This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stash Tea for MMI Agency. All opinions are 100% mine.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stash Tea for MMI Agency. All opinions are 100% mine.
I create content for a living. I'm in charge of creating content for hotels, restaurants and bars. I currently have 26 accounts under my umbrella at Makeready Experience, plus another four for City Love List and of course my own personal page. That is A LOT of content to drum up every single week. It's honestly tough to come up with new ways to make cocktails, dishes at restaurants, coffee shops and lifestyle images for hotels exciting, creative and unique.
I'm teaming up today with my friends at Stash Tea to talk about how I fight creative blocks as a content creator. They're actually the PERFECT partner for this blog post because their brand message is all about standing out and being vibrant in an otherwise dull category - tea! Their stance is that they know tea so well that breaking the mold is the key to their success. They don't want to be associated with those "cozy" tea photos we see all over instagram, but rather associated with high color, vibrant personalities who enjoy tea as a partner for creating a brightly colored life and career. I for sure like to think that is me in a nutshell.
Stash Tea offers over 60 flavors that all exist to brew boredom out of the world. I’ve tried the Lemon Ginger, Chai Spice, Asian Pear Harmony, Ginger Peach and Pomegranate Raspberry Green Tea. My personal favorite is the Lemon Ginger flavor which give you the morning boost you need without any caffeine. I love hot lemon water, and this flavor takes that to the next level while still staying easy to drink and with bolder flavors.
So, in honor of this partnership with Stash Tea (p.s. they sell them directly on their own website HERE and use code ‘sarahmize15’ for 15% off your order) I wanted to talk about 5 tips I have for fighting content creation ruts as a blogger and social media director.
5 TIPS FOR FIGHTING CONTENT CREATION RUTS
1. GO OLD SCHOOL WITH PINTEREST
Don't sleep on Pinterest guys, it really is just the greatest platform for building mood boards and finding inspiration for specific images or campaigns you need to shoot. I constantly Pinterest search "restaurant photography" for finding new ways to shoot restaurant dishes or "cocktail photo inspo" for new ways to incorporate garnishes into pictures.
2. LEARN SOMETHING NEW
I find that learning something new gets me excited to get out there and create content. It can be a passive way of learning something new like listening to a content creator's podcast or subscribing to an email blast and having new tips + ideas delivered right to your inbox. I personally enjoy Later's daily social media management emails to get my day started in a creative way.
OR - learn something new in a much bigger way by purchasing a course you can take in your free time. I had a lot of success learning professional restaurant and food photography tips and tricks from Foodtography School . It left me PUMPED to get to work at City Hall or French Room (two of our restaurants) and start styling some images.
3. GET TOGETHER WITH A CONTENT CREATOR FRIEND FOR COFFEE (OR COCKTAILS)
After I meet with friends who do the same thing that I do for a living I feel SO INSPIRED to take on the world. I actually have a ton of friends who blog or work for themselves full time doing social media freelance. Their passion and drive excites and motivates me. Sometimes getting together for a brainstorming session to talk about what's working and what isn't is just the creative block removal you need.
Don't have friends in your area who blog? Try searching your local city's blogging hashtag - for example I look up #DallasBlogger to find fellow creatives. Slide in the DMs, I promise it isn't weird. We are all looking for friends who double as business allies.
4. SPEND THE AFTERNOON IN A NEW PLACE
Switch up your routine. If you normally work from home, find a coffee shop in a hip area of town. If you work at an office, see if you can spend the day working from home. I find that constantly switching up my environment keeps me on my toes creatively. I like to work from home on Monday, at a coffee shop Tuesday and Friday and I'll work at an office Wednesday and Thursday.
Working from home is great, but being out with different people and personalities keeps your creative juices fresh. Shoot, it's possible to draw inspiration from a cool outfit you see or how someone snaps a picture of their latte art. Take a page from Ariel and BE WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE!
5. WORK WITH A COCKTAIL AT A HOTEL BAR
This is one is LEGIT, but I know it sounds weird. I do my best writing - either caption or blog post - and graphic design work with a cocktail at a hotel bar. I already have a massive love affair with hotels, so why not bust out the laptop and enjoy a dirty martini while rolling up your creative sleeves. Unlike a normal bar, no one will look at you weird for working on your laptop because they're mostly all solo travelers.
I've designed websites, created logos, written blog posts and completed 30 day content calendars all projects that are hard for me to stay focused on during coffee hours. Plus, if you're a side hustle blogger like I am then you need an after hours work spot. Google "boutique hotels" in your area and pick a new favorite place to hang. If you're in Dallas I'd recommend The Adolphus, Joule, The W Hotel, the Stoneleigh or Hotel Crescent Court. They all have wonderful lobby bars with comfortable places to post up near a power outlet.
How do you fight a creative block? Are there any tips I missed that I should add to the list?
