Chances are, the excitement you had about having tons more time to create content back in March has started to wane. It can be tough to get inspired if you’ve been stuck in the same four walls, with the same four people (or nobody at all) for a while now.
On the bright side, you may have noticed that your fans are probably more engaged than ever — so you definitely want to make them happy and continue making money.
Take a night off of work, sit back and enjoy content as a fan. See what gets you excited, what makes you want to click and maybe even what feels boring to you.
Unfortunately, if you’re stuck in a content rut, this can be tough! Here are some tips for getting yourself out of a rut to continue delivering killer content.
Enjoy Content as a Customer
It’s possible that you’ve been working so hard on creating content and pleasing your fans that you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a fan. You also may be so laser-focused on your own brand and bank account that you haven’t been paying much attention to what other creators are putting out.
We’re certainly not suggesting you copy other creators, but it’s important to keep abreast (pun intended) on what your competitors and role models are working on.
Take a night off of work, sit back and enjoy content as a fan. See what gets you excited, what makes you want to click and maybe even what feels boring to you. This is a great way to draw inspiration and get re-excited about creating fun, new content for your fans.
Collaborate With Someone New
While we mentioned that you shouldn’t copy other creators, why not collaborate? There are so many benefits to networking and working with other creators — including having someone to bounce ideas off of and a chance to utilize each other’s fan bases.
Not to mention, playing with someone else can be fun — especially if you’ve always filmed alone. Think of it like co-working, but way sexier and more enjoyable. Of course, you want to stay safe with current COVID-19 restrictions, but this is definitely something to keep in mind for the future.
And who knows, maybe you could even screen-record a sexy FaceTime session between you two? The options are endless!
Ask Your Fans
Instead of wracking your brain, wondering what your fans want to see, why not just ask them? Your social platforms are the perfect place for polling your audience to get a feel for what turns them on and will make them want to spend more money.
Try asking an open-ended question on Twitter, such as, “What kind of video should I create next for you guys?” You can even ask your fans to tag another creator they want to see you collaborate with.
To leave things less open-ended, you can use Twitter or Instagram Story polls to have fans vote on some options that you present to them.
Take a Longer Break
Burnout is a concern in any industry, but in this line of work specifically it’s understandable to get tired of constantly performing and engaging with your fans. You may also simply want a break for your body. Those who are self-employed notoriously forget to give themselves vacation days.
So, take a vacation day — or even a whole vacation week — to reset and recharge! Tell your fans you’re taking a quick break if you want, or schedule out posts to auto-populate to your platforms while you’re gone.
If you’re still feeling burnt out upon your return, consider scaling down the amount of platforms you’re using or set your status to “not available” more often than you would have in the past. The money will be there, and you’ll work more efficiently if you actually give yourself breaks!
If It's Not Broken, Don't Fix It
Because you’re you, and you see your body in the mirror every morning, you might feel the need to find new angles, new outfits and new fantasies for each piece of content you’re putting out. But if the content you’ve already put out is doing well for you, that’s definitely not the case.
In fact, a great strategy to try is to analyze your current content and see what performs the best. Then, take the elements from that content and repurpose it into new content. This could mean wearing a similar outfit, enacting a similar scenario or using the same toy.
You can also change the content medium — for example taking a successful video and turning it into a photo set. Play around and see what sticks, but you definitely don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Remember that your fans are happy to see any parts of you they can — especially during this socially distanced time.
Ashley Uzer is a Los Angeles-based writer who focuses on sex and relationships. Her writing has been published in Vice, DC Magazine, Bustle, Hello Giggles and elsewhere.
