Turning Inspiration into Unique and Original Content

This is a really important topic that I wanted to talk about with you today and that is how to use inspiration when it comes to creating content. We’ll dig into the ethics of it all, including scrolling for inspiration, leveraging ChatGPT, and giving credit where it is due. We’ll also talk about using your own unique experiences to tailor your content and messaging to your niche - and one trick you should know about when it comes to being inspired.

In this episode we’ll be covering:

• Leveraging ChatGPT for ideas and repurposing content. 
• The ethics of inspiration, AI, and original content ideas. 
• Long term strategy of tailoring your content and brand messaging.
• Navigating the current digital content landscape.
• Sharing your unique perspective and experiences when creating.

Other episodes you might have missed:

• Episode 024: Is Storytelling the Missing Piece in Your Content?
• Episode 027: Let Your True Personality Shine
• Episode 029: Tailoring Successful Reel Techniques to Your Niche
• Episode 030: Attract New Followers with Talk to Camera Reels
• Episode 031: Navigating Content Creation When Everything Feels Overwhelming

Links to reels  in this episode:

• Reel #1: The look says Anthropology but the receipt says...
• Reel #2: Five days of viral hooks for your reels
• Reel #3: Visual clutter is more exhausting than we realize
• Reel #4: Controversial things I say as a registered dietician

Sign up for Reels Lab

Join the Social Squad Society

Love this conversation? Tap the follow button so you never miss an episode.

Connect with me over on Instagram!

Transcript

Shannon McKinstrie [00:00:05]:
I am your host, Shannon McKinstrie. Welcome to Good Content, the podcast where I remove the never ending content creation, guesswork and overwhelm so that you can actually enjoy being on social media again and growing your business with what has always worked. Good Content. Hello. Okay, let's talk inspiration versus copying, however you want to call it. This is why this podcast is so important to me, and this is why I stress this so much, that you guys should be creating content from your own perspectives and your own experiences. And when you're doing ChatGPT, I think that's fine for repurposing content. That's why I always tell people to start with ChatGPT for ideas and inspiration, and then throwing content you've already created and getting it repurposed.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:00:49]:
Perfect, right? Because what happens is if you're not using your own content in ChatGPT, again, it's taking stuff from everywhere else. And that's just risky. Like, we've got to be careful. And in the age of AI and everyone's saying, Shannon, nothing's original anymore. I'm like, that's why. That's the problem. And that's why I have this podcast and that's why I have everything that I create. Even in the Reels Lab, the prompts, I put blanks.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:01:12]:
I'm like, it needs to be y'alls wording, because your message and your brand and who your people know you as and who they see themselves as, like, that's what you need to know. Again, that takes market research. That's what this podcast is for. So let's talk copying versus inspiration. Okay, so when I give you guys these reels every week and go, this reel went viral, take this prompt, that's inspiration, right? Let's say it says, pov, you're in charge of Thanksgiving side dish, and you bring this blah, blah, blah, with only 100 calories. Cool, right? We say it go viral. I go, I'm inspired by that. That is a great prompt.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:01:48]:
How would I use it without stealing? I would say something like, pov, you're in charge of the family photo shoot, the family destination for Christmas. Mine would be something like, you're in charge of social media for your clients and you don't know what to post and you find this hook and da, da, da, da. Do you see where I mean inspired? If I copy that whole thing and show the same recipe, that's copying, and here's the thing, let's say I do, I'm like, oh my gosh, that recipe was so bomb. And I want to share it too. Credit the person, reach out to them, say, hey, do you mind? Or stitch it. Stitch it or what do they call it on Instagram? It's not stitch something, but you know what I mean, where you respond, you know what I'm trying to say, guys, we need to get back to being original and having original thoughts and sharing those. That's what social media has always been. And if you're just going to do social media to check a box and put something up that ChatGPT told you to post, that's not a long term strategy.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:02:47]:
So what is? Well, scrolling. Seeing something cool that you like, getting inspired by it. Perfect. Tailoring it to your messaging and your niche. Okay. If you think in any way someone would go, that's very peculiar and very similar to mine, shout them out, reach out to them directly. If you guys are going to use AI and ChatGPT, which obviously do it, I think the best way to do it is to use it for ideas, not actually copy and then repurposing content you've created. That's a great way.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:03:20]:
Say hey ChatGPT, like I don't even know how prompts work over there but like you go, hey, take this and make it more conversational or take this whatever and turn it into an email that I think is really, really smart. But again, in this age where content creation in this digital online world, everything's being stolen and it sucks. So I'm here to tell you it's okay to call it out, especially if you have proof that it's facts. But always give the people the benefit of the doubt. Like I said, it could be a team member. You never know. Okay, so let's talk about what's working right now and then I'll show you some content that's going crazy and we can talk about. This is a cute prompt.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:04:03]:
I'm not going to read it because again, I want you all to think about it. This says, the look says Anthropology, but the receipt says and she says how much it is? And then she's like, but this is only this. So again the, the recipe says blah blah blah or the like an interior designer could use that. So again, what I think is also a good thing, when you're inspired by something, make sure it's not in your niche. I think that's kind of the main trick. So if I'm inspired by something like I'm inspired by that, I know I wouldn't be copying because I don't talk about dresses and Anthropology. Do you see what I'm saying? Like, that's probably the safest way to do it if you're nervous. And most of the content that I get inspired, whether it's like, a formula.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:04:39]:
And you know what's funny, guys, I did a real couple weeks ago where this cool. This one, it says five days of viral hooks for your reels. And it's got to listen. It's got a fun little line. I in there said, shout out to Marina Wright Wellness for this cool idea. She's not even in my niche, and I still shouted it out because it looked just like hers. As in it said five something, something, something, and had a line that had all her tips. I didn't even need to shout her out.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:05:06]:
That's actually not copying at all. But that's what I do. And as a creator and business owner, that's how I roll. So just know I'm here for you if it happens. All right, let's look at a couple more that are doing really, really well. Ooh, I love this one. Visual clutter is more exhausting than we realize. Studies show that our brains work over time.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:05:23]:
Just ignore the chaos around us. If you feel scattered or drained at home, it might be the clutter. Blah, blah, blah, blah. And then look, she put her handle right under it to make sure that people know. That is her quote. That's not someone else's. See, this is. We're having to do this now because that's the landscape we're in, but a beautiful thing.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:05:41]:
Slow B roll. Slow, easy B roll. Remember, shoot real slow, left to right or right to left, whatever you want to do. And it's really nice how she made that. If you're watching on YouTube, I will make sure it's in the show notes. Her account is all things new underscore home. If you want to go show her some love. This has over 12,000 shares.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:05:59]:
Really, really cool. It's just a hot. Not even a hot take. It's just, like a fact. All right, let's talk about this, too. Here's some controversial things that I say as a. You could take that. That's not copyright, as far as I know.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:06:09]:
Or if someone's listening to this podcast going, no, Shannon, that is. But I wouldn't say as a registered dietitian, because that's what she said. I would say here's some controversial things as a social media strategist. Do you see what I mean? Inspiration versus copying. And again, I can't stress talk to camera reels more. Also notice the visual hooks. She's cutting a cucumber it keeps people watching. So this is what I mean.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:06:30]:
This is what's going viral. I know you guys are overwhelmed and just like, feel like you're constantly battling the algorithm. This has 62,000 likes, and she's just saying controversial opinions from registered dietitian. She is saying things that are just unique to her. And that's where we have to start taking our content. So there you have it. There's a few viral reels that are going viral right now, or viral for the creator itself. And that is how you take inspiration and run with it.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:06:56]:
So just be careful, use Chat GPT wisely. And I love you and thank you for listening. And I know, especially if you're in the States, this past week has been a lot. Take care of yourself, and I love you. And I'll talk to you next week.