is all about establishing and maintaining relevancy. Here are a few things to consider when defining your target audience:
Is it based on…
age?
location?
personality?
Demographics (you don’t have to define all of these, just the ones that are most relevant to you and your content)
age
gender
job title
interests/hobbies
married/single/divorced
family size
problems/concerns
aspirations
favorite websites
social media platforms
Find your voice
While it’s important that you understand your field and the types of creators in it, you should also find a way to set yourself apart. Sure, there are plenty of accounts out there that just repost other users’ content and are wildly successful doing so. But, if your goal is to share your creativity and establish a meaningful following of loyal fans, then you need to find your own voice.
Your voice is what makes you unique and it gives fans something they can’t get anywhere else. Think about things that set you apart that you can incorporate into your content. Find ways to show your unique personality — maybe share personal anecdotes that users can relate to or share the same information in a new and refreshing way. Establishing your point of view on subjects you cover is a great way to offer fans something they haven’t heard before. Anything you can do to offer a unique perspective will help set you apart from the crowd.
Create meaningful content for each unique platform
This may seem like an obvious one, but content with no purpose is just that – content with no purpose. Whatever you’re creating should have an impact on people in one way or another — whether it be entertaining, informational, educational or just a moment of humor. Your content must offer some type of value to your audience.
This can be done in a number of ways, from teaching an audience something they didn’t know, offering a new take on a common topic or finding humor in a dull subject. Find unique ways to make sure that your content is valuable — that it is informational, educational, entertaining and/or relatable!
Repurposing content for your various online platforms is another good strategy to use when you’re creating meaningful content. For example, if you run a blog but want to share your latest post with your Instagram followers, you can create an infographic or slides to share on your feed. Or if you’re feeling extra ambitious, create a short video with you summarizing the key points in your blog post for Instagram, YouTube or Facebook.
Share the same content differently on each platform
With that said, what you do not want to do is simply post the exact same thing the exact same way on each platform. It’s great to share a piece of content on multiple platforms, but make sure you use language that fits the tone and voice of each site. For example, the copy you post with a video on LinkedIn should be different from what you share on Facebook or Instagram. Users expect a different vibe on each platform, so be aware of that when you’re crafting the language for a post.
Be in the know
No matter what industry you’re in, it’s important that you stay up to date and well informed about every aspect of your industry, including other content creators, new trends, rising problems, solutions to those problems and everything in between. Being knowledgeable not only helps you stay current, but it also shows that you’re an expert in your industry, which makes you more trustworthy to followers. So make sure you are always researching what’s going on in your industry and then finding ways to incorporate what you've learned into your content strategy.
Never stop learning
Piggybacking off our last point, there’s no such thing as knowing too much when it comes to being a great content creator. There’s always something new to be learned and skills you can improve. And fortunately in the digital era, almost any and everything you want to know can be found online, and more often than not, for free! Learn from vloggers, social media influencers, online articles, blog posts, digital courses and other content creators in your industry. The more you know, the more value you can offer.