4 Time-Sucking Mistakes New Creators Make
(I spent 365 days learning these, so you don't have to!)
Content creation has become my ‘new normal’.
It’s what fills my days now, especially since I left my 9-5.
What started as a random idea — just creating a single piece of content has turned into a bigger mission:
building a personal brand and helping others who want to succeed online without spending $$$ on paid ads.
I’ve been growing my brand step by step, day by day, and the progress has been more rewarding than I ever expected:
80+ Million views on Pinterest (without paid ads)
100k saves on Pinterest
44k Views on my Blogs on Medium
$2000 (and counting) in earnings
These milestones sometimes seem a bit unreal to my 9-5 version.
But, they are 101% real. I’ve achieved all of them.
That being said, I also want to shed light on a part of this journey that doesn’t get talked about much — the tough side.
Creating content is tough.
It’s not all that hunky-dory or smooth sailing.
And, I can say this on the basis of my experience, because I’ve started everything from scratch — no background in content creation, no guidance, and more importantly no $$$ to spend on fancy tools or ads.
Every bit of growth came from trial and error, and figuring things out as I went along.
So, in this post, I’ll be taking you back to the early days of my content creation journey —the mistakes, the setbacks, and the hard-earned lessons.
I’ll walk you through the 4 most common content mistakes I made that drained my time and energy, so you can skip those bumps and focus on what really matters.
Curious to learn?
Let’s begin!
1. The ‘Everyone’s Audience’ Trap
When you start creating content, it’s easy to think, “I want to reach as many people as possible! I want to cater to everyone! ”.
The problem with this approach is that when you try to speak to everyone, you end up connecting with no one.
Your message becomes too broad and loses its impact.
Instead of trying to cater to every section of your audience, focus on a specific group of people.
Find out what they’re interested in, what kind of content they enjoy, and create more of that.
By doing this, you’ll create content that resonates deeply with the right people.
And, as a result of this they will keep coming back for more.
Remember: Trying to please everyone leaves you pleasing no one.
2. Creating for Algorithms, Not People
Many aspiring creators believe that the secret to online success is pleasing the algorithm.
They think using the right keywords, following trends, or tweaking posts to rank higher will make their content explode.
While it’s true that algorithms play a role, they’re not the only factor.
If your content is stuffed with keywords and feels robotic, your audience will notice — and they won’t stick around.
So, put more efforts in creating valuable content that connects with people on a personal level.
When your audience finds your content helpful and engaging, they’ll interact with it more, and this natural engagement is what algorithms actually love.
Remember: Real engagement from real people is the key to online success, not just gaming the system.
3. Avoid Adding More Mass
Have you read the book ‘Rework?’
I’m reading it, all thanks to the 75-hard challenge.
One idea that really stood out to me from this book is — Adding More Mass.
It talks about how adding too much to a project can actually slow you down.
In content creation, it’s the same story.
We often believe that more content, more features, or more tasks will lead to better results, but that is not the case.
Piling on too much only slows you down. It won’t uplift you or make you more productive.
The more you add, the more complicated things become.
So, avoid adding mass.
Remember: You don’t need to overburden yourself, just to make it look ‘Cool’.
4. Following the ‘Post & Pray’ Approach
Post & Pray approach is followed by many new creators who believe that just putting content out there is enough.
They hit publish and wait, hoping that somehow their work will gain traction on its own.
Are you also doing the same?
If so, you definitely need to change your mindset.
Praying that your content will somehow go viral without putting in the extra effort is wishful thinking.
It’s like planting a seed and expecting it to grow without watering it.
In order to grow, you need to nurture your content — promote it, engage with your audience, and give it the attention it deserves.
The more effort you put in after posting, the better the results you’ll see.
Remember: Publishing is just the beginning. It’s the follow-through that truly counts!
Final Thoughts🌸
That’s a wrap for now!
I hope you’ve got some value from this pos (Do let me know if that’s true😉)
See you in the next value-packed post.
Till then, keep smiling and keep learning.
Signing off!
Sweta❣️
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PS: Hey! I’m Sweta, a publication editor turned content creator, living in India🙋♀️!
I’m here to help you build your own space in this online world by sharing what I’ve learned, tried out, and even failed at along the way!
Come, be a part of this amazing journey to make it more magical✨
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