EP 44 : My Content Creation Journey: Tools, Lessons, and Challenges

This newsletter is brought to you by:

Design Patterns Simplified: In this concise and affordable eBook, you could get the essence of design patterns distilled into an easy-to-digest format.

Top 10 design patterns with just 33 pages, use the code WASEEM for 20% discount

Inside Today’s Inbox ✉️:

• Personal stats
• Tools for content creation
• Advice from my experiences
• Hurdles
• How should you start
• Where ideas flow from for Daily Posts
• How can I generate income as a content creator

I embarked on my content creation journey in December 2022 and have been consistently active since then.

Throughout this period, I’ve achieved significant success across various social media platforms.

While the details of this success aren’t the focus of our discussion today, it’s worth noting the substantial milestones I’ve reached during this time.

Here are some statistics I’ve been tracking since January:

Tools for content creation

Frequently, I’m asked about the tools I utilize for content creation.

To keep it simple, I rely on the following set of tools

1. Carbon website for creating code snippets
2. Canva Pro for designing pictures, opting for its paid version for enhanced flexibility, resizing options, AI features, and a wider array of elements
3. I use a Unicode Text Converter to style my texts occasionally, especially since some social media platforms don’t provide that formatting flexibility

Personal observation based advise

Based on personal observations, here’s some advice:

1. Start with consistent and simple content for initial reach. Gradually mix in a few complex posts each week.
2. Diversify your content to keep your audience engaged. Share images, text, and videos on different days to avoid monotony and appeal to a broader audience.
3. Since most people prefer picture-based posts, consider focusing on high-quality images as your primary content, if it suits your overall theme.
4. Maintain a pre-planned list of topics over the weekend to ensure a constant flow of ideas for your writing and prevent any shortage of content.
5. Initiate regular networking by commenting on others’ posts and reaching out to them in their inbox with a meaningful and relevant context. This approach can create a psychological impression, fostering a sense of familiarity and connection.
6. Create a progress chart as you expand your content (as I provided above) . Note months of substantial growth and analyze the content you posted during those periods. This observational approach helps identify preferred styles and topics that resonate with your audience.
7. I prefer simplicity in my approach, believing that people appreciate it since most individuals lack the time to engage in lengthy narratives.
8. he key to success lies in supporting others’ content to the fullest. Embrace kindness and positivity in your comments — it’s the best way to thrive.

Hurdles

These are some challenges I encountered :

1. Maintaining regularity in content creation can be challenging.
2. Posting new content daily is tough without a well-thought-out schedule.
3. Negative feedback can be hurtful. Ignoring negativity and concentrating on improving future content is the recommended response.

How should you start

I recommend initiating your content strategy on LinkedIn and posting regularly.

Here are the steps :

• Enhance your LinkedIn profile: complete all sections, improve your profile picture and background image. If it’s challenging, seek inspiration from profiles of your favorite creators; for instance, I’ve been following Milan Jovanović and I always try to follow his strategies in my posts.
• Begin sharing one post daily at a consistent time, with a 5-hour interval between each post if you plan to go for 2 posts.
• Feel at ease connecting with content creators for guidance, always being mindful of their precious time. If you ever need assistance, my Inbox is open for you.
• Identify prominent accounts within your niche and consistently engage with their posts to enhance your reach.
• Once you notice that your content is gaining value, consider broadening your presence to other platforms. For instance, I expanded my reach by:

1. LinkedIn ( 3 months)
2. Twitter (4th month)
3. Newsletter (5th month)
4. Website ( 6th month)
5. Medium (7th month — uploaded same content on it that I have been posting on LinkedIn/X)

Where ideas flow from for Daily Posts

To consistently create new posts daily, I draw inspiration from various sources such as:

1. YouTube Channels : Explore the content of renowned creators for fresh perspectives and ideas.
2. Newsletters : Stay updated on niche-specific newsletters to discover trending topics and stay informed
3. Official Documentation : Refer to official documentations for in-depth knowledge and insights, ensuring accurate and valuable content. For instance I refer to Microsoft docs for .NET
4. On-the-Job Insights : While working, jot down ideas that emerge, and incorporate them into your post plan.
5. Books : Extract inspiration from books to add depth and diverse perspectives to your content. Checkout this Repository if you want to find out Books

How can I generate income as a content creator

The most rewarding aspect of content creation is prioritizing quality as a beginner. As your audience expands over time, leverage your following to generate income through the following avenues:

1. Engage in paid posts on platforms like LinkedIn or X.
2. Explore sponsored content opportunities within your newsletters.
3. Establish a YouTube channel and make the most of your growing connections.
4. Initiate a Patreon account, providing exclusive offerings to your supporters.
5. Consider the enduring value of AdSense earnings from your blogging website

I trust these insights will aid in your growth. That’s all for today; let’s reconvene in the coming year for the next episode of this newsletter. Until then stay awesome!

Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. Promote yourself to 8700+ subscribers by Sponsoring my Newsletter
2. Get a FREE eBook from Gumroad that contains 30 .NET Tips (3K+ downloads)
3. Become a Patron (If my content was helpful) and get access to 180+ .NET Questions and Answers

Special Offers

1. Pragmatic Clean Architecture: Learn how to confidently ship well-architected production-ready apps using clean architecture. [ 10% discount with promo code MUWAS]
2. Ultimate ASP.NET Core Web API Second Edition — Premium Package [10% discount with promo code 9s6nuez]

Those who are disappointed are indeed the ones astray from the mercy of their Lord - Quran