I remember when I had no idea what topics I wanted to talk about in my live videos.
I sat at my desk before every live, dreading to hit that Go Live button because I had no what to say.
This went on for a while until I found my groove and the ideas just by the dozen each time I sat down to generate some topics for my Facebook live videos.
I now have a process that stores my ideas and a workflow that helps me develop the content. It did take me a while but hey, this is what business as a solo entrepreneur is like.
You figure shit out on your own. Might take a few goes but at least you have the power to decide what vibes with you and what doesn't.
My Asana is now the home of hundreds of ideas for content. Some have come to me in the middle of meetings, some while waiting for the doctor, some in the shower and some while I was sleeping.
I now know better than to just hope that I will remember the ideas that come to me in the most inopportune moments.
I lost some pretty great topic ideas because I thought, I'll just write them down whenever.
Not all content ideas will be great though. They might seem like the bee's knees at the time but when you think about them later, they might not be viable for whatever reason.
It's always a good idea to note them down, in the one place, mind you, just in case you want to develop them later on.
Here are some pointers for you to decide whether an idea is good enough to develop into content or not.
Did I just come up with this idea to procrastinate because I don't want to do what I should be doing?
Stop!
Our brain will divert us when we procrastinate. It will throw everything it has at you to avoid working on something.
You will think that you have come up with such an amazing idea and you want to get started on it right away. You're pumped and are convinced that it's going to be the next big thing.
Before you embark on another project you will probably never finish, stop and ask yourself this question.
The last thing you want is content that is half-finished and sitting on your harddrive and in six months you don't even know what you wanted to do with it in the first place.
Am I creating revenge content?
Ooooh! This is juicy! Have you just read someone's blog or watched someone's video and got jealous? Envious? Thought, "how dare she!"
Do you disagree with what that person said and you're out for blood? Do you want to show that you're down with the cool kids?
Stop!
It's never a good idea to create content that goes public for your audience when you're in the throws jealousy or resentment.
If you just got your ass kicked in a Facebook group because someone pulled you up on something you said and you just want to have a whinge on your page, you're probably creating revenge content.
I encourage the sharing of knowledge and robust discussions. As long as the intent of your content is to generate that discussion and elevate and educate, I'm all for it.
If you want to reaise your posse however to get validated for what you said, it's better to cool off and observe your first, most visceral, reaction.
Do I have something shiny syndrome?
This is when you see, read, listen to something really cool. Content from someone else that compells you to create content in the same topic. Immediately.
You know, when the cool kid in school turns up with something new and shiny and all the other kids want one too. Just because.
Stop!
Think about it whether it's something that can add value to your audience and are you capable of delivering the same value that you've just gotten.
Just because it works for someone else doesn't mean it will work for you. Authenticity is best in content. When you can provide your audience with original content, they will know that they have seen it from you first.
That builds your credibility. What doesn't build your credibility is hastily produced, cheap knock off content.
Does this fit into my business somehow, right now?
People have brainfarts all the time. Sometimes they are great ideas, sometimes they are not. We are inspired by things and we think it can be applied in our business.
If you google "most useless inventions", the search engine will deliver almost 7 million results in under half a second.
They all came from somewhere. Someone thought they had a brilliant idea.
Is that you?
Stop!
It's easy to get derailed and our brain loves diversions. That's why brainstorming session work so well!
It's great to take note of ideas because you never know where those tangents take you. When you ask this question before you put any effort into your content, you will dodge a bullet.
Putting effort into content that is not relevant to your business right now is a time waster.
Does this fit into my business sometime in the future?
Unless you have a crystal ball, which you actually might if you're a spiritual practitioner, you don't know exactly where you're going to be with your business even in 6 months time.
Is your idea something completely removed from what your business is doing right now? Perhaps you're changing direction or you're starting a brand new business in a brand new niche.
Stop!
If that is the case, look at whether your idea is something you can park for now but pick up at a later stage.
Your content idea will better represent where your business will be by then. It won't be a shock to your audience.
When you're working towards something there is a natural evolution process to your business. You can wait until the idea is ripe and you have some deeper knowledge to add to your content.
Creating amazing quality content will be easier when it's the right time in you business.
Is this an original idea?
Some say that no idea is ever original. That everything has been done. Might be true but that shouldn't keep you from creating content in that topic.
Stop!
It's great to check to make sure you're not inadvertently copying someone else. Sometimes people trademark their content and you don't want to step on any toes.
Especially when you're naming something such as a program, a book, a course. It can happen.
It's also good to know who has done it before and with what success.
By no means am I saying that you should discount your idea altogether. Just exercise some common sense and precaution.
And of course, add your own flair and flavour to make that idea pop and different from the white noise out there on the world wide web.
Need help sorting out your live video strategy? Book in for a free 15 minute chat with me to see if I can help.
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