George Kao Courses

✍🏽 Authentic Content Flow (ACF) 2023+

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Authentic Content Flow -- Course Info

Welcome!

Course Platform Orientation
Bonus Q&A Webinars -- Live Support Calls
Content ✍🏽 Work Retreats to give you time to learn & implement the course!
General Questions (if you don't know where else to ask)
✨ Valuable Bonus Content

Authentic Content Challenge (Monthly Theme)

ACF 1st Content Challenge
13:10
1. Clarify your own reasons for creating -- and share that with your audience
ACF 2 post your content in our Soul Gym group
1:25
Post your content in our Soul Gym group...
ACF Challenge 2 - 3 Stages of Content + Lightly Creating + Creative Discomfort
13:24
2. Stages of Content + Lightly Creating + Creative Discomfort
ACF Month 3 Challenge
4:20
3. Best Content Prompts, Part 1
SG April Challenge
4:57
4. Best Content Prompts, Part 2

Bust your myths about Content Creation...

1 Why it's so rare for creators to be consistent
1:08
Why is it so rare for creators to be consistent?
ACF 1 Do you have a clear consistent method for creating? Here's mine
5:49
Do you have a clear consistent method for creating? Here's mine...
ACF 2 Create to find clarity about your business message
4:43
Need clarity? Create to find it.
At the beginning, it feels like you're "playing ball by yourself"...
Content isn't primarily about getting clietns
8:42
Authentic Content isn't primarily about getting clients...
Do you need an overall content plan?
8:50
"I need an overall content plan before I can really create content..."
ACF Whenever you've been away from content creation how to get back on track?
1:41
Whenever you've been away from content creation... how to get back on track?
ACF Aim for clarity of framework early in your business? Example of my history with 3 topics
13:19
Aim for clarity of framework or niche early in your business? Example of my history with 3 topics...

Overview of Content Strategy

Content Creation vs Tracking vs Repurposing vs Distribution
7:03
Content Creation vs Tracking vs Repurposing vs Distribution
When to start repurposing content? How much do you need to have created?
1:50
When to start repurposing content? How much do you need to have created?
An easy way into Tracking and Repurposing content
5:15
An easy way into Tracking and Repurposing content...
ACF z2 Free vs Paid content -- are you clear on the differences for you?
10:20
Free vs Paid content -- are you clear on the differences for you?

Get clear on why you're creating...

Why create? Because it brings clarity - the goo-goo-gah-gah method
8:08
Why create? Because it brings clarity - or the goo-goo-gah-gah method 🍼👶🏽
Find your authentic voice and confidence via consistent creation
7:29
Find your authentic voice and confidence via consistent creation
Don't worry about order or sequence of your content for now -- create then organize later
4:47
Don't worry about order or sequence of your content for now -- create then organize later...
Create to serve the many who might never buy from you
3:32
Your content will serve many who might never buy from you...
Create consistently because it grows you a true audience
7:53
Create consistently because it grows you a true audience 🤗
Your content makes a difference even if you're not getting reactions or engagement
3:03
Your content makes a difference -- even if you're not getting reactions or engagement
What creating consistently has done for me
9:10
What creating consistently has done for me ✨
Inspiration from most successful Youtuber of all time
5:03
Inspiration from the #1 Youtuber of all time...
ACF My holy fear of NOT making content
4:59
My holy fear of NOT making content...
ACF Content is energy work
2:12
Content *is* energy work

The 3 Stages of Content Creation

Overview of the 3 Stages of Content Creation
8:27
Overview of the 3 Stages of Content Creation
Stage 1 content should be light to distribute
4:03
Stage 1 content should be *light* to distribute
ACF - Should you only create the same format all the time? Or is it ok to do various formats?
5:03
Should you only create the same format all the time? Or is it ok to do various formats?
Stage 2 content should be easy to create
7:45
Stage 2 content should feel easy to create...
Is guest podcasting Stage 1 or Stage 2 content?
0:51
Is guest podcasting Stage 1 or Stage 2 content?
ACF Stage 3 Content - Integrate & Productize
5:53
Stage 3 Content - Integrate & Productize

Stage 1 Content

Stage 1 Content - Why and How?
8:51
Stage 1 Content - Why and How?
What's your rhythm of Stage 1 content?
8:14
What's your rhythm of Stage 1 content?
What is your 3-minute-makeup routine for Stage 1 creation?
7:52
What's your "3-Minute Makeup" routine (even if you don't wear makeup)?
How long should Stage 1 content be? (writing or videos)
5:09
How long should Stage 1 content be? (writing or videos)
0:00
If it's under 300 words or something, it might not be enough content to test it with the audience with the market. If it's only a 100 words, stage 2, you'll probably lengthen it, you know, so that it's more meaningful and better filtering piece of content.
3:37
He's challenging himself to do a 100 one minute videos in the next 100 days. For me, longer videos is much lighter and easier and gentler on my system than shorter videos. With video, it's automatically filtering.
Remove all your limits for Stage 1 Content
5:05
Remove all your limits for Stage 1 Content
ACF5 "I keep thinking there's a RIGHT way to create content"
2:09
"I keep thinking there's a RIGHT way to create content"
0:00
There is always a brighter way. And a longer way, and you feel it in your body and in your mind. There's no right way. All you have is the way you understand today, which I hope is writer for you and for your ideal viewer.
Stage 1 Content Frequency
8:52
Stage 1 Content Frequency
ACF 2 disorganized content ideas - simple system for putting them into Stage 1 content
3:46
Disorganized content ideas? Simple system for putting them into Stage 1 content...
Stage 1 content - can you create pre-considered content?
2:13
Stage 1 Content - can you create pre-considered content?
ACF 1 Clarify your own Stage 1 creation process
5:48
What will be your own Stage 1 creation process?
ACF3 Let your stage 1 videos be uniform as much as possible
1:52
Making videos in Stage 1? Make them as uniform as possible...
ACF4 Stage 1 content can be in any format
5:56
Reminder: Stage 1 content can be in any format...
0:00
The key though is to stick with 1 format to track your stage 1. Without stage 1 content tracking, you won't be able to move to stage 2. Stage 2 content consistency is what builds a big audience.
3:46
When I was starting my content consistency, I I I took no week off for for, like, for 9 months or something like that. But that vocational week off is planned. It's not oh, I'm so exhausted. I'm not inspired this week. I I wrote when I was taking trips to family. Family was all over me and I was writing as they were like grabbing my hair, you know. Whatever, there's no excuse.
Reposting others' content with your own comment
3:06
Sharing other people's content - is that Stage 1 content?
0:00
The more you're just resharing someone's stuff, the less it's your content. Some of my most popular posts are where I either summarize and give opinion on someone's book or someone's idea.
Reminder: make your Stage 1 content as light as possible ✨
2:54
Reminder: make your Stage 1 content as light as possible ✨
0:00
It's really important to make your stage 1 content process as light as possible. The more time and effort you spend on stage 1, the less consistent you can be. Stage 1 should be as light and as gentle on yourself as possible, he says.

Clarify your own process for creating...

The 1 technique that unlocks my creativity -- temporary constraints
6:35
The 1 technique that unlocks my creativity -- temporary constraints
Batching vs Frequenting
10:37
Batching vs Frequenting
Simple understanding of what grows an audience of true fans
6:19
Simple understanding of what grows an audience of true fans 🙌🏾
CCC for content creation
5:24
"CCC" for content creation
ACF Clarify the When & Where of your creation
5:20
Clarify the When & Where of your creation
ACF Create your Hat Manual for creating
5:11
Create your "Hat Manual" for creating...

George Kao's process for writing -- Part 1: gather ideas + create a draft

ACF 1 How I gather my ideas into one place
3:34
How I gather my ideas into one place
ACF 2 Why I post my Stage 1 onto Twitter
8:17
Why do I post my Stage 1 content onto Twitter?
ACF 3 Drafting a piece of writing before editing
12:03
Drafting a piece of writing (before editing)

George Kao's process for writing -- Part 2: expand, edit, and publish

George's writing process part 2
11:25
George's writing process part 2

Posting Your Content (Checklist / Hat Manual)

ACF Formatting
2:30
Formatting: make it look better with subheadings, bold, italics if needed
ACF Cover Image for Blog Posts & Videos
7:10
Cover Image for Blog Posts & Videos
Content Posting Hat Manual
14:27
Content Posting Hat Manual
ACF 2 Your creation process is a curriculum of practice
4:35
Your creation process is a curriculum of practice...

Creative Discomfort

ACF Creative Discomfort
12:41
Introduction to Creative Discomfort
Difference between creative discomfort and overstretching & the solution of balance
11:49
Difference between creative discomfort and overstretching... and the solution of balance

Working with Prompts: begin with your own ideas!

ACF1 you are the most authentic prompt creator for your content
5:49
You are the most authentic prompt creator for your content
ACF1a First practice creating your own prompts
6:30
First let’s practice generating prompts...
ACF2 this has already been said before, why should I say it?
5:32
Doesn’t matter if it’s been said, if You haven’t said it.

Prompts 1

ACF The basics of your field -- from your perspective
6:15
The basics of your field -- from your perspective
ACF Passionate critique of your field
7:32
Passionate critique of your field

Prompts 2

ACF - pause after each client session and answer these questions
5:30
Pause after each client session and answer these questions...
ACF Client Case Studies
13:32
Client Case Studies -- educate & inspire

Prompts 3

ACF1 Prompt - Popular Idea and your take on it
6:45
Popular idea and your take on it...
ACF2 Prompt - popular book
7:18
Well-known book in your field, and your unique take on it...

Stage 2 Content

ACF1 Stage 2 why?
8:06
Why Stage 2? Understanding the strategy as a whole.
0:00
I just wanna remind you about why it's important to create stage 2 content. Stage 1 is when you create something and some other human being gets to see it for the first time. Stage 2 is taking the best of your stage 1, and then possibly editing it to improve on it.
4:01
Because I already have my best 100, and I just keep showing that to you, you know, week after week, month after month. Your best 100 is what I want you to have. Stage 3 is basically product products. You take the you take your stage 2, and maybe even some of your stage 1, and you organize it into themes and turn it into online courses.
7:25
And products are best The best selling ones tend to be the ones that are proven from your content already. At least some part of your Stage 2 content is woven into your products, people will find the products very satisfying, fulfilling.
ACF2 Stay an amateur or go pro? The analogy of the traveling musician
3:01
Stay amateur or go pro? The analogy of the traveling musician...
ACF2 Stage 2 basic steps
10:52
The Basic Steps of Stage 2 Content
0:00
What is best is not in your eyes. You might have spent a long time working on a piece of content and your audience doesn't get it. So step 1 is really to track your your stage 1 content because otherwise, you can't select the best stuff.
3:34
You have to believe your audience for what their reactions are. You gotta believe them. Practice believing them. Don't believe yourself.
6:52
The market decides whether a piece of content moves from stage 1 to stage 2. Simplero or repurpose. Light and be purposing the best of stage 1. And then the final step of stage 2 content is to distribute it more widely.
10:12
But distributed more widely could be social media ads or it could also be just posting at more places than you did before. To get that message out there because that message obviously works. So you can do the interview, put put that stage 2 content idea, those ideas into your interview.
Show more Show less
Stage 2 requires that you selected the best of Stage 1
3:10
Stage 2 requires that you select the best of Stage 1
Choosing best of Stage 1 - based on reach or Like %?
4:59
Choosing best of Stage 1 - based on Reach... or Like %?
ACF Stage 2 Content - what if you've gotten clearer or more advanced since then?
2:33
Replaying your best old content - what if you've gotten clearer or more advanced since then?...
Stage 2 Content Frequency
4:03
Stage 2 Content Frequency
ACF3 How do you stage 2 a video that was stage 1?
3:57
How do you "stage 2" a video?
0:00
Wayne: How do you turn stage 1 content into stage 2 content? Wayne: I don't do any video editing. I'm waiting for AI to be truly superior as a video editor, which will be in the next year or 2, but not yet. Wayne: When AI gets better at editing videos, like edit like, if once AI is able to say, We believe that this is really we can create a one minute clip for you, then I will.
3:13
The more elements you change, the more I'm wondering whether it's released another stage 1 experiment. So that's an example of repurposing the best of stage 1 into stage 2 video.
ACF - stage 2 a short video? Try lengthening it
0:57
How to "stage 2" a short video? Try lengthening it...
Expanding or contracting Stage 1 and 2 Content for repurposing?
7:00
Expanding or contracting Stage 1 and 2 Content for repurposing?
ACF z1 Getting clear about your framework & core message
4:41
Seeking message / framework clarity?

Refining Your Content

ACF Refine how you start your content
4:41
Refine how you start your content
ACF 1 Refining the ending of your posts
4:22
Refine the ending of your content
ACF Ai helping to refine the start & end of an article
10:39
Using Ai to help refine the start & end of an article...

Creating Better Titles 😅

ACF 2 Learn to create better Titles for your content
7:53
Learn to create better Titles for your content -- "Title Tips"
ACF Easy quick basic SEO titles with AI chat
4:14
SEO Titles -- easy, quick, basic -- Ai chat
ACF Process for creating a better Title
6:33
Step by step process for creating better Titles

Tracking Your Content (so you know what's really working!)

ACF1 Intro to Content Tracking
3:59
Intro to Content Tracking
ACF2 What content to track?
8:13
What content to track + the basics of tracking
ACF3 Tracking Template - Simple Google Doc
9:21
Simple Content Tracking -- Google Doc Template
ACF4 Tracking a good title vs good content?
3:02
Tracking a good title vs good content?
ACF Content Tracking Spreadsheet
23:52
Spreadsheet for Content Tracking
ACF how much backtracking to do?
1:48
How much back-tracking to do? Plus other tips
ACF Spreadsheet part 2 - my own example
11:44
Spreadsheet part 2 - my own content tracking example
0:00
There's going to be a temptation to track more data than is necessary. If you feel like GeorgeKao, I I feel like I wanna track this piece of data. Why don't you track it? Comment below.
3:44
You gotta test it with the market. Stage 1 content is probably not gonna make you famous. It's the stage 2 content that grows your audience over time. Once you start tracking a bunch of stage 2, you will eventually have your.
7:10
The color coding, which is automated, I've already built it into the plat the template and you view follow my instructions that this will all be all be automated. You can also by the way, if you notice, I also added 2 different columns that are not in the template that that's useful for me.
10:27
I've been pretty good about it. But I'm going to be even better and I'm gonna, you know, remember the the the dream of the content creation is to get to your 100 best pieces that you could just recycle again and again to keep building a bigger and bigger audiences. Every time you post your best pieces, it's gonna grow a bigger audience.
Show more Show less
ACF Spreadsheet part 3 - how to port over old content
8:09
Spreadsheet part 3 - how to port over old metrics to new template
0:00
GeorgeKao: How do I bring all the content over to a new version of a content tracking sheet? He says, "I had to do it with my old, you know, content. So I'm assuming you're gonna use the template and I'm gonna click on that"
3:26
GeorgeKao.com is a free online news service. GeorgeKao is a self-taught writer and blogger. He shares his tips on how to use LinkedIn.
7:07
You might wanna watch this again to kinda get what I'm doing here. Paste. Okay? I realized I just realized that probably just never mind. What's important is the new new new data? And if you if you really wanna be Yeah. I just I'm gonna keep it at that. I think I think that's fine.
ACF content tracking why Stage 1 & 2 averages aren't showing up?
3:46
Spreadsheet Q&A -- how come the Stage 1 & 2 averages aren't showing up?
ACF Keep video files of our content?
3:50
Keep original files of our content?

Content Distribution: Why Social Media is a Must...

ACF1 Can you grow your audience without using social media?
8:23
Can you grow your audience without using social media? 🤔
0:00
George Kao: Without good content distribution, you won't really get much reach with your content. He says social media is a must if you're going to do content distribution. Kao says the more your content is being shared, the more reach you get.
4:04
The secret of growing your business without social media is to get friends and colleagues who use social media so that they could amplify your message. GeorgeKao: There is no better way for content reach other than social media, particularly social media ads.
7:17
It's like basically social media, or collaborations with people who use social who have an audience on social media. Or search engine optimization SEO, which is a lot harder You think social media is hard? Yeah. Good luck. Try SEO.
ACF2 It's demotivating to post without engagement
9:28
...but it's demotivating to post without engagement...
0:00
Without stage 1 content, you can never have stage 2 content. Stage 1 content is lightly created. It has to be so fast and so easy that you don't get blocked at all.
3:17
And practicing creativity fitness for 10 minutes because I'm only gonna make a 3 minute, 5 minute video because by the way, of course, if you're making made a video, shorter is better. Okay. So then once you are continuing to do the 10 minutes stage 1, 10 minute stage, you're gonna start noticing, hey. 3 of those got 0 likes, but this one got 4 likes. 4 is more than 2. If the average is 0 or 1 or 2, 4 is worth taking in the stage 2.
ACF3 You surveyed your ideal clients and they don't use social media?
2:24
You surveyed your clients, and they don't use social media?
0:00
What if you survey your ideal clients and some of them tell you? Well, I don't use Facebook. See, therefore, do you not use social media? Because a few of them told you they don't used social media. When we get into those numbers, the re the real picture shows up.
ACF3 we own our email list and we rent social media?
3:48
"But I heard that we own our email list, yet we 'rent' our social media presence?"
0:00
Every email inbox has an algorithm. The algorithm means that the email provider, Gmail, Hotmail, Apple, Outlook, you name it. Email is no longer about direct 1 to 1, you know, one to many reach.
3:30
And if you wanna do talk or other places, a sub stack or other place. It's where could where where do you where are you subscribing and looking at people? I wanna make sure I'm there too. That's the answer in 2023, but not 2023,. 2018, and onward.
ACF4 I don't know who I'm talking to on social
1:56
"I don't know who I'm talking to on social media..."
0:00
Another common issue with social media is I don't know who I'm talking to. This is where this is the opportunity for you and the and sort of the requirement for you to practice to practice imagining your ideal viewer, ideal reader.
ACF5 Shy about family friends looking at our social
1:51
Shy about family / friends looking at our social media?
0:00
Another common concern on social media is maybe you're okay with strangers or the public, but you're not okay with your aunt Sally. Or with your with your brother or with your neighbor kind of like looking at your social media, it kind of feels awkward to you.
ACF5 What if your message is about getting people off of social media?
2:35
What if your message is about getting people off of social media?
0:00
What if part of your message or an important part of it is to get people off of social media or off of the computer and reconnect more with the earth? And here I am talking about, well, you need to use social media to spread that message because that's the truth. The funny thing is that's where they are.

Content Distribution: Choosing your social media platforms

ACF1 How many platforms do you need to distribute your content to?
4:14
How many platforms do you need to distribute your content to?
ACF2 How to choose among many social media channels
14:26
How to choose among the many social media channels?
ACF3 Word of mouth distribution -- how to increase it?
5:09
Word of mouth distribution -- how to increase it?

Ensure that you now have a clear plan for content...

ACF Long-term vision for content creation -- your best 100
6:09
Long-term vision for content creation -- your best 100
0:00
George Cowen: Imagine having written 500 articles or made 500 videos or both depending on, you know, what your preferred format is. But 500 pieces of content is what I encourage you to aim for. Now, I wanted to say a 1000, but that might be a little overwhelming. So just 500 is not too overwhelming. And My question is how soon can you make the 500?
4:02
You're not a hobbyist here. You're here because you wanna be a professional. You wanna go pro. And by going pro, it means you have an aim for a 1000 at least. Track your content so that you always know what your best 10% is.
ACF2 recur your best regularly
5:11
Recur your best 100 regularly
ACF4 is your Best only metrics based?
7:02
Do you choose the "best" only based on metrics?
ACF3 your best 10
4:22
Your best-of-the-best 10
ACF1 clarifying your content plan
2:35
Clarifying your content plan
ACF2 simple posting tracker
4:15
Simple checklist for posting
0:00
In this video, I've given you a simple way of tracking your weekly content. Creation posting plan. And I'll just go ahead and share the that simple spreadsheet here with you. Now you don't have to use this, of course, but I just wanted to give you a way to think about organizing. For example, let's say you're going to post content on Instagram and Facebook and LinkedIn and YouTube and your email newsletter.
3:35
Because you might not post to as many platforms as I do, and I post something on Friday. You, it doesn't matter. The key is you being consistent with doing it.
ACF3 annual plan
5:55
A simple Annual content plan that I follow...
0:00
The first time your words or that art or that idea touches another human being is stage 1. Stage 2 is taking the best of stage 1 and then improving it upon it a little bit or a lot. Stage 3 is essentially products. You you organize your stage 2 into categories and you create products out of it.
3:44
But, essentially, my courses often come out of the conversations I have with my audience through my content. As you create content, stage 1. Stage 2, Stage 2 content. Yes, you can publish a book on it, but you can also create a course about a particular thing.
ACF4 consistency is a personal practice (and puzzle!)
2:49
Consistency of creating -- it's a personal practice (and puzzle!)
0:00
Every single one of us struggles with, alright, the system. Of showing up regularly, and each of us has a different system. I've given you a lot that you can borrow for your system. But eventually, you still have to be the 1.

Misc. Q&A about Content

If you feel like you're dragging yourself to create content consistently - flow is at the end not the beginning
4:08
Dragging yourself to create content consistently? Flow is at the end not the beginning...
Youtube - sensing your audience's wants based on your video views and likes
6:02
Youtube - sensing your audience's wants, based on your video views and likes
What if a specific topic of yours gets popular - do you change your niche?
3:09
What if a specific topic of yours gets popular - do you change your niche?
Creating larger content projects but still showing up consistently?
3:23
Creating larger content projects... but still showing up consistently?
After a long break how to get back into creating consistently?
4:22
After a long break how to get back into creating consistently?
When you post vulnerably on social media (even if sharing a win) and people send pitying replies
4:56
When you post vulnerably on social media (even if sharing a win) and people send pitying replies...
SG how much is oversharing or being too personally vulnerable in our content?
9:34
How much is oversharing, or being too personally vulnerable in our content?
ACF 1 Energized for a few days then crashing - how to maintain momentum?
2:53
Energized for a few days, then crashing - how to maintain momentum?
Content pillars important to clarify at the beginning?
7:24
Content pillars important to clarify at the beginning?
ACF IG video posts reels stories oh my
8:40
IG Reels, Stories, Video Posts?
ACF5a what are you already consistent with? Borrow from that to create your system of consistent creating
15:17
What are you *already* consistent with? Borrow from that to create your system of consistent creating...

Questions about Making Authentic Videos

If you don't like watching videos and therefore feel less motivated to make them
4:59
If you don't like watching videos, therefore feel less motivated to make them? 3 reasons why I recommend making them...
How do I make my videos? Basic thoughts
3:22
How do I make my videos? The basic method...
Zoom to FB Live - I also record a local copy for Youtube
1:40
Zoom to FB Live - I also record a local copy for Youtube...
Do I store my videos somewhere?
3:08
Do I store my videos somewhere? (only on Youtube)
Is it ok just to do video and not writings when trying to grow an audience?
6:38
Is it ok just to do video and not writings when trying to grow an audience?
ACF 1 Video size and storage?
5:35
Video size and storage?
More questions about videos?

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