Most content fails because its intention is selfish: to convert a user. A successful strategy treats the content itself as the final product, designed solely to provide value and build a relationship. This consumer-centric approach, which avoids treating content as a top-of-funnel tactic, is what builds long-term trust and a loyal audience.

A critical mistake in content creation for sales is leading with a product pitch. Instead, content should share insights that highlight a customer's problem, sparking a conversation. This strategy positions the salesperson as a trusted advisor who guides the buyer to the solution, rather than just a vendor pushing a product.

The old rule of keeping landing pages short and focused on a single call-to-action is outdated. For some campaigns, the primary goal is to educate the visitor. In these cases, longer-form content can be more effective, with conversion being a secondary goal.

A16z discovered their most successful content wasn't market commentary ("are we in a bubble?") but timeless, practical guides like "Good Product Manager, Bad Product Manager." This type of actionable content provides enduring utility to the target audience (entrepreneurs), building a deeper, more trusting relationship than fleeting, topical chatter.

To avoid creating pointless content, use the Brand Journey Framework. It defines your purpose by asking: 1) What is my desired outcome? 2) What reputation do I need to achieve it? 3) What actions must I take to build that reputation? 4) What skills must I learn? This roadmap connects every content effort to a tangible goal.

Overly nurturing content often attracts 'non-buyer energy'—people who are inspired but never purchase because you've given everything away for free. Shift to 'activating' content that embodies conviction and authority, which mirrors possibility and attracts buyers ready to invest immediately.

Stop debating followers versus community. Treat followers as the first step in a conversion process where the goal is to nurture them from passive observers into active community members, brand advocates, and ultimately, customers. The real relationship-building begins post-follow.

Identify content formats or topics that consistently drive follower growth—your 'gold strikes'. Dedicate a portion of your output (e.g., one of three daily posts) to replicating these successes. Use the remaining capacity to experiment and discover the next high-performing format, creating a continuous growth loop.

To attract a new audience, create content that explicitly calls out your target demographic's specific situations and identifiers. This is more effective than broad content because it makes the audience feel seen and understood, prompting the algorithm to find more people like them.