Summary

The article advocates for content creators to publish their work despite perceived imperfections, emphasizing the importance of quantity alongside quality and the subjective nature of content reception.

Abstract

Content creators often fall into the trap of endless editing and self-doubt, striving for perfection in their work. The article "Why You Should Post that “Shitty” Piece of Content Already" addresses this issue, urging creators to accept that not every piece will be a masterpiece and that releasing more content increases the chances of success. It draws parallels to successful artists and celebrities whose every work isn't a top hit, suggesting that virality is unpredictable and not entirely controllable. The article encourages a mindset shift towards embracing imperfection and setting firm deadlines for content completion, akin to school assignments, to ensure consistent output and growth. It also cites the subjective nature of quality, where what may seem like 'trash' to one person could be 'treasure' to another, reinforcing the idea that content need not be perfect to make an impact or achieve desired results.

Opinions

Perfectionism can hinder content creators from releasing work and achieving online success.
Quality is important, but quantity should not be underestimated; it's likened to having more entries in a raffle.
Not every piece of content will be a viral hit, even for top artists and celebrities.
Virality is not completely within a creator's control, and acceptance of this fact is crucial.
The subjective nature of content means that what one person may dislike, another may find valuable.
Setting deadlines and treating content like a school assignment can help creators overcome the tendency to over-polish their work.
Embracing imperfection is part of the journey towards creating exceptional content.
Consistent content creation, despite the occasional flop, is key to eventual success in the content game.

Why You Should Post that “Shitty” Piece of Content Already

To perfectionists wanting online success

Edit. Erase. Re-write/Re-take. Over-analyze.

Repeat ‘x’ amount of times — growing more frustrated as more time passes.

If you’re a content creator you’ve probably been in this same boat. Whether that’s for a blog post you’ve been writing for days, a video you just “can’t get right”, or a picture that “isn’t good enough” to share.

The struggle is real for perfectionists fueled by the reason:

“I want to put out my best work.”

Bravo for not wanting to put out ‘shit’. But this mentality can be a slippery slope. You don’t want to be ‘forever perfecting’ something. You only have so much time.

What you need to accept is that much of content creation is a ‘numbers game’. Quality is important, but quantity is like putting more raffle entries for a lottery. “The more entries, the more chances of winning.”

Think about it the greatest singers of all time. Are all their songs the #1 most listened song in the world? How about your favorite celebrity? Do all their movies win them an academy award?

And these people are already at the ‘top’ of their game.

Virality will never be 100% under your control. You won’t hit a ‘home run’ every time no matter how good you are and especially when you’re brand new.

A practical tip Gary Vaynerchuck gives aspiring content creators is this,

Let the Market Decide: Quality is Subjective

You’ve probably come across a video or post that was extremely popular, yet scratched your head truly puzzled thinking,

“But why though… I don’t get it.”

And that’s the beauty of the internet. Truly what some may consider ‘trash’ will be the other consumer’s ‘treasure’.

The point is, you may think your work may not be good enough. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be good enough for the person who comes across it. Something doesn’t have to be ‘perfect’ to impact another person or get you the results that you want.

How to Strike the Balance:

I’m not writing this to say you need to be rash with what you put out. But it’s wise to set a deadline that isn’t “when it feels right”.

“I embrace imperfection as part of the process. Mistakes are part of the process to greatness.” — Kris Gage

A great mindset is to treat your piece of content like a school assignment with a strict deadline. Whether you like it or not, if it’s due, it’s due.

Submit it. And then let the chips fall where they will.

If it’s a win, congratulations! And if it’s a flop, welcome to the game of content creation. Keep going and eventually, you might just hit the jackpot.