Creating Content Doesn't Have to Be Time-Consuming. Here's How to Maximize Your Efficiency and Time. Social media can be an effective way to reach new audiences, but creating content can eat up a lot of time. Here's how to create it in bulk so you can consistently show up.
By Hollie Kitchens Edited by Kara McIntyre
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Do you feel like you're stuck in a content rut, never having enough time to create new and fresh content? Don't worry; you're not alone. Creating content can be time-consuming, but it doesn't have to be. There are ways to batch-create content so that you have a content bank to draw from when you need it.
Why is content creation so important? It is another way of inbound marketing, and by producing content, you may engage readers in meaningful ways, such as giving out free and helpful information to your audience and drawing new visitors to your website. Consistent content creation is one of the best ways to grow your audience. It is a cost-effective way to reach your target audience, drawing in new clients and keeping existing ones interested. Each of these results is crucial for your bottom line to increase and improve. When you share helpful, valuable content regularly, people will begin to see you as an expert in your field and will be more likely to follow you and engage with your content.
Creating content doesn't have to be a daunting task. Creating all of your visuals and social media captions at once is known to be really helpful for everyone. You'll spend one batch of time making a week's worth of posts on any social media platform instead of an hour planning, producing, and posting just one. By following these tips, you can batch-create content and save yourself time in the process.
Not sure where to start? Let's dive in.
Related: How to Make Great Content — And Get More Views
Tools and tips to batch-create content
Planning is key when it comes to batch-creating content. You need to have a clear vision for what you want to achieve with your content. Once you know your goals, you can start brainstorming ideas and creating a content calendar.
First, get clear on who you serve; this is the first step in content creation. The goal of your content is to connect and add value to potential clients and customers. If you don't know your target audience, it will be difficult to create content that resonates with them. Promoting your content can encourage people to read or share them, mostly with people who resonate with you. To identify the people you're serving, list the principles, beliefs and tenets that represent your brand and the topics that interest your target audience.
Before you start creating content, it's important to have a content strategy in place. Without a blueprint, a sketch or a mission statement, you wouldn't begin construction on a house, a sculpture or a business. Therefore, no material should be created without a plan. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing track of your goal. Content strategy will save you time in the long run and help you stay focused on creating content that is aligned with your business goals.
Some content ideas to get you started:
- How-to blog posts
- Product reviews
- Interviews with experts in the industry
- Tutorials
- Resource list
- User stories
- Behind the scenes look at your business
- Case studies
- Long for content
Related: 5 Strategies for Creating Epic Content Marketing on a Tight Budget
Once you understand who you serve and what content strategies you will implement to reach them, it's time to brainstorm the pieces of content. This will include topics and bullet points of them. You can use your core keyword to develop a pillar piece that thoroughly discusses the subject, for example, how-to blog posts. Then, you can produce condensed content like infographics, such as Instagram carousel posts and/or Instagram or Facebook stories. These will aid readers in learning more about the subject and focusing on lengthy keywords.
If you're at a loss for words, you might want to think about finding inspiration in books you've read, market research reports, the websites of your rivals or relevant searches on search engine results pages. Once you've written down all of your ideas, you may create an editorial schedule and go to work on your projects. After the planning portion is done, it's time to create the content.
Tools for batching content:
- Ring light: Having great lighting is key for creating content. If you plan on doing a lot of video content, invest in a ring light. This will help you get clear, professional-looking videos without having to hire a videographer.
- Tripod: A tripod is another must-have if you're planning on creating a lot of videos. It will help keep your camera steady and ensure that your videos are high quality.
- Microphone: If you're doing any kind of video content, you'll need a microphone. This will help ensure that your audio is clear and professional-sounding.
Related: Are You Creating Content for Human Consumption? Let's Find Out.
Apps and tech for batching content:
- Canva: Canva allows users to easily create visuals for their content. You can create graphics, logos and images for your blog posts, social media and more without having to hire a designer.
- Splice: Splice is an editing app you can use to edit your videos from your phone. This tool is especially useful if you want to create quick videos for social media or your blog.
- Rev.com: Rev.com is a transcription service that can transcribe your audio and video content into text. This is a great way to repurpose content and make it more accessible to your audience.
- Facebook Business Suite: The Business Suite is a free tool from Facebook that lets you create and schedule content for your business' Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Now that you know some content creation tips and tools, it's time to get started. Creating a content bank will save you time and help you grow your audience. So what are you waiting for? Start batch-creating your content.