5 Lessons From 2 years of Content Creation
Yesterday marked the 2 years of me opening my Facebook Page and Youtube Channel. I have been learning the art of videography since 2016 but I started to organize it better in one platform since 2018.
Today I want to share 5 lessons I have learned in the past 2 years creating content on the internet. These 5 lessons are for beginners just like me!
1. You are going to create rubbish (at the beginning):
Photo by Jordan Beltran on Unsplash
When you are at the beginning of your content creation journey you will create a lot of rubbish. You will cringe at your first few pieces of content once you look back. But that rubbish that you create is the start and it is the most important. Don’t let your fear of creating mediocre content stop you from creating.
At the beginning you just need to keep on creating. Because that is when you start learning by doing. No matter how many tutorials you watch online, the most important thing you can do for yourself is to start. So, if you are someone in a similar position like me 2 years ago, start now.
2. Everyone will have an opinion:
Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash
When you start doing something on the internet, always keep in mind that everyone will have an opinion. Whether it is positive or negative, everyone will have one. For this reason you need to develop a thick skin and ignore the opinions. When you are at the beginning of your journey you need to keep your head down and keep creating. A lot of people told me to do a lot of different things with my content. I never listened. I kept on creating what I wanted to create.
It’s not just negative opinions. Sometimes it’s good not to settle on positive opinions too. It might make you complacent and make you happy with the level you reached. But if you are in the creative field you will always want to level-up.
When you start creating content and you don’t see the numbers rising it can be very discouraging. The truth is numbers are important and you need to have a plan for growth of your content. But you shouldn’t let the numbers stop you from creating. I haven’t had much growth in the past 2 years in terms of numbers but in terms of skill I have grown a lot. I have learned more in the past 2 years than the numbers show. I never looked at the numbers because they weren’t part of my plan. My plan was to learn and grow. Numbers were secondary.
But I will admit, if you are planning to make a career out of content creation, you need to keep numbers in mind more than I did. In my case enjoying the journey and learning was more important. In your case it might be different. But whatever plan you have in mind, never let the numbers dictate your content.
4. Done is better than perfect
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
I know a lot of content creators who strive for perfection. The content they create is amazing. But the problem with perfection is that, it kills a lot of great ideas. At the beginning I dropped a lot of projects because I didn’t have the perfect idea, the perfect shot or the perfect edit. But slowly I realized that getting them done would have been way better than wasting time not doing.
The great thing about imperfect content is that there is always room for improvement. Those are the areas we can improve and eventually learn and grow as a creative. So when you are starting off, just keep on creating. Getting things done, instead of waiting for perfection.
5. Work with others
Photo by Aubrey Odom on Unsplash
The final lesson is working with others. The best part about being a creative in this era is the amount of opportunities you get to work with others. Everyone brings something different to the table. So it’s an exciting opportunity for you to connect with them, create, learn and grow together. That’s the best thing you can do.
When you are looking for people to collaborate with try to first look for people among your friends. In this way you will have better communication. Then slowly look for people on a similar journey. Find them and connect with them. You won’t get response from everyone but the ones you do will be start of a new network. Never shy away from an opportunity.
Photo by Prateek Katyal on Unsplash
Being a creative in this era is one of the most exciting things. If you are at the start of your journey and need any help let’s connect. I would love to talk and help out in any way! Thank you!