The basic tools you can use to create great content
Content creation can be made very easy or very hard, depending on the tools you use. As entrepreneurs, especially in the early stages, we are very savvy and are use to working out things on our own.
So, of course, we want the basic tools we can use to create content. When we are doing our banking, sales, client work and marketing, having the easy guide to tools is always helpful.
As an entrepreneur who has only just started outsourcing, I have always done things on my own, from my own photos to editing my own podcast. So, I get it, you want to know what tools to use which will make it quicker, easier and more valuable to create your own content!
Nothing too expensive (free is always better) and something easy to use!! So, I have broken it down based on the platform and have explained the tools I use to create my content! Now, you can gain insights and inspiration to use the same tools (or find something you like instead).
Creating blogs and website content
One thing I will say is, NEVER overcomplicate it. This is where you will get caught up in the content, you will want it to be ‘perfect’, which we know doesn’t exist and we will not post or publish.
Website
Your website is SO important for your content creating. It not only hosts a range of your content, but this is your storefront in the online world!! Never underestimate the power of your website! So to create content on a website here is the steps:
Find a platform to host (plus your domain) like Squarespace
Squarespace is easy to use the platform and isn’t overly expensive to run. You can also buy your domain and email address (which gives you access to Google Suite – Google Docs, Sheets, Gmail etc.).
Create the written content
For your website, of course, you need written content! If you want to write it yourself, this is easily done. Do it all in a document first (I used Google Docs), but before you write, do the research for the keywords! You can use Google for research as well as Ubersuggest for SEO purposes! If you have no idea what I am talking about right now, see here! Once you have written the content, use platforms like Grammarly for a grammar check and then you can use a voice command like Siri to read the content back to you so you can ensure it flows.
Create the design elements: Canva
Of course, you can outsource this (I did) but you can use a platform like Canva to create your design elements for your website, blog posts and social media posts! Just make sure they are consistent and align with your brand! Not sure what do to with your brand? Get inspo from my chat with Suz Chadwick here!
Track the website metrics: Hotjar and Google Analytics
Google Analytics is the best free platform for tracking views to your website and the like! If you feel scared of Google Analytics, make sure you check out my chat with Natalie from Natalie Faith Web Designs, she breaks it down to make it sound exciting!! Also, there are other great platforms like Hotjar that do heat maps and recordings of visits so you can see what people do and click on when they land on your site! Their free features are great!!
Blogs
Creating a blog doesn’t have to be hard!! You can even use transcription platforms like Otter to transcribe videos or podcasts you have done to create blogs!!
But here is the process:
Do the research: Ubersuggest and Google
Of course, research your topic first!! For your keyword research and for content ideas you can use Ubersuggest (one of my favourite platforms) and then you can use Google to research the topic to get more information you might need (and people to link to within your blog). Of course, for more information on research for writing, please see here! If you need inspiration for content ideas, also use Answer the Public!
Create the written content (repeat from website content)
Read above, I don’t think I need to write this out again?
This really is a great and free platform to create great graphics for blogs! I have also used GIPHYS in the past, which you can embed into your blog articles!! These are free and work great for engagement!
Email Marketing
For my email marketing, I use Kartra. Because it is an ALL in one for me. It manages more than just my email marketing! Of course, there are others like MailChimp and Flo Desk (or your website provider might give you a limited email marketing system).
If you are looking to create courses in the future. I recommend something like Kartra as it is an all in one. If you can manage using just an email marketing platform, Flo Desk is so fabulous!
Podcasts
Everyone always gets scared of creating a podcast because they worry they don’t have all the amazing equipment, trust me you don’t need it!! Here is what you need:
Headphones or a mic to record
You can even use your phone if you like! I have been podcasting for 2 years and only just invested in a good microphone, which is the Rode NT-USB mini (it was only like $149).
Editing platform
Up until recently, I was using Audacity, which is free to download and easy to use!! You can also use GarageBand, which is also free! You can get tutorials on YouTube on how to edit podcasts on them! You can also record directly into these platforms!
Overlay sound
For your introduction and outro! Seriously you can get this for free too! I use YouTube Music to download a free sound! The hardest part is finding one you will not get sick of!!
Podcast image
Again, CANVA will be your best friend as an entrepreneur!!
Host platform
Of course, you want it on all the big streaming platforms, but you need to host it first!! My recommendation? Anchor!! With Anchor, they push it out to all the podcast streaming platforms with one click! So easy and their metrics are in-depth so you can measure your listeners etc.! Plus, it is FREEEE!!
Metrics
For more metrics on how your podcast is tracking, you can also check out Chartable! It tells you where your podcast ranks in charts like Apple Podcasts etc. They send you a weekly email!
Social Media
Okay, so what are the tools I use to create content for my social media?? Well, look there are SO many! Really, they are endless, but if you want to keep it simple, here is what I use!
Google Calendar
Used to plan my content and write my captions!
A hashtag generator that helps you get a mixture of frequently used and rare hashtags to reach the right audience on Instagram
Do I really need to explain again??
A great scheduling app used mainly for Instagram! You can also use Facebook Creator Studio too!
Another scheduling app that works to most social media channels (including LinkedIn)
Lightroom (search in your app store)
Get those presents and edit your photos directly from your phone!
I use it for filming and going live on my Instagram/Facebook!
TIP!! If you want to create nice stories with little graphics. You can make them on Canva (make sure you have a transparent background), save them as a photo to your images and copy them onto your stories by copying the image in your gallery! A cool way to make your stories look different! See here for instructions!
Video content
To make video content, you don’t need anything fancy if you are just making small edits for social media! I outsource a lot of my video editing, but when I do edit my video, I just use iMovie (the free video software by Apple). But you can use whatever you have! Even on a phone you can edit your videos, don’t over-engineer it!!
Course content/Content management
To create courses and add them to a portal for people to consume, you can invest in great online software like Kajabi or Kartra! But if you don’t want to spend $99USD, here is what I use:
It is around $39USD, it has a lot of the same functionalities and is a lot cheaper for those starting out! But if you have plans to move to a more expensive one in the future, sometimes it is best to just start with the better platform.
Again, you can create materials for your course using Canva (including slides)
An AI tool helping you name your brands, websites, courses! It also helps you find the domain too! Really cool.
Free offers
Creating free offers for your audience doesn’t have to be done using expensive programs, you can use the following:
These platforms can use exported and downloaded by your audience!
Planning/Organising
Of course, planning and organising is the key for successful content! Here is what I use to organise and plan my content!
Content planner: Here is my planner you can download!
Trello: can be used to make content planners and to-do lists
Clickup: personally our favourite at Content Queen
Email ideas to yourself: always a great way to remember your ideas, I do this A LOT
Google Drive to store: like Dropbox etc you can store your documents in the cloud
You can find out more about content organisation and structure here.
Tracking and measuring
We know we always need to test, trial and measure our content to ensure it is working! Here are some ways you can track your content success:
Google Analytics: You can track where your audience is coming from when they land on your website, who they are and what they are looking at
Google Console: will tell you how and where you are showing up on Google (and for what words)
Social media insights: each social media platform has its own insights, I generally use those to track the engagement etc.
Communication platforms
Communication is key!! When connecting with your clients and audience moving forward, you might use some of the following platforms and tools:
Zoom: the video conferencing platform
Voxer: a walkie talkie communication platform
Whatsapp: we know this messaging platform surely??
These are a great way to have communication with your audience, especially if you are a coach!!
Final thoughts
Alright, wow! There a lot of tools there, but these are all cheap, and easy to use!! Each platform has a range of tools you can use to improve your content, it is all about finding what works best for you!!
Make sure you use free trials and really understand how you use them to get the most out of the platforms.
Developing your content, of course, helps develop your business so never be afraid to invest in some tools to help you!!
As a content creator, I love trialling new tools, so make sure you head to Instagram and tell me about your favourite ones!! But also, my friends at Enplug also have an AMAZING blog which will also help you learn about more amazing tools out there. Find out more here!
