Content Building Burnout

I saw something in my timeline this week that stopped me in my tracks.?

Scrolling through Instagram on Sunday night, I noticed this sentence at the top of one of my favorite accounts: “I've been so depressed lately.” The woman who wrote this, Dr. Kiona, went on to talk about how she has been working nonstop. And because Instagram is part of her work, she is not really showing up and sharing much in the main feed of her platform anymore.?

I resonated so much with that sentence. I too know what it's like for marketing and social media to feel like so much work. Amplified by the fact that I've spent the last three years helping shape strategies and content for other people's consumption - I can tell you, nothing burns you out from building content faster than doing it all the time. Which is why I'm rebuilding my belief about the ways we communicate with others, especially on the internet.?

If traveling for the last few months has taught me anything, it's how desperately we want to reconnect in person with other people. When we can't, we can find other ways that still feel somewhat human. I have friends in every corner of the country, and increasingly, in every corner of the world. I feel so lucky to have these relationships, particularly in this season that feels overwhelming and stressful at times. I could not be more grateful to be able to connect back and forth with them—one of the things that's made it even more meaningful is to send voice memos to each other. Because it feels more human than yet another text or email.

Why does it resonate? Because we're all craving connection more than ever before. We want to know what it feels like to feel human again.?

So, what does this all mean for your marketing??

Stop showing up on a schedule. Stop writing that piece of content you put down in your content calendar if it no longer rings true to you. Stop posting simply for the sake of it. Stop posting to promote yourself and a never ending stream of promos. Stop posting to promote yourself for the sake of your platform—start actually engaging with people, not just online, but out in the real world.?

Hold an event. Or better yet, reconnect with an old friend for a cup of coffee. Write when you feel called to, show up and share when you have something worthwhile to say. Highlight the work of others and hold the door open so that anyone who is yet to have a platform can benefit from the one you've built and have access to.?

I want to believe there's a world where we as business owners can share our stories to reach the right people on the internet and in-person in a way that doesn't feel like we're forcing it. I want to market in a human-centric manner. That’s why this month together, we're going to explore together exactly what that means.?

Stay tuned.

- Madeline Reeves

Grab your airpods for S4:E2 of the Finding Fearless podcast: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: A Convo About Funding Women Fully.?

This week we have Cate Luzio of Luminary on to talk about what happens when women come together to support and fund each other without ulterior motives. Cate brings to the table all of her insight from her background in banking, as well as her experience founding Luminary, a community and co-working space she built with her own money. Cate is passionate about sustainable business funding and believes all women should have the ability to build profitable businesses that don’t rely on investors.

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Know what’s going on in the social media industry so you don’t waste your time with the wrong strategies.??

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