Edition 16: Dipping Your Toes Into the Content Creation Waters and Embracing the Weirdness
If you're not already creating content, no one said you have to dive in head-first. Dip your toes in the water and embrace the weird.
There’s a little voice swimming around in your head saying:
“They’re going to judge you.”
“They’re going to say: “What in the hell is this person talking about?”
“They’re going to ignore you.”
A lot of the fear of creating content for the first time is the idea that people will judge you, that they’ll wonder out loud what the hell you’re talking about, and worse yet, they’ll flat out ignore you.
None of these are true.
But they’re what the little voice in the back of your head tells you that convinces you from getting started.
And, no one said you have to dive straight into the deep end.
Instead, you can do a few little things to dip your toes in the water, get comfortable, and then start moving full steam ahead.
Commenting Is Content, and a Great Way to Get Comfortable
A great way to get comfortable adding your two cents on social media is to comment on other people’s content. But, unfortunately, the tendency you see on many comments is saying something empty and quick like “I agree” or “100%” or whatever.
That’s pretty pointless, honestly.
It doesn’t add anything to the conversation and shows that you’re doing drive-by commenting to game the algorithms. If you’re going to take the time to leave comments, do it right!
Read all of the posts on which you’re going to comment. Carefully read. Determine the author’s intent. What they’re trying to communicate, and how your comment can add value to the conversation. Then speak your mind, add perspective based on your knowledge, and be confident in your responses.
As I outlined last week, make sure to save all of these comments into a swipe file so you can refer back to them later.
The more you comment, the more you’ll get comfortable with how you “sound,” and that knowledge puts you one step closer to creating content that’s yours.
When You’re Ready to Start Creating, Embrace the Weird!
When you're creating content and establishing your “brand,” the best thing you can do is embrace your weirdness. This may sound a little strange on the surface, but the longer I’m on social media, the more I believe it.
The people I identify with the most and enjoy, are weird.
And unabashedly so.
The more you try to stifle your natural voice or fit it into the pretty little boxes that other people expect, the more frustrated you’ll get with the process.
We’re all a little weird.
When you embrace the weird, that authentic part of your personality will come through your character online.
The more you try to stifle it, the less likely people will feel drawn to you and be able to connect with what you have to say.
I’m done trying to walk the fine lines and will be embracing my weirdness more and more as time goes on in my content, and I encourage you to do the same.
The Difference Between Instant Gratification and Incremental Gratification
We've all gotten addicted to something since the dawn of social media.
Its rewired our brain chemistry and the way we interact.
Its affected sleep, mental health, and well-being.
It's not reality; it's an artificial state.
Instant gratification.
Instant gratification force-feeds a flood of dopamine.
It feels fantastic, but that feeling is fake.
It's not eternal; it's ephemeral.
Ok smart guy: What should we be chasing then?
Incremental gratification.
Instant gratification is like taking the wrong drugs.
Incremental gratification makes small wins your drug.
Instant gratification provides a false sense of reality.
Incremental gratification helps you learn from reality.
Instant gratification accentuates the highs and lows.
Incremental gratification dulls the highs and lows.
Instant gratification helps you build a "God complex."
Incremental gratification helps you build a "We complex."
When you lean on instant gratification, you'll constantly search for false highs and want to shrug off the learning moments that the lows provide.
When you lean on incremental gratification, you'll get better piece by piece, face life as it comes at you, and cherish the moments when things go well because they are REAL.
Announcing the Launch of Content Snacks!
The LinkedIn algorithm is a fickle friend.
Sometimes it works in your favor. Other times not so much.
Along those lines, I'm thrilled to introduce Content Snacks!
🍪 What are Content Snacks?
Content Snacks are high-impact, bite-sized tips delivered fresh to your LinkedIn DMs 3 times per week every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon.
🤔 Why Should I Subscribe?
You'll receive tips on LinkedIn, building your brand, content marketing, relationship building, mindset, sales, lead generation, and so much more from specially-selected Content Snacks members (and from me 🙂)
No more having to depend on your LinkedIn feed to get the best content that's available!
Content Snacks amplify your LinkedIn experience for a few bucks a month!
🎖 What Else Do I Get?
As a Content Snacks member, you're automatically also a Content Snacks contributor, able to share your best tips with our membership community straight to their LinkedIn DMs to build exposure for who you are and what you do.
All you have to do is fill out a Submit a Snack form and get added to the queue for your snack to be shared with our members.
You'll also receive access to the Content Snacks Archive on Airtable, no matter when you subscribe, to see all of the snacks that have ever been created!
🦎 You get all this for only $9 a month via a recurring subscription payment setup in your PayPal account (PayPal or credit card).
Let's flip the LinkedIn algorithm on its head and build a community that lifts each other through best practices, our most impactful tips and tricks, and a collective body of knowledge!
The Tuesday Tactics Newsletter is Live!
Edition 2 of the Tuesday Tactics newsletter hit inboxes on the 10th! It’s fun to work on something new and provide purely tactical tips and tricks to folks who have that preference.
If you’re finding Content Notes a little too fluffy these days, or want something GIFless, consider grabbing a subscription to Tuesday Tactics below.
PS: You can check out the first couple of editions to get a feel without having to subscribe when you visit the page on Substack - one of Substack’s cooler features.
Til next week:
Ignore the stupid little voices in the background. You have something unique and special to offer through your voice!
Commenting is content. It’s a great way to dip your toes into the water before you fully commit to creating your own.
When you do create, embrace the weird. Please stop trying to fit yourself into the pretty little boxes that are expected of us.
Also, I’d LOVE to hear your feedback about Content Notes!
Like the GIFs? Think they’re annoying as hell?
Taking any value out of the content?
Too afraid to unsubscribe even though you hate it?
Hit me up at kris@krishughes.com and let me know.
I want to make this what y’all want it to be, so we all have a good time with it!
Happy Weekend!