The long road to internet success, part 4: Content with content

Part 4 of the series, “The long road to internet success”. Read Part 3 here. 

So far we have traveled down an amazing road. To recap (or you can do it here, here and here), we’re trying first hand to see what it takes to grow a brand on the internet. We began with an intro to the project—this idea that a Name.com employee can use Name.com products to catch up with his dreams—and then moved into the importance of consistency before dealing with the overwhelming specter of fear.

Today we discuss content. Content should be the easiest part of this process. I’m speaking from my perspective, but my perspective does come with a Master’s thesis on content. (Which means absolutely nothing because it was terrible.) And because after 25 years of struggling with content, I’m pretty sure the only known advice is taking the time to actually create the content. No degree required.

Here’s a handy motivational chart.

Stephen King, one of the most popular writers in the history of world, has written a several hundred page book on just sitting your butt down on a regular basis and making content happen. That’s really all it takes. Yes, there are emotional and physical constraints, and time is always of the essence, but right now we’re amidst a content revolution. Everybody wants content. It’s a great time to be generating content whether you do it for a living or simply because it’s a great way to attract new customers.

There will be more content about content right after this video content regarding content.

Maybe you were like “I don’t have time to watch a video,” well then this abridged video clip will do it for you. It contains the secret to attracting people to your content. And we should advise that the clam is actually a geoduck.

For most of us, the content is there. It’s in our heads. It’s all around us! We just need to manifest it into a palatable form and serve it up on a regular basis. The neatest part is that the new marketing is simply sharing yourself. All you’re doing is giving a little of your personal brand of expertise/insight/humor to get people to know and trust you. People are discovering that if they share helpful information, they will gain customers. In my case, as a comedian, I need to post more clips of me actually being funny, and then follow through with the same funny at events. This shouldn’t be too much of a problem because it’s something I really like to do.

Unless I’m just not funny ever. Then maybe I could become some kind of hip, ironic hipster comedian.

When we return, we’ll discuss community. Promotions and community. Most creatives have the hardest time promoting things and it makes our family and friends sad.