Ok so here’s the deal. You have a blog or a newsletter but you’re struggling to publish something high value for your readers every week. Or you’ve been meaning to create a new freebie to use as a lead magnet to grow your email list.
Perhaps you have an idea for a new e-course, book, podcast or video series, or a Periscope topic but every time you sit down to put to pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard you draw a blank. Now you’re feeling frustrated because you’re racking your brain to trying to come up fresh ideas for new content that will your tribe will not only respond to, but keep them engaged and propel them to move forward with you.
You understand that producing new content consistently is important to the growth of your business if you want to attract, build and sustain a loyal audience that will eventually do business with you. But there’s a problem.
How do you find the time to actually get it all done?
Unfortunately between getting new clients, working with existing clients and running your business it’s hard to commit to a regular publishing schedule.
But there’s good news. Content creation has never been easier AND you can produce it on the fly whenever an idea pops into your head.
How? With the mobile phone you carry with you everyday!
Recently I upgraded my mobile phone to an iPhone 6 (not that you need an iPhone but it doesn’t hurt) and I love having the ability to write an article, record an audio and/or a video, obviously take photos, and turn them into stunning graphics all within the device that’s always with me.
So take the pressure off yourself about finding time to create content for your blog.
Here’s a quick side note:
To help you even with this process I’ve created an awesome free gift for you. It’s a info-graphic (great list building tool you should seriously consider) designed to show you 10 ways to produce content quickly with your mobile phone! Details to get your hands on a copy is located further down this blog article.
Now anytime you have a spare 15 minutes or so you can draft an outline for an article, tip sheet, or webinar presentation into your phone, email it to yourself or a virtual assistant to edit and you’ve got a written post for your blog, or you can use it as the outline for a podcast, video tutorial, info graphic, online training, info product, anything you can think of.
Written content for many is often the easiest to create and it requires very little to actually do it. All you need is something to write on and with. Personally I love to get away from my computer and go out outside for some fresh air. When I do ideas just come to me so when the moment strikes I whip out my mobile phone, launch my notes program and start punching away.
Usually all I need is a good 15 to 20 minutes or so to create a piece of content, then I email it to myself or create it inside my Google Docs app on my phone for later editing at my desk.
To create a great piece of written content fast all you need is an idea you want to share with your readers and a convenient way to get it out of your head.
Don’t consider yourself a writer? Don’t worry, you can find freelance writers to create them for you. Try using a service like Upwork.com formerly elance.com or guru.com to locate freelance writers that specialize in your subject matter. If you don’t want to go that route explore my first tip.
#1 – Speak Your Articles:
Articles no longer have to be written: today, they can be spoken. Basically all you need to do is draft an outline of your topic, think in terms of bullet points that you wish to highlight and record yourself “speaking” your article.
Whip out your mobile phone, launch the voice recorder, press the record button and start talking. When you’re done send it yourself to edit or a professional editor to clean it up, perhaps add a professional intro and outtro and it’s ready to be publish not only to your blog but repurposed as a podcast.
I recommend using a service like Libsyn to host your audio file and the Bluberry Powerpress Plugin on WordPress to display your audio recording on your blog.
Another option is you can use a paid service like AudioAcrobat.com to record your audio article for up to two hours. Using the service is as simple as using voice mail and the best thing it requires no more than a phone line.
After your call is completed the service will email you a link to the recording that you can then download and post it directly to your blog.
If you want a written transcript of your audio recording you can use a transcription service like Verballink.com. Just send your MP3 file that AudioAcrobat provides and they’ll produce a written transcript for about a $1.50 per minute.
A 15-minute conversation transcription will cost you about $23 dollars. Now you have an audio recording and a written transcript to publish on your blog either as a full article, blog post, ebook, tip sheet etc. Another all-in-one option I recently discovered is an app called Rev, https://www.rev.com/voicerecorder within the app you can record your content and send it over for a voice-to-text transcription without leaving the app for $1 a minute.
The bonus? You now have a tangible product you can sell.
Want to discover how to use your content to grow your list? Often without having to create any new content? I’ve created a step-by-step plan that can help anyone turn their blog into a list building machine with just a few simple tweaks! Grab a “Backstage Pass” to my upcoming online training here:
#2 – Produce Video On The Fly:
Obviously you know that your mobile phone is one of the most convenient tools for producing high quality high definition video. The only question you may have is coming up with story ideas for video recordings so I’ll give a couple of examples:
Video Interviews – A wedding photographer could attend a bridal trade show and interview a wedding gown designer, florist or cake decorator or invitation designer for example, (of course with their permission first), and record an interview have it edited and published to your blog.
Instructional Videos – The easiest to create just write down a list of key points you want to talk about, set up your camera phone on a tripod and hit record. Again have the video edited and publish to your blog. If you want to create self recorded videos I strongly recommend investing in an inexpensive tripod, and at least one light.
Video Client Testimonials – if you can arrange it ask one of your satisfied clients if they would be interested in doing a quick, informal in person interview with you, another option is do the interview via Skype, Facetime or Google Hangout. Testimonials are one of the best forms of promotion, again, all you need is your video enabled camera phone, or computer and a willing participant.
Audio Client Testimonials – if can’t arrange a face-to-face interview ask for audio testimonials. All they need to do is to dial into your AudioAcrobat account (if you have one) and leave a voice message. You can then post the MP3 file to your blog.
Another option is do your interview via Skype or Facetime, record it and publish the replay. Skype doesn’t have a built in recording feature but if you own an Apple product you can purchase one for either platform through Ecamm.com
#3 – If Your Content Is Image Based Create a Video Montage or Infographic
Video montages can be an engaging experience for your audience. In addition, showcasing your work using video creates an ambience for your prospects. It also lets them see what you’re capable of providing them think in terms of ‘visual storytelling’.
You can also develop your video with a video editing software like Apple’s iMovie or it’s equivalent for the PC platform -or- you can hire a professional video editor to do it for you.
If you don’t want to deal with the video camera, you can convert your photographs into a slideshow presentation using a service like Animoto.com.
Animoto is a web- based digital video production solution. All you need to do is upload your images select an audio track from their library and Animoto does the rest. Within minutes you have a professionally produced video montage that you can post to your blog, social media site website or send by email.
Here’s a quick marketing tip that will help you build your subscriber list fast using your video. Animoto offers an optional upgrade to a pro account where you can add an optional data collection form to display at the end of your video. This is perfect and engaging way to build your email list.
Bonus Tip: Have Your Content Turned Into Infographics
If you’re visually inclined you can do this yourself, but since we’re talking about saving time here I recommend hiring someone to do this for you. To find a info graphic designer check out the following online services: PeoplePerHour.com and Fiverr.com.
[Keep scrolling down this post to get your hands on a bonus gift I have for you. It’s a special info-graphic that will show you how to create content quickly with your mobile phone]
If you decide to go the do-it-yourself route check out Canva.com and Piktochart.com
Final Tip: Vary Your Content Method
Producing your content in a variety of forms is great way to not only keep your blog readers engaged, but you as well. Also don’t feel you always have to come up with new ideas from scratch. If you want to produce content faster repurpose what you already have.
For example take a written article and have it turned into a info graphic. Take a video and have the audio extracted and turn into a podcast. Take an audio file and extract the key highlight points and make a tip sheet, cheat sheet or special report.
Did you grab your Back Stage Pass yet? Listen, knowing what tools to use to create awesome content is one thing, knowing how to use that content to start, build and grow your mailing list is another all together. If you want a step-by-step plan that will walk you through how to use your new and existing content to literally turning your blog into a list building machine join me for this new web class. It’s 100% FREE!
Get Into Action Checklist: Generate Content For Your Blog Quickly
If you want to provide written content on your blog but you don’t like to write it, draft an outline of your topic and give it to your assistant to flesh out the article.
Record your article and offer it as an audio article, use the audio recorder on your mobile phone or set up an account with AudioAcrobat.com. You’ll be provided with a dial in number where you speak your article over the telephone. You’ll be sent a link to download the MP3 of your recording and then post it to your blog.
Another option: record it directly on your computer. If you have Apple iTunes import the audio into the program and convert it to MP3 format and post to your blog.
If you don’t want to deal with the video camera, you can convert your photographs into a slideshow presentation using a service like Animoto.com.
Interview leaders in your specialty and/or service providers that your client would naturally use. You can record the interview over the telephone with AudioAcrobat.com or via Skype or Facetime and post the MP3 to your blog.
Turn some of your written content into infographics
Before you go I have one last bonus gift for you! It’s a info-graphic that will show you 10 ways to produce blog content quickly with your mobile phone! If you’ve got a smart phone and an idea, you can create content quickly where ever you are. Click on the graphic to download your copy today!
