Give advice to your former self
Deciding what to create content about holds so many creatives back in the beginning.
Imposter syndrome causes many people to take the “safe route.” It’s easier not to step on anyone’s toes.
And even when you do create content – how do you do so in a way that remains fun and exciting for years to come?
“How can I create content around my interests?
How can I position my perspective to help others – rather than brag about myself?”
I think both of these things are solved with this simple mindset shift:
Create content that gives advice to your former, present or future self.
Creating Your Niche of One
The best way to build a personal brand is to create a “niche of one.”
The idea behind this term is that each person is unique – and therefore able to provide a unique perspective that no one can replicate.
Instead of choosing a specific niche (as you would in a traditional business), you are able to “become” the niche, and share whatever is relevant to you.
As a personal brand:
- your goal is the lifestyle you strive for
- your content and products share your methods of getting there
No one can replicate this unique series of activities, skills, and discoveries that you find.
Because of this, competition is irrelevant. You are unlike anyone else. Your story is special.
Monetize Your Personal Brand: Market To Yourself
In order to monetize this personal brand, you can position your content, messaging, and products to yourself.
- What kind of things are you attracted to?
- When you purchase something, why do you purchase it?
- What goals are important to you?
- What lifestyle is most fulfilling to you?
- What difficulties have you had to overcome?
Ask yourself these questions the next time you want to attract new leads – and then write with the answers in mind.
This is how you attract people who are similar to you. Because if something works for you, it will work for others. Your goal is to attract others who are similar to you.
What kind of things would have helped you 5 years ago? Create those things.
This is the art of reverse engineering:
- Find things that you’re naturally drawn to (social media posts, videos, thumbnails, courses, physical products, etc)
- Think about why you like that specific thing (is it because of color, wording, design, outcome, benefit?)
- Create an ongoing list of these things you’re likely to interact with (so you have endless inspiration to create from)
- Recreate your own products, videos, social posts, or content with a similar feel as these things.. but from your own perspective
Copy with taste, don’t copy and paste. This is how anyone else creates anything.
Find inspiration from multiple sources, remix them together, and create something new.
Takeaways For You
Whether you’re just getting started with creating content, have been doing it for years – remember this one thing:
Add value to your former, present, or future self.
Regardless of who reads it, it will be beneficial to many others beyond yourself.
And we all get by with a little help from our friends.
–Eric Pfohl