8 Tips for Content Creators that Actually Work [Interview]
What can you do to build an authentic brand and grow your following on social media? Our interview with an influencer and content creator Claudette Sariya offers great advice.
by Olivia Maurel
As a content creator building your brand, you’ll know how hard it is to gain traction on social media. Online articles offering tips and tricks are often copies of the same generic how-to guides with information you’ve seen a thousand times before. To bridge the gap and help build your following, SiteCare’s Director of Digital Marketing, Courtney Herda, sat down with professional content creator Claudette Sariya to discuss the tips that work.
Click the link above to watch the full interview with Claudette, or scroll below for the Q&As.
Q1. How can I demonstrate authenticity?
The most crucial part of gaining trust online is demonstrating authenticity; people are drawn to creators whose content feels genuine and personable.
Here are five ways to convey authenticity in your brand:
1. Define your niche
What are you passionate about? When defining your brand, it’s always better to position yourself as an expert in one field rather than knowledgeable across multiple topics.
2. Clarify your brand mission
What do you hope to achieve with your brand? Defining your mission and goals will help you create more cohesive content targeted to your specific audience. A consistent message will also build trust and brand recognition among your followers.
3. Build good partnerships
Do the brands you’re partnering with align with your values? External partnerships are great for building a following, but be selective with who you choose and ensure that the companies you partner with always reflect your beliefs.
4. Commit to realistic storytelling
People engage with brands they can relate to, so create content that authentically tells your story. Think about shared experiences or problems within your niche, and use those topics to generate conversation among your followers.
5. Cultivate consistency
You’ve heard it repeatedly, but consistency remains crucial for successful content creation. When planning your content calendar, think about the “Rule of 7,” which states that a potential customer must see a message at least seven times to take action. Not only does consistency help drive followers to act, but it also shows that you believe in your brand.
Q2. Is video content really that important?
The good old days of simply curating a beautiful photo and posting it are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Between TikTok and Instagram Reels, video is arguably the most effective content for views and engagement.
Creating video content doesn’t have to be intimidating, though. Just follow these five tips:
1. Take advantage of apps designed for video
Apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Vixer are great places to start with video content because you don’t necessarily have to create a video beforehand. Jumping on “live” to give your audience a real-time look into your day is a great way to engage followers.
2. Remember, anything can be video content
Understand that anything can be considered b-roll – extra footage that isn’t your main content – and try to record parts of your day as much as possible. If you’re intentional about recording footage, even if it doesn’t seem helpful at that moment, you’ll always have content to edit together when needed.
3. Define the objective
What is the purpose of your video? Don’t make videos just for the sake of posting videos; users are more likely to engage with content they care about. Successful video content usually has one of the following purposes: education, inspiration, or entertainment.
4. Tell a story
Your videos should always tell a story with a clear beginning and end. Plan the entirety of your video before filming and editing to ensure you stay on message and have a clear storyline for your audience to follow.
5. Have a clear call to action
Like written content, your videos should include a clear call to action (CTA) that is easily accessible to users. For example, leave links in your profile bios so users can click through to your profile or website and continue their journey.
Q3. What is the best time to post content?
The age-old question: what time is best to post my content? Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are ways to gauge the best times to post for your specific audience. First, consider when your target audience consumes content throughout their day. If you’re creating content for moms, midday around nap time or evening after bedtime might be good options. If your target audience is young professionals building a career, first thing in the morning while having coffee could be most effective. Don’t be afraid to play around with posting at different times until you find what works best for your brand.
Q4. How often should I post content?
Much like the best times to post, there isn’t a definitive answer to how often you should post content. At the end of the day, quality and consistency are the most important factors; your audience should know where and when they can find helpful content from your brand. Prioritize quality over quantity and remember that one great piece of content per week is better than five bad pieces.
Q5. Should I partner with brands and other creators?
In short – yes! External partnerships are an incredible way to expand your brand’s visibility and grow your following. In addition to brands, don’t be afraid to collaborate with other creators; you’re only competing with yourself when building a following, not other influencers. As you explore different partnerships, follow these tips:
1. Be available
Set up your bio, prepare a media kit before reaching out about any partnerships, and always have your email available.
2. Pitch yourself
Always be ready to sell yourself. Share the how and why of your brand and showcase your following to add value to your partnership.
3. Know your worth
Avoid overwhelming yourself by saying yes to every potential partnership. Understand how much time you have available and gauge whether or not adding a partnership is within your bandwidth.
4. Be timeous and reliable
Ensure you fully understand the requirements and deliverables, and then follow through reliably and promptly.
5. Think ahead
A strong partner shares results preemptively and provides ideas for working together in the future. Plan ahead, and don’t be afraid to make recommendations and suggestions for future projects.
Q6. What platforms should I use?
While there are several different social media platforms, remember that you don’t have to be everywhere at once. Think about your audience and the platform they’re most likely to use, the limitations of each platform compared to your content needs, and your overall capacity for managing multiple accounts.
Q7. What are healthy habits for creativity?
In addition to the above tips, there are a few things you can do as a content creator to keep yourself organized and the creative ideas flowing:
1. Keep a to-do list with reminders
We’re all guilty of believing we can keep track of everything in our head, only to lose track of one thing or another. Avoid missing important dates and tasks with apps like Reminders on your iPhone. If you need something more robust, look into tools like Asana or ClickUp.
2. Create content in “batches”
Completing your photography/videography and editing post by post is time-consuming. Streamline your content creation process by shooting videos and photos for all posts and editing everything simultaneously.
3. Save ideas and inspiration
How often have you had a great idea at an inconvenient time, only to forget about it later? Never lose track of inspiration. Ensure you have a dedicated place to keep your ideas so you can come back and reference them later. Pinterest boards or saving content on Instagram or TikTok are all great ways to keep inspiration on hand.
4. Network
Your network is your net worth, so be intentional about meeting new people and finding creative ways to collaborate. Don’t hesitate to contact other creators or go to creative meet-ups to build your network.
5. Unplug
Avoid creative burnout by giving your brain a rest from churning out new ideas. If you’re feeling stuck, don’t try to force it. Take time away from your project; your creativity will return before you know it.
Q8. What’s next for content creation?
The world of social media is constantly evolving, so it’s hard to definitively say what the next big content creation trend will be. The best way to stay relevant is by paying attention to conversations within your industry, staying engaged with other creators, and showing brands the value of your partnership. Analytics around followers, views, and engagement all help in securing new partners and retaining existing ones.
If keeping up with digital content trends seems overwhelming, contact SiteCare today!
