src=”https://buffer.com/resources/content/images/2023/07/joanna-kosinska-WZlsX3ayGkY-unsplash–1-.jpg” alt=”How to Build a Sustainable (And Profitable) Content Creation Workflow”>
It can be difficult to create content.
All of us start out with the dream to be our own boss, and escape the tyranny of the 9-to-5. We end up being one of the worst bosses we have ever encountered.
No time off. No vacations. Always in hustle mode.
Many creators are silently burned out. Silently, they stop posting. They stop replying to DMs. They vanish. Burnout is taboo. This goes against the narrative of a four-hour week and coconuts in a hammock while in Thailand.
I have been there and I can tell you.
I remember the days I tried to do too much, I was juggling many tasks at the same time, I put in extra hours and I never said “no” when a new project came up. I hated everything I built for myself. This experience forced me to rethink how I run my business and create content.
Why can the creation of content be so daunting? To grow our online presence, we’re encouraged to create high-quality content. Staying on the never-ending treadmill of content can leave us feeling creatively and mentally drained.
A sustainable workflow for content creation comes into play here.
I refer to a strategy for content creation that you can sustain over time. You want to be excited about your work without sacrificing the quality or your wellbeing. It is important to find a balance between personal satisfaction and productivity.
No. It is not about making the greatest number of racks possible in the shortest time. This is because the game of business is infinite.
The objective of the game is to keep playing and win. The journey itself is more important that the destination. It’s about more than making money the fastest.
The game is about being .
You need to learn how to keep your business moving without getting burned out.
What are some strategies to build a workflow for content creation that will keep you satisfied, happy and most importantly, free from burnout?
ABCs: Three Elements for a Sustainable Workflow
In order to create a sustainable workflow for content creation, I have developed a holistic three-step system.
Content creation is as easy as “ABC.”
Each letter in this acronym represents an important aspect of your content marketing strategy:
A: Attract Your Audience
You can create the best course, write the best content and show up everyday. Your business cannot thrive without an audience.
It’s not only about attracting a large audience. It’s all about getting the right people to listen.
The core concept of the 1,000 true fans is at the heart of the concept. This theory suggests that you don’t require millions of customers for success, but rather a core of loyal followers who support your work consistently.
Your sustainable content strategy begins with creating content that will attract your loyal fans.
B: Develop a Relationship With Your Audience
Your followers are more than just numbers in your social media dashboard, or rows of a CSV.
These are real people, who want to connect and build trust.
The rise of Artificial intelligence and soulless content generated by one click is making this even more crucial.
Now comes the big question: how can you create a strong connection with strangers online?
Understanding how the brain works is key. Consider the “Mere Exposure Effect”. Simple bias that states that we prefer things simply because we know them. Nothing else.
It is important to create content that is consistent.
By consistently showing up and sharing valuable content with your audience, you establish a familiar presence that will lead to trust.
C: Convert your audience into paying customers
Conversion is the ultimate goal of content strategies: converting your audience into paying customers.
Offering something of value not only helps your audience solve problems, but it also creates a source of income for your business.
You could offer online courses, or specialized services that take advantage of your expertise.
Remember: a good offer is just half the battle.
Create a compelling strategy for launching your product to make sure that your audience is aware of what you have to offer and the benefits it offers.
If you don’t address all three elements of the ABC framework in your content strategy, then you will always be rushing to meet deadlines.
How to find the right content publishing schedule
Many content creators are under immense pressure to do “it all at once.”
We are often led to believe by the hustle culture that we have to be everywhere all at once. Let’s face it: managing every platform, every type of content and without a team to support you is mental suicide.
How can we avoid falling into this trap?
Establishing a schedule of publishing that is tailored to your business and capacity needs will provide the answer. Your schedule should facilitate the ABC elements we discussed earlier: attract (to build), convert (to buy), and convert again.
You might, for example, publish two social media updates daily in order to build and attract your audience.
You could plan to launch new offers (alongside the promotional material) each month in order to convert your audience to customers.
There’s no such thing as a one-size fits all approach.
Your publishing schedule must be based on your resources, goals, and circumstances. It should not be backward. You should be able to consistently create high-quality content and most importantly, have fun!
Practice makes a master
As you gain more experience in content creation and understand what your audience wants, you can create faster. The master is made by practice. You should only consider diversifying your platforms at this point.
It’s important to start small, and to give yourself space to grow slowly.
Consistency is more important than quantity when it comes to creating content.
Mastering your mental states for better, faster content creation
It’s not just about typing on a screen that flickers.
This is a mental task that takes a lot of bandwidth. You can produce more quality content without having to spend more time when you learn how to navigate this process.
It is important to master your mental state.
When it comes to creating content, there are four distinct mental state you should be aware of.
Prepare Produce Polish and Publish.
You’ll be able to master consistency and gain control of your content creation once you know how to tap into the states.
Prepare: Cultivate your raw ideas
Preparation is the first step.
This is the stage of brainstorming. Divergent thinking is required. This is where you can generate many different content ideas, particularly if you have writer’s blocks or are unsure of what to write.
You don’t lack ideas. You just have them at different moments.
Prepare your content ideas in advance before you sit down at your keyboard.
When you relax and turn on your default mode network, these ideas can strike. They may occur in the shower, while driving, or when walking your dog. Capture these ideas in your favorite note taking app when you get them. You can then draw on this reservoir when you are ready to create.
The simple act of taking this step can change the game. This relieves you of the pressure to come up with new ideas every time you sit down and write.
Put Your ideas on paper
After you have gathered ideas, the next stage is to ‘Produce’.
This stage requires convergent thought, which involves taking broad ideas and narrowing down to a specific piece of content. This stage requires concentration. Your only objective is to get your thoughts on paper.
While creating your first draft, it’s tempting to fix all of your mistakes. It’s important to not judge your own work. Do not correct spelling or grammatical errors.
Just write down your thoughts and ideas.
Polishing: The Secret to Great Content
Next, you should think about ‘polishing.
Your content will really start to shine. You need to take a step back, turn on your analytical mind, and fine-tune what you have written.
Many creators commit the common mistake of trying to polish and produce simultaneously. This can lead to cognitive overload.
The difference between the professionals and the amateurs lies in the fact that each process requires a different mental state, which should be approached separately.
Let your first draft breathe. Write and edit your first draft separately.
Publish: Automate Your Sanity
The last stage is “Publishing”.
It involves getting your content on the platforms you choose. This consists mainly of tasks that do not require much bandwidth, such as scheduling posts.
Automation tools, such as Buffer, can help. These tools can save you time and effort. Schedule your content in bulk at once, then forget about it.
You can simplify your content creation by separating these four mental states, and allocating specific time slots for each.
This method allows you to maintain a consistent schedule of content, improve your creative output and prevent burnout. All the while, growing your business.
Weekly Routines are More Effective than Daily Routines
Understanding the four mental state is only the beginning.
To maximize your content creation, it’s important to use a “batching” strategy. It involves grouping tasks that are similar and require similar mentalities. This allows you to streamline your workflow and maximize output.
You might ask yourself, “Why not multitask?” In today’s fast paced world, it seems that juggling multiple things is a badge.
Multitasking, according to studies and experts, can decrease productivity and even lower your IQ. You force your brain to switch gears every time you perform tasks that require different mental states. This can be mentally exhausting and counterproductive.
We can now think of a weekly schedule instead of daily. You can dedicate certain days to certain mental states by using a weekly schedule. This will avoid the mental strain that comes from switching tasks frequently.
You could, for example,
- Spend Mondays brainstorming and collecting raw content ideas.
- The Produce phase could take place on Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays.
- The Polish stage could be held on Thursdays.
- You can schedule your posts on Fridays and publish them (the Publish stage).
Each day is dedicated to a specific mental state. You can then focus on the task at hand without being distracted by other tasks. This weekly routine improves productivity and helps maintain a sustainable workflow for content creation that prevents burnout.
How To Step Back From Your Business (Without Felt Guilt)
We often overlook a vital component of a healthy and sustainable workflow in our pursuit of productivity and success.
Ironically, taking a step back from your business can actually improve your productivity and overall well-being.
Sleep is a good example.
This is a crucial part of maintaining optimal cognition. Our brain consolidates memories, processes information and regenerates for the following day during sleep.
In the long term, a lack of sleep can result in decreased productivity, focus and creativity.
In this fast-paced society, boredom or doing nothing at all is essential to slow down our mind. In these moments of apparent inactivity, our brain switches into the default mode network. This helps us to come up with new ideas and boosts creativity.
By embracing boredom, you can come up with new ideas and insights.
Did you know that being busy has a diminishing return on creativity? It’s a myth that the more time we spend at work, we will be more successful.
Allow yourself to take a step back. Schedule time for resting and being bored. Spend time with family or friends, find a hobby or just sit and observe the world.
Entrepreneurship doesn’t require you to be ‘on’ at all times.
Balance is key to a sustainable workflow for content creation (and an overall sustainable business), including the balance of work and rest.
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