Would it surprise you if I said that people create content differently? I'm not talking about some people preferring video over blogs or vice versa. I'm talking about how they create content based on their content creator archetypes.
During my travels, I've observed 5 main content creator archetypes. Once you are aware of what archetype you are, your content creation process will reflect it too. It will also mean that you will create content in your unique flow with ease.
Your content process will no longer feel like an absolute pain in the butt. In fact, it will be a joy.
What are these content creator archetypes and what works for them and what doesn't?
The journal writer – will create blogs with ease
This person loves journalling. Not for blogs, not just typing content or just handwriting content. If you are this person, you have a process of getting the mass of thoughts from your head and into written form with ease.
During your process, you are getting clarity in your thoughts. This is something you couldn't achieve if you had to do videos or if you had to create any other type of content.
You are a master of channeling your thoughts into written material. What works for you is sit down session of writing when the inspiration takes you. If you tried to smash out some blogs when you are not in the mood, you would end up with disorganised and sloppy content. It would scream the CBF energy you put into your content. You don't want that.
When you feel inspiration strike, take advantage of the energy and create as much content as you can before you fizzle out.
You might do well with some pre-organised topic ideas but good luck trying to keep to those if you're not in that headspace. You will end up with blogs that are completely off topic.
It's OK. Accept that this is you and that channeling energy will be flowing even better and even more.
Practice using and directing that flow when and where it presents itself. Have a notebook with you at all times. Not being able to jot down ideas and thoughts when they come to you might cause inspiration constipation. There is no fibre supplement to help you with that.
The chatterbox – will do well with videos and podcasts
Do you love chatting away? Chatterboxes hate being restricted to just one topic. They feel boxed in and claustrophobic when they can't weave the conversation.
You are a chatterbox when you love having conversations with friends. Or anyone really. You love asking questions and you thrive on the fact that people respond to you straight away.
You feed on the energy of a dialogue, wherever it takes you. There is a natural level of curiosity with you and you love discussing ideas with other people. You definitely need other people in the conversation.
Blog writing for you is like torture because there is no one responding. Live videos or podcasts, however, energise you and you feel like you're in your element.
You love discussing topics from a neutral point of view and you might change your opinion of something in the middle of a conversation.
This happens because you need to hear your thoughts out loud.
It's OK. Accept that this how you're creating content and make the most of it. You might have to overcome some visibility issues but once you do, you will never go back to creating content in any other way.
Any type of content that will not give you instant feedback via an engaged and active audience will be grinding for you. Find ways to express and practice you chatterbox superpowers.
Team up with likeminded people for podcasts and video interviews. You will be in your element and your audience will feel and respond to your chatterbox vibe.
That will further feed your love and passion for this mode of communication.
The slow contemplater – will do well with lots of images
You are on the slow simmer. You don't say a lot but when you do, it's worth listening because the wisdom will be deep. There is nothing in the world that will make you sit down and create a content plan for 6 months ahead.
You believe that one well thought out and deep piece of content once in a while is better than a daily or weekly babble.
You will write a blog a month, maybe two. It will sit on your hard drive or even in your notebook for a few weeks while you go back and perfect it. Because you just want to get it right. Some of your content will never see the light of day. Unfortunately.
The world is deprived of your wisdom often as you are not sharing all that is in your head and in your heart. Because you think it's not yet perfect.
The content you create is deep and compelling. It's detailed measured in its words. You are a master of creating lots of quotes and micro topics. You can stretch out your single piece of content for as long as you like.
Sometimes you can get lost with an idea and never finish a piece of content. Sometimes by the time you get back to working on your content again, you are in a different space and it's no longer relevant. So you don't finish it.
Deadlines are your enemy. The closer you get to a deadline the more you will resent it. You consider yourself a bit of a rebel and think you will finish and complete that content when you're good and ready.
This is a mask, however. It often covers fears and a reluctance to face one's imperfections.
It's OK. Accept yourself as you are. That is easier said than done for you but the more you practice it, the better you get at it. We want to see, read, experience that wisdom soul and heart. Don't hold back. We don't want to be missing out on your beautiful thoughts and wisdom.
The cosmopolitan – likes a variety of content types, depending on how they feel
You do content based on how you feel on any given day. One day it will be video, the next it will be blogs, and then maybe some other stuff. Plans kind of work for you but you tend to chop and change topics depending on your mood.
You have tried your hand at everything and you have your favourite content type of the moment. You move in between modes of communication with ease. You have skills in converting content between different types of media.
You have oodles and oodles of topics up your sleeve. The problem is, what topic to pick and how to decide what the best delivery method is.
You are easily distracted and tend to have lots of unfinished pieces of content because you realise that the media you started them on isn't the best one.
It's OK. Accept that this is how you create content. You have many skills and that's a good thing.
You have a variety of content to reach to and can choose the best one for any topic. With a little discipline. Foreplanning is what's going to work for you with as much detail as you possibly can.
Creating plans and sticking to them will make the most of your cosmopolitan content creation style. You will probably create content that will be very successful and content that will bum out completely.
Not to worry, with your skills, less successful content can be reworked into something more appealing to your audience.
The averter – just wants to do their thing without creating content.
Its' easier to squeeze blood out of stone than getting the averter to create any type of content. If you're an averter, I know that you just "don't wanna!" All those excuses of why you're not creating content are just that. Excuses.
Once you're aware of your real challenges, you will find out what content creation archetype you are, apart from being an averter. Your ability to overcome your content challenges will be in proportion to your desire to move out of your current state.
While you are in the averter archetype, you'll need to be dragged kicking and screaming into creating content. Not the most enjoyable way to get creating.
In fact, it can be a complete disaster when you sit down and you make yourself come up with content in that mind space. Your audience will know it. The vibe will not be great and neither will the response to your content.
That's a self-perpetuating cycle because you will not get a great response to your content. That will quickly make your mind spin into that "why do I even bother" state.
It's OK to be that way. For a while. You don't want to stay in that space for too long though. Out of all the content creation archetypes, you will have the most personal development to do.
Don't despair. It can be done.
And you're going to feel empowered once you're on the other side of this part of your journey. Don't be hesitant to ask for the help you need. Even if it's in the form of an accountability partner.
It will have an impact not only on how you create content but also on how you grow your business.
The first step is to just start.
Did you recognise yourself in one of the archetypes? Which one are you and how is it working for you? I'd love to know. Let's chat about what type of content creation workflow you would enjoy the most.
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