The Future Of My Content

Open Instagram on your phone, and be amazed at how many six and seven figure sized accounts exist. More, how diverse an array of content can find success.

I follow one account with over 3 million followers that merely reacts to socially strange people, another with over 4 million followers that documents the day to day life of a guy and his golden retriever, and another still with over 1 million followers of a landscaper.

What similarities are there amongst these vastly different accounts, that may explain their respective success?

The elements of great social media content are both subjective and objective. What you may enjoy about a particular page may be something I can’t stand. We all have our own preferences.

But there are those objective measures, those which translate near universally regardless of the kind of content a creator makes.

There is one I know for certain - the one I constantly strive towards:

Authenticity

People enjoy watching someone who is sincere. In a world filled with disingenuous clout chasers, the real among us shine.

When I decided to focus my content on travel, it was because travel was something I loved - and still do. However, there was another subject I wanted to incorporate in my content. One I am as or more passionate about than travel.

Professional Meaning

I like so many people today worked in a profession where I did not derive sufficient purpose or meaning.

I made small, half hearted attempts to speak on this subject in my content. I found creating those pieces far more challenging than the various styles of pure travel videos I made. And so because one of the two came far easier and was more successful, I let it dominate.

As time has passed, I’ve felt compelled to create content that speaks to a massive audience - people disenfranchised with their professions, who seek a way more aligned with who they are.

People who are, what I was.

After studying several other accounts that communicate similar ideas in ways I believe I can replicate, I have chosen a path forward for this kind of content. More important than choosing to start, I have decided to remain on course, regardless of the initial reaction.

My immediate interests are not the only sensible reason to pursue this course of action. As someone that wants a family in the not so distant future, I recognize traveling at the rate I currently am is not sustainable. Neither for the future dependents in my life, nor for my own personal desire. Therefore, this addition or shift in my content’s focus is what one might call an “evolution”.

Surely it will take reflection and refinement to channel the message in the most easily absorbable way, along with pushing myself to break into a new skillset of content creation. I am here for the challenges.

If this new style of content speaks directly to you, fantastic. If it doesn’t, I’ll still be creating the travel content that my audience to this point has supported.

Sincerely,

Jacob

P.S. Toucans are double the size I expected them to be.

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