Mike MurphyAI Handyman
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Episode 15

The Create Show

December 18, 2015 ·

Ep15: The Create Show What does it mean to create and why is it important to you? Episode Summary: What do I create and how?

Episode Summary: Part 2 of the Learn, Create, Move Forward trilogy — what content creation actually means (it’s not the same as creativity), and the full list of things created regularly to serve one specific audience.

What You’ll Learn

  • The real definition of content creation, and why it’s not the same as creativity
  • A full list of the content types created regularly: website, blog, video, podcast, and more
  • Why your only real focus should be creating for your specific audience, or “tribe”
  • Whether a professional website needs a custom developer or a template will do

Part 1 covered where to learn. This episode covers creation, not to be confused with creativity. Part 3 covers moving forward.

Ask Mike Anything: Template or Custom Developer?

Question: Does a professional-looking website for a mortgage business need a hired web developer/designer, or will a template work?

Answer: WordPress templates and frameworks work for most scenarios today — coding a website from scratch isn’t necessary to get a professional site up quickly. Template resources: ThemeForest, Elegant Themes, Squarespace, WooThemes.

1. What Is Content Creation?

Per Wikipedia: content is “something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing or any of various arts” for self-expression, distribution, marketing, and/or publication. Typical forms include maintaining and updating websites, blogging, photography, videography, podcasting, managing social media accounts, and editing/distributing digital media like audio, video, or design.

The only real focus needs to be creating content for your audience — or, as Seth Godin calls it, your tribe. What does that specific audience need? Don’t let “infobesity” — the feeling that there’s already too much content out there — become a reason not to bother. Your voice is unique, and your audience needs you specifically to create content that helps them.

Note: Sean McCabe has a great video addressing this directly, called “Who Am I to Try”.

2. What Gets Created, and How

Website, blog posts, videos, classes, podcast episodes, artwork, lead magnets, email newsletters, tutorials, behind-the-scenes videos.

Classes taught on Skillshare: Photoshop: The Art of the Headswap and WordPress Cheatsheet for Entrepreneurs.

The big-ticket items already covered — website, blog, videos, classes, podcast — are the core. Everything else fills in the gaps: artwork and photos for the brand and blog, lead magnets to grow an email list (like the Unplugged Guide of Resources and the Microphone Guide), the email newsletter itself as a communication channel, tutorials, behind-the-scenes videos, and more.

Resource mentioned: Ira Glass’s “The Gap” (Vimeo).

Music: “Life of Riley” & “Wallpaper” (incompetech.com).

Show Notes & Links