Tips for Creating Unique and Authentic Content

🎬 “If you’re standing still, you’re going backwards” Underscores the relentless push for innovation and differentiation. To thrive, producers must continuously scout for fresh ideas and unique visual styles. A strategy designed to keep media producers moving forward! 1. 🎬Foster a Culture of Continuous Learning and Curiosity Workshops and Training: Regularly organize workshops that cover emerging trends and technologies in the media industry. Embrace a wide range of subjects, from storytelling techniques to the latest in visual effects technology. Cross-Industry Inspiration: Encourage team members to draw inspiration from other industries (e.g., video games, architecture, fashion) to spark creativity and introduce new visual and narrative styles. 2. 🎬Embrace Technology and Innovation Invest in R&D: Allocate resources to research and development, focusing on cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and AI-driven content creation tools. Prototype Rapidly: Implement a rapid prototyping approach for new ideas. This allows for quick validation or rejection of concepts based on their feasibility and impact. 3. 🎬 Cultivate a Diverse Creative Team Diversity in Hiring: Aim for diversity in your team composition, including different backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives. This diversity can lead to richer, more varied content. Collaborative Workspaces: Design work environments that encourage interaction and collaboration among team members with different specializations. 4. 🎬Engage with Your Audience Social Listening: Use social media and other online platforms to understand what your audience is excited about, their preferences, and the kinds of content they're sharing. Audience Participation: Where possible, involve your audience in the content creation process, through contests, social media polls, or user-generated content campaigns. 5. 🎬Keep an Eye on Emerging Trends and Genres Industry Events: Attend international film festivals, conferences, and trade shows to stay abreast of industry trends and network with other professionals. Market Research: Regularly conduct market research to identify shifts in consumer behavior, emerging genres, and new storytelling methods. 6. 🎬Experiment with Narrative and Visual Styles Storytelling Workshops: Organize regular sessions where team members can pitch new storytelling ideas, no matter how unconventional. Visual Style Exploration: Dedicate resources to experimenting with different visual styles, including animation, live-action blends, and experimental cinematography. 7. 🎬Partner and Collaborate Cross-Industry Partnerships: Look for partnership opportunities with technology companies, educational institutions, and other industries to explore new content creation methods. Creative Collaborations: Collaborate with artists, directors, and creatives outside your usual network to inject new ideas and perspectives into your projects.

After 30 years, I discovered something powerful: The best videos are not the perfect ones. They are the quick ones. We add a face with personality. Emotion in our voice. Real feeling in our eyes. That creates immediate connection. But here is what stops most people: They think video needs to be complicated. Hours of preparation. Complex editing. Perfect delivery. Wrong. Here is my formula: • 1-2 minutes max • Speak from the heart • No editing needed • Skip the subtitles (they distract) • 5 minutes total That is it. No scripts. No retakes. No perfection. Just you, being real. But it gets better. Take that video. Transcribe it. Run it through Grammarly. Now you have a written post too. One piece of content becomes two. Start to finish: 5-7 minutes. I have watched clients transform their businesses with this approach. More videos. More connection. Less stress. The secret? When you speak from the heart, editing becomes unnecessary. When you keep it short, attention stays high. When you show your face, trust builds instantly. After three decades helping people create content, I know this: The videos that change everything are the ones you actually make. Not the ones you plan for weeks. Not the ones you perfect endlessly. The ones you record today. 5 minutes. That is all it takes. Who is ready to stop overthinking and start connecting? Ready to create authentic videos in minutes, not hours? I will show you the simple system that works. Let your message flow naturally. Press Record. Build Trust. 🎥

After 8 failed attempts at trying to shoot a promo video I’ve come to realize something crucially important in the time we live in... 👀 We’re all imperfectly perfect just the way we are. And it’s the same concept when it comes to Marketing. Ever wondered why TikTok blew up? It’s because it was filled with raw video content. The more organic, the better. 👌 Personally, whenever I see perfection or overproduced content, the first thing I think of is, I’m about to get pitched. 😏 Like it’s a commercial. And these days, consumers have become smarter than ever.  As humans, we pick up on patterns and sequences, and eventually: we learn that when something’s overly produced, it's more likely that someone’s about to sell us something. So, instead of trying to nail perfection, why not nail human connection? 🤝 Stay authentic. Make mistakes. Show your audience who you truly are without the Photoshopped, filtered nuances of what you think your followers would rather see. Because chances are, you’ll achieve greater success by being yourself than by trying to be someone you’re not: an overly produced, perfected, curated version of you. Case in point? Video content of myself that’s shot without any filters, fancy texts, or planned content do so much better than those that are scripted. 😉 So…what’s stopping you from showing up as your raw, unfiltered self? 💭 #LinkedIn #OutreachStrategy #ContentMarketing #Marketing #BuildingConnections

Stop CREATING so much content And start BEING the content Most people don't know this, but 70% + of my video content I do NOT create Yes, it's me on video, but what I'm doing is documenting/recording the things I'm doing throughout the day (Aka: Being the content) We record the following things: -Client meetings -Podcast appearances -Team meetings -Virtual events -In person events -Etc. This is MUCH different than you getting in front of the camera, hitting record, and trying to manufacture content (Nothing wrong with that btw it's just different) Once you realize that the conversation IS the content, the game changes Anddddd we just recently took this to a whole new level by hiring a full time content director to film with me during my day to day (Shout out Brandon Wanca! 😎) Here’s 3 big reasons why you should keep the camera rolling as much as you can: 1.) Authentic interaction: The dialogue between two people creates a conversational aspect that’s engaging and relatable. It’s not scripted; it’s real. 2.) The intrigue of behind-the-scenes: People want to see the behind the scenes of your business, how you're solving problems, etc. They want the moments that reveal the process, not just the polished result. (These are some of the highest performing videos on social now, especially with the new TikTok style video feed!) 3.) It's easy and fun to make -No scripting -No retakes -The bloopers actually help -Just you being you...intentionally :) As we go through this process, we’ll learn what resonates and connects most, and we are sharing all of it on the YouTube channel as well in a long form vlog series (So make sure you're subbed!) So....please give us your feedback as we roll out a TON of new video content Hit me in the comments with what you think throughout the weeks/months/years 😉 ❤️ABS Alex B Sheridan #videocontent #linkedinvideo #videomarketing

The ‘secret’ ingredient to Social Media success: YOU! Faceless social media pages aren't effective anymore. With AI content improving, standing out is tougher than ever. Many still try to hack their way to success with generic accounts, but it doesn’t work. They fail to connect and engage with their audience, leading to stagnation. The best social media brands are personal brands. >> Here's a deeper dive into why and how to make it work << 1. Tell Professional Stories: Sharing your career journey and client successes makes your content relatable and credible. For instance, talk about the challenges you’ve faced in your industry and how you overcame them. This not only shows your expertise but also humanizes your brand. 2. Share Examples: Use personal experiences to illustrate your points. If you’re discussing a particular strategy, provide a real-world example of how you applied it successfully. This makes abstract concepts tangible and easier to understand. For example, if you’re explaining the importance of SEO, share a story about how optimizing a client’s website led to a significant traffic increase. 3. Give Opinions: Don’t shy away from expressing your views. Whether it’s subtly criticizing a common practice in your niche or taking a stand on industry trends, sharing your opinions can spark meaningful discussions. This not only engages your audience but also establishes you as a thought leader. Why Does It Work? A. Authenticity: In an era where AI can generate generic content, authenticity stands out. People crave genuine connections and are more likely to engage with content that feels real. B. Engagement: Personal stories and opinions invite interaction. They prompt your audience to share their own experiences and views, fostering a community around your brand. C. Trust: Sharing your journey and successes builds trust. Your audience sees you as a credible source of information, which can translate into business opportunities. >> Quick actionable tips << Mix Personal with Professional: Your posts don’t have to be all about you. Start with a broad idea and back it up with a personal story. For example, if discussing the importance of content marketing, mention how a specific campaign you ran brought great results. Use Visuals: A picture is worth a thousand words. Use photos or videos that reflect your personal brand and resonate with your audience. Consistency: Regularly share your stories, examples, and opinions. Consistency helps in building a strong personal brand. Faceless brands are losing their impact. By adding a personal touch to your content, you not only make it more engaging but also build a stronger, more relatable brand. Be real, share your journey, and watch your audience grow. 👉 Whenever you're ready, I offer five ways to assist you: (Details in the comments)

As a Facebook ads specialist who has served 210+ campaigns for coaches and digital product owners, I often get asked - "What's the most powerful type of creative to use?" Hands down, it's real user-generated content (UGC). I've seen single authentic testimonial videos generate 7+ million views and hundreds of thousands in sales. But it only works if the content is genuine. Fake or forced reviews quickly backfire by making audiences skeptical. After managing campaigns for 100+ coaches and consultants, here's why every business should be collecting and leveraging real UGC: 1. Using in ads - Real content performs better because it feels organic, not promotional. It builds trust by inspiring customers with peers' experiences. 2. Inspiring users to post - When customers see real people enjoying your product, they're much more likely to post user reviews themselves. This creates a viral effect. 3. Adding social proof - Display real customer photos, videos, and reviews on your website to establish credibility and reduce skepticism for researching buyers. Of course, the key question is - how do you generate authentic user content to begin with? Here are proven ways: 1. Incentivize users - Follow up post-purchase to thank customers and offer perks for posting video reviews. 2. Engage reviewers - Be the first to like and comment on their posts. Repost them. This shows you care and inspires more UGC. 3. Partner with influencers - Ask them to post honest reviews. This builds trust and credibility with their followers. Once you've built a library of UGC, incorporate it into ads and your website to boost conversions. In summary, incentivize and engage reviewers, collaborate with influencers, then repurpose that content across marketing. This cycle will separate you from competitors. Let's connect to discuss leveraging UGC for 7-figure campaigns! #campaignsuccess #facebookadsexpert

Alex Hormozi is arguably the most influential entrepreneur at the moment... and it's no surprise when you really do a deep dive into his content. Every single video has so much value, and he is extremely authentic. No filter, says what's on his mind, and even posts cooking videos on YouTube. Hard not to like the guy. But what really makes you trust him is that he has the resume to back up everything he says. I recently watched an hour long recording of him giving a presentation about content, and these two things were the biggest takeaways for me: 1. Always frame what you speak about in a "How I..." format rather than the "How you..." frame. Here's an example. "This is how I was able to get my first 100 clients for my SaaS company" instead of "If you don't do this, getting your first 100 clients for your SaaS will be impossible." When you start telling other people what they need to do, you lose credibility. Instead what you should be doing is tell them how YOU achieved the results and if they choose to copy you, it's because they found what YOU did valuable information. Don't pretend to know exactly what other people need to be doing, because you really can't say that what worked for you will work for others. When you address that upfront and are honest about it, your content will resonate with more authenticity and be more likely to be received in the way you are intending it to. 2. "Do sh*t and then talk about it". If you haven't done something, please don't make content about it. There are so many people now who try to lead with content and then use the attention they are getting to THEN create the business. That is so backwards. Instead of lying about results, or how much money you make, or pretend to be an expert in a field, be completely authentic. If you haven't built a successful business, then make content about everything you've done that hasn't worked so far. I'm sure that there are 1000s of people who can relate to that and that your content will resonate with. If you aren't at 100k per month yet, then talk about how you are planning to get there. Make videos or posts explaining everything that you're doing that has and hasn't worked. Show everything and people will flock to you because it's relatable and they can learn from your experiences. The overarching message here is to be authentic. Your personal brand is exactly that. Personal. Be yourself. Show all of your failures and then when you share success, you will have people genuinely happy to see it and who support you. This is the key to not only creating a brand that people love, but also enjoying the process even more. Hormozi didn't reinvent the wheel, but he did make it his own. You should too.

We get it - you want to tap into the cultural zeitgeist. Every brand wants to be relevant and resonate. But I'm sure you've noticed how trying too hard comes off desperate. Forcing irrelevant references falls flat. We all recognize it when we see it happening because it feels forced. Your audience will also recognize any shallow attempts at coolness. What they want is authenticity. So how do you stay relevant without losing yourself? 👂 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 Truly understand your audience - what matters to them and how they want to engage. Don't assume that they care about whatever is trending on social media - especially as it relates to their relationship with your business. ✨ 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 Don't force it. Identify themes that organically connect to your brand and 𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡 relevance on the themes that connect your products and services to customer needs. 🗣 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 Don't stray too far from what makes you unique. Stick with the themes that define your value proposition. Customers want and expect consistency. 🤔 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Have a sense of humor and show your playful side - but do it in moderation.  Don't lose your core voice and purpose and 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 don't force it. 💡 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 Focus on value vs. jumping on trends. Customers care about solutions and how they can help solve their problems.  That trend you're rushing to jump on will be gone soon anyway. 🌱 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 Stay true to your purpose while evolving with the times. New formats, new look/feel, new subjects - great.  Awkward trend chasing - not great. Be boldly you. Deliver value. Relevance will happen naturally. Don't make the mistake of trying hard to be hip and relevant. With an authentic, customer-focused approach, you can organically become a relevant part of the cultural conversation - all while still being true to your brand's voice. #contentmarketing #SEO #digitalmarketing  

Have you ever seen a viral video on social media and thought, “...But what's the ROI?” I was chatting with Rajiv 'RajNATION' Nathan of Startup Hypeman, a friend who constantly is pressing the envelope on creative swings in B2B marketing. I asked him for more details. He noted some remarkable stats… ⚓️ His “Stan” parody video landed a $30k contract in the first week and is still generating leads 2 years later (cost him about $2500 in production) ⚓️ His “Gong + Vidyard” integration launch video post got more views than Gong’s Superbowl ad post ⚓️ The LTV of one person who bought from him because of his “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” parody video (used in cold outreach) was conservatively at $140k across two different companies (Shows the power of second order revenue!) The impact of truly creative work in a sea of sameness has never been greater, but if this isn’t a muscle you are used to flexing… Where do you start? Here is what I have seen work… 1) Design content with an eye to “shareability”. Shareable content often focuses on a problem vs. a company or feature. Shareable content often has a very unique angle to how it is presented. In Rajiv’s example this was a rap video, or you had ProfitWell by Paddle have their CEO stand on stage and repeat the same word (churn) for 30 minutes while slides played in the background. Or you have the recent marketer showdown done with AI-versions of marketers in a Mortal Kombat layout from Obaid Durrani at HockeyStack (YC S23). Each one of these got hundreds of shares because of how information was presented. 2) Build distribution upfront. Talk to partners and peers and podcast hosts  in your network and get buy-in before the launch. Create teasers and get opt-ins in advance. When you launch have a concerted plan to maximize how many eyes get on it (don’t “build it and they will come”) 3) Take something you already do, and give it a unique delivery mechanism. If you are already doing webinars, why not test custom intro music, or tell content through a story, or, if you have an ebook or whitepaper, don’t just create it, get 5 industry experts to give a “foreword”, then you promote those endorsements.

Forget about these 3 standard pieces of advice: 1) Post daily, no matter the quality. 2) Use complex language to impress. 3) Focus on quantity over quality. Instead, start doing these 5: 1) Connect through aspirational identity. → Tap into universal desires. ↪︎ Align your brand with customers' aspirations. 2) Answer your audience's burning questions. → Use AI tools for research and keywords. ↪︎ Create content that solves specific problems. 3) Manage your content strategically. → Categorize content by purpose. ↪︎ Divide content into demand creation, conversion, and loyalty. 4) Edit for clarity and simplicity. → Utilize AI and editing tools. ↪︎ Keep language at a 5th-grade level for accessibility. 5) Use powerful visuals and storytelling. → Incorporate graphics and videos. ↪︎ Visuals that let customers see themselves using your product Ditch the spray-and-pray content approach. Avoid overcomplicating your message. Run from the one-size-fits-all strategy.