In today’s digital age, we’re constantly hustling to create content that resonates with our target audience. This exercise is not just a ‘good to have’ – it’s absolutely crucial. But knowing there are more content creators in the world than we can wrap our heads around doesn’t make the task easier.
In fact, watching brands we’ve set our sights on approach our competitors for marketing advice can overwhelm our nerves and add ginormous amounts of stress. Relevant content is ever-evolving. Similarly, content creators can remain relevant only when we evolve.
With so many trends to keep pace with and so many unique pearls to produce in short turnaround times, burnout is an undeniable threat. Of course, originality doesn’t always arrive when we need it, and neither does contentment with mediocrity.
Though it may seem like there’s no permanent solution to this vicious circle, dealing with burnout smartly can make a big difference. Here are four handy tips to help you beat the burnout:
1. Swear by strategy
This is as essential as mastering our poker faces during a big hand. A strategy for content creation provides an aerial view of all our cards. When we can align our best cards together, we’re likely to play better and win!
While we create engaging content tailored to our audience, a strategy opens a window to achievable goals and measurable results. It also has the power to break down the biggest tasks into digestible morsels, saving us from choking on the thought: How will we get it all done?
Time you invest in planning a strategy will reap multiple benefits, including the ability to regularly send across the right message in adequate quantities.
2. Learn to listen
Being curious and asking questions aren’t enough. Producing better content will get a lot easier if we simply learn to listen. Every interaction we have with customers and potential customers offers the possibility to add value or new perspectives to our understanding.
Strike up a casual conversation with clients or colleagues and listen intently to their experiences, needs, and worries. More often than not, this approach introduces us to insights that will boost our problem-solving potential much faster than we would by decoding target personas for hours on end.
Learning to listen mindfully is an enviable skill to possess in these times of omnipresent chatter.
3. Personalize content
Let’s face it. Through social content, we’re only trying to convey what’s already been shared a gazillion times. Our greatest dilemma is determining just how we can make our content stand apart. It’s important to find inspiration and options by listening to people, but these days, personalization is also critical to delivering good content.
Not too much personalization, but not too little, either. Providing a moderate number of suggestions and tips can greatly impact how audiences perceive our content and generate goodwill.
We can forge long-lasting bonds with our audience when we creatively include elements that suit their personalities and lifestyles.
4. Take that break
Downtime is not only precious, but also important both for our wellbeing and for our ability to create fresh, outstanding content. We all need to allow ourselves time to unwind to be able to find our aha moments.
When we aren’t refreshed and happy, it’s hard to make our content compelling, positive and rewarding. And when content is not rewarding, it loses its relevance, and that’s only going to take us farther from our goals. So, make sure to take time to relax and recharge.
It’s in our best interests and the best interests of our content – and our customers.