Learning how to save time on content creation is one of the most valuable processes a small business owner can master for the long-term of their brand.
In 2022, having a strong online presence — including well-researched blogs, Instagram Reels, and so on — feels like a never-end cycle. Many business owners are reluctant content creators as “content” isn’t a service they provide or a skill they thought they’d need to acquire to run a business in the first place.
I recently posted a couple of pointed questions to get to the heart of common content writing pitfalls.
First, Do you know blogging improves traffic? Yes. (80/20%). And “Do you write a blog?” No (40% to 60%). Without analyzing too much data, the numbers show that people know they need the written word to improve their website traffic, but don’t have time to write.
Small business owners I meet or work with often say the biggest issue is they don’t have the time to create content to grow online while growing their business offline.
The frustration is tangible.
I get it! Back in my journalism days, I wrote between two and 12 stories a day. And while it was technically my job to write, banging out an average of 2,000 words a day is no small feature no matter who you are — Stephen King excluded.
Honestly, writing doesn’t come second nature to most people. And even if it does, there are time restrictions like work, family obligations, and the fact that is only 24 hours a day.
Here is the short and sweet post that will max your content output without maxing out your time.
Batching Content To Save Time
Before we get started please note that I’m not going to write about content batching or scheduling apps — though they are both great options to save time on content creation— this is just about getting yourself in the habit of having enough content ideas that you’re not staring at a blank screen when you finally do have the time to batch content or schedule posts.
One planning tip that shouldn’t be overlooked is research. Completing your research before you start typing is one way to cut down on time wasted. Research first, write second. Fact check after you have a draft.
Save Time on Content Creation by Talking to Yourself
So you have no time to write, but you do have time to do the dishes or fold laundry. Great because those things have to get done, but so does your writing. When I have a thousand ideas and a thousand-mile-long to-do list, I opt for the talk-to-text.
It is not pretty, friend. Your talk to text is never, ever doing to be your published work. You can always go back, transcribe or rewrite later. But at least you have it down; you’ll never stare at a blank screen again.
Start talking to yourself. But please be recording. And before you say, “Well, DUH,” I have seen this happen a million times. I’ve done it myself as well.
Download yourself a talk-to-text app. I use Transcribe, but there are others on the market that you may prefer. Bonus points if you also get a phone microphone, but it still works regardless. You just might have to spend some extra time deciphering what you said.
If you use Google Docs to write your content, you can also try the Voice Typing option located under the “Tools” dropdown menu.
I’ll add my voice notes into my content bank that I can tap into when I have time to sit down at my desk.
Paired with a content calendar, a content bank makes posting hassle-free because ideas will be at your fingertips. It is my content bank that I can cash out when I otherwise would be staring at a blank page.
10 Must-Have Tools to Run Your Small Business
Save Time on Content Creation with This Writing Outline
If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas or getting started on your blog or social media post, write an outline first.
Writing outlines helps keep me focused and stops me from going off on tangents.
My outlines include headlines, subheadings, and even pictures in advance of my long-form writing; that way, I can return to it when I have more time and energy to devote to the topic.
This simple content creation format will save you the most time, no matter what tip you ever read again.
You know their name. The 5 Ws: Who, What, Where, When, Why. It’s journalism 101 and writing 101. That’s why it has been around before since Bernstein and Woodward. You should have a general idea of all these answers before you sit down at a keyboard.
The example below is for a blog post, but it works well for storytelling captions for social media too.
If you want to monetize internet writing, then the modern-day formula is Who, Why, What, Where, When — in that order.
Who: Always the person you are speaking to in your blog.
Why: Your reader is here for a reason. They are not scrolling to paragraph three to figure out if you can help their problem.
What: You’re on paragraphs three to five. You can answer the question now.
Where: If your where is a physical location, tell me all about it right now. If you have an internet-based biz, then you’re going to tell me where I am going as far as the next link.
When: Now. If you have an internet biz, then Now is when you want people to click on your link. If you’re brick and mortar, then invite people to come down for a specific sale or special.
Save Time on Content Creation With Prompts
Writing prompts are like the directions on a map. They offer a sense of direction when you’re feeling lost on what to write. It can be anything from a single word to an image, a phrase to a paragraph. I keep all kinds in my content bank for brainstorming sessions.
It may sound simple, but that’s the beauty of using prompts to overcome writer’s block. You just need a pen and paper (or laptop), then you can get your creativity flowing again.
Ready to get started? Here are 9 Prompts to Fill Your Content Bank.
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It will land in your inbox each Monday so you’ll never again ask yourself “What am I going to post today?!”