FULL GUIDE: If I Started Content Creation Process All Over Again, I'd Do This
Is your content creation process as efficient as it could be?
Do you struggle with getting the click and earning audience attention? Is it difficult to decide what content to create? Don’t worry, I'll let you in on a full guide to reinvent your content creation process. Stick around and I’ll explain why and how to use it.
How this full guide reinvents content creation process
A simple answer is that it's a quick way to test if your idea is viable. Planning and testing really are key. They hold you back from wasting resources on mediocre content that you'll probably regret later on.
So first, you need to set your ducks in a row. That is create a content mock-up, drafting the most important components that can elevate content creation efficiency:
- the "why";
- title;
- description;
- thumbnail.
Why all four? You might have a great idea, but if you can't think of it in these categories, it will fall short. Now, if you can fill in all the gaps, you will have a better packaged idea that delivers more value to your audience. For you, it means more views and a higher brand recognition.
#1 step to reinvent content creation process: the "why"
If you can't answer this, stop here. We don't need more hot air to fill our creative atmosphere.
#2 step to reinvent content creation process: title
If you reason your "why", move on to the title. Your title is your "what". A good title captures the essence of your content and is captivating at the same time. Tell me why should I click without saying it.
An awesome title is not worthy if your story doesn't live up to it. In that case it's just pure clickbait. And you probably won't earn the click if your title doesn't do justice to the story. It's all connected.
Pro tip: I have an entire blog post on the silent content creation hack that helps you get the click.
#3 step to reinvent content creation process: thumbnail
A picture is worth more than a thousand words. You've probably heard that before, haven't you? But it's true. Out of the information we absorb, 90% is visual. Our brain processes images 60,000x faster than prioritises images over text. We can't help but being visual creatures.
Thumbnails are an art in and of itself. I won't go to deep into it right now, but just remember these key principles.
Your thumbnail is your "how". Think of how you can visually represent your story. What are the key elements?
At first, it looks like we have so much space and we tend to overuse it. But a good thumbnail doesn't contain more than 3 elements. Stuffing it with too much information is a rookie mistake.
In fact, there are two great ways to test a thumbnail.
1. Zooming hack - zoom out of your thumbnail to 15-20%. Can you still clearly see the elements? Or is it just one big blur?
2. Scrolling hack - put your thumbnail between two empty slides. Quickly scroll through the slides so you only get a glimpse of the thumbnail. Did you understand the message it was supposed to convey?
#4 step to reinvent content creation process: description
Treat the description as a summary of your story. What are the key elements that build it up? Even more, think of your idea description in questions.
Now that you've prepared 3 previous steps, you can use them as a cheat sheet. Take a look at your "why", title, and thumbnail, and think about what you would like to know as a viewer or reader. What 3-5 questions pop up? These questions define your core story and help you stay on track throughout the process.
But guess what? If you really want to step up your content creation efficiency, you should structure it and set up a brainstorming process. To help you out, use my brainstorming template and let me know how it goes!
Content creation process guide in practice
Let's see how a renowned social media star Zach King uses this approach to leverage his content creation efficiency. If you didn't know, he has pulled together over 80 million followers on social media.
That's a takeout from King's one of the most successful videos "Diving Into Vacation".
From the left: a mock-up with a title, description, and thumbnail, up to the final result. You can see how the idea progresses from scratch to the real video.
How can my content creation process benefit from this guide?
In my experience, this content creation process guide can really change the game. It's like a one-stop-shop to reinvent your entire content creation process. It helps you focus, and allocate your time and money to make the most of your content. The best thing is that it's easy, efficient, and completely free to use!
You can use my content creation efficiency template. Try it out and let me know how you'll do!
Want to take your content creation even further?
If you found this content useful, you should check out this post about easy content creation steps to overcome your writer's block.
What if I told you these minor changes in content creation can explode your brand?
If you want to grow your brand with some simple hacks anyone can do, let me know. Get a head start, because many tech companies are missing out on this!
Are you ready to shift gears? I’d be happy to help you out with content strategy and copywriting.