When it comes to creating and posting on any social platform whether it be a static post, webinar, video, or going live, do you have a plan or do you go off the cuff? While neither style is good or bad, as both have their time to shine in our opinion, we’re diving into defining, understanding, and learning which style of creator you are.
Defining Proactive & Reactive Creator
A proactive creator is what we tend to think of when we think of content creation. You sit down at your keyboard or your notepad and you start creating. You write, you draw, you paint, you compose - where there was nothing, now there is something. Your ideas come through pure, unblemished, exactly as you envisioned in your mind's eye.
A reactive creator is someone who needs input to do the same. Someone asks a question. A situation happens at work. A post passes by as you thumb through your feeds on your phone. Whatever it is, a spark lights and you begin brainstorming and creating content.
Understanding Proactive & Reactive Creators
To be clear, neither type of creator is superior, it’s just a different approach to the destination. And, we can be either kind of creator on any given day. For instance, some days, we're inspired. On other days, a trend sparks our creativity. But generally speaking, we tend to have a higher level of comfort with one or the other.
Here's where this distinction matters: if the content creation situation is a mismatch for your predisposition.
A proactive creator put in a reactive situation is going to be endlessly frustrated. They'll say, “I don't want to be answering other people's questions or responding to X influencer's blog post! Just leave me alone and let me do my thing!”
A reactive creator put in a proactive situation is going to be paralyzed by the empty page. They'll say, “What do you mean, just create something? Create what? What does the audience want to know about? What problems are we trying to solve? What's the angle here?” The blank page, with nothing to light that spark, is less a canvas and more a prison.
How Proactive & Reactive Creators Affect Your Content Creation
Like most arts and learned professions, everyone has a style. Knowing and understanding that style and when different styles may best be used is always beneficial.
In terms of working or managing a proactive creator, give guidance when needed, but let them shine in their creations. Give them a wide berth when it comes to creative freedom as long as it meets your brand standards. They’re more likely to provide double the content, so take the time to dissect what you’re posting and when.
When working with reactive creators, give more guidance in terms of what you’d like to see posted or created for the month. Any special features or products to feature? Any holidays that are a must? Setting up a more baseline content schedule is more apt to ease their anxiety. Also, push for them to research trends that can be used more in your content strategy. That research will give them a baseline jumping point for content to create.
Need an extra hand in a different style when it comes to managing your content creation? Connect with us. We offer expertise in both and help guide you in all situations your brand may encounter.
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