By The WBR Team
Happy holidays!
This year has been highly productive for WBR. We’ve worked with incredible clients – some of whom have earned a spotlight in our “Content Creator of the Month” series.
So what better way to close off the year than a roundup of the core lessons we’ve learned from the creative entrepreneurs we’ve worked with?
Before you log off for the holidays, we’ve compiled six proven tips from our Content Creators of each Month to help you produce winning content in 2024. These strategies have helped our clients launch bestselling books, global podcasts, and incredible blogs.
And they can help you too.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in, shall we?
1. Identify a gap in the market… And fill it (Dan Kirby’s story)
With millions of content creators out there, it can be hard to carve a niche for yourself and stand out in a crowded marketplace. However, you can make your content memorable and engaging by finding a unique angle within your niche and making the most of it.
How can you put your own spin on hot topics? Is there a different angle you can approach salient issues from – one that your target audience has probably not seen enough of? While this isn’t a call to be contrarian, your audience will most likely want a break from the status quo and appreciate a fresh perspective on things.
Dan Kirby, our Content Creator of the Month for July, pulled this off with his podcast, Honey I Blew Up The Business, which hit the top 2.5 per cent of all global podcasts. Here’s a quick extract explaining how he did it:
He realised that most content around entrepreneurship (particularly on social media) revolved around the shiny wins. There weren’t enough resources that addressed the darker side of entrepreneurship – which is a tad ironic, considering the fact that 60 per cent of businesses fail within their first three years. This gap presented a unique opportunity for Dan to help other entrepreneurs navigate this hidden side of business ownership and come out on top.
2. Build a bank of content (Dolly Waddell’s story)
Fun fact: most podcasts don’t make it past the third episode. While there are a lot of reasons behind this, it’s often because many hosts run out of steam quite early into the show.
If you’re thinking about starting a podcast in 2024 or keeping the ball rolling, here’s a short snippet from our October spotlight on Dolly Waddell and her podcast, Extra-Ordinary Leaders.
To prevent podfade, it’s advisable to build a bank of content and put strategies in place to ensure that the show still goes on without you. We often recommend waiting to launch until you have about three to four episodes ready.
This way, even if you do need to take a hiatus, you’ll have episodes in your content vault to share with your audience. What’s more, it frees up your time to brainstorm and think of exciting new ideas for your show.
Dolly incorporated this proactive approach into her launch and ongoing content strategy. By creating content well ahead of launch day, she was able to build a workable structure for her podcast, making it less likely to miss a deadline and fall out of rhythm.
And you can do this too!
3. Take a collaborative approach to creating content (Emily Ball’s story)
Have you ever thought about collaborating with other experts in your industry? Maybe co-authoring a book with them? Inviting them onto your podcast?
If you haven’t considered this, here’s a snippet from our September spotlight on Emily Ball, author of Practice Resilience, that just might convince you otherwise.
Collaboration can drive incredible results – whether it’s working closely with a team of content experts to help you craft your unique message or teaming up with other industry leaders.
Not only does it give you a broader perspective on what your target audience needs to hear, but it can also be a portal for driving change and discovering more exciting ideas. What’s more, when you collaborate with other leaders in your industry, you’ll expand your network and further boost your credibility.
In Emily’s case, she’s not only partnered with us to work on an exciting new project, but she’s constantly collaborating with other practice leaders to provide value within her industry.
4. Leverage the power of storytelling (Doug Bennett’s story)
Throughout this year, one consistent thread that has run through many of our blogs is how storytelling can drive your content to new heights. Our blog focusing on Doug Bennett, host of the Goals Do Come True podcast, explains why. Here’s a preview:
Storytelling is the glue that holds all your ideas together. It brings your content to life and turns chaos into order. More importantly, storytelling tools can help make your content more engaging and relevant to your audience.
At the core of it all, today’s audience wants a genuine story – a narrative that speaks to their specific situation and provides actionable solutions at the same time. So, before you put your pen to paper (or grab a podcast mic), ask yourself: what story am I telling?
Doug certainly understands the power of a compelling story – which we can see reflected in his content. While his podcast focuses on providing goal-setting insights, he weaves a clear narrative into each episode, sharing his (and his guests’) own personal experiences.
5. Keep the conversation going (Matt Hall and Gill Kelly’s story)
It’s not just enough to create content and call it a day. How can you keep your audience perpetually engaged? What path do you want them to take on their journey with you?
Here’s why you need to keep the conversation going and how two of our clients did this:
As an entrepreneur, you don’t want to leave when the ovation is loudest. Instead, you want to keep your audience clapping by giving them something more – something noteworthy. This way, you’ll keep your audience engaged and ensure that your brand remains imprinted in their memories.
So, your blog has had a successful run. What’s next? Don’t just quit then; keep the applause and the conversation rolling by creating a book.
Matt and Gill certainly understand this principle. After launching their bestselling book, Principled: A Guide To Being Yourself As a School Leader, which hit #1 status in four different categories on Amazon, they didn’t just call it a day. Instead, they used it as a springboard to launch a podcast that keeps their mission relevant and rolling.
6. Be data-driven (Lisa Catto’s story)
What role does data play in your content strategy? Is it at the forefront of every piece of content you create? Or is it a mere afterthought?
If you’re looking to create winning content in 2024, it’s best to let the data guide you because, as they say, numbers don’t lie!
Here’s a snippet from our April spotlight on Lisa Catto that shows the power of data:
As a business leader, it’s important to keep a close eye on your content analytics and data. This way, you’ll be able to understand what’s working and what’s not, and make informed decisions about how to improve your content strategy. For instance, with data analytics, you can find the topics your audience is most interested in and create a topic cluster that will drive further engagement and generate more traffic.
What’s truly impressive about Lisa’s content strategy is her commitment to being data-driven. By keeping a close eye on her content analytics, she’s able to identify what’s resonating with her audience and make informed decisions about how to optimise her content for maximum impact.
We hope you’ve found these tips useful.
If you’d like some professional help to get your content out in the new year, book a Clarity Call to find out how our team of experts can help.
Happy holidays!