Creating Content that Doesn't Make you Cringe: 6 content creation tips to attract right fit clients and unforced, natural sales

When I started my business, I found a lot of “proven”content and copywriting strategy to be formulaic, forced, and to be honest, a little bit cringe-inducing when I thought about replicating it. I also didn’t want to to be beholden to social media, create impersonal “funnels” or be constantly churning out content.

In fact, I distinctly remember the way my feminine soul withered around the idea of terming my business expression “content”. To me, content represented the fast-food hamster wheel of online marketing, where a quickened and relentless assembly line of micro content on multiple platforms was necessary to make even the smallest dent in the noise of the online space.

Content marketing seemed to be the place within a business where natural and genuine expression needed to be contorted into formulas and replicas if one was to be successful: ‘Use this template, wording, copywriting technique, social media strategy, formula to convince, cajole and subtly push people into buying from you.’

Instead, I wanted to gently create a deep connection with my own message and values, so I could naturally communicate that with the people I could serve (even if I didn’t have the perfect niche, customer avatar or carefully defined marketing plan). I wanted sustainable content that lasted for longer than 24 hours. I wanted to express my business in a way that allowed selling to feel receptive, softened and organic. I wanted my content to be a vehicle for connection, not convincing. I wanted the flexibility to flow and evolve my ideas and expression organically, without feeling trapped in a generic content plan.

The problem was, my sensitive soul couldn’t help but inadvertently soak up every single strategy and formula I saw online like a sponge. Which kept me doubting my message, expression and natural voice, thinking I had to dilute, distill, contort and mould my content into what others were doing.

I now know that this feeling isn’t uncommon- especially when sensitive, feminine souls are creating their own business.

The business space is deeply immeshed in a paradigm that has us observing what has worked for other entrepreneurs/creatives, and thinking that the key to our success is to do the same.

Yet there is nothing more depleting to the feminine soul, then trying to prove, convince and contort our service and creative work into what it is not.

There is nothing more disheartening than attracting clients and customers who do not actually value and resonate with what we offer. There is nothing more exhausting than feeling as though we constantly have to convince people into our business and creative work.

Yet this is exactly what happens when start seeing our content as a ‘tactic’ for our business. We not only end up abandoning our feminine integrity, but we also lose the vital essence of connection that magnetises the people who are a natural fit for our business.

When we contort our content into what we think it ‘should’ be, our ideal clients and customers cannot feel us- and therefore, cannot see the distinct value we hold.

So…. what is a sensitive-hearted, feminine-fuelled solopreneur/creative meant to do with all of this?

Well, after curiously observing my own content creation process (as well as working and connecting with like-hearted creatives along the way), I have come to see that the intuitive desire I originally held to create content from a place of connection, not convincing, is actually the very thing that has continually and organically magnetised the ideal clients and customers into my business.

I have also discovered that this natural connection can only be created when we feel safe to trust who we are, and who we are truly for.

When we feel rooted in this naturalness, we begin creating our content from sincerity, connection and natural magnetism. We build a distinct resonance through our content that speaks to the exact people that are meant for our work. It is only from this place that we are able to cultivate a deeper content strategy and build skill in the way we translate the value of our business, without losing the heart of who we are or feeling forced into replicating out-of-integrity tactics and expression that have “worked” for others.

On the other hand, when we are convinced out of our natural expression and service, we begin to see our content as a ‘tactic’ to pull people into our business. We abandon our feminine integrity and end up losing the vital essence of connection that actually has the deepest potential to magnetise the right people to our work. The people who are destined for our business cannot feel us- and therefore, cannot see the distinct value and true heart of what we offer.

What I now know, is that the best content is a true and natural reflection of the values, message and heart of you and your business.

Content is a deeply effective marketing vehicle that helps us to naturally attract people into our businesses- yet it does not have to ever be icky, cringe-inducing, exhausting, pushy or inauthentic.

Content does not need to convince, overcome the objections of wrong-fit people or relentlessly prove your authority. Instead, it can be natural, helpful to the perfect people for your business and rooted in gentle integrity.

Content doesn’t need to be “funnelling” people into buying by a certain time and based on treating people like commodities. Instead, it can connect, serve and express in a way that’s inviting and authentic.

Content doesn’t need to constantly “grab attention” or keep you tethered to social media and the whims of an algorithm. Instead, content can be sustainable, creative and organic, nurturing your business from the roots and setting strong foundations that help you naturally grow without artificial force.

Content does not need to be a ‘means to and end’ or a tactic that you have to begrudgingly do to create results. Instead, it can be a natural process of artistry, connection and heart, that serves to deepen your own understanding of your distinct gifts, service and right fit clients and customers.

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Yet even with all of this said, I do know that sometimes it can take a little longer to learn to cultivate this type of natural and connected content, in a way that is magnetising to the right people. It can feel tempting to contort your content into something that does not reflect the true value and heart of your work, in the hope of making more sales and getting more customers/clients. It can feel tempting to seek out quick fixes, or replicate what you have seen work for others.

Yet replicated content tactics are not sustainable, nor do they attract the right people to our work.

Instead, I want to share with you 6 keys that I have found to deeply support the female creatives and gentle entrepreneurs drawn to my work, in creating impactful content, while softening into a true understanding of who their work is meant to support.

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If you’d like to read on, the full piece of writing now lives in the Gentle Creation ebook.

Belinda x