Think Media: "Roughly 4.6 billion pieces of content are being created each and every single day." Discussing content saturation.

The Think Media Podcast posted this video to address the rapidly changing landscape of online content creation and offer actionable strategies for creators to thrive. With the explosion of content and the evolving role of AI and algorithms, this information is crucial for anyone trying to build an audience online. The strategies discussed are especially pertinent for those feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of content being produced and the constant algorithm shifts.

The video features Neil Patel, a renowned online marketer, discussing the current state of social media and the emerging trends reshaping the digital world. Think Media Podcast sets the stage by highlighting the immense volume of content being created daily: "Roughly 4.6 billion pieces of content are being created each and every single day. In two days, you have more content than the world's population." This underscores the challenge creators face in getting their content noticed. Neil Patel emphasizes the shift in algorithms, stating, "The algorithms have changed in which your follower count doesn't matter as much. Social media has been democratized."

The conversation builds towards the core message by highlighting the importance of creating "new" content. Patel explains that the key to standing out isn't just quality, but novelty. He says, "Forget the word, 'What's high-quality content?' because that's in the eye of the beholder. I'm talking about if you look at just in general, the stuff that's doing well is new stuff that no one's talked about before." He introduces his tool, AnswerThePublic, as a way to identify trending topics. He advises creators to "look for the gaps" in content across different platforms, capitalizing on what's popular on one platform but hasn't yet gained traction on another.

The key message is that success on platforms like YouTube is now driven by engagement and watch time, not solely follower count. This is a significant shift from previous strategies. As Neil Patel explains, "So viral potential is based on watch time, not follower count." He emphasizes creating content that is genuinely engaging and keeps viewers hooked, using "sub-hooks" within videos to maintain interest. He further elaborates that platforms prioritize content that is new and caters to an unmet need or interest within a specific niche, even if the creator is new to the platform. He highlights the importance of newness: "So the way I spot things that are new—and they're not perfectly new, but they're close enough, or starting to trend, or they are up and coming and going to be popular—is we have a tool called AnswerThePublic".

This message resonates with other online marketing experts. Brian Dean of Backlinko emphasizes the importance of audience retention, saying, "YouTube promotes videos that keep people on YouTube." Similarly, Ahrefs' blog states, "YouTube’s algorithm focuses on satisfying viewers. They want to keep users on the platform, clicking from video to video, and watching for as long as possible." These opinions reinforce Patel's point about prioritizing watch time and engagement.

Beyond the core message about watch time, Patel discusses several other vital trends. He stresses the increasing importance of brand recognition in a world of misinformation, stating that platforms tend to favor established brands they perceive as more trustworthy. He advises smaller creators to build their brand consistently through content creation, repurposing across platforms, and active promotion. He also highlights podcasting as an underrated traffic source, noting its growing popularity and the potential for leveraging video podcasts on platforms like YouTube and Spotify. Finally, Patel emphasizes that video length should be dictated by quality and engagement, not arbitrary targets. The goal is to keep viewers hooked, regardless of the video's length.

Key Takeaways

• Focus on creating "new" content that fills gaps in existing online discussions.
• Prioritize watch time and engagement over follower count for viral growth.
• Build brand recognition to gain algorithmic favor and establish trust with your audience.

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