Five Questions about Content Creation with Teronie Donaldson

For Teronie Donaldson, content creation is about making a positive difference in the world. His videos, newsletters, and Medium articles don’t the latest trends or fads; rather, he takes a thoughtful, measured approach to self-improvement advice, emphasizing the power of reading books to create meaningful, lasting change in one’s life.

Read on to understand his inspiration for content creation, his philosophy about success, and his advice to would-be content creators in the five questions below.

How long have you been a content creator? What inspired you to be a content creator?

I have been a content creator since March 2020. During the pandemic, I wanted to do something creative and productive with my time. I enjoyed binge-watching shows like The Wire and The Sopranos and other shows I didn’t have the time to catch up on, but I realized that I couldn’t continue spending my time like that. If I went down this road and didn’t make use of it, I would regret it when things recovered. So, I rekindled my love of reading by reading all the books I collected over the years and didn’t have the time to read. And as for content, I figured if not now, then when? Why not try to create content and see where it goes?

What are the biggest challenges you face as a content creator?

The biggest challenges I face include:

• Generating original and engaging ideas consistently

• Dealing with creative blocks or burnout

• Building and maintaining an audience or followers

• Managing time and staying organized

• Keeping up with evolving trends and algorithms

• Handling criticism and negative feedback

• Monetizing content effectively

How do you overcome these challenges?

To overcome these challenges, I employ several strategies:

· Reading

· Researching and staying informed about niche and target audience

· Creating a content calendar or schedule to stay organized and maintain consistency

· Seeking inspiration from various sources such as other creators, industry trends, or audience feedback

· Collaborating with other creators to gain exposure and cross-promotion

· Taking breaks and practicing self-care to prevent burnout, which is extremely necessary!

· Engaging with my audience and actively responding to feedback and comments

· Constantly learning and adapting to changes

· Exploring multiple revenue streams as I would love for my content to create revenue I can live off of one day

What advice would you give someone who’s considering becoming a content creator?

If someone is considering becoming a content creator, here are a few pieces of advice:

· Find your passion and create content around topics you genuinely enjoy and are knowledgeable about

· Write the articles you want to read and create content that solves problems

· Be consistent and establish a regular schedule for publishing content

· Engage with your audience and build a community around your content

· Embrace experimentation and learn from both successes and failures

· Be open to feedback and continuously improve your skills and content quality

· Network and collaborate with other creators in your niche to expand your reach

· Stay patient and persistent, as building a successful presence takes time and effort. It takes a lot longer than you think

What do you think makes successful content?

I believe successful content can be defined by various factors, but some key elements include:

· Authenticity: Being true to yourself and your unique voice, which helps establish a genuine connection with your audience

· Relevance: Creating content that addresses the interests, needs, or pain points of your target audience

· Quality: Delivering well-produced and well-researched content that provides value to the viewers or readers

· Engagement: Encouraging audience interaction through likes, comments, shares, or participation in discussions

· Consistency: Regularly producing content to build momentum and maintain the interest of your audience

· Uniqueness: Offering a fresh perspective or adding a unique twist to a popular topic or format

· Adaptability: Keeping up with trends and adapting your content to fit the preferences of your audience and the platforms you use

· Storytelling: being able to tell stories that resonate with your readers emotions

Remember, these are general guidelines, and finding your own style and approach is essential for standing out in the crowded world of content creation.

Most importantly — I am still on my path toward my goals I am nowhere near the success I seek, but I humbly approach my goals daily. Every day is an opportunity to become better than I was yesterday.

You can read Teronie’s Medium articles here, subscribe to his newsletter here, and check out his other content here.