I Couldn’t Believe Someone Was Teaching This

I saw this on TikTok, and I had to share this with you to make sure you don’t fall into any “optimization” traps like this.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [UNSTUCK]() From the desk of Pat Flynn November 8, 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------- [Pat Flynn smiling, wearing a shirt that reads "Do a lot with a little"] ​ Hi there, it’s Pat. Look, I’m all for optimization and saving time, but some of the content creation advice out there is not only bad, but its time-saving exterior can often be unmasked to reveal something that will actually be a complete waste of time, and in many cases, just plain unethical. It’s easy to get stuck when you’re falling into traps like this, so let’s get unstuck, and talk about it… QUOTE OF THE WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------- “The easy way out is the choice of the myopic.” — E.L. Neve THE STORY --------------------------------------------------------------- I’ve recently been running some experiments on TikTok (which I’ll report on later) and I randomly came across a video about content creation that actually made me upset. I’m usually pretty numb to bad advice on the Internet, but this was a video of a person on a stage sharing this advice, the video itself had hundreds of thousands of views, and the person had the audacity to say “this is why I’m beating you at content”. Here was the content creation hack, step by step, and see if you can tell why this is just not good: - Find a trending video on YouTube. - Use Otter.ai to transcribe that video and get the word for word text version of it. - Feed the transcript into another tool, Jasper.ai, to automatically rearrange and reword the content into a “new” script. - Film a video with the new script. - Publish on YouTube and your blog. - Chop it up into smaller pieces and publish on short-form video platforms like TikTok and IG Reels. Before I get to what’s wrong with this (if it’s not clear to you already), there’s obvious appeal to a strategy like this: - You can automate content creation. - You can ride the waves of what’s trending. - You can repurpose content and publish on multiple platforms. These are all good. ​ So what’s the problem? Two things: First, it’s the equivalent of taking a picture of a picture. The quality isn’t as good as the original, and it’s just another version of what’s already out there. Keep doing that, and eventually the picture that was originally crisp and clean will look like a pixelated blurry mess. You will NEVER (and I repeat, NEVER) create anything new or unique that stands out. As a result, it’ll be much harder and take much longer for people to get behind you and build a raving fan base. ​ Plus, your content creation plan will be so formulaic and systematic, that it will lose personality and character, the two things an audience needs to find a connection. And yes, you will get bored. SECOND, in many ways, this could be considered a mask for plagiarism. The resulting script would likely pass a plagiarism test, but you’re using someone else’s idea or content as your own with nothing unique to add, and using AI to just restructure it. It just doesn’t sit well with me. What value does it offer your audience to just simply share the same exact thing? How can you make it even better or different? The world doesn’t need the same message said over and over again in different ways, it needs different experiences, stories, angles and takes on what people are interested in. It needs you to create content that’s provocative and curious, different and difference—making. Your Call to Action Here’s what you can do: - Find a trending piece of content. - Use that as the basis or inspiration to formulate your own take or stance on it. - Create a piece of content that actually adds value for your audience that they can’t get anywhere else. - Publish it. Case in point, this very newsletter. I had found a trending piece of content on [TikTok]() in my niche and I brought it to you in my own way to teach something, and also share more of what I believe in. When doing research, you might even agree or enjoy a piece of content you find elsewhere, but how might you add more value to it than what’s already there? If that’s not possible, then is it even worth publishing? Try it this week, even if it’s a duet on TikTok or a remix on IG Reels. Don’t be the person that remixes or duets and just sits there nodding along. Sure you might get good numbers, but you’re also sharing that you are adding no value whatsoever. Comment on it, share your take, entertain on top of it—something to make it uniquely your own. And as a reminder, give credit where credit is due. SPONSORED BY CONVERTKIT = Test Your Content Watch your first YouTube video. Read your first blog post. Find your first newsletter. Listen to your first podcast episode. Now, compare it to your most recent piece of content. It’s night and day, isn’t it? That’s how much your content has grown—how much you’ve grown. If you're like most content creators, your email marketing platform reminds you of that first creative effort. It has not kept up. You need a fresh start. Get that Fresh Start with ConvertKit. [GET A FRESH START WITH CONVERTKIT](=) ​SPI NEWS AND NOTES --------------------------------------------------------------- We work hard at SPI to remain unstuck and consistently provide you with the latest news, trends, and events to support your businesses. Check it out: - Join us tomorrow, November 9th from 2pm — 3pm ET for a [virtual networking event](=)! Connect with members of the [SPI Pro community]() and the SPI team to get to know each other, learn about other entrepreneurs’ businesses and make new connections. This fun—filled hour will leave you with fresh inspiration and an extended network of like—minded professionals. Space is limited, [sign up today](=)! - What is email marketing and how can it be implemented into your business strategies? This is a hot topic recently showcased in [The Community Experience](=) podcast with guest [Dylan Redekop](=) of Growth Currency who shares his expertise in weekly newsletters. We’ve also created a [FREE How-To-Guide](=) all about email marketing: from the basics of what it is to how you can apply it to your business. - Turning a passion into a successful business is an entrepreneur’s dream. The key is not to lose the magic that made you love it in the first place. On the [Smart Passive Income](=) podcast, host Pat Flynn chats with good friend and crafty creator Bob Clagett, who runs an amazing YouTube channel, [I Like to Make Stuff](). You’ll find Bob working on projects ranging from simple home renovations to [outlandish hit movie props](=). He even built Pat a [custom portable podcasting kit](=)! This episode goes deep into the philosophy that drives his business, finding online success without constantly chasing numbers or going viral. Subscribe, listen, and enjoy! DAD JOKE OF THE WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------- Don’t get mad at lazy people… they didn’t do anything. ​ Did a cool person forward you this email? [Sign up here for free.]( Want to reach over 125,000 entrepreneurs? [Become a sponsor.]( ​ Thanks for reading! You are receiving this because you signed up for Pat Flynn’s newsletter at [smartpassiveincome.com](). If you'd like to adjust which emails you receive or update your name and email address, [click here to update your Subscriber Preferences.]( If you'd like to stop receiving all emails from SPI, simply [unsubscribe from my emails.]( No hard feelings. 10531 4S Commons Drive, Suite 524, San Diego, CA 92127