How can a content creator boost work volume in current times?

November 10, 2020

How can a content creator boost work volume in current times?

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, everyone from teachers to students to business owners to employees to consumers were left with only one place to go for all their shopping, education, and entertainment needs – online.

This resulted in more digital content consumption than ever before. A news report analyzing content consumption behavior in the first quarter of 2020 by Vidooly and Mindshare India found that the average user spent about 4 hours on social media platforms each day compared to the previous duration of 1.5 hours.

New Challenges for a content creator

As people continue to spend more time online, content creators are facing the unique challenge of having to churn out higher volumes of content to keep their audiences engaged and connected. While content marketing is changing the game and continually reinventing ways for brands and companies to reach their audiences, higher volumes would certainly be welcomed by content creators.

But how can they do more in a limited time? If you’re a content creator, here are a few tips to help you optimize work volumes in current times to generate more business.

Limit your time on projects

As a content creator, especially the freelance kind, you would realize that time is money. But if you are frivolous with your time, your income could be hit hard. Limiting the time you spend on your content marketing projects can ensure better use of your efforts and creative power. Of course, you would want to spend adequate time on your projects to give it your best; which is fine. A few extra hours would not do much damage. But if you’re spending far too much time on the output and the income isn’t proportionate, re-evaluate why this is so. Budget the time you spend on certain projects so that you can take up more work, which can increase your business and add to your portfolio.

Marie Kondo your schedule

Being organized is perhaps something that many content creators strive for, but few master. That, however, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a try. Organizing your work tasks can help keep your mind on track, and let you allocate the amount of time you need to spend on each task. By researching the topics, listing down essential points, and eliminating the non-essential information right at the beginning, your content creation process can become smoother and more efficient. This will not only help in creating better quality content but can meet your client’s needs more efficiently.

Being organized is perhaps something that many content creators strive for, but few master. Click To Tweet

Use content marketing tools

A significant part of boosting productivity is using effective content tools that can improve your creation process and ensure better quality. Let’s look at some of them.

SEMrush gives you an insight into your competitors’ traffic on Google and their ranking based on the keywords. It’s great for optimizing your content to make it more visible.
BuzzSumo provides inclusive data on content marketing strategies, and also allows you to see what other creators are engaging with.
HubSpot Blog Ideas Generator helps you with ideas by entering just one keyword. It’s ideal if you’re facing writer’s block and need some inspiration.
Trello is a great management tool that allows you to list down your tasks and organize them in a way that best suits you.

Of course, there are other tools you can use as well, depending on what you need them to do for you. You can even mention that you use specific tools while working on content projects. This can show existing and potential clients that you are serious about quality.

Upsell your abilities

It’s quite likely that you are trying to boost productivity because you want to increase your current work volume. Well, upselling to current clients is a great way to get started. If you share a good rapport with a client, talk to them about other content projects that they have and if you can assist them, or any particular challenges they may be facing. If you find that you can help them fill the gap with skills of your own, propose the idea.

For instance, while you may be offering only written content services, you might also be capable of design work. Let your client know about it, just in case it can solve an issue they are facing. This can increase the scope of your business and revenue. However, be mindful of the fact that current times could limit the budget or increase pressure on your clients. So, don’t push too hard if their response doesn’t seem too positive.

Revitalize older content

While boosting work volume for your clients, don’t forget to do a little more for yourself. If you have a blog or website that has content you created years ago, don’t let it lie idle. It could have beneficiary relevance today. So set aside some time to revisit old content that you created and tweak it with updates, new information, and relevant keywords. It could prove to be useful to new and older audiences if done correctly.

You can also consider refurbishing old content by altering headlines and adding new graphs, charts, and designs that increase its visual and contextual appeal. These steps could make such content more searchable and increase views on your page.

If you have a blog or website that has content you created years ago, don't let it lie idle Click To Tweet

Content creator skills to pick up

Content marketing and the creation process can be both exciting and draining. To keep your level of productivity consistent, it is important to take a break from the screen and reboot your mind. A good idea is to set aside time each week to learn something you don’t already know, from new content formats to studying strategies. Look for courses that can help you upskill and increase your offerings because at the end of the day, content is continuously evolving and there’s always something new to learn.

By creating a good content marketing strategy and using the tips suggested above, you can be sure to boost your productivity and work volume without falling short of what the audiences want.