My Therapist Told Me To Start Talking
I was failing miserably in content creation till I started talking
“Follow what top content creators are creating in your industry and replicate it.”
How many times have we heard this advice?
Sadly, no one tells you that it doesn’t work for everybody. This tactic did not work for me at all.
I will still not call this advice rubbish because it has worked for many creators. But for me, content creation felt like a burden when I was trying to do what everybody else was doing i.e. trying to get viral by making a “6-second aesthetic reel.”
I strongly believe content creation is personal.
My Failed Attempt
I have been creating content on since September 2023. Bookstagram is very different from other industries. It’s a lot more effortful and back then the engagement solely relied upon the hyped books, aesthetic background, cute stuff, and 100 other random things.
I kid you not- those itty-bitty cute stuff are hella expensive. I tried creating those kinds of reels.
But, I hated ideating and creating them because they were tedious and soulless. It didn’t feel like ME. It felt like a task and I did not enjoy it at all.
The Universe Sent A Sign
I had to find a way to fix this problem because I loved talking about books. Then one fine day, while yapping about my emotional issues I told my therapist about a recent thriller book I read.
She was so intrigued and wanted to read that book right away. Within no time, she ordered the book and told me- “you should talk about books on Instagram.”
This was the first sign that Universe sent me. Meanwhile, I was contemplating and doubting myself because I wasn’t confident about my speaking skills as I had never spoken in front of the camera. Someone like me with terribly low self-esteem needed another nudge that’s when the universe sent me another sign a week later and showed me he was not ready to give up on me.
My therapist texted me a week after ordering the book that she had finished reading it in just 7 days and loved it.
That was IT for me. I knew I had to talk about books. If I was able to make an occasional reader read and finish a book because of the few words I spoke, I might have done something right.
Realization Hitting Me With Happiness
That gave me the initial confidence and validation I needed. Soon after that, on 23rd February 2024, I wrote down a couple of ideas and went to the terrace for better lighting, and shot my first video.
I kid you not, I loved it. No script just a few bullet points, I spoke whatever I had in my mind and didn’t even scrape away my fumbling. I wanted to keep it raw and natural. Within no time, I was done shooting 6 reels in an hour.
It felt so effortless that even I was surprised. I posted it on Instagram and to my surprise, my audience loved it and my follower count and number of messages in DM started increasing gradually.
Slowly, and steadily I started building a loyal and loving community. The fact that ideas would come so naturally to me that it just felt right.
Today, I have 3k+ followers with long messages of people appreciating my content, trusting my recommendations, book review projects, PR packages, and free review books from top publishing houses like Penguin, Harper, Pan Macmillian, and Simon and Schuster.
How Did I Achieve It?
When I started creating talking reels, not many were doing it. Now, most of the creators are doing it. This is what worked for me-
Played with the audience’s emotions
No, I didn’t hurt them like their Ex, instead, I tapped into their feelings by telling them how a book made me feel while reading. Conveying my sadness, happiness, anger, and grief through my voice about a book makes them want to watch me.
No summary of the book
Yes, you read it right. I hardly mention the blurb of a book because I find it boring. My videos are jam-packed with hooks, expressions, and gestures. I talk about a book in an expressive manner and always reveal the book in the end.
Talk like best friends
I don’t write scripts before any reel. All I do is write bullet points with multiple hooks throughout the reel. I talk to my audience like I am talking to my friends about something I love and am passionate about. My videos are unfiltered and relatable.
Analyze like a hound dog
Why did it work, why did it not work, the time limit of a reel, retention period, replays, the hook, the timing of the reel, I pay attention to everything. My book recommendation videos work well for up to a minute and bookish rants for up to 30–40 seconds.
Catchy hook in a thumbnail
I write a creative, weird, awkward, and controversial thumbnail for every reel. They spike the interest levels of the viewer immediately. For example- “This book is weird and creepy, read at your own risk.” This hook is bound to make the viewer open the reel.
My Audience Loves Me
This strategy has worked wonderfully for me. You won’t believe that 2 days ago, a girl recognized me in public, that too in a doctor’s clinic for the first time. I was in shock. She told me that- she follows me and loves my content, the way I speak, and the way I am. I was overwhelmed, stunned, and was beaming with happiness. I couldn’t stop smiling the entire day.
The Biggest Takeaway
I have posted more than 150 reels. After analyzing the algorithm and consuming reels from various industries, I have concluded that-
It doesn’t matter how much knowledge you have, if you don’t know how to share it with the world then it’s pointless.
Your content does not matter. The popularity of your industry does bring some eyeballs but your content delivery style is how you win the content game.
You can speak for hours. People will listen to you.
