How to Find Your Unique Content Creation Style
Joel Widmer
Content Marketer, CEO & Blogger. I make it easy for business leaders to turn their experience into targeted content
If you’re a creator, you can’t not create. It’s like oxygen.
The frustrating part is finding just the right way to open up that channel so your creative process flows, and the final output reflects who you are.?
Many people imagine that creating content means sitting in front of a blank document on their laptop, waiting for some kind of inspiration to appear – but that’s for amateurs.
When you have a responsibility to create consistent content, you need to show up and create even when inspiration isn’t knocking at the door.?
The good news is you can?optimize content creation?just like any other process. Think of it this way: You probably already have a morning routine, a specific way you prepare for meetings and a unique leadership style you’ve developed over the years. You’ve found what works best for the results you want.?
Imagine if you were forced to follow someone else’s morning routine. You’re an early riser, but they wake up late. You work out in the morning, they don’t. You drink coffee, they drink chai lattes.?
It’d make for a miserable day, right? You’d be exhausted by the time you got to work from fighting the process every morning!??
I see a lot of super smart people doing this with their content creation approach. They’re trying to force someone else’s content creation routine on themselves.
Then, when they miss content deadlines, they say things like…?
If you’ve said any of those things, it’s probably because you haven’t tapped into your most natural creation style.?
Over the last decade, my team and I have interviewed hundreds of business owners and created thousands of pieces of content from those conversations.
We started to notice patterns in the people we talked to. When it comes to creating content and sharing ideas, everyone has approaches that are more natural to them than others.?
Below are the four Content Creation Styles I’ve seen the most, along with their strengths, challenges, and the types of content that lend themselves most to that creation style.?
NOTE: This is by no means a comprehensive list! In fact, it's far from finished. But my goal isn’t for this to be perfect, it’s to share it with you, get your feedback, and use that to expand on and improve it.?
It’s also worth noting that most people aren’t just one of these styles but can be a mix of 2 or 3 creation styles!
Translating your unique qualities to the written word requires a bit of self-examination. It’s worth it because it’ll make creating content effortless, and when the process is easy, the result is a message filled with meaning that gives you the results you seek.?
The 4 Content Creation Styles?
The Conversationalist?
You’re the type of person who despises the writing process but thrives in conversation with other people. Being a great listener and reading subtle cues come easily to you. Asking probing questions and challenging entrenched ideas is your idea of a productive conversation.?
People often comment that they derive a ton of value from what you say. As a creator, this is your zone of genius.?
You may be a Conversationalist if you answer “Yes” to these questions:?
Conversationalist Content Strengths:
These types of content may come more natural to you than others.
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The Teacher
If you find yourself most comfortable in an instructive frame of mind, if you feel most effective when you’re teaching someone something new, and if your thought process is linear and circumspect, then consider yourself an instructional communicator.?
You may be a Teacher if you answer “Yes: to these questions:
Teacher Content Strengths:
These types of content may come more natural to you than others.
The Writer?
The vast majority of people who write are not necessarily gifted in the craft. They work at it. All the time. If you find yourself agonizing over a preposition at the end of a sentence, if you move paragraphs around in your head, and if you have a special affinity for the clicking of a keyboard, then your natural content creation approach might be writing.?
You may be a Teacher if you answer “Yes” to these questions:?
Writer Content Strengths
These types of content may come more natural to you than others.??
The Curator
The word curator is so painfully overused these days, that it’s rare to see it used properly. But when harnessed, it’s an incredibly powerful skill.?
If you’re great at pulling together lots of info and making sense of it, if you tap into your network and glean wisdom from myriad sources, if you research every piece of new information that comes your way, and if detective shows are your thing, consider yourself a curator. You are a creative researcher who can access the right resource at the right time for the right thing.?
You may be a Curator if you answer “Yes” to these questions:
Curator Content Strengths
These types of content may come more natural to you than others.?
Challenges For Each Creation Style
Every personality has strengths and things you’re not as good at. These are opportunities to find and surround yourself with people who can fill those gaps.?
Here are a few examples of challenges each creation style may face:?
If you and your team are aware of all the strengths and shortcomings of each individual creator you get to work alongside, Minor flare-ups, or frustrations will simply become a natural part of the creative process. A process that will become so much better once everyone knows what makes them uniquely qualified to produce amazing content.