How can you maintain a positive attitude in Content Development?

The biggest key for me is to see every new update, every nuance of the dreaded 'algorithm' and core updates as an adventure and opportunity rather than a threat. As someone who is innately dislikes change I've learnt over the years that change provides more opportunities than the status quo. And don't forget to celebrate the small wins too! That rise in the SERPs, that traffic increase...

Some ways to get started... The first thing is to bring discipline Time management Be proactive most importantly you should like what you are doing and with a clear objective and end goal in mind

A few examples of healthy goals: - Post once a day for 30 days. That's something you can control 100% and you can pat yourself on the back every time you post. - Focus on helping one person a day. Think of the kind of help you needed 2 years ago. Provide that help in a positive light. - Take it as an experiment. Don't make it a make or break situation. That only increases the stakes and make you more prone to disappointment and the ensuing negativity. Just try it out, have fun with it and keep it that way. Ultimately you want to set goals you can fully control and keep the process fun. You'll never come across as negative if you stick to it.

Learn and embrace what AI has to offer content developers. You'll be surprised to learn a growing number of methods for harvesting the power of AI while you work. It's not a surrendering; it's finding the synergy as you learn how to use AI to speed up the learning process of new tech you're documenting, or using AI as a digital editor who can rapidly apply your style guide to your content, and then formatting it into markdown so you don't have to.

Set and overarching goal and then break it down into smaller SMART bitesize chunks. Don't over do it. Don't put to much pressure on yourself. And most of all.. love what you do.

One thing I've found helpful is to set 3 types of goals: 1. Goals that are within my comfort zone to gain some quick wins. 2. Goals that are slightly outside my comfort zone to feel a little uncomfortable, yet knowing they're attainable with a little mental elbow grease. 3. Goals that are way outside my comfort zone so I can grow, stretch, and reach beyond my current thinking and belief level and blaze my own new trail.

When we look at content development from a corporate communications point of view, it's important to remember that team dynamics matter. The art or storytelling through content development begins by first practising the art of active listening. What is the client really wanting to convey through the campaign? Would a particular message house work for this campaign? If not, explore other possibilities and be open. True, content development is a highly creative process and one must not be strait-jacketed to produce content almost mechanically. Finally, being present, giving your full attention to the task at hand and the conversations you're having, will help keep you stay grounded and contribute to a strong and more positive mindset.

Being continually cognizant about your mindset and positivity is half the battle. Create your own formulary and run your messaging through that matrix. Is it upbeat? Is it non-judgmental? Is it a positive message? Does it add something to the conversation? Running your messaging through your own personal filtration greatly helps to craft the right positive message. There is no automation, it’s being continually cognizant of the message you are putting into the world.

Take risks. Especially take the risk of being as honest as possible about your subject. Tell the truth so accurately that it makes you nervous. Audiences will respond, and you'll feel more energized about your work.

Surround yourself with 3 kinds of people (in your feed and in 1-on-1 interactions: 1. People who are ahead of you. They serve as mentors and inspiration. 2. People who are at your level. You guys are facing the same challenges and can help each other out. 3. People who are behind you. Helping them not only helps you solidify your own knowledge, but it also makes you realize how much you actually know about your field.

In my experience, all writers need feedback, support and a good reader or editor with an eye for what rings true, whether a content developer or an essayist. The importance of truth in advertising was never needed as much as it is in today's online world. We accumulate information regardless of whether it's accurate or less than factual. Therefore, our word is what stands out. If we rely on what others say without real feedback that has a point, we lose our voice and therefore the feedback is a non-starter.

In my experience, you must be proactive and conscientious in seeking the right kind of support and feedback. Negative Nellies will be more than happy to provide feedback-negative feedback! Neutral Nancys will tell you whatever they think you want to hear. No harm. No foul. Positive Peters will speak into your life with helpful feedback that causes you to grow as a person and professional. These are the ones you want in your life! Where can you find them? Networking groups, mastermind groups, Toastmasters, and social groups.

Seeking feedback and support is vital for positivity in content development. Feedback helps refine skills and provides new insights, while support can alleviate stress and offer solutions. Engaging with clients, colleagues, and communities, both online and offline, fosters confidence, creativity, and collaborative spirit. It's about embracing the power of collective wisdom and nurturing professional relationships.

For content creators, feedback and support are vital. They guide us to pivot when strategies fail and double down when they succeed, ensuring continuous growth and relevance in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

When I'm strapped for time, and I have creative products on my to-do list, I need to find my "good enough" final product. A lot of us in creative industries want our work to be perfect, but sometimes, when you're under a deadline, you can't stare at your keyboard for hours waiting for the perfect word to come to you. Sometimes, you have to go with the word that is good enough. Now, that's not to say you're sacrificing quality. Your version of "good enough" shouldn't be bad at all. You might need to take off your perfectionist lens to see that, though. Remember, it's better to do something imperfectly than to have done nothing perfectly.

Content Development is a creative area, allowing you to explore your own ideas, test them, and see how people react to them. Regardless of what you do, and especially considering the "creative" arena, you would need to keep work and your personal life separate. It's easy to bring work home, but consider the risk of working on the computer while you're ignoring your family. Don't burn out! This type of work can be sneaky because it tends to take over your thoughts all the time, even while at home, even on vacation, because that is when you may be at your prime for flushing out great ideas and stories. It is a focus issue, and the success of your Content Development career comes from a constant workstream of clever, creative content.

Whether you work from home or in an office, it's essential to maintain a separation between the time you work and the time for self and family. It's a discipline you have to master in order to avoid burnout and bitterness.

For content development which is a creative process - we need to speak the economic language that is how much labour is behind each piece of content work. You can standardise this with any formula you like, and expressing to your client that reiterative processes have a cost (time+skill). Anything that gets overwhelming you know you’ll compromise the quality so also attach a cost to subpar content. Having strong systems map of what it takes to create content, budget projection, and various skills needed will give your client a more cohesive picture.

Balancing workload and time is crucial for positivity in content development. Managing multiple projects and deadlines can be stressful, so it's important to delegate, use organizational tools, and say no to unfeasible requests. Allocating time for rest and personal life is equally vital, ensuring you avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Remember, productivity thrives not just on work, but also on well-deserved breaks.

The most important thing I've learned when it comes to content development is to ALWAYS hone my writing skills in three different ways: 1. Write! Write! Write! 2. Read the writing of others. 3. Surround yourself with excellent writers.

Continual learning of new skills and trends is essential for maintaining positivity in content development. It ensures you stay current, relevant, and interested in a rapidly evolving field. Investing in professional development and experimenting with new tools and formats not only boosts your knowledge but also enhances your value in the field and keeps your work exciting and engaging. Remember, learning is an ongoing journey that fuels curiosity and innovation.

In my experience, it matters more to have purpose behind the passion so that your message rings true. It spells out reasons why you are who you are and the content you create adds to that persona. Especially if you're writing (passionately) from your heart on a very personal issue. Even if it's within the scope of your job and not all that passionate, your voice will always ring true or not. Once that true voice is established, you've got your audience hooked. Why? Because there's so much fakery and alternative facts online and in the news, that if one is to believe anything, it comes to know the truth of what is being said. That supersedes everything else.

Yes, that's true as your deep passion and higher purpose are the key 🔑 drivers in meaningful content curation. The chosen areas should be your command zones or close to your heart so you are able to magically weave the words and produce awe-inspiring content!

Finding passion and purpose can greatly enhance positivity in content development. It's more than a job—it's a way to express yourself and make an impact. If you lose sight of that, dissatisfaction may ensue. Remember why you chose this path and what you aim to accomplish. Choose work that aligns with your values and goals. By connecting with your passion and purpose, enthusiasm and satisfaction will naturally follow, enhancing your happiness in the process.

Remembering your passion for the subject is a very important characteristic when maintaining a positive attitude in content development. However, passion can be difficult to channel especially when working for a company that does not align with your interests (which is the case for 95% of people in marketing). If you're in a similar boat, focus on finding aspects of the project that you can connect with or find interesting. Break the tasks into smaller, more manageable parts, and set specific, achievable goals. Reward yourself for completing each milestone. Additionally, seek out ways to make the content more engaging or relevant to your interests, and consider collaborating with others who may have a stronger passion for the subject.

It's not just about finding your passion and purpose but about finding ways to keep those in mind. Have something on your desk or your wall that means something just for you which reminds you of your passion. So when you get to those times where you're just staring at your keyboard you can pick up that thing on your desk or look at that thing on your wall and remind yourself why you started out in content to begin with. Don't let that boredom bury your purpose. Use your bandwidth wisely. It never hurts having an exciting side project just for you that might become something bigger later.

One time at work I had cause to speak with an Israeli general regarding aerospace parts. He was gruff and to the point, the voice of a leader, one who was paid attention to. I felt like I should stand at attention! Truth was, he needed specific parts for an electronics unit that was necessary to something I had no knowledge of. All I knew was that he needed the parts and it was up to me to get them. So I did. That was my job.

One thing I have found helpful in content development has been collaborating with young talented minds. Very often we think we understand the ideal content for digital, forgetting that audiences are evolving as quick as the technology we are using. Sometimes we communicate so much that we forget about the concept of time. We need to accept to be connected with new networks constantly if we don't want to sound old and far from what the current audiences need.

At the end of each day, or at any regular interval you choose, ask yourself "Am I having fun?" "Am I still engaged and interested in what I'm doing?" "Is what I'm doing today something I'll want to do tomorrow?" If your answer to any of these start to drift towards "No," you must ask the tough question of why that is. The five actions listed here will help you define external tasks that can help you get back on track. Ultimately, the attitude you feel about Content Development or any other field or endeavor comes from within. Do what you can to promote external factors that support and bolster your inner self towards staying engaged, interested, and positive in whatever you are doing.

In my experience, understanding the content's purpose is critical. What is the goal for the content? Conversions? Branding? Lead generation? Engagement? Once you know the goal of your content asset, then that narrows down the development. It also kills the "Omigosh-it's-time-to-plan-the-quarterly-content-calendar-what-are-we-going-to-create" monster. Spending time identifying the topics and themes of your content will streamline the creation process.

Consistency is key to get started. Then focus on quality. Once you achieve both, you will achieve your goal. Knowing what to do to get there is the most important thing to stay positive.