Unleash Your Inner Wordsmith: Master Creative Blogging Today!
Are the expert tips, tools, and guidance from the “Blogging for Creative” course worth it?
Since starting my business in 2015, I have seen the ups and downs, but one mistake I made was that I rested on my laurels and relied entirely on word of mouth. Things eventually dried up, and that was that. There were a few reasons for this, but one noticeable dilemma was my lack of marketing.
Designers have great marketing ideas for their clients but only sometimes execute them themselves. A classic case of “the cobbler’s children have no shoes,” and I felt this was one area where I could improve.
In case you’re wondering what I am talking about, here’s a recap:
I have been in business full-time and moonlighting since 2015, with successes and failures. During this journey, I have discovered multiple communities, but none that have resonated with me, like The Futur Pro Group. The Futur is the brainchild of Chris Do; he set out to make the B-School for designers while not keeping the education confined to a physical address.
Being a product of “traditional” education, I knew it wasn’t everything; I was a fan of the theory, the platform, and its top guy, a self-proclaimed loud introvert. I had watched countless “freemium” content and was ready to buck down and put my money where my mouth was.
That was a touch of what has brought me to this point. Thinking about my past experiences and what Chris has had talks mentioning “owning your community” you are building. That also meant outreach, which, as we had just established, needed to be improved in my first go. Looking at all the classes, I could imagine how each would be useful to me at any part of this process, and I landed on Blogging for Creative, led by Matt Cilderman.
I had talked about blogging to almost every client I met with, but I always needed help to start my blog. I was never a big reader or writer. I typically stuck to the visuals, but I had to force myself to start, but I knew writing alone wouldn’t make my blog anything special.
I searched the site (multiple times), bought the class, downloaded the course, and still did nothing!
I bought a few more classes, and I still waited. I was investing and not acting; something was still in my way; then I was listening to a few of my regular podcasts, and they all mentioned perfection and the hurdle it presents to people, specifically creatives. The universe was sending me a message,” START!”
I was already working on several posts but was ready to improve my writing. I turned on my computer and finally started my first class.
I downloaded the affordable course and got right into it. It is different from some of the other Futur courses that include videos and large resource libraries. Still, the unassuming 90 slide deck and six small packets included are chock full of knowledge and processes that helped me get guidance. As I mentioned, I have never been one for writing, but this class was already starting to show its worth.
When it comes to visual creativity, I have my process down, but in writing, I need to figure out where to begin, what best practices I should implement, or even how to best develop my ideas. Considering I didn’t know much about this, I anticipated the class would teach me something.
It did a whole lot more than that.
The class by Matt Cilderman first covers the importance of blogging, why it’s essential, and why an individual or business owner would want to start blogging. Then through a series of slides displaying different ways to blog, even if you don’t want to write.
Each section is easy to digest, and at the beginning, there are a few slides that go over basic information, but around 1/4 of the way in, you run into a slide that prompts you to open one of the project packets. Each with a different focus that helps you form the foundation for your content. I also like the deck’s pace, allowing you to create and develop your ideas on time without feeling rushed.
I went through the class so fast that I did it again in case I missed anything. That is another thing I liked; blogging and creative writing are complex processes, but Matt shows you best practices and helps develop writing/content ideas and writing styles without getting into the weeds. I created a system to brainstorm and determine which ideas were worth developing.
I recognized a critical problem in my past writing because this was the point where I would call it complete. Sometimes I would get lucky and produce a piece, but most happened to be “TOP…” lists with little substance and, thus, not much growth or value.
Value is something that I have learned to make the foundation for everything I am writing. It’s my litmus test; if there is no value, it doesn’t develop.
Something else I have always needed help with was writing, like physically finding the time to do so. I hate to admit it, but it always felt like an afterthought. As crazy as it sounds, it is one of the areas where I found the most value. In the third module, Matt lays out two different writing schedules that make it easier for me to follow and alter but, most importantly, sets mini-milestones so the task seems manageable.
That tool alone has me writing more frequently, and I can hold myself to account better. It is a little harder to keep my schedule when my son is home, but it is the schedule I have needed to get my blog in a decent place.
It has been the basics; Goal Setting, Idea Development, Writing Schedule, and an outline of the whole process, but the next section could be worth the $80 alone. The last two sections of the course focused on publishing your writing. The slides include a blog checklist with key metrics you want to hit to amplify your posting and a list of best practices for reaching out and getting published in other locations.
I took this class because I thought I needed to start marketing, but I discovered I just needed to share my experience. I chose the strangest medium because I wasn’t a fan of writing, but I am becoming a better writer after going through the course and now putting it into practice. I look forward to the part of my day that I’m writing.
“The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.”
Gustave Flaubert
I especially love the checklist section because it is a great way to ensure you have hit every central point you need for your writing to shine. This class would also help if you were trying to develop a writing style for medium or linked in even. Both sites are aggregators for creators and professionals alike.
These platforms allow you to build a community similar to The Future Pro Group I mentioned earlier. I also had the honor of speaking to Matt directly through that connection. Matt is a personable and engaged creator who, like myself, wanted to help businesses grow. We discussed his recent endeavors of creating a Workshop based on building a Personal Funnel. I asked Matt,
“How can blogging be the foundation for building a personal funnel?”
“Personal Funnels is a system for growing your business through personal relationships. Blogging can help with this because it builds trust in an asynchronous way, keeps you top of mind and, if done correctly, can be a feeder into your Personal Funnels. For example: Your ideal customer reads your blog post and responds to your call to action by leaving a comment that you respond to. They are now in your funnel and you can create a customized plan based on what you learn about them to grow a deeper relationship with them and ultimately work with them!”
I have been going for a month with the schedule in place, and I have more ideas worth developing than all the blogs I’ve written and currently have four blogs at different stages. From research to development, I have taken the Gary V approach of developing large-packed content and breaking it into multiple pieces of micro-content.
Since taking the course, this is the first blog post I’ve written, so I can’t report on a productivity output yet, but I can attest to my willingness to complete the work, and with the process in place, it has been a difference between night and day. Please check the blog to see if I am producing more content over time. I have four posts and intend for that number to grow significantly quickly.
With my story out there and clients filling my time, I will shift my focus to sustainability, business, design, and where they intersect. Benjamin Franklin said it best,
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
Benjamin Franklin
I intend to do both, and you should too!
I appreciate you taking the time to be a part of this journey, and if you want to up your writing game, check out that and many other classes at The Futur.
Brian is a sustainable graphic design and brand strategist passionate about creating positive change in the world through his work. With a strong background in both print and digital design and experience in introducing A.I. systems, he is a tech enthusiast and a lover of comic books. Brian's specialization lies in sustainable design, and draws inspiration from music and meditation. His work has been featured in prestigious events and publications such as USA Today, NYFW, and CES, and he is dedicated to designing with the environment in mind. Brian enjoys spending time with his family and two new furry friends in Brooklyn in his free time. He is always eager to connect with others and collaborate on sustainable design projects.
