Simple Beginner-friendly Guide To Content Creation In 2024

Getting started with your content creation can be very daunting. 

Beyond the headache of finding hooks, buying gadgets, figuring out the right ideas, and hacking the algorithm.

The chances of you "blowing" or hitting the "top influencer" status is one out of a hundred.

 If you're having a hard time getting started on your content creation journey, you're not alone.

 Starting my content creation journey was not easy. It took a lot of testing, learning, iterating, and spending a ton of money to figure out my voice and what worked for me.

In this article,  I'm going to share simple beginner-friendly steps to content creation.

As we all know, content rules the world –especially the internet which is a world of its own.

Content is the currency that drives the digital economy and getting started shouldn't be difficult.

The first step you need to take as a content creator is to figure out your content style.

Content can be anything. Whether it's reacting to funny videos/memes, using AI to create compelling visual stories about historical facts, podcasting, webinars, pranks, interviews, writing, etc.

As long as people love it, and you're getting a steady traffic load, it is worth doubling down on. While it's, possible to switch content style once in a while, being consistent and known for a particular content format will make you an authority in your space. 

So let's explore various content styles and how to know which one is suitable for you.

FIGURING OUT YOUR CONTENT STYLE.

There are many content styles online and people are still inventing more. It's impossible to limit content creation to a few styles or formats.

  However, Joel Midmer of Fluxedigitalmarketing.com did a beautiful work of categorizing Content creation into 4 styles in his recent blog post.

THE 4 CONTENT CREATION STYLES

1. CONVERSATIONALIST

 Conversationalists are people who thrive on having a conversation with other people.

They are usually very good with listening, have a keen sense of observation, ask probing but interesting questions, and challenge entrenched ideas. They are known for having valuable insights and opinions about issues. 

If you enjoy these things, then these types of content may come more naturally to you than others.

•Videos

• Webinars 

• Training sessions 

• Interviews 

• Podcasts 

• Public speaking. Etc

2. THE TEACHER

If you enjoy breaking down chunks of complex subjects or Information into simpler and more understandable contexts and feel most effective when you share new ideas with people, these are the kind of content you want to be creating. 

•Training content 

• SOPs and tutorials 

• Courses 

• Videos 

• Speaking / keynotes 

• Templates, Frameworks, and Checklists 

•Slideshows

• Events

3. WRITER

If you enjoy writing, researching, and documenting ideas and processes, you should consider exploring these content formats.

• Blog Posts

• eBooks

• Email sequences

• Social media copy

• Website copy

4. CURATOR

Curators are great at pulling together meaningful resources and sharing them online. These could be putting together a list of the best Afrobeat songs of 2023 or the best Champions League goals for example.

The fun thing about being a curator is that you can find resources that others can't easily find. You should consider creating content within this list if this is you.

• Listicles

• Anthologies

• Case Studies

• White Papers

• Social media content 

• Course organization 

• Compilations 

• Inspiration 

• Best practices

• Templates, Frameworks, and Checklists

Now that you've figured out the kind of content you want to create, the next step is to start recording and creating content.

 Whether it's audio, Video, writing, etc. It's time to get started.

GET STARTED RECORDING: TIPS ON EVERY DEVICE YOU NEED

Camera

For video content, you need a camera which, if you have a good smartphone ( from iPhone 11 up) you can start recording.

 If you don't have an iPhone or a good smartphone with great camera quality, you can get this camera on Jumia, it's very affordable and the camera quality is as good as that of an iPhone 11.

Sound

Next, you need a mic for crystal-clear audio sound. This is important because the quality of your sound can impact the rate of engagement and retention your content gets.

Getting a Bluetooth mic is mostly affordable to beginners but if you have the resources to go bigger, you can get this rode special mic that I use. Also, You can use Adobe Sound Enhancer to enhance your sound and make it sound like it was made in a studio.

Lights

Another important tool You need is light. A well-lighted background will enhance your visual quality and make your content more attractive.

You can start by getting a ring light if you can't afford LEDs. One very important thing you must take note of is that you need to tailor your lighting to the background you're using for your content. More on that soon.

VIDEO EDITING FOR BEGINNERS

There are thousands of video editing software online but for beginners, it's advisable to get conversant with CapCut.

CapCut is easier to learn and you can use it to edit your content on your mobile device. As you progress, you may want to use tools like Adobe Premiere or other editing software, but for now, stick to the basics.

SIMPLE MINIMALISTIC BACKGROUND IDEAS

You need a good background setup if you're going into video content creation, podcasting, or even reacting to funny videos/memes.

 Setting up your background adds aesthetics and quality to your content. But most creators, beginners, consider it to be very expensive to set up.

 I found some very interesting low-budget background ideas in Dan Sanchez's Blog that I think every beginner should check out. Here are some of my favorites.

1. NEWSPAPER BACKDROP

Aside from the fact that this newspaper background is epic, it's also very cost-effective.

 Newspapers are not expensive, and setting them up doesn't require much technicality.

This is good for historical-related content and provides visual interest but also a plain, and according to Dan Sanchez: "monochromatic backdrop that won’t distract the viewer. I highly recommend beginners to try this out."

2. GREEN SCREEN BACKDROP

Green screen backdrops are a good option for YouTube videos that critique movies, games, and other visual media.

Using a green screen, you can show a moving video behind yourself as the video’s backdrop. The best part is that they're price friendly so you don't have to break your bank getting them.

3. PLAIN PAPER BACKGROUND

You can always use a paper backdrop for your video if you want a backdrop that is both economical and can be easily traded out and replaced as you want to change things up.

 Rolls of kraft paper can be found in most art supply stores.

Choosing a paper backdrop in a grey or dark blue background is most flattering to most people, but you can also choose different colors according to the mood you’re trying to achieve. 

For more insight on different backgrounds you can use for your content, click here.

CONTENT DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It's one thing to have great content, it's another to have your content go viral and reach the right audience.

 As a content creator, you have to be familiar with the unique dynamics of every social media platform.

To beginners, these platform works the same, but in reality, the algorithm and content distribution network differs a lot.

 So what could go viral on TikTok, may not go viral on YouTube shorts or Instagram reels.

For example, Josh Tracy, CEO of Namepython.com, made a note about "3 signs you don't know what you're doing online as a business owner".

On TikTok, this content got 99k views organically, while it barely crossed a thousand on Instagram.

 On the flip side, the same content turned out to have generated lots of sales when promoted as an ad on IG, while despite raking that number of views on TikTok, it didn't cumulate into many sales.

Every content creator has their Objectives for making content, but it is important to understand that every social media platform has a culture and dynamics. This will help you when distributing content. 

For instance, TikTok likes fast-paced content. Instagram likes lifestyle content. YouTube like educational and creative content, etc

If you're looking for a better explanation of all the social media platforms and their dynamics, you need to get Elon Jobs Course on Content Creation.

Having garnered over 20 million views on his Facebook platform alone,  he is in a better position to teach you everything you need to know about going viral on every social media platform.

I highly recommend you purchase his course here as a beginner.

CONTENT MONETIZATION

As a Content Creator, you have to make money from your content or die trying.

 However, the money won't come easily because you create content. You have to be smart and know how to build income streams with your content.

Here are a few ways you can generate revenue from your content online.

1. Platform payment Program: Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and X all have a revenue-sharing program with content creators.

If you grow your audience up to a certain stage where you qualify as part of the creators eligible for monetization by reaching the engagement threshold, you will also benefit from those platforms.

2. Endorsement Deals: This might probably be the reason why you started creating content in the first place. Don't cringe, you're not wrong. We all look forward to getting those mouth-watering endorsement deals as content creators and influencers.

So it's a good motivation to work hard and build a large audience online so that companies and businesses can start partnering with you to get more customers and sales.

3. Affiliate and Partnership: Thanks to affiliate marketing, even when the big cheques and endorsement deals are not forthcoming, you can still make a lot of money by affiliating and partnering with a lot of brands out there.

When your followers and audience use your special affiliate links or discount codes to make purchases on those brands' stores online, you earn a commission for the sales and referrals. 

4. Sell something: Like Mr Beast, you can start a business or company as a content creator.

Since you already have a large base of loyal fans and an audience that adores you, getting customers would not be a challenge for your business.

You can make a lot of money running your business and being a content creator at the same time.

FINAL THOUGHTS

You can only get better at content creation by creating content. You learn the most by doing. But from this guide, I hope that you've learned a thing or two about content creation. So what are you waiting for?

Start making content today!