6 Productivity Tips for Low Content Creators

When you’re a low-content creator, you frequently have to create a large volume of products to sell. After all, the more offers you have out there, the more likely you are to be earning money.

But creating quality products takes time. If you struggle with content creation, it may take you hours to design a printable, coloring page, or worksheet. You may even dread each creation session because you know it’ll be hours before you’re done.

It doesn’t have to be this way!

You don’t have to spend hours agonizing over each product that you create. In fact, if you follow a few basic content productivity tasks, you’ll shave hours off the creation process and may even grow to enjoy it.  Here are my six best tips for turbo-boosting your productivity…

Tip #1: Start with a Vision

Before I sit down to work on a project, I spend some time brainstorming. I think about how I want my customers using it and what the final product should look like. I consider what my customers might find helpful and what their goal is.

From this brainstorming session, I sketch an outline. Now mine is usually pretty simple (just some basic ideas in bullet point format).

But if you have a very detailed vision (or if you outsource the work), your outline might be complex with complete paragraphs that will need to be fleshed out later. Whichever method works for you is fine. There’s no right way to make an outline.

The reason you want to create an outline is because it’s much easier to create your product once you have an idea of what it will look like.

Start by writing down several features your product will have then go back and number them in order of importance. You’ll want to design with your most important points in mind.

Tip #2: Make a Terrible First Draft

Many low content creators struggle with regularly publishing new products because they’re too busy trying to perfect each one. I recommend creating a terrible first draft. You can even call it “version 1.0” or “prototype A” if you like.

If you’re a perfectionist you may shudder at that idea, but it’s much easier to improve a terrible early draft than it is to create perfection the first time around.

I think the best way to create an early draft is to set a timer. Then using only the outline, start creating. Feel free to jump around as you create but make the product as quickly as possible. Your goal right now is to get your ideas out of your head. Later, you can organize or edit those ideas.

Tip #3: Block Notifications

A common reason for difficulty with product creation is repeated interruptions. When you’re interrupted frequently, you lose your original thought and need to look back to discover where you were.

Once you enter the creative state, it’s best to stay in it until you’ve completed your project. Most interruptions really can wait until later.

For this reason, I shut down all my apps when I’m in creation mode, turn my phone off, and mute notifications on my devices.

As an entrepreneur, you will always have an overwhelming amount of information coming at you. Anything you can do to cut down on that noise is a smart move.

Tip #4: Create in Batches

If possible, create several pieces of content at once. For example, if you create coloring sheets, don’t make one at a time. Make four or five. If you design worksheets, create several around a common theme at once.

When you work this way, you’ll stimulate your creativity and will come up with even more ideas. As a bonus, you’ll now have content that you can schedule later on for future products.

Tip #5: Don’t Start from Scratch

Stop re-inventing the wheel every time you create products. If you sell weekly printables for your customers, save a blank copy as a template. If you publish journals or coloring books, create a blank template with the correct paper size, margins, etc.

As a general rule, if I have to do a task more than once, I like to pause and ask myself, “Would a template be helpful?”

If the answer is “yes”, then the next time I’m working on that particular project, I take an extra 10 minutes to create the template. And honestly, I’ve never once regretted having a template nearby!  

Tip #6: Make a Decision Quickly

Procrastination is the enemy when it comes to your productivity. Don’t agonize over a decision. Struggling between two font choices? Need to know which color to go with?

Trust your gut and move forward. Don’t spend hours debating on whether your margin should be 0.5 inches or 1 inch all the way around the page. Focus on doing the best you can with what you know now.

Productivity Is a Skill

Like playing the piano, productivity is a skill and a skill can be learned at any time by anyone. Maybe right now you’re not very productive. But if you’re determined to improve this skill, you can.

Of course, you don’t have to use every single productivity tip you hear about. It’s fine to ignore the advice that doesn’t work for you. Instead, look at what helps you and what makes you the most productive. Focus on doing those things and watch as your productivity soars!