Do you want to hear something funny?
Today I sat down to write a blog post. Should be easy right, considering I am a content writer.
But I looked at the screen.
Then I got a drink of water.
I looked at the screen again.
Then, I grabbed a snack.
Oh, back to looking at the screen…
Ten minutes had passed and I was no closer to writing anything than when I first sat down.
Do you ever do that?
I can’t be the only one!
The only one who ever thinks about why it is so darn hard to write your own content…
It is something that baffles me all the time. I write all day, every day. But when it comes to writing my own stuff, it can be a struggle to come up with ideas.
I reckon there are 3 main reasons why it is so bloody hard to write your own content. They are…
Why Is It So Hard To Write Your Own Content?
1: You Are Too Close To The Detail
So, you sit down to write your own content, but then you start thinking about the sheer volume of things you could be saying. As those thoughts go round and round in your head, you start to become overwhelmed.
Should I write about this topic…
Should I write about that topic…
Oh, but if I write about this topic, then I will have to mention that…
Before you know it, you have talked yourself out of writing anything at all. Instead, you are sitting staring at the judgy blinky cursor on the screen and not writing.
Often, when we get in our head and think too much about all the things, we can get none of the things onto the page!
If you are feeling like this, here is an easy solution…
Think about one small thing that your audience will be interested in. It might be a question that you get asked all the time, or something that you saw pop up in your newsfeed that might be relevant to your people.
If you are so stuck that you can’t think of one thing to write about, then go and ask a friend or colleague what they most want to know about your business. Or, put a poll on your Facebook page asking your audience what they want to learn from you. Then, just focus on writing about one very small aspect of your business.
Next month you can tackle more of the things by building on that initial topic, or writing something complementary instead.
2: You Feel The Pressure To Be Awesome
The pressure to be awesome is huge. You are meant to be an expert at what you do right?
That means you can’t make any mistakes or look silly…
Wrong!
Do you know the awesome thing about mistakes?
They make you look human. And no one wants to do business with a robot. So… go forth and be human!
Obviously you don’t want to unequivocally state that the moon is made of cheese (unless you have undeniable proof, of course) and have your army of followers prove you wrong.
But if there is a typo or a slight grammatical error, then it is not the end of the world.
Also, don’t feel pressured to solve all the world’s problem in one piece of content. You can take your time and do it over ten pieces instead!
Think of it like this… your task is to deliver value on one teeny tiny specific topic. It will seem small to you, but not to your audience. And you will be amazed by how much people get out of it.
You are awesome, you do know your stuff. So own it and don’t be scared to share your knowledge!
3: But My Competition Posts The Most Amazing Content
The fact of the matter is, in business, you will face competition.
In reality, there could be hundreds or even thousands of people out there in the world that do the same thing that you do.
Chances are, a lot of them are putting content out there onto the interweb.
Yep, it might be awesome content. But that isn’t to say that you can’t publish equally awesome content too, if not better!
And do you know what the best thing about your content is?
It is written by you!
Your audience chooses to follow and work with your business because of YOU.
They are drawn to your vibe. They love what you do and can’t wait to see more. So, screw what your competitors are writing!
You do you!
If you can manage to do that, then people will be drawn to your business, your offerings, and it will boost your bank balance. It’s as simple as that.
I know that can be easier said than done. But, you can actually use your competitor’s awesome content to your advantage. Look at what they are posting about and write your own version of the topic.
So, the next time you sit down to write your own content and struggle, know that you are not alone. I bet every person in business struggles to come up with their own content at one time or another. Even those supposedly awesome competitors of yours.
And, if you are totally stuck for ideas, you can drop me an email on hello@gemmaknightwrites.com with your website address and I will fire you back an idea for what you could write about.
Or, consider outsourcing the service completely so you don’t have to worry about ideas or writing ever again! I can help you with that too.