So, you’re thinking about creating content for your business or building your personal brand? First of all, congrats! Second of all… welcome to the land of endless possibilities (and potential headaches). Before you dive in, there are a few things you’ll want to think about to avoid turning into a stressed-out content zombie.

Here’s the deal:

The first thing is knowing your audience. Picture this—you’re at a party (or a networking event if that’s more your style). You wouldn’t just walk up to a group of people and start talking about your weekend without knowing if they’re into that, right? Same thing with content. Who’s on the other side of that screen? Whether it’s marathon runners, local foodies, or business owners trying to level up, you’ve gotta know who they are and what they care about. Otherwise, it’s just like yelling into the void.

Next up: consistency. Imagine if your favorite TV show randomly dropped episodes whenever it felt like it. You’d be confused, probably annoyed, and definitely less interested. Content is the same. People need to know when and where you’re going to show up, so they keep coming back. Don’t worry—it doesn’t mean posting every single day (nobody has time for that), but finding a rhythm and sticking to it will keep your audience around for the long haul.

And finally, just be real. Yeah, I know, it sounds obvious. But trust me, there’s a whole lot of ‘fake it till you make it’ content out there. Spoiler alert: it’s exhausting and doesn’t last. You’ve got your own story, your own quirks, and your own vibe—lean into that! People can tell when you’re authentic, and it’s honestly way more fun than trying to be someone you’re not.

So, before you grab your camera or start writing that blog post, keep these in mind. Your future self will thank you (and so will your audience).