What Is A Content Creator & Are You One?
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Over the past year, writing and creating content has provided me with a different sense of introspection. By observing, mastering and studying a number of different content formats across several mediums.
I have gained a greater knowledge around the art of creating content itself.
Developing content has helped me to create value through insights, sources and searching for what audiences are looking for next within a community.
Embarking on this journey has produced a number of questions — some deeply rooted, some superficial. With creativity always being the centerpiece, surrounded by individuality, formulas and data-backed schemes.
The task of creativity itself, made me ask the question:
Being from Atlanta, growing up and having the opportunity to see creativity from a number of different perspectives made me realize that great content starts and ends with writing. This form of expression opens up every other avenue of creativity.
If your goal is to be a podcaster, public speaker, musician, politician, educator, etc. All of these feats have their origins in writing, spreading a message and uniting individuals around a common interest. The virtues of writing form the basis of all other content formats and mediums.
We are all drawn back together by this simple but powerful art form.
The beauty behind creating content is that it challenges us to operate on a certain level and at a specific mental capacity that goes beyond mere consumption. You view commercials differently, you notice the targeted audiences behind advertising, etc.
Creating content demands a combination of left-brained and right-brained liveliness which encompasses consistency, planning and execution.
Altogether, content creators need to be:
- Creative and organized
- Associative and analytical
- Diverse and disciplined
This strain of thinking allows content creators to look at creativity from a whole new space. No matter if you’re a writer, musician or digital marketer. The creative process is cultivated through time, practice and the cross-pollination of ideas.
“Innovation happens when people are free to think, experiment and speculate.”
— Matt Ridley
In accordance with CMI, content creators now have a strategy in place to back these new found formulas and data-backed schemes with a carefully constructed ‘ROI’.
- Content marketing costs 62% less than outbound marketing and generates triple the leads.
- Naturally, content marketing has more long-term benefits than paid search and besides production, has minimal upfront costs.
These statistics provided by CMI support the notion that the virtues of writing form the basis of all other content formats and mediums. Writing provides a perspective and can be used as a tool to head up any creative venture.
In conjunction, reading plays a major role in content creation and is especially important when it comes to writing. Expanding your horizons through literature allows your brain to form associations through patterns, new neural pathways and create associations between otherwise unrelated areas.
This is how most content creators are able to present a fresh perspective on a given topic. As writers, this can put you in a position to create value across multiple content formats.
Value can be added by doing the following through content marketing:
- Adding your perspective to a given topic
- Asking questions that create conversations
- Engaging in the conversations that are created
It is important to pay attention to what your audience responds to as well. For example, a Medium article does well and could function as an YouTube Video, infographic, Keynote and be expanded into a case study.
The same aspect of content creation works in reverse too. That is the beauty of data-backed content and schemes. It’s a science and an art. A great idea that connects us through human nature can be re-created to address all audiences and content formats.
In conclusion, I feel that all writers should consider themselves as content creators. Open your life up to creativity and challenge yourself by developing different content formats.
Keep in mind, it’s best to remain focused on two content formats at a time. The advantage is that writing allows you to re-purpose content to your benefit. Always create, curate and express yourself at the highest level.
Patience is a virtue and the art of content creation is an excellent mountain to climb.
“That’s been one of my mantras — focus and simplicity.
Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work to get your thinking clean and make it simple.
But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”
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