The rise of social media over the last two decades has created a space for content creators to thrive. Social media has adapted to support text, images, and video. With these capabilities, there are plenty of ways for any creative person to share their art.
For artists and businesses, a strong content strategy is fundamental to online growth and success. These groups can utilize modern tools to streamline content creation, making engaging content attainable for small creative teams. Even without a team, individuals can still create professional content with the various resources on the market.
Content production has become even more effortless with the advancement of technology over the years. Using the right tools will make the complicated parts of the creative process a breeze. Some applications help you improve the quality of your work, while others automate and speed up your process. Educating yourself on the available resources will help you improve your content strategy.
1. Video Platforms
Video creation has come a long way over the years. What was an intimidating and complicated process can now be done easily, even on a smartphone. Apps like Capcut simplify video creation by providing effects, templates, audio options, and easy ways to cut and trim videos. Social platforms like Instagram and TikTok give you editing options in-app, making it possible to produce and publish immediately.
For creating instructional content, the right strategies will make your content easy to absorb. A screen recorder, for example, is convenient for digital products and tutorials. This tool records activity on your desktop or smartphone while capturing audio, making it easy to demonstrate and speak simultaneously. It records every screen and mouse action, ensuring you don’t miss any important details during filming. However, if you don’t want the entire screen recorded, you have the option to crop and adjust the screen size.
2. Photo Editors
Photography is another medium that has changed drastically with the introduction of new technologies. You no longer need a costly camera to create beautiful and high-quality images. You can take detailed photos and edit them using your smartphone’s default features. However, if your phone’s features don’t meet your expectations, a wide range of options are available to download on your devices for easy editing.
For smartphone photographers, timer apps ease hands-free photography and are perfect for those group photos you want to be in. These apps can take multiple shots at a time, allowing you to get that perfect shot. Some smartphones even have options to use hand movements or facial expressions to signal photos, making the process completely touch-free.
3. Graphic Design Resources
Visual design may seem daunting to those who have never practiced, but modern tools have made creating virtual art easier. Those promoting a small business may not have the budget to hire a full-time artist but still want content to look professional. Tools like Canva make it possible for non-professional artists to create engaging content. Design platforms provide templates and pre-made designs, shortening the creative process.
Image databases are a key resource in graphic design as well. Typically subscription-based, these databases host royalty-free content for businesses to use. These provide a starting point for your designs, like repeatable patterns or vectors. They also offer stock photography and art, perfect for when you don’t have the resources to create your own. Although they aren’t always free, the large content selection makes a stock image subscription a worthwhile investment for many small teams.
4. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence has been emerging in recent years and has expanded possibilities for content creation. Although there is still value in creating your own art, AI gives inspiration through research and content suggestions. Tools like ChatGPT give recommendations based on questions or prompts entered into the platform. It can provide starting points and feedback, saving you time in your brainstorming process.
Other artificial intelligence tools help you iron out specific skills. Platforms like Grammarly catch grammatical errors and suggest ways for you to improve your writing structure. These tools prevent you from getting lost in small details, enhancing your productivity. It is important to note that while it’s a great tool, AI is still relatively new, so these platforms aren’t perfect.
5. Social Management Platforms
Once you have a finished product, it can be quite taxing to share it across multiple social media accounts. If you’re trying to post daily, you just may not have time. Social media management platforms like Sprout Social or Hoot suite allow users to cross-post content with just one click. These tools also let you schedule posts in advance, creating convenience in a busy work week. Some platforms will also recommend best times to post based on your follower activity.
Another beneficial feature is the ability to track analytics. Social media management platforms will often pull the analytics for all your active profiles in one dashboard. This allows you to compare results and recognize patterns in your engagement across accounts. It lets you see these stats over custom time ranges too, giving you time-related insights.
Lean on Your Resources
Modern technology has made it easier for artists and businesses alike to create a wide array of content efficiently. There is no shame in using new tools and platforms to assist your creation process. With many low-cost options available, you can take advantage of the best tools even with a small budget.
