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Content Can Be FUN!
A roundup of the most fun-to-create content of 2019 from a variety of top social media and digital marketing professionals.
Instead of a compilation of strategic tips or 2020 social media predictions, I decided to do an end-of-2019 roundup post on FUN.
A lot of people wouldn’t put “content creation” and “fun” in the same sentence. Content can feel like a chore, one more business task that takes you away from the things you really want to be doing.
But sometimes? It IS fun. And I’ve gathered nearly two dozen of my smart social media friends to talk about what they most enjoyed creating in 2019 and why. Hopefully, there’s a piece of inspiration in here for each of us!
Full roundup video below; individual responses (with links to the actual FUN content in question!) after the jump.
Deonnah Carolus
Summit Web Marketing
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
My 'How to get Approved for Instagram Shopping after you have been Denied' Checklist!! I created a mini course series that goes in depth with it too!
https://www.summitwebmarketing.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Copy-of-Add-a-subheading.pdf
What made it so much fun to create?
That I can help virtually EVERYONE this happens to with this method I uncovered!!
Angus Nelson
angusnelson.com
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Manhood Matrix graphic:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HPcYDYsVhMNBpRtMR1sjLiCBiwpo_WM-/view?usp=sharing
What made it so much fun to create?
It challenged me to truly think through my philosophy.
Gael Gilliland
The Legacy Recorder
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
What to do when death happens:
https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/death-dying/grief/what-to-do-when-death-happens
What made it so much fun to create?
It was a tough and unexpectedly joyous conversation that many people have found value in.
Emily Crume
Social Media Examiner
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
A Doodly animated video entitled "5 Reasons to Sponsor an Event."
https://youtu.be/unq8VlQhV9Y
What made it so much fun to create?
I came up with the idea, scripted the story and then recorded the audio and set the animations, music and timing. It required taking the time to learn an explainer video program - but I was able to produce the content all myself!
I have used it on my Compass toolkit page - a page where we host resources that help guide my clients to event success. It was also posted to LinkedIn and had 10x more views in my feed than regular content I repost and share.
Yvonne Heimann
Ask Yvi
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
The Summit Hero:
https://academy.askyvi.com/courses/summithero
What made it so much fun to create?
Collaborating with Mary Fain Brandt is so fun. She is just as enthusiastic and energetic as I am <3
Jennifer Watson
Agora pulse
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Our weekly live show, Social Pulse Weekly, where we have an expert guest, talk about the latest social media news and have fun trivia. I linked to our finale show below that had 10+ guests and was a great way to wrap up the biggest trends of 2019 and what predictions will be for 2020.
http://facebook.com/Agorapulse/videos/517136252207741
What made it so much fun to create?
This was so much fun to create because we had brilliant guests sharing their knowledge with everyone. Along with that relationships were formed and strengthened from the great conversations between viewers and our guests. We had people join in from around the world, that made the experience priceless. This experience has made me appreciate the power of live video even more than I already did!
Our finale video had 118 live views and has reached, but the best part was the conversations and relationship building that was happening with our viewers and the show guests. So much love and support for everyone, it was truly amazing to see.
Phil Mershon
Social Media Examiner
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
My LinkedIn article about showing up powerfully:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/showing-up-powerfully-10-tips-event-organizers-speakers-phil-mershon/
What made it so much fun to create?
Involving so many friends and then seeing how the community is responding to the idea of showing up powerfully.
Risa Hoag
GMG Public Relations
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
The interview with the 3 businesses for the Nanuet Chamber of Commerce, Coupe Theatre Studio, Gregory Chiropractic and Luxury Kitchen and Bath. The Nanuet Chamber News Show.
https://www.facebook.com/NanuetChamberOfCommerce/videos/445635276166710/
What made it so much fun to create?
Great fun to interview local business people and share their stories with the Rockland community. Also fun to visit their businesses and see them in action.
Kendra Ramirez
Reset Co
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
We did a video series on mindset. My favorite piece in the series is on money mindset.
https://thereset.co/karlee-schultz/
What made it so much fun to create?
It was filmed in a studio that we designed. We did the whole series with no teleprompter or show notes. We are addressing topics around limiting beliefs.
Katie Hornor
SuccessfulOnlineCourses.com
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Digital Courses: 25 Predictions for 2020
https://bloggingsuccessfully.com/digital-courses-25-predictions-for-2020/
What made it so much fun to create?
Collaborating with other experts to serve our people collectively is a wonderful experience.
Mike Gingerich
Digital Hill and Mike Gingerich Global
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Group collaboration with Now Marketing Group on the Harsh Truths of Online Marketing
https://blog.nowmarketinggroup.com/harsh-truths-of-online-marketing-marketers-tell-all
What made it so much fun to create?
Jessika had a group chat going and it was great to connect with the group and see all their inputs and thoughts!
Chris Strub
The Giving Day Guy
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
A Facebook Live broadcast that I created on #GiveSTLDay with the St. Louis Community Foundation at Healthworks! Kids Museum:
https://www.facebook.com/stlouisgives/videos/321670001842589/
What made it so much fun to create?
I had no idea what to expect, and neither did the audience. Plus Sean Frederick is a super charismatic and fun kid to work with.
Eddie Garrison
Digital Media Creator Academy
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
I did a Social Media Day Virtual Summit that had over 1,000 viewers. It featured nine fantastic speakers and went for nearly five hours.
What made it so much fun to create?
Doing a Social Media Day event ON Social Media. Hearing everyone speak on what their passion is was the best for me.
We ended up with nearly 10,000 overall views of the Virtual Summit.
Ross Brand
Livestream Universe
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Facebook Live interview with Eddie Garrison from Podcast Movement:
https://www.facebook.com/ross.brand.509/videos/1328004804040836/
What made it so much fun to create?
iPhone fell in the middle of the interview. It give us a lot to laugh about during and after the broadcast.
Dan Willis
Millennial Motivator
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
I really had a blast creating the first couple episodes of the Successful Failures podcast:
https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9hYzU5Njk0L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz&episode=OGMyMzc2NzctMDk4My0wODU1LWEyODgtOWI3OTQ1ZmM0NmYy&hl=en-CA&ved=2ahUKEwiXmb2u5q_mAhXRKM0KHYcqAlYQjrkEegQIOBAE&ep=6&at=1576143043022
What made it so much fun to create?
Getting to know the deeper stories behind entrepreneurs is a passion near and dear to my heart! Forgetting the glimmer and celebrity and getting back to real people facing real challenges.
If it helped even one listener to face entrepreneurship with an awareness of the hardships you must overcome in order to succeed it performed beyond expectations!
Jeff Sieh
Manly Pinterest Tips
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guy-kawasakis-remarkable-people/id1483081827
What made it so much fun to create?
I get to listen in on really cool people like Jane Goodall, Steven Wolfram and Martha Stewart.
Denise Alison
Denise Alison Social Media Strategist
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
My #10tips10days series on LinkedIn.
https://denisealison.com/blog/10-tips-10-days-part-1
What made it so much fun to create?
I loved the energy it gave me to challenge myself to create short and 10 valuable pieces of content, 10 days in a row!
The series got over 30k views.
Phil Gerbyshak
Vector Solutions
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Happy Birthday to Me: Here are 46 things I learned from 46 trips around the sun:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/happy-birthday-me-here-46-things-i-learned-from-trips-phil-gerbyshak/
What made it so much fun to create?
I created it in one sitting in an airplane, and everything I created brought a smile to my face as I thought about when I learned the lesson, how it's impacted me, and even how I continue to use the insight.
Marisa Cali
All The Social
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
The espnW women + sports summit recap. There was tons of social content on Twitter and IG but this summarizes it:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/espnwsummit-reminder-your-why-marisa-cali-1c/
What made it so much fun to create?
The ability to connect with so many of the ideas being said at the summit.
It opened the door for additional opportunities within the sports/womeninsports world; built relationships with key players and furthered the impact I can have in the industry.
Caitlin Jenkins & Amy Tischler
Simply Social Media
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Our most fun piece of content we created in 2019 was not one piece, but rather a place.
Our work is creating community and nothing bonds a group like throwing sharp objects at a target! We mean hatchet throwing, of course, and it inspired many variations of triumphant images, videos, and boomerangs created by our influencers.
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/seasonalsunrise/
What made it so much fun to create?
We discovered the secret ingredient for creating fun content is endorphins! Have fun if you want to create fun content!
George Damanis
Up Tempo Social
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
My Perfect Burger blog:
https://www.georgedamanis.com/georgeeatseverywhere/articles/my-perfect-burger
What made it so much fun to create?
Making the burger, eating the burger, and seeing everyone's reaction to it. The biggest compliment I received was a friend telling me the blog made them want to eat a burger for dinner. One friend even went shopping to cook it the night it was published to my website.
Laura Pearman
Laura Pearman Photography
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
My episode on fish and pricing:
https://youtu.be/u9UqGYZ1eJU
What made it so much fun to create?
It marked me Really getting into a fun groove with my channel.
It’s been one of my best this year. All the equivalent ones on this topic are DULL so I’m hoping it will do well over time too.
Madalyn Sklar
#TwitterSmarter
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Custom GIFs!
https://twitter.com/MadalynSklar/status/1205185759168348161
What made it so much fun to create?
Custom GIFs allow you to show a lot of personality. They're great on Twitter and Facebook.
It generated high engagement with lots of conversations. It's a great way to let your community see the real you.
Amanda Webb
Spiderworking
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
I created a video trailer for an article I had written for Social Media Examiner. It included having a bath in gravy and pretending to do a striptease in my front garden.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B19D_6KCGcS/?igshid=15bvqanpbn59z
What made it so much fun to create?
It was full on creative. I had fun with the ideas, not so much the gravy bath.
My goal was to drive traffic to the article which I did. I also good good engagement across social media platforms. However, previous trailer videos got more link clicks. I think that's because they teased the content more. This video was a complete content piece that didn't require a link click to complete it.
Since you’ve made it this far, I might as well let you know that you can meet almost ALL of these incredible human beings LIVE and IN-PERSON in San Diego this coming March at Social Media Marketing World 2020!
(Yes, that’s an affiliate link - if you buy through it, I’ll buy you a drink in San Diego - swearsies!)
Curious if #SMMW20 is for you? Let’s hop on a phone call or Zoom hangout (yes, really!) and I’ll tell you why it’s BEYOND worth it.
FAQ: Consolidating video traffic
Should you upload your video to each platform independently?
Should I upload my video to one platform and then just link to it from the rest - or should I upload my video natively to each platform?
As with most things: this depends on your goals.
If you’re mainly focusing on building an audience on one platform over the others, and you want to consolidate all your views in one spot (for example, you’re trying to build your Facebook audience, thus views on your Facebook post would do you the most good), go ahead and link or embed the video when promoting it elsewhere.
However, that technique won’t get the most reach - and, therefore, won’t get as many overall views. Platforms give strong preference to videos loaded natively to their platform. So, if what you’re going for is as many eyeballs as possible on your content, load it up to each platform separately.
Make sense? Good.
Social: smartify your hustle
The magnetic Ramon Ray of Smart Hustle Magazine and I talked about how an entrepreneur can build their small business. My 3 biggest takeaways: 1. Know what game you're playing; 2. Hustle, grind, passion, persistence; 3. Always be open to learning.
When Ramon Ray steps into a room, you know it.
The multi-entrepreneur and founder of Smart Hustle Magazine has a palpable energy, one which has propelled him to start - and grow - several businesses, write books, and become an in-demand speaker - he's even spoken at the White House!
Ramon and I talked a lot about how an entrepreneur can build their small business, but three key pieces of advice really stood out:
1. Know what game you're playing;
2. Hustle, grind, passion, persistence;
3. Always be open to learning.
Check out the rest below. And if you go to his Smart Hustle Small Business Conference, let me know so we can meet up!
#MRCCSocial: Content Marketing with Ramon Ray
Storify threads of my live tweets from last week's #MRCCSocial conference.
The great Ramon Ray blew all our minds as we hung on his every word and learned how to use smart content marketing to maximize business.
Ramon Ray is a powerhouse.
The founder of SmartHustle.com wears many hats: entrepreneur, global speaker, best-selling author, White House presenter (and Obama-interviewer), Congressional witness, FBI Citizens Academy graduate, former United Nations employee - and new Christine Gritmon fan! ;)
Now, I'll tell you this: it was HARD live-tweeting Ramon's presentation. This guy moves a mile a minute. But he knew how to keep us along for the ride. And he'll teach you how to keep your audience along for the ride, too, with his key tips for content marketing.
I cannot WAIT to have Ramon as a guest on Social at some point in the future. No idea what I'll have him on to discuss - the options are pretty endless with him! - but I'm sure we'll think of something. Stay tuned!