Introduction: Quickest Guide to Content Creation by Helena Escalante
Even if you’ve been creating content for a long time, there’s always room for improvement. You don’t know what you don’t know, so it’s important to keep learning. I’ve been blogging since 2009. And I’ve created different content. One thing I’ve also done is to ghost blog for clients. I have over six years of experience doing that. I’m always looking for techniques and strategies to become a better content creator. The Quickest Guide to Content Creation by Helena Escalante is a quick read. The book is filled with lots of exercises.
Content creation has become a crucial part of modern-day marketing and communication strategies. With the rise of social media and the internet, businesses and individuals alike need to create engaging and effective content to reach their target audience. In The Quickest Guide to Content Creation by Helena Escalante, readers will find a comprehensive guide to creating successful content in a variety of formats.
From blog posts to videos, this book covers it all, offering practical tips and insights that can be applied immediately. Whether you're a seasoned content creator or just starting out, this book is an essential resource for anyone looking to create engaging and effective content.
Summary: Quickest Guide to Content Creation by Helena Escalante
Definition of Content
“Information presented via text, images, audio, or video with the aim of enlightening, engaging, and/or entertaining an audience and earning something in return for the content creator.”
After defining what content is, Helena Escalente deconstructs her definition. I create a variety of content formats. For instance, I often release a new podcast episode on a Friday. The podcast is in video format with the transcript and I include an image of myself and the guest.
Meaning of the Definition of Content
It’s standard practice for me to include images within my blog post. Sometimes when I summarize a book, besides the text summary, I add an infographic with tips and ideas from the book. When I create a newsletter, I add an audio summary of the text. As you see from my examples, I use multiple content formats.
In Helena Escalente’s definition of content, she writes about the 3Es of content being enlightening, engaging, and/or entertaining. Your content should meet at least one of Es.
What the 3Es Mean
Enlightening means you’re educating the audience, teaching them something they didn’t know. Engaging your audience means you’re persuading or influencing them. They become emotionally involved. The author emphasizes that persuading or influencing is not about manipulating. You’ve given value to your audience so they know, like, and trust you. Consider yourself the expert.
Escalante references the book The One Sentence Persuasion Course – 27 Words to Make the World Do Your Bidding by Blair Warren.
“Warren says:
People will do anything for those who encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicions, and help them throw rocks at their enemies.”
She quotes from Warren’s book because influence and persuasion are often seen as negative. Warren’s quote is supposed to change that impression. Escalante probes and delves deeper into the Warren quote, explaining what the words mean.
Entertaining content gets your audience’s attention. You stimulate them intellectually and they earn something. The author adds another E, earning to the 3Es. The earning she’s talking about is not necessarily about money. Your content needs to align with the goals of your audience.
This was eye opening for me. I have never thought of the content I create in that light. It makes sense, though. Your content is valuable and takes your audience closer to their goals. To reap value from the content you create, it has to be valuable to your audience. At the end of your content piece, you need a call to action (CTA).
Clarifying and Focusing Your Content
Questions help you clarify and focus your content. Why are you creating the piece of content? To answer this question, ask Why five times. This technique is also known as the root cause analysis. As you ask why, you peel away a layer and you keep going until you get to the core. Getting to the core provides a compelling reason for creating your content.
Escalante gives an example, so you understand the root cause analysis. I’ve never used the root cause analysis before I create any piece of content. Perhaps it’s time I started doing so.
“That is the power of learning your “why.” It pulls you through and through. It propels you when nothing else does. It brings you clarity, focus, and drive.”
Another powerful question to answer is, who are you creating the content for? You may already know the answer to the question. When you know your audience, you can tailor it to their needs. If you don’t know your audience, or don’t have an audience yet, there are things to do to find out.
To deconstruct her definition, Escalante references Seth Godin’s work in his book, The Dip.
To Craft Best in the World Content for Your Audience
- Pick an audience you can serve.
- Start slow and small.
- Be consistent in your delivery.
- Get to know your audience well.
- Be willing to experiment and do things imperfectly.
- Do not despise small beginnings, because you’ll learn a lot from them.
When you follow the steps above consistently, you gain a following. They’ll eventually transition from follower to loyal customer.
Other questions to answer are What is your content for? And what is the change you seek to make? The author continues with her previous example. The answer to the what questions is important because it takes your content in the direction of your goals.
“Keeping your “why,” “who,” and “what” in mind will enable you to align your content with your goals.”
Your Value Proposition
Value Proposition Formula
“I help A do B so that they can C.”
A = Audience you serve.
B = What you do.
C = Your audience’s goal — where you want to lead them.
My Example
I inspire executives and small business owners to read more of the right books so they can grow the business.
Your Content’s Identity
There are three kinds of identities.
- Visual identity.
- Verbal identity.
- Value identity.
Helena Escalante focuses on verbal identity. This is also known as the voice. Your content should convey your brand. Finding your content’s voice is about designing your verbal identity.
How Aware and Knowledgeable is Your Audience
Scale of Awareness and Knowledge
Clueless: They know little about your topic. They have a long road to mastery, but you can teach them.
Contemplating: They know more than the clueless. They’re dabblers who landed on your content. And they want to learn more.
Committed: They’re committed to your content because they want or need it. They trust you.
Consummate: Your biggest fans and followers. They’re experts on your content. They binge on your content and can’t seem to get enough.
Contributing: These are your ambassadors by choice. They do what it takes to keep your content alive for them and others to consume.
Knowing the awareness level of your audience is important because your content has to address all levels. Vary your content form, length, topic and subtopic to address each level of awareness.
“Your audience may occasionally have different needs and look for different results. As you create your content, keep this in mind too, because varying audience needs and desired results bring an immense number of opportunities for you to serve your audience.”
As your audience grows, you’ll better understand their needs. And some will even give you feedback and clues to what they want and need.
Content is a Catalyst for Transformation
“Your audience: (A) needs what you do, (B) to go through a journey (no matter how short or long), until (C) they can reach their goal.”
Your content should inspire your audience to take the steps to achieve their goals. Each step transforms them into who they might become. Now that you’ve found your voice, each piece of your content will be under your brand identity. Design every piece of content to transform your audience.
Conclusion: Quickest Guide to Content Creation by Helena Escalante
The Quickest Guide to Content Creation by Helena Escalante is a valuable resource for both experienced and novice content creators. Through deconstructing the definition of content, the author provides insights and strategies for creating content that is enlightening, engaging, entertaining, and valuable to your audience.
By asking powerful questions and clarifying your goals, you can craft content that aligns with your purpose and resonates with your audience. This book is a quick read with lots of exercises that can help you become a better content creator.
Next Steps
Wondering what to do next, you can do all of:
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Buy Asian Women Trailblazers Who BossUp and The Tao of Self-Confidence by Sheena Yap Chan
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Buy my new book, Leadership Reading: Spilling the Tea on How Top Leaders Read
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If you want to Consult 1:1 about Effective Reading Strategies
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Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
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Join the Art of Learning Membership Site
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Download Unlock Your Genius Power Reading Tips Sheet
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Buy me a cup of coffee!
