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    • Aug 7
    • 6 min read

Content Creation for Entrepreneurs: The "Lazy Way" To Create Great Content

Are you a content creator who yearns for a way to generate high-quality content without constantly hustling? Look no further, because in this blog post, we're going to explore the concept of "lazy content creation." Don't let the word "lazy" fool you – it's all about being efficient and maximizing your efforts to create abundant podcast content. We'll delve into the insights shared by my podcast interview with Shannon Weinstein, where we discuss the secrets behind her successful content creation process.


"We built up 25,000 downloads a month in my pajamas." - Shannon Weinstein


Identify Your Content's Priority and Purpose:

Before diving into content creation, it's important to identify the priority and purpose of your podcast. Is it just a side dish or the main course? Shannon emphasizes that success should be defined by your content's goals, whether it's growth, impact, or driving sales. Having a clear purpose will help you stay focused and avoid creating content just for the sake of it.


If you're feeling like you "should" create content because others are telling you to, pause and examine if you truly believe and want to take this path. While I firmly believe that creating content can and will help you build your business, you will only do something with passion and consistency if you truly want to do it. My suggestion is to identify your goal so you know why you want to create the content so that you have a reason to follow through.


"Your effort has to mirror the goal for it." - Shannon Weinstein

 

**This was also a podcast episode (episode #202. Use the player below if you'd prefer to listen to this message.


 

Understand Your Business Seasonality & Use It To Your Advantage:


To ensure that you don't burn yourself out as you create your content, it's important to understand the seasonality of your business. It's likely that you have slow or down times during the year and you can utilize that time to get ahead with your content for the months when you're busy.


*Pro Tip: the "J-Months" are typically slow for most businesses, meaning: January, June and July. If that's the case for your business, it allows you to use these means to prep for the others.


Shannon, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), shares how she utilized November and December – slower months for accountants – to pre-record multiple podcast episodes and create content ahead of time. By doing this, she was able to stay consistent during the busy tax season from January to April.


Take a look at your business and identify your slower months when you can dedicate more time to content creation or strategy behind the content.



The Power of Long-Form Content:

Long-form content is effective because it caters to people seeking specific guidance or information. For example people who are searching for an answer to a problem they are experiencing leads them to searching "how to ....." in Google. When they find your blog post or piece of content they are ready to learn.


This is opposed to someone mindlessly scrolling on social media. When they are doing this, they aren't searching for answers and in the mindset to learn, they are looking for entertainment. This contrast is why long-form content such as blogs, podcasts and YouTube videos are helpful for your business.


Additionally, when engaging in long-form content, people are often engaged in activities that put them in a flow state, making them more receptive to the content. By capturing their attention during these focused moments, you have a unique opportunity to influence their thinking.


When it comes to determining which platform is best for you it comes down to what platform has the lowest barrier of entry for you specifically. Everyone has their unique gifts and challenges and it's important to know what type of content you can get started with that has the lowest number of challenges for you.


The goal is to identify the barriers and then navigate them one step at a time. If you can make content creation easy for you, you're more likely to be consistent over time.


"Most of the time when people are reading your long form content, listening to it, consuming it, they are typically in flow state or they're typically searching for specific guidance, searching for you."— Shannon Weinstein


"What is your medium of choice. Choose one long-term channel for content and go all in on it." - Shannon Weinstein


Creating Content Ideas:

It's easy to get caught up in the idea that you don't know what to say in your content but that's not really the case. You have a lot of knowledge and expertise that you can share with your audience, you're likely not tapping into it though.


Remembering that you don't have consider yourself an expert to be helpful to others is key. Once you have this in your mind, it will be easier to create content and we suggest starting a Google Doc or note in your phone to start capturing ideas. When you're asked questions, use them as topic ideas for your content. When you see someone you're talking to have a lightbulb moment, use that topic as a content idea.


The key is to never start from scratch. Start your Google Doc or note today so you can begin capturing ideas and then creating your incredible content.


"Content creation is never on my calendar, which is such a sin in the content world. It's never on my calendar. You know what is on my calendar? Go for a walk. And then when I'm on that walk, all the crap that hits my brain when I get downloads of whatever it is, I immediately go on a walk but have a way to capture what is kind of coming in through that flow state when you can actually open up your brain up to think. You get your best ideas."— Shannon Weinstein


Image of a notebook, cell phone and computer on a table


Reuse and Build Upon Existing Content:

Instead of constantly creating something completely new, Shannon encourages reusing and building upon existing content. Analyzing data and feedback from her podcast, she can identify which episodes and guests perform well and either re-use that content in other places or expand on that specific topic in a future episode. By leveraging this information and expanding on popular topics, she can produce valuable content that resonates with her audience.


When the idea of repurposing content is shared many people will worry about other's noticing that it's the same content. If this is something that comes up for you remember these two things:

  • Most people won't see it the first time

  • You're constantly growing your audience so new people didn't see it the first time

  • Many of us need to hear/read things multiple times before it really sinks in


There are many benefits to sharing content again or expanding on an idea you've already covered. This is a great system to use in your business and while it might seem "lazy" it's actually very smart.


Embrace Self-Awareness and Avoid Overwork & Making Excuses:


Self-awareness plays a crucial role in content creation. It's easy to get excited about completing tasks and checking things off and Shannon and I both mentioned how easy it is to fall into this trap but it's important to notice.


While it has helped us to succeed, it can also become toxic if taken to extremes. By being intentional about how you spend your time and energy, you can avoid overworking yourself and create more without constantly hustling.


Likewise, it's also easy to make excuses when it comes to content creation. Do any of these sound like you:

  • I don't have time to create content

  • I don't have anything to say

  • If I start, I'm worried I'll run out of things to say

  • Who am I to share on this topic, I'm no expert


If these are thoughts in your mind, you're not alone. Many accidental entrepreneur's have these thoughts and it's why I ended up writing my book: Why Not You? An Accidental Entrepreneur's Guide To Success. The truth is you have information that would be very helpful to your audience and they are waiting to hear from you!


"We are great at making excuses but we need to be making progress." - Amanda McKinney


Take Away Message / Action

Lazy content creation isn't about being lazy – it's about maximizing your productivity and creating abundant podcast content with less effort. By identifying your content's priority and purpose, fitting it into your core customer experience, capturing and expanding on ideas efficiently, reusing and building upon existing content, and embracing self-awareness, you can work smarter, not harder.


So, commit to your chosen platform, harness the power of long-form content, and leverage Q&A sessions to provide value. Remember, content creation should be efficient, enjoyable, and aligned with your goals!


Until next time give yourself permission to be efficient and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon!


About Shannon:

Shannon is a CPA and fractional CFO for growth-minded business owners. A teacher at heart, her real-life relatable examples simplify the financial side of business so you can stop stressing and start scaling. She is the host of the IRS's least favorite podcast, Keep What You Earn, which consistently ranks in the top 200 in Entrepreneurship. She is a frequent speaker in business coaching communities and masterminds.


Shannon's Resources:


Other Resources Mentioned:



Ep. 202: Lazy Content Creation with Shannon Weinstein

"What is your medium of choice. Choose one long-term channel for content and go all in on it."


- Shannon Weinstein








 


Build Your Business YOUR Way!


Image of Program: Proffitt Podcasting

In my book: Why Not You? An Accidental Entrepreneur's Guide To Success, you create your Y.O.U. Promise which becomes your guide to building the business of your dreams...not your nightmares.






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