Avoid bland content with these 5 clever strategies (step 1)
Here’s the breakdown you can steal and use today
Welcome to Be 1% Better Every Monday. While I usually write to you each Monday, today marks a special edition of my newsletter.
I’m excited to share a writing course that has made a significant impact on me, and I’m confident it will do the same for you.
I'm going to give you the writing system I use to write 35,000 words/month and earn around $7000/month. You can use it on any of your long-form content (blogs, newsletters)
Each day you'll get an email covering 1 step. Put them all together and in 5 days your readers will find your content irresistible.
Everything I share in this course has worked for me.
Enjoy the free course.
It's easy to write online. Anyone can do it.
This explains why there’s bland content everywhere. The same ideas are recycled over and over. ChatGPT is causing an explosion in dull writing. This is both bad and good news for you.
Bad news — there’s more content competing for attention
Good news — you’ll get noticed if your content is distinct
There is so much content online. It can feel impossible to write something new. But unless your content is fresh, clever writing tricks won’t be enough to get your stuff noticed.
Too many writers parrot what everyone else is saying. And wonder why no one is listening. Later in this course we'll talk about titles and using powerful words.
But we start with your content. It needs to be fresh.
You need to say something worth saying.
So let me give you the 5 strategies I use to generate content that people want to read.
1. Go beyond the obvious
You’ll become a distinct voice if you take what others are saying and push it a little further.
Every niche has the same truths recycled. Boring platitudes are useless from overuse. You can make your content stand out. Take a common idea and:
Tackle why people don’t practice it
Give a specific technique on how to do it
Deliver strong evidence that this truth matters
For example:
Creators are always told to tell more stories if they want to be great communicators.
So there’s no point in writing ‘tell more stories.’ No one needs that. Instead, find a way to go deeper into this popular idea:
Identify why some creators don’t tell stories (scared, don’t have any, too hard work)
Explain how to come up with new stories every week
Offer a 3 part framework for storytelling
Compare 2 adverts — story vs. non-story — and reveal the massive difference in results
Do this and you’ll become a thought leader in your field.
Become someone who adds value by going beyond the obvious.
2. Correct an obsession
Most writers see what the ‘experts’ write and repeat it. This leads to endless repetition and a cult following around certain ideas. I’ve seen this in many areas.
It is crucial to spot these so you can challenge them:
Self-improvement has cold showers, morning routine & habits
Investors are constantly directed to index funds
Writers are told to write daily & be consistent
Eve Arnold does this brilliantly by mocking the promotion of complicated morning routines. She tried green smoothies, meditating, journaling, exercising, and reading. All before work. But it didn’t work. She has built $3k/month on Medium by getting up, drinking coffee, and writing. That’s her morning routine. Simple and effective.
This correction makes her writing stand out. It goes against what is heavily promoted.
When an idea is pushed too far it becomes unhelpful. You don’t have to write daily to be a writer. Habits are not the only way to improve yourself. Some investors enjoy being involved with their investments (the opposite of index funds).
This is your opportunity to be unique.
Spot when an idea is overcooked then challenge it. Your provocative insights will win you favor and help people.
Lance an obsessed with your correction.
3. Offer real solutions for real problems
Your readers want writers to solve their real problems.
Consider your reader’s pain points. And find something that would help them. Don’t talk theory. Share what works. Many writers discuss problems but few solve them.
A powerful tactic is to offer a solution that has worked for you. Write fewer ‘how-tos’ and more ‘how-I’. This provides powerful evidence. And gives you stories to share (and we know everyone loves stories).
Practicing your ideas will give you deeper insights. You’ll realize what works, what doesn’t, and why.
This is my whole writing strategy:
Learn something
Try it out
Share this in public
You get bonus points if your solution is easy to do, with quick results & very likely to work.
Readers find this irresistible.
4. Say what isn’t being said
Most writers rephrase other writers. And draw from the same small pool of content.
There’s a large pool of content missing somewhere. What aspects of your topic are people ignoring? Look at the common themes in your niche. Think about them. Identify what’s overlooked.
Great writers are great thinkers.
You need to be more than a wordsmith. You need to think hard. And have fresh thoughts. Regurgitating the same old stuff won’t get you read.
Take time to wrestle with the problems you and your audience face. Most writers want to make money. It seems out of reach unless you become big. But I discovered how new writers can earn money. Even if they are still small. Saying what isn’t being said will win you fans.
Make space for original thoughts.
Here’s another example:
Creators are told consistency is the route to success. Write for years to build an audience. Most online creators don’t fail because they lack talent but because they stop and run out of steam.
You read this all the time.
But do you know what isn’t said? How to keep going when you see no results. So I wrote a story that offered 5 mental models to sustain your energy long-term. Stuff I’ve never seen anyone else say.
Zoom out to spot what are people missing. Then write about that.
If you are short of creativity. And none of these approaches work. Don’t worry Tactic 5 has you covered.
5. Breathe new life into old truths with a story
People never grow tired of stories
Even if someone already knows something. Hearing a story is entertaining and can offer a fresh perspective. If you can invoke strong emotions your story will be more engaging.
Personal stories work best but you can tell stories of others too. They don’t need to be dramatic. Ordinary real stories are more relatable. Look at the main ideas in your niche. Identify a personal story for each.
I tell stories about the harsh feedback I receive. When I want to quit. New ideas I have. My business. My cat. Anything can work.
Struggling to find stories? That’s an easy fix. At the end of every day record 1 story about something that happened. Pick the one that evokes the strongest emotions. Keep a record. Then refer to it whenever you need a story.
Stories give your writing flavor — use them liberally.
Use these 5 ideas to generate high-quality content:
Go beyond the obvious
Correct an obsession
Offer real solutions for real problems
Say what isn’t being said
Breathe new life into old truths with a story
People will be desperate to read it. Your writing will get noticed.
And that's the best feeling in the world.
See you tomorrow for our 2nd step.
Thanks,
Zohvib
PS. If you'd like some personal coaching on your writing. I might be able to help.
Hop on a Zoom call with me for a 2 x 30-minute deep dive into your writing goals.
Wondering how we’ll do it?
One of the best article I’ve ever read on writing. Thank you very much, Zohvib!!!