Is this you?

You’re aiming to create content that’s engaging, attractive, and aligns with platform trends for maximum exposure, but the desired ‘results’ remain elusive. Now is an ideal moment to assess your content. It’s easy to veer off course from our initial focus. Here are some questions and examples to guide you back on track.

Auditing Your Content, Not Performance

Our aim is to bring your mind back to square one, the beginning. Engage your introspective self as you ponder these questions.

1. Does your content feel authentic, original, and reveal your personality?
2. How could you communicate this better?
3. Does this feel on brand? (Does if fit the feel of what you’re trying to portray?)

Before you start looking at the amplification of your content we need to make sure it’s foundation is solid. You may or may not have felt this, but trying to make content when you aren’t anchored or engaged with your core message can feel .. not great. You’re not super confident in it, you’re kind of using that voice that comes out every time you hit record. You know the one, that ‘reporter’ or high pitch thing that really isn’t how you talk with customers or clients.

From someone who has been behind the camera for years, I can tell you that you’re not the only one who has it. The goal is to tether you back to your core foundation and remind you who you’re talking to and why you’re making content for them.

It’s no uncommon that in the search to produce more and ‘better’ content you’ve found that you feel a little lost and that nothing is working. You have just lost ‘the spark’ that makes it feel good or a little nervous because you know there’s a little bit of who you truly are in that piece of content.

Have no fear, we’re here to bring you back!

Authentic, Original Content

In the auditing of your content, you may find that you cringe a little bit. Now, we’re looking beyond the superficial stuff like; hair, lighting, etc. If that cringe feeling is because you’re saying or doing something that doesn’t feel natural or true to who you are then it’s time to dig deeper. Lean into that feeling and probe the depths of exactly what it was.

If you’re able to find it, the next step is answering: How would you do it differently?

This is the true audit of your content. Many will review content, but auditing is the critique and correction. Here’s what you may find; phrases that could be replaced that you didn’t realize you used a lot, the tone in which you communicate, negative self talk, nervous ramblings, and more.

The goal with this audit of your content is to hone in the true message and authenticity. You and those closest to you are the best judges of that. If this exercise is difficult, then maybe reach out to someone close to you who can give you some honest feedback.

Remember, the better you can tether yourself to your core message and self, the better your content will be at finding the right people.

Better Communication

I want to challenge the way you look at content for a second.

How well something is communicated isn’t just the words spoken! Here’s what better communication could entail: the medium in which it’s delivered, the platform, the size of the font, the music, the composition, the speed, the colors, the copy, the line breaks, the words used, it’s endless.

Let’s break this down to one example: Instagram Reels

You have up to 90 seconds to communicate a message. This message could be B-Roll, a talking head clip, tutorial, screen recording, etc.

If your message that you’re trying to get across to someone is to illustrate how easy it is to improve the SEO on their site, here are some variations that could help with ‘communicating better.’

1. A Hook – Relevant, includes key words (which website platform are you talking about), and tells them the value if you keep watch.
   • The hook can include contextual images, animation of text, movement, etc.
2. Simple – Honing down the words used, simplifying the steps, illustrating the navigation of where to go.
3. Mix – Use a variety of audio, video, graphics, and text to illustrate the point

Many of us get caught up on ‘the point’ we’re trying to make and forget to review it from a ‘content consumer’ standpoint. If you can start auditing your content through that lens, it will help improve the simplicity of the content.

On Brand Content

Depending on where you are in business this can be easier or harder to identify.

Even for The Makery Company we’re just now slipping into a stream on content the is on brand.

What is ‘on brand content’?

Brand, much like ‘better communication’ is a mixture of intangibles that are used in a way that portrays a ‘sense’ or ‘feeling’ to a viewer.

Examples: Fonts, Lights, Colors, Style, Quality, Raw, Polished, Energetic, Professional, Reserved, etc.

The culmination of who you are or what the brand represents to those around you.

If you currently have customers who are the people you do your best work with and would love more of them… tap into that.

If you don’t, then you can totally do this exercise with one that isn’t a client, but instead this is a mock conversation you would have with them.

Starting imagining this conversation with them as it relates to; what work do you do for them?, how are their needs or desires being met?, how did you know what they needed?, what feedback did they have?, what struggles did you have to overcome while finding the solution?, when you first started working with them what questions did you ask?

This question should put you on the right track!

Start creating pieces of content that answer these in a manner that you would talk to them. Countless clients have said these words, “I’m so good in front of clients or on the phone. I’m confident, I’m empathetic, I like the way I sound in those conversations. Why can’t I just do that when I make content?”

Everyone runs into some variation of these problems and the trick is to keep trying multiple ways to create that content. Much of what we do at The Makery Company is engineer the content to fit their personalities. If you need prompted, then find a setup that works for that.

Once you can start answering these questions and producing this type of content, then it just becomes a matter of delivery and tactics. The content doesn’t change, just style in which it’s delivered to them does.

Have more questions related to making content? Reach out to us and schedule a call.