Well, half of 2023 is over.

If you’re in publishing or content creation right now, you might be wondering, what’s next?

At the start of Covid, I said, “It’s not business as usual, and that’s a good thing.”

For us in digital business, we didn’t know what was going to happen, but I was hopeful that this shift could be a good thing for us.

Turns out, Covid was good for our business. People were spending more online, e-commerce was booming, and ad revenues and traffic were up. And, we had to adjust to that as well. We were able to make bigger, bolder moves in content.

But, in the past few months, the story is a bit different. As I see the changes, I cannot help but think, if you’re in the content game, you are going to have to really love creating content.

At Venture 4th Media, we’ve built over 150 websites from scratch. And, I’m here to tell you — there is nothing in the world quite like starting a new site.

When you register the URL, get that empty version of WordPress up and dig into the topic research.

I love seeing a site come together. Thinking through the content plan, digging into that content mission statement, and hiring the writing teams.

Before all the inevitable tech issues arise, before the site even gets indexed — those early days are some of my favorites.

Some of us cannot stop building. That rush of ‘what if,’ hoping that this site is going to flourish, find an audience, and reach people.

I love that.

That is what keeps me going.

When I was at University, I took a digital media class. Now, this was at the time when the internet was still new. It was early days of Facebook and we still had to use our phone lines to connect online, nothing like we have today.

I remember becoming so enthralled with all the possibilities of creating content online in this vast space of the unknown.

I wrote in my “life plans” journal that I would create websites, where I could tell people’s stories and write about things that I loved and wanted to share with the world. Okay, I also wanted to be Oprah.

But, at that time, I had no idea what that could look like. I just knew that I devoured magazines on topics that I was obsessed with. I listened to CBC radio, watched a lot of TV and wanted to be a part of that world in some way.

I think about that younger Amy quite a bit. The one who spent all my waitressing tips on the latest issues of Select, NME, and Vox and read every Oprah magazine from cover to cover. Today, these are the types of people we serve in our digital publications — those who can’t get enough great content and are obsessed when they finally find a publication they love.

There are always going to be audiences to serve. How we serve those audiences will drastically change again. But, isn’t that part of the fun?

At Venture 4th Media, we have shifted some of our content creation approaches, looking more into content distribution strategies, experimenting with different types of content and doing a lot more classic audience building.

And, while we still don’t know the effects coming down the road with AI, with AI in search, with all the Google updates, we do know one thing…

We won’t stop creating content.

No matter the role you play in content, either as a content marketing pro, a writer, or an editor, these are the times we need to lean in and find that love for our craft again. There’s a lot of changes coming down the pipeline and we’ll need to dig deep.

Need some help? Well, I’ve got some inspiration for you!

First, let’s get into some tips on how to find that love again; then, I share some of my favorite people to follow in SEO and content that will truly inspire you!

Tips to Find That Love for Content Again

Remember why you fell in love with content in the first place.

Think about what drew you to this field. Was it the storytelling aspect, the ability to educate, or to connect with audiences? Take a moment to reignite that initial spark and look for the parts of your job, and your life that you get to do the things you love.

Experiment with new types of content.

Written content and traditional blog posts aren't the only means to connect with your audience! Today’s audiences need visuals and new types of content as well. Try a new format to connect to your audience. Start a podcast, create some videos, or maybe take Tik Tok out for a spin?

Keep learning.

Always be a student of your craft. The digital landscape we’re in is always changing. Embrace this and dig in. Learn some new editing skills, learn a new tool, or learn about some new trends in content marketing.

Take the good, take the bad.

Not everything we create is going to be a hit, and that’s okay. Part of finding love for what we do is learning from what isn’t working. That’s great data as well.

Engage with your audience.

Ask for feedback from your audience, take a poll, or follow up with someone who asks a question! Not only do you get great data, but it can feel really good and inspiring to see the direct impact of your work. If you can reach one person, you can reach many!

Meet with other content marketers.

Twice a month, I meet with a group of content professionals, and we get to nerd out about all the challenges, and things we’re working on. I cannot tell you how much this inspires me to keep going. I quickly see my blind spots and celebrate all the small wins. Spending time with my colleagues also reminds me that I do know a thing or two as well, and that feels hella good!

Take a break.

The content creation hamster wheel can be overwhelming. There is always something else to do, but it’s so important to take a break. At Venture 4th Media, one of our values is “the best of life happens on the outside,” and I mean that. Great ideas and creativity happen when you are away from your computer too!

Celebrate the small wins along the way.

Sometimes it can seem that everyone in content land is making big moves when in reality, those big moves happen because of a lot of small wins that add up. Celebrate those small wins, whether it’s your first email subscriber to a new list or the first article published in a series. They add up!

Create a content mission statement.

Overwhelmed and feeling lost? Spend a few minutes with your content mission statement (or create one if you don’t have it) — remind yourself of why you do what you do, and what you are promising your audiences, and keep your focus when you feel lost.

Some Real Deal Content Experts to Follow

Okay. This past week has been a bit wild with all the updates and mishaps on Twitter, but I still find a ton of inspiration there.

Not all creators are worth following, and if you are like me and tired of all the bro-marketers, short-cut takers, and fakers out there, you’ll want to bookmark this list.

Here are some of the real-deal content experts to follow on Twitter:

Lily Ray — SEO Nerd x1000

Part DJ, part SEO nerd, Lily keeps us all updated on the rollercoaster ride that is SEO, Google updates, and content. Follow Lily for her hot takes and daily tweets as she travels around the world spinning records and talking about all things E-E-A-T.

Kevin Espiritu (Plant Daddy) — Content Expert

Kevin is the talented powerhouse behind Epic Gardening - where he teaches 10M+ how to grow anything! A real content creator, who still gets his hands in the dirt, follow Kevin to learn how to grow an authentic, organic audience and build a legacy media asset.

Aleyda Solis — SEO Guru

One of the best SEO consultants out there, Aleyda shares tons of strategy tips, SEO trends, and helpful resources. If you are new to SEO, I strongly recommend following Aleyda, as she breaks down a ton of really complex things and makes it accessible to all. Aleyda is often the go-to resource other experts talk about…

Lidia Infante — SEO Speaker and Manager

Lidia is an SEO content specialist, speaker and world-renowned expert who tackles topics such as headless SEO, the gender gap in SEO publishing and shares practical advice, industry updates and insights in the changing world of SEO and content creation. She is also on Threads here. 

Brandon Saltalamacchia — Founder, Retrododo.com

If you want to learn what it takes to grow a massive site, follow Brandon, who shares a ton of lessons from his journey growing his retro gaming site, and is now growing a new site, cardgamer.com. From video creation strategies to his thoughts on AI, Brandon shares it all!

Spencer Haws - Niche Pursuits

One of the original GOATs in our industry, Spencer is still alive and active, sharing his journey building Niche Pursuits, highlighting other founders and content creators in our industry, and putting a spotlight on digital businesses and SEO. Follow for more SEO tips, AI thoughts, and to keep a pulse on the movers and shakers in our industry.

Tory Grey — Founder, The Grey Dot Company

Tory has spent the past decade and a half delving deep into SEO and growth strategies for digital businesses, serving in both product and digital marketing roles for startups and marketing agencies. Now, she serves piping-hot SEO advice, highlighting other industry leaders and must-attend events in our space.

Michaela Mendes — Head of Content

Michaela is a professional content marketer who excels at creating engaging, effective content strategies. Follow along her journey as she tries to create content that ranks as a team of one, with some content writing advice along the way.

Harshala Chavan — Solo Founder

Harshala is the founder of Merrative, a community for readers. Follow her to see behind the scenes of what it takes to build a community, to think like a media brand - oh, and she also shares a ton of job opportunities and tips for freelance writers as well.

Jared Bauman — SEO Agency Founder

For all of you who don’t know, Jared is the podcast interviewer for Niche Pursuits, who also runs a very successful SEO and content marketing agency, alongside his own sites. Lately, he’s been on fire on Twitter, sharing case studies, lessons learned from the front lines of SEO, and thoughtful tips on how to grow your own website.

Dr. Marie Haynes — SEO and Content Master

I’ve been following Dr. Marie Haynes for a while now, and I keep learning new things! She spends a ton of time digging into SEO trends, Google updates, and content marketing, so we don’t have to! Follow her as she shares daily insights on her Twitter feed.

Things to Read and Ponder

Here are some dig-in resources that I hope you’ll love!

Things I didn’t see in my Bingo card for 2023. Twitter didn’t just block unregistered users; it blocked Google Search. Wowza!

Want to find some keywords and topics to cover that competitors may have missed? Yes! Then, you need to check out this in-depth guide on Tangential SEO. Grab a coffee, maybe a snack and start reading!

I have to admit, as much as I love talking about content marketing, I’m also a super operations nerd, and it brings me so much joy to find a new productivity tool or CRM that everyone loves and actually uses! Well, we put Notion and Obsidian through the paces; which one comes out on top? Find out here.

My Favorite Tweets of the Week

Thanks again for your readership. Let’s make the rest of 2023 a great one!

Cheers! Amy

Some Bonus Newsletters You’ll Love

If you want to get into the weeds on these topics, here are a couple of newsletters to subscribe to.