Many writers struggle to write their own marketing content. They feel like everything has already been said.
But honestly, this is just a story they tell themselves. Nothing more.
Because it’s not true. There are all kinds of interesting things they—and you—could write about. But if you set your standards impossibly high, you’ll never write your own content.
In today’s article, I share two practical tips to debunk the idea there’s nothing left to write about.
Tip #1: Schedule Thinking Time
My first tip is to schedule time into your week to think about your content. Give yourself at least 30 minutes—or, ideally, a full hour.
Kickstart the process by reading something inspirational, spiritual, practical or business-related. After 20 minutes of reading, stop and write down your thoughts about what you just read or anything else that comes to mind.
Sometimes, I’ll just do stream-of-consciousness writing to empty the accumulated trash in my head (yes, it’s a bit of a mess up there!).
Other times, I’ll think through how I handled a difficult client situation or helped a client through a tough challenge they were facing.
It’s helpful to do this thinking away from your desk. Move to the next room, go to your patio or outside for a walk. If you’re walking, capture your thoughts in a voice memo or a series of voice memos.
Initially, it was hard for me to schedule these sessions into my day. It sounded like such a waste of time! But these days, these sessions are some of the most productive and valuable time of my work week.
Tip #2: Use Client Conversations as Fodder
My second tip is to use client or prospect conversations as fodder for your content.
Think through recent conversations you’ve had with clients where you discussed an idea, a challenge, an opportunity—really, anything.
How did the conversation go?
Think about what you discussed. What ideas did you suggest? How did you decide to tackle the project?
Many of these conversations can be turned into short articles (without revealing the name of the client or any other identifying information).
By sharing these experiences and conversations, you show future clients how you think. And how you think can be a huge differentiator—it sets you apart from the many other writers and content marketing specialists in the marketplace.
I often use client scenarios in my own content. I never reveal the client’s identity without their permission. But I can still share the core idea and thinking. And because these conversations are situational, it makes the content unique and captivating.
Content Opportunities are Everywhere
So . . . no more excuses. Schedule a bit of thinking time into your week. Even half an hour would do as a start.
And start thinking through the client conversations you’ve had recently. Train yourself to be on the lookout for those and keep notes of what you discussed.
Trust me, the more you practice doing this, the easier it is to write your own content.
You have so much great stuff to share with the world. You just have to get it out of your head!
By the way… whenever you’re ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your freelance business:
1. Grab a free copy of my book.
It’s called Earn More in Less Time: The Proven Mindset, Strategies and Actions to Prosper as a Freelance Writer. The title says it all. 😉 — Click Here
2. Join my implementation program and be a case study.
I’m putting together a new implementation group this month. If you’re earning $5k+/month (or the part-time equivalent) from your freelance business … and you’d like to grow your income quickly with better clients … just email me at [email protected]
3. Work with me privately.
If you’re a 6-figure writer who’s trying to earn more in less time, with less stress, I might be able to help you get there faster than you think. Just email me at [email protected] and put “Breakthrough” in the subject line, and I’ll get back to you with more details.
