Content Marketing vs Showing Your Work

Think of content marketing like making a really cool poster for your lemonade stand. It's all about creating stuff - like blog posts, videos, or social media posts - that grabs people's attention and makes them interested in your lemonade. But here's the catch: you're not just yelling, "Buy my lemonade!" Instead, you're telling them fun facts about lemons, showing them how you make your lemonade, or sharing tips for staying cool in the summer. It's a smart way to get people to come to your stand, not because you told them to, but because they want to.

But, Showing Your Work? That's a Whole Other Level 

Now, imagine instead of just making posters, you actually invite people to come and see how you squeeze the lemons, mix in the sugar, and stir it all up. You're being super open about how you do things, even if sometimes you spill sugar everywhere or find out you're out of ice. It's real, it's in the moment, and it lets people see everything - the good and the messy parts. This makes people trust you more because they see you're not trying to hide anything. They get to know the real you and your lemonade stand.

Why It's Awesome to Show How You Make Your Lemonade

1. Trust Is Huge: When people see you're not afraid to show the mess-ups along with the wins, they start to trust you more. They get that nobody's perfect, and seeing you work hard and improve makes them believe in you and your lemonade (or whatever you're making).
2. Making Friends, Not Just Customers: Sharing your whole lemonade-making adventure makes people feel like they're right there with you. They're cheering you on when things go great and feeling for you when they don't. This isn't just about selling lemonade anymore; it's about building a group of friends who support you.
3. Learning Together: Everyone learns something when you share your journey. People watching can pick up tips for their own projects, and you get better by figuring things out and sharing what you learn. It's like a big, ongoing class where everyone's both the teacher and the student.
4. You're a Real Person: This approach reminds everyone that there's a real person behind the stand (or brand). It's easy to forget that businesses aren't just logos or products but are run by people who have good days, bad days, and "aha!" moments.

But, It's Not Always Easy

Sure, being this open can be amazing, but it's not without its bumps. You've got to be okay with being vulnerable and ready for not everyone to get it or like it. And there's a tricky part where you have to figure out how much to share without oversharing. You want to keep people interested without making them feel like it's too much.

Even folks on X (you know, what we used to call Twitter) like AlexFinnX talk about finding that perfect balance between being open and keeping some things just for you. It's about sharing enough to connect with people without taking away from the magic of what you're making.

So, there you have it. This chapter's all about the big difference between just telling people about what you do and actually pulling back the curtain to show them how it's done. Whether it's content marketing or opening up your creative process, both have their place. But remember, letting people in on your journey, with all its ups and downs, can turn them from just viewers into your biggest fans.