So I am speaking at the NYSSCPA BV Conference in May and the NACVA Annual Conference in June. What is the most annoying thing you feel when watching speakers present their topics? Email me because I would love to know your thoughts before I take those stages.
Our recent conversations have dealt a lot with creating content … specifically, email newsletters and Authority-building videos. Based on the feedback I’ve been getting, you’re all in. But what’s stopping you is the concern about creating new content – week after week or month after month. Where do you get your ideas? How do you not run out of ideas? Well, here’s how.
Hey, what’s up! I’m Rod Burkert. And welcome to my Practice Development Corner, the place where business valuation professionals like you come to learn how to turn the practice they have into the practice they want.
Since I started in July 2015, I’ve published almost 200 weekly text- or video-based newsletters. I don’t think I’ve repeated myself yet, and I am not even close to running out of ideas to bring to you.
And the reason is, first and foremost, I listen to the practice development issues that my coaching clients, LinkedIn connections, and fellow conference attendees raise with me. Because if they have problems, chances are many other people in our world have them as well. And there are always new angles to the problems, which makes for valuable newsletter topics.
So if you are listening to your clients, what issues are they raising with you? Because if you have your ear to the ground, if you are keeping with changing economic and industry trends because they impact either the advice you can offer a client or the valuation you must perform for that client … then you won’t run out of ideas to write about.
Here’s another example of how to keep the idea wheel turning. One of my coaching clients created a new service that she wants to spread the word about. It’s a 12-module program so we created a content calendar for the next 12 months that will introduce and discuss each module. That’s one year of content ideas in the can!
So if you are looking to start broadcasting your expertise in a particular practice area or industry niche, create a content calendar for the upcoming coming months that outlines broad themes you want to cover for your audience. Then fill in the themes with specific ideas and examples that convey the themes. Bam! You’ve got your newsletter topics.
Even with these tips, ideas may still be hard to flesh out. That’s when exercise can be helpful. It’s something about the dopamine release that allows for new ideas to percolate. And if you don’t have time to hit the gym or go for a run, studies have shown that a simple five-minute change in latitude (like walking around the block) can ramp up your creative juices.
And here’s my last piece of advice. Coming up with great ideas does you no good if you forget them! … which can happen in the throes of everything else you need to get done. So I write down all of my ideas when they strike. I use the Evernote app on my phone, which I almost always have with me, and it syncs with my iPad and laptop so I always have the current “idea folder” on all of my devices.
So that is this episode’s practice development tip. Hopefully, it’s been helpful and gets you over the hump of starting your newsletter. Let me know what you think by taking just a few seconds to like, comment on, or share this video.
Even better – if you are looking to grow your BVFLS practice faster and smarter so you can get more time, money, and freedom from it – subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Thanks for watching!
Cheers!
Action Items:
– If you like what I write about, tell a colleague.
– If something resonates and you want to reach out directly, email me.
– If you think we share common interests, connect with me on LinkedIn.
– If you want a sense of how well your practice is working for you, take this Practice Self Assessment.
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