Creating low-content products is an often overlooked or underutilized solution to content creation.
Low-content products that you create provide you the opportunity to offer valuable solutions to problems your customers and clients face.
And at the same, having your own products helps build your brand. All this, but without the time and expense of producing traditional products.
In Creating Low Content Products Part 1, we defined low-content products. And we issued a warning to avoid making the mistake of thinking that low-content means low value.
It is imperative that your low-content product is of high value.
How do you create a low-content product that is of high value to your customer? Start by asking:
• “What are the problems or desires my ideal, target customer faces?”
• “What type of product could I create that would provide solutions for these?"
Here are some examples of low-content products.
Types of Low-Content Products
Checklists. If a required task has stages or a list of things to do, create a checklist that clearly lays out each step in the process. Then, people just need to work their way through, checking off each item as it’s completed.
Planners. Take a large project or goal and break it up into steps or sections. Create a piece of content that guides the planning for the user so they can simply fill in different sections to complete their plan.
Trackers. You can offer a tracking system that helps the user stay on target. It can help them make sure they’re putting in the work each day and seeing progress.
Journals. Journals are especially good for educational content or creative projects. The user can write their own reflections and ideas or jot down what they’ve learned after each course section.
Worksheets. Like journals, worksheets are a helpful supplement to educational content such as an online course. Using a worksheet, the participant has a place to answer questions, follow instructions, and start doing the work on their own.
Toolkits. In this type of low-content product, you can provide a variety of simple tools the customer can use to aid them in their task.
Resource Guides. Provide users with a list of resources where they can find the content or information they need. Organize these resources so it’s easy for them to locate exactly what they need.
Tip Sheets. 5-12 tips on a specific topic, usually all on just one page. The tips are numbered and the number is used in the headline. For example, “7 Tips on Creating Low-Content Products.” A tip sheet can be modified and used as a press release.
Calendars. Your customers might be able to make use of a ready-made calendar, such as an editorial calendar for content marketing or a calendar of holidays for planning promos.
Templates. Create templates for documents your audience will use or tasks they will undertake. Make these templates customizable to the user’s needs. Whenever they need the document, they can get started right away by simply plugging in the key information.
Format for Low-Content Products
Your low-content products can be physical or digital products.
Physical products can be more costly and difficult to produce and deliver. If you want to have a physical product, but avoid the effort in actually manufacturing it, there are fulfillment services that will produce and ship the product for you.
Digital products are quicker and easier to produce. And they can be distributed immediately to your audience anywhere in the world. All of the examples above can be offered as digital products.
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In “Creating Low-Content Products Part 3,” we will discuss ways to create high-quality, low-content products and importantly, how to actually sell them.
But until then, check out the “Resources” section for software and templates that can significantly enhance the quality and speed up your creation of low-content products.
Resources
Beacon
Checklist Publishing
Designrr
Low Content Creation Machine
Createful Journals
Plug and Play Journals
QueContent Composer
TipPub Creator
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Disclosure
Some of my blog posts contain links to products. These are products I use personally or come highly recommended from sources I trust. I would recommend them to my own family. At no extra cost to you, the product creator gives my nonprofit organization a small commission if you click one of these links on my blog and purchase something. This is a win-win-win situation where I get to recommend great products to my readers who benefit tremendously from these products when they buy. My organization receives a small compensation to support our mission and the business gains a new customer. And you pay the same exact price you would pay if you had found the product yourself!