It doesn’t matter what type of content you’re creating:
- Newsletters
- Blogs
- Twitter posts
- TikTok videos
Consistency is key.
When you create content consistently, you have more shots on goal. More people will see and consume your content, giving you better feedback about what resonates and what doesn’t.
You improve your chances of reaching as many people as possible, as often as possible.
But when you’re starting out as a creator, it can be hard to find your consistent groove.
As a young writer I struggled to write one newsletter per week. When I finished, I always felt like I had just used up my “last good idea”.
But the more I practiced consistently, the easier it got. I found myself creating more and better content in less time. I realized I’m capable of producing infinite good ideas – I just had to train my brain to think of them through consistent practice.
Here are 4 ways to create more consistent content for your online business…
1. The 33 minute, 33 second rule
I first learned this from legendary copywriter, Eugene Schwartz.
Here’s how it works…
You sit down to start creating. Set a timer \ to 33 minutes and 33 seconds.
Close your door, close all browsers on your laptop and promise yourself you will not open them until the timer is up.
Then start writing.
All you’re allowed to do for the next 33 minutes, 33 seconds is write.
No more going to the refrigerator every 5 minutes, or checking your emails. This will keep you focused on the task at hand. You’ll be shocked at how much great content you can create in a focused, uninterrupted half hour.
2. Habits > Discipline
Even the most disciplined people aren’t as disciplined as you’d think.
This is something I learned in James Clear’s book: Atomic Habits.
Instead of relying on discipline, focus on building habits. When something becomes a habit, you no longer need discipline to do it. You no longer need to rely on motivation, which comes and goes, to do it.
You just do it.
The habit I formed was to wake up between 5am-5:30am every morning and spend the first 2 hours of my day writing or editing. Nothing else.
At first it was hard. Now it’s a habit. It’s something I just do.
3. Writing is a muscle, you must exercise it
Write every day of the week if you can.
I can’t do that now that I have kids. But I still stick to writing at least 5 or 6 days a week.
When you write consistently, you’ll build that muscle. It’ll always be strong and ready to go.
The opposite happens when you’re not creating consistently. It’s easy to lose your skills when you don’t continue to sharpen them. If you skip 3 or 4 days in a row, that can quickly become your new habit. That’s unavoidable sometimes. When it happens, break it as fast as you can – and get back to your good habit.
I’m always surprised how much worse my writing is if I take a few days off. My brain locks up – it’s like I lost 20 IQ points.
I think “writer’s block” is almost always a result of not writing enough.
It’s also worth adding that bad content (especially bad writing) is contagious. Avoid it.
By “bad” I mean – confusing, flowery, self indulgent, and self-conscious.
Good writing is clear, useful, and focused on what’s relevant to the reader.
To write better, read other great writers.
4. Don’t insist on perfection
Creators are often their own worst critic.
We’re always fighting between tweaking & updating vs. hitting publish.
What you create on any given day is influenced by your mental state, how much rest you’ve had, and many other things outside of your control.
Sometimes I’ll write something… and I’m certain it’s terrible.
Then I sleep… wake up… read it with a fresh brain… and think… this is pretty good!
I almost can’t believe I wrote it.
I don’t know why our brains work this way. But they do.
This freaks some people out. They end up changing their mind and editing a piece endless times.
I know I’m in this frame of mind when I’m making tiny, meaningless tweaks to my letter.
I change commas to dashes… then I change them back to commas.
That’s how I know it’s probably time to hit “publish.”
Because publishing something ‘good enough’ today is better than publishing something perfect next week.