Karen Brown Tyson

Tag: #blogger

How Highly Effective Creatives Stand Out with Content Creation

There’s no denying that the digital age has made content creation a necessary skill for anyone looking to make an impression online. However, content creation is more than just a necessity for creative entrepreneurs – it’s the key to standing out from the pack.

Content is a massive part of our everyday lives. It keeps us informed, answers our questions about our most challenging problems, and even makes us laugh. As a result, content is an excellent way for creative entrepreneurs to reach target audiences.

This post will explore some of the best ways to create content that will help you stand out and be highly effective. So read on if you’re ready to up your content game.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost, if you purchase using the links.

What is content creation?

Content creation or content marketing generates topic ideas that appeal to your buyer persona and develops written or visual content around those topics in an accessible format for your audiences, such as a video, blog, infographic, or social media post.

Examples of content creation

Blog posts

One of my favorite forms of content creation is blog posts. Everyone starts a blog for different reasons. I started a blog because I wanted to educate and inspire people looking for information about writing, productivity, and faith. While experts believe each blog post must be at least one thousand words, a blog post can be any length you want or need to get your point across.

If you want to learn more about blogging, I recommend the Blog by Number course by Suzi Whitford. The course is great, and so is Suzi. She offers valuable information on blogging, including a FREE course that offers a FREE blog plan.

Graphics

I like to post graphics in my blog and social media posts. Sometimes I use infographics, Pinterest pins, or original graphics that help me make a point within the post. To create this type of content, you can hire a graphic designer or use visual design tools like Pic Monkey or Canva.

Video

Creating videos for social media or YouTube is a great way to share your content. Whether you’re looking at short-form videos such as Instagram Stories, long-form Facebook Live streams where viewers can ask questions while they watch in real-time (ordinary people love watching interesting content), or a LinkedIn video.

Podcasts

Podcasts are a great way to share information about a variety of topics. For example, you can share actionable tips or step-by-step instructions to help your target audience solve problems. In addition, you can interview exciting guests if you don’t want to go solo. For example, my friend, Cara McLauchlan, started a podcast where she shares chapters from her book, Nourish – Encouragement for Parents Homeschooling Through High School.

Content offers

Content offers are a great way to give your audience something valuable in exchange for their email address. Your content offers should aim to help your audience solve problems. For example, you can offer a checklist on making a virtual event, habit-tracking printables, or templates to help them achieve specific goals.

To create my content, I use my favorite graphic design tool, Canva. I offer a FREE media kit I created in Canva. If you want to make changes to the FREE media kit, you will need to have Canva.

Content creation planning

Before you start creating content, you should create a plan. To create a content strategy, you need to consider your brand and tone and the type of information that best suits your audience. You should also think about how you plan to promote your content.

But, most importantly, start small by creating a plan you can manage easily with everything else you have going on in your business. And don’t forget to have fun.

Add efficiency to your creative life

As a content creator, I always look to add efficiency to my work. Below are a few of the tools I use to stay organized.

Zapier is a platform that connects your work apps and does repetitive tasks for you automatically. With Zapier, all the information in one app can be moved seamlessly to another based on rules set by its user with just one click.

Do you ever wonder where your time goes? RescueTime is here to rescue you from wasting time. This app records the exact time you spent on each activity. Then you can identify the things that take up too much of your time. This app can also help you set achievable writing goals.

MeisterTask is an intuitive project management tool that helps you organize your work to get things done. The tool allows you to manage your projects, to-do lists, and checklists in one place. I like that it helps me create electronic and flexible Kanban boards. I also like that it allows me to share information with my students or other writers.

March 24, 2022
Work Smarter, Not Harder: 5 Ways to Be More Efficient

How many times have you heard the phrase, “work smarter, not harder?” I’m guessing you’ve heard this slogan dozens of times. But sometimes, working smarter seems easier said than done.

As a creative entrepreneur, I’m sure you have a lot you need to get done. So it’s easy to think you have to get it all done at once. When I first started my business, I was so excited to see my dream come to life. I found myself seeing every task as urgent. It wasn’t long before I had to return to a few of the efficiency strategies I used in my corporate life.

Fast forward to today, I have more client assignments, more tasks, and less time. Working smarter, not harder, is more critical now than ever if you’re anything like me. If you need a few tips on working smarter, not harder, here are five ways to be more efficient.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

Don’t start before you plan

First things first – if I don’t make time to plan, I waste loads of time. I know a lot of people who see planning as unnecessary, especially to the creative mind who wants to flow freely. But the secret to getting things done involves planning. So if you want to get more done, try planning.

Of course, it might seem impossible to plan when creativity will strike. Don’t wait for creativity to strike. Schedule time on your calendar for writing, researching, filming, and all the other components of the content creation process. Planning will keep you on track and ensure that you meet your goal.

Work in smaller bits

The idea of tackling a big project can be overwhelming. When I talk to people about writing a book, some of them admit that the idea of writing a book from beginning to end seems complicated. The best way to get to the end of big projects is by breaking them up into smaller bits.

By breaking up my larger project into smaller bits, I can focus on one part at a time. In addition, this approach keeps me motivated to get each step done. As I check off each smaller task, I gain momentum and feel inspired to get the entire project done.

Master the art of delegation

Let’s not argue on this one. You have a lot of work to do. However, some people have the skills you need to tackle some of the tasks on your desk. For example, if you are a writer, you could consider hiring someone on Fiverr to tackle the research phase of your project. You could also hire a virtual assistant to vet clients for you before you accept projects. By leveraging the time and talent of others, you could significantly increase your productivity.

Fight the itch to multitask

Too many creatives work like circus jugglers. We create videos, write content, have a full-time job, and tackle multiple client projects simultaneously. Rather than working on one thing at a time, we try to multitask. An article by NPR exposes the myth of multitasking. We often think we are getting a lot done because we are so busy doing many things. Unfortunately, this affects efficiency. Instead, focus on one task at a time.

Using a timer to complete tasks

It’s easy to get carried away with the tasks we enjoy. But, ironically, it is also easy to spend lots of time on tasks that we don’t want. An effective way to maintain efficiency is to set a timer for tasks. For example, suppose you have scheduled one hour in the morning to respond to your community or four hours for blog writing. Set a timer on your phone that will alert you when the time is up. This approach will help to ensure that you do not spend too much time or too little time on tasks.

Becoming more efficient doesn’t happen overnight. Therefore, make sure you extend grace to yourself when you have not as productive days as you’d like. Keep working, keep creating, and keep inspiring those who are watching your story unfold.

November 18, 2021
Top 5 Most Frustrating Writing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Since starting my public relations and corporate communications career more than 28 years ago, I have learned a lot about writing. However, some of my biggest lessons came from writing mistakes I made or those made by others.

Whether you are a creative entrepreneur, blogger, or aspiring writer, there’s always something to learn about writing.

Here are five common writing mistakes that writers should avoid.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase using the links

1. Not starting

So many people who tell me they want to write never seem to get around to writing. They talk about writing. They dream of writing. But they don’t ever write anything.

For every writer, the reasons for not writing may differ. Some writers grapple with procrastination, others with doubt, and for some, it’s fear.

All these reasons are stumbling blocks to realizing your writing dreams. It may be easier said than done, but you must find a way to push past every obstacle and get started.

If you are worried about your skills, there is no shortage of cost-effective online resources to upgrade your writing.

If it’s the fear of rejection that prevents you from taking up your pen or typing the first word, understand that there will always be someone who doesn’t like what you write, and there will be many more who will love your writing.

If it’s procrastination, the age-old thief of time that’s responsible for why you haven’t started writing, then it’s time to get disciplined. Create a morning routine and stick to it. Studies have shown that people with a morning routine are more creative and are more likely to follow through with their predetermined schedules. So, please wake up, level up, be confident and write like your life depends on it.

Just get started.

2. Never making time to write

Another mistake writers make is not making time to write.

I made this mistake for many years. First, I worked all day writing for my full-time job. Next, I spent time after work writing to support my volunteer assignments, which I loved. But by the time I thought about writing, I was too tired or unfocused.

Maybe this is you. You know you should be writing your next blog post, article, or even the text for your ‘About Us page’ for your new website. But instead, your writing takes a back seat to everything that’s happening in your life. This madness must stop.

Schedule time to write, and most importantly, follow through with it. Be disciplined with your schedule, and when it’s time to write, rid yourself of all distractions and create an environment that helps you be productive.

3. Ignoring the prewriting phase

It’s easy for new writers to make the mistake of not prewriting. For some writers, prewriting seems like a waste of time or another obstacle that hinders their writing flow.

But prewriting can be a lifesaver. Prewriting allows you to organize your thoughts, conduct research, create a storyboard and figure out your writing objective and target audience.

Knowing what to write, how to write it, and to whom you’re writing all play a vital part in ensuring your writing is successful.

4. Not knowing your audience

No matter what you decide to write, it’s important to know your audience. During the prewriting stage, do research that helps you fill in the blanks to the following statements:
1. The reader I want to reach reads this genre _______________
2. I plan to write material that helps my readers solve problems like _______________
3. I will study the following magazines or books to understand my reader better ________________
Always keep your target reader at the heart of everything you write.

5. Not Marketing Yourself as a Writer

Once you decide to become a writer, don’t be afraid to market yourself as a writer.

In the early days of my writing life, I rarely used the “W” word to describe myself as a writer. But once I got serious about starting a writing business, I changed my mindset. If I wanted people to take me seriously as a writer, I had to first take myself seriously.

After setting up my business’s public relations and corporate communications side, I established a dedicated writing business to write nonfiction and fiction books. Next, I created separate social media pages and invested in online advertising to promote my books. Finally, I launched my website and blog to support both sides of my business.

Are there other mistakes writers make? Sure. I didn’t write this post to belabor the point. Instead, I wanted to inspire anyone who dreams of writing to take the next small step. I am a firm believer that it is never too late to write the next chapter of your life or renew your interest in your dreams. Go for it!
November 11, 2021
How to Be More Creative When you Feel Uninspired
It’s hard to be creative when you feel uninspired. If you are a writer, blogger, professional, or any type of creative, you know what I mean.

Since the start of the year, my creative flow has been moving along nicely. As a result, I was making progress towards my 2020 vision. However, the world suddenly came to a halt. Before I knew it, my state was under a shelter-in-place order. And, while I appreciate the plans put in place to save my life and the lives of others, the truth was that I felt cut off from the world.

All of my well-thought-out plans had to wait while I watched the world around me change. Without hesitation, I turned my attention to taking care of my family, friends, and neighbors.

After helping people find the information they wanted or the food and supplies they needed, I realized I needed to get back to my 2020 goals.

But how? My mind was consumed with the world around me. As a result, my creative flow took a hit. I had to find my creative groove.

This post outlines the seven steps I took to regain control of my creative flow.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

How to be more creative when you feel uninspired

Turn to other writers for inspiration.

Reading books by other writers is a great way to find inspiration. While I am a big fan of mysteries, I decided to explore a variety of genres. One of the books it turned to was a DiAnn Mills romantic suspense novel, Fatal Strike. The story is about a killer on the loose in Galveston, Texas, using a fatal injection of snake venom to take down law enforcement officials.

Fatal Strike by DiAnn Mills

This book got my creative juices flowing. Here’s a list of the other books I read:

Our Witness to the World: Equipping the Church for Evangelism and Social Impact by Tony Evans

The Esther Anointing: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Courage, and Influence Kindle Edition by Michelle McClain

Heal Your Self With Journaling Power by Mari L. McCarthy

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need by Jessica Brody.

Poilâne: The Secrets of the World-Famous Bread Bakery by Apollonia Poilâne

Use the cross-fertilization method to find inspiration

No matter what type of writer you are, it’s essential to feed your creative curiosity by listening to others. The cross-fertilization method involves listening to someone from industries or professions not related to yours. The key is hearing different perspectives on business or life.

Therefore, I found an article in Entrepreneur magazine highlighting Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia’s plan to revamp Dwayne’s career. Their strategy: rethink everything! The article was so inspiring. As a result, I developed a new presentation to help people prepare for the next chapter of their lives (see also ‘How To Plan For The Next Chapter Of Your Life‘).

Entrepreneur Magazine April/May 2020

Shift your writing space

Do you write in the same place every time you write? In the early days of building my writing routine, I would write in the same place. However, once I was in quarantine, I felt unmotivated to write in the same place every day. For inspiration, I tried writing in different areas around my house. It worked! Moving from one side of the room to the other helped me to explore new ideas while writing.

Adobe stock

Join other writers virtually

If you cannot collaborate with other writers face-to-face, take advantage of opportunities to meet virtually. I am a big fan of Jeff Goins and his writing journey. On Friday, March 20, Jeff held a free digital meetup for writers and creatives. Using Zoom, Jeff encouraged everyone to work on one thing they had been struggling to start. Being in the virtual meeting room with other creatives was so motivating. I actually finished writing a client blog post ahead of schedule.

Use mind mapping to brainstorm new ideas

A mind map is a chart that visually displays ideas. While some people like to create mind maps using notebook paper and pens, I like using an online mind mapping tool called MindMeister. Once you decide which tool to use, here’s how mind mapping works:

1) Write the topic in the middle of your paper or screen.

2) Draw lines that point away from the center. Each line expresses one thought or idea related to the subject. Use keywords to write these ideas onto each line.

3) From each line, add more ideas. There is no limit to the number of levels in a mind map.

4) Use pictures, colors, and icons to help bring your map to life.

Mind mapping was an excellent way for me to explore new ideas. Below is one mind map I started for a book idea.

MindMeister is a great mind mapping tool.

Write Your Way Free

Freewriting is a good exercise to get the creative juices flowing. During a freewriting session, I set a timer for a certain amount of time like 5, 10, or 15 minutes. Once the timer goes off, I give myself a 5 or 10-minute break. When I write for 45 minutes, I take a 15-minute break. During a freewriting session, I sometimes write about a specific topic or use a writing prompt. With freewriting, I don’t worry about editing, grammar or punctuation. From start to finish, I just write and don’t stop.
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Keep a gratitude journal

I am a firm believer in the power of journaling. Not only can journaling help you deal with your emotions, but it can also help change your mindset about every aspect of your life. Being in quarantine was an excellent opportunity for me to write about a variety of things. Writing in my gratitude journal helped me put everything in perspective. I was able to write about the things that I was most grateful for like waking up every morning. As part of your journaling practice, you can use loose-leaf paper or a regular notebook. I love using a variety of journals and notebooks, including the Erin Condren Petite Gratitude Journal.

Erin Condren Petite Gratitude Journal (see also ‘2023 Erin Condren Deluxe Monthly Planner: A Comprehensive Review’)

My time in quarantine has taught me the importance of cultivating creativity. Staying creative for life requires the constant pursuit of new ideas and fresh viewpoints.

What do you think? How are you nurturing and cultivating your creativity?

Share your thoughts in the comments section.
April 22, 2020
How to balance career, family and ministry

This article is posted on the Bookworm Blog as part of my guest blog series.

It’s a juggling act. You have so many relationships to manage, so many work projects, so many ministry activities, so many commitments. How are you supposed to balance career, family, and ministry?

One week, you think you have it all figured out, and the next, you’re confused again. It’s crazy! With so much going on all the time, you wonder if you will ever get a handle on everything.

I have news for you: You are not alone.

See the full article at the Bookworm Blog

November 29, 2018