How to Improve Your Content Creation Systems for More Productivity and Quality

This is not a newsletter to tell you that I have all the answers—quite the opposite. It’s a newsletter to describe my struggles and sort out potential solutions on paper. That way, you can see my thought process, take what’s helpful for your own work, and apply it as needed.

Writing early in the morning works for me

The Struggle:

If you couldn’t tell from reading my content and watching my videos, I’m a one-person operation.

• I write, edit, and publish my own blog posts.

• I decide when to promote them on LinkedIn.

• My website doesn’t receive organic Google traffic, so I rely on LinkedIn to drive engagement.

• I write, record, and edit my own videos, create thumbnails, and write descriptions before uploading them to YouTube.

I do all of this in the mornings before work and on weekends. It’s a hobby that runs alongside my day job, but I don’t want it to take away from the number of phone calls I make or my client meetings.

So, like any entrepreneur, I ask myself: How do I get more done within these constraints?

I have a limited amount of time, skills, and knowledge. So, how do I make the most of what I have?

Why Bother Creating Content? Why Not Quit?

1. Personal Satisfaction

I create content for free, so my motivation must be intrinsic. My routine is simple: I wake up at 5:40 AM, exercise, and then either write or edit videos. This process clears my mind and recharges me.

Moreover, when I talk to clients, I reference my articles, making me more articulate. Content creation is like assembling a puzzle—once it’s put together in my mind, it’s easier to explain to others.

2. Personal Branding is the Ultimate Land Grab

We’re moving from the industrial age into the digital economy. In the past, networking meant attending events, having drinks after work, and shaking hands. It was a one-to-one process with limited scalability.

Now, content creation allows me to connect with more people than any networking event or phone call ever could. Personal brands are more powerful than corporate brands.

Content creation is an asymmetric bet—outsized rewards exist for those who do it well, and very few people are taking advantage of it.

For business leaders, nonprofit leaders, and salespeople alike, content is the most scalable way to attract people to your cause.

Ways to Manage Constraints

My biggest limitations are time, skills, and money. Like everyone else, I only have about 10 hours a week for this. While I’m a decent writer, self-editing is tough. I have minimal experience in video editing, and my budget is limited.

Right now, my focus is on upskilling and maximizing my time. Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Repurpose One Idea in Multiple Formats

Great ideas are rare. When I find one, I turn it into a blog post, a video, a LinkedIn post, and any other format I regularly engage with.

Think of an idea as a mold of clay—it can be reshaped depending on your needs. It’s easier to refine an existing idea than to generate new ones constantly.

2. ChatGPT is Helpful, but Real-Life Stories Resonate More

People crave connection with other people, not machines. My personal sales stories generate far more engagement than AI-generated lists.

3. ChatGPT is a Great Editor

My favorite ChatGPT prompt is: “Edit this blog post for clarity.”

After pasting in my writing, the output still sounds like me but is cleaner and more polished.

I questioned whether this was “cheating” or cheapening my process. But if I had a human editor, they would do the same thing—ChatGPT is just faster and cheaper.

4. The Order of Content Creation Matters

I experimented with different workflows:

• Recording videos first, then using transcripts for blog posts — This method felt unnatural. Without a script, my videos lacked clarity, and I often rambled.

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• Writing blog posts first, then recording videos — This method worked much better. The ideas were polished beforehand, making it easier to record concise and engaging videos. Editing was also smoother.

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5. Both Written and Video Content Matter, but Video is More Important

I recently saw a YouTube reel where Marcus Sheridan said 82% of time online is spent watching videos. That seems accurate.

Even though I prefer writing, I need to continue improving my video skills to stay relevant.

6. Watching YouTube Helps Improve Video Cadence

I took inspiration from MrBeast, who advises his employees to watch every single video he has made to understand what works.

From my observations:

• High production value isn’t necessary. An iPhone is good enough for my informational content.

• Editing is the real magic. I need to either upskill or hire someone to improve my video quality.

The Value of Doing It All Myself (At First)

Now that I’ve worked through all aspects of content creation, I understand what I do well and what I don’t.

If I were to hire help, I now know which roles I’d delegate—whether that’s editing, videography, or website management. Content creation involves many moving parts, and each role contributes to a successful outcome.

That said, everything starts with the content.

Editors, videographers, and web managers can only enhance an idea if the idea itself is strong. Creating high-quality content is the foundation—everything else follows from there.