New to Content Creation? Here Are 3 Content Creation Tips for Beginners Who Want to Show Up Genuinely

You want to start creating content, but you're not sure what to post. Should you pick a niche? Figure out your personal brand? Follow the latest trends? Maybe spend a few hours asking AI to build you a content calendar?

Before you do any of that, I've got a question for you. What do you enjoy enough that you'd talk about it even if nobody was paying attention?

For me, it was running.

When I first started creating content, I wasn't thinking about algorithms, engagement rates, or building a personal brand. I loved running, and I wanted to connect with other runners who could motivate me and become online friends.

I'd go for a run, take a picture, and post about it. I've always loved posing for pictures, so showing up on camera wasn't something I had to overcome. I wasn't trying to develop a content strategy. I was sharing something that brought me joy, and somewhere along the way, I found a community.

Today, I'm much more intentional about what I post. I want my content to reach more people, but I also want to continue building relationships with the people who've been part of the journey. That's a different challenge entirely.

I recently sat down with Adam Aguirre, owner of California Pool Man and creator of Adam the Pool Builder, for an episode of With Hat and Cattle.

Adam started servicing pools at 18 for about $80 a month. By 27, he was taking on a $400,000 pool project. He's also built an online presence by sharing his work, his knowledge, and his personality.

We talked about entrepreneurship, building trust, and how to grow an audience without losing yourself. Here are three things from our conversation that I think can help anyone who's getting started with content creation.

1. Start With Something You Already Love

One of the questions I asked Adam was what he'd tell a business owner who wanted to start creating content but didn't think anyone would be interested.

His answer was simple: Start with your story. Tell people who you are, how you got started, and what brought you here.

I think that's excellent advice because sometimes we make content creation more complicated than it needs to be. When I started posting about running, I already had something to talk about. I didn't need to invent a topic or become an expert in social media. I was already doing the thing.

And you probably are, too.

Maybe you're a business owner who loves explaining how things work. Maybe you're learning a new skill, training for your first race, or trying to figure out what comes next in your career. There's a story there.

You don't have to make every post an educational masterpiece. Sometimes people just want to see what you're working on, what you're learning, or what made you smile today.

Here's something to try: Think about something you did this week that you'd happily tell a friend about. Now, tell that story in a 30-second video or a short post. Start there.

2. Don't Let Your Niche Become a Cage

If you've researched content creation, you've probably heard that you need to niche down. And I understand why. People should have some idea of what they'll get when they follow you.

But what happens when you're interested in more than one thing?

Adam shared an idea during our conversation that I haven't stopped thinking about. He described his personal content as an umbrella.

He might post about restaurants, skateboarding, or visiting museums. Those subjects are different, but they all fit under a bigger story about who he is and what he enjoys experiencing. As he put it, what's at the root of that umbrella is you. That's what connects everything.

I saw this firsthand when I was creating a video about a donut shop. I'm not a restaurant reviewer, and I don't want to become one. But we'd driven 16 miles to try a donut. Sixteen miles!

I realized that the interesting part wasn't necessarily the donut. It was the fact that we were willing to go out of our way for the experience.

When I told Adam about it, he said something that stuck with me:

"The donut wasn't the point. The main story is how you went to get the donut."

Exactly. That story fits with what I enjoy sharing because I'm curious, I love trying things, and I believe there's joy to be found along the way.

Running was where my content journey began, but it doesn't have to be the only thing I ever talk about. The same goes for you.

Here's something to try: Write down three things you enjoy sharing. Then ask yourself what connects them. It might be your curiosity, your sense of humor, your expertise, or the way you approach life.

Your niche can help people discover you. It doesn't have to define every part of you.

3. Don't Outsource Your Relationships

This is the one I feel most strongly about.

Today, AI can help us brainstorm ideas, write captions, organize a content calendar, and repurpose videos. I use AI, and I think there's real value in learning how to work with it.

But there's something it can't do for me. It can't replace the time I've spent getting to know my community.

I know one runner loves pink hearts. I know another runs ten miles on Tuesdays. Those might sound like small details, but they're meaningful to me because I've spent time getting to know the people behind the accounts. They're not just followers. They're people I've connected with through something we love.

AI could help me write a message to someone, but it wasn't there for the conversations, the encouragement, or the experiences that made those relationships matter. That's my responsibility.

Adam made a similar point about the importance of being yourself online. During our interview, he told me about a video he filmed while troubleshooting a pool heater. As he worked through the problem, he realized the mistake was his.

He wondered whether he should post it. What if a potential customer saw that he'd made an error? He posted it anyway, and according to Adam, people responded positively to his willingness to acknowledge what happened.

That moment says something about the relationship between credibility and authenticity. You can know your work, take it seriously, and still admit when you get something wrong. You don't have to pretend you're perfect for people to trust you.

Adam put it this way:

"When you tell the truth, there's no lie to remember."

I think that applies to how we build relationships online, too. You don't need to manufacture a personality or pretend to care about your community. You need to show up, pay attention, and actually care.

Here's something to try: Instead of spending all your time thinking about your next post, spend ten minutes connecting with people who've already engaged with your content. Read what they're sharing. Ask a question. Celebrate something they're proud of.

And the next time you see their name, remember the conversation. That's how an audience starts becoming a community.

You Don't Have to Figure It All Out Before You Begin

One of the things Adam said during our conversation was that content creation is an experiment. You start with an idea, try different things, learn what works, and keep going. Nobody can guarantee that every video will take off.

And frankly, I don't think virality should be the only thing we're working toward.

I started creating content because I wanted to find people who shared my love of running. Today, I want to keep growing, and yes, I want my content to reach more people. But I don't want to lose sight of why I started.

I want people to feel like they're part of something. I want them to know they're seen, not just counted. That takes more than a good hook or a perfectly written caption. It takes showing up as yourself and being willing to get to know the people who show up for you.

So if you're new to content creation, here's my encouragement. Start with something you love, let your personality be part of the story, and when people start showing up, don't forget to get to know them.

You can learn the rest as you go.

Keep the Conversation Going

Adam Aguirre joined me on With Hat and Cattle to talk about entrepreneurship, personal branding, content creation, and what it means to stay true to yourself as your business and audience grow, but I couldn't help but think there were so many content creation tips for beginners to apply.

We also get into building trust, experimenting with different kinds of content, and why the person behind the content matters just as much as the subject.

Watch or listen to our conversation: Building an Audience Without Losing Yourself with Adam Aguirre.

And I'd love to hear from you: What's something you've learned about your community that you'd never find in an analytics dashboard?

With Hat and Cattle: Stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.