Hey there, and welcome back!
What if one blog post or social media post could make you the expert everyone talks about?
Most people think you need a big company or tons of money to create original content marketing that works.
I used to write about the same topics as everyone else. My blog posts didn’t get many views.
Then I tried something different. I asked 10 people one simple question and turned their answers into a blog post.
That post got way more engagement and showed me that original content works much better than covering the same topics as everyone else.
The secret? Create fresh content instead of rehashing old advice.
In this post, I’m going to show you exactly how to create fresh, authentic content that grabs attention, builds trust, and helps you stand out, even if you’re just starting.
If you’re tired of blending in and ready to create posts that people actually want to read (and share), you’re in the right place.
This post is about original content marketing.
This blog post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. You can find the full disclosure here.
Estimated read time 7 minutes
Tired of Sounding Like Everyone Else? Then You’ll Want to Read This…
Here’s what’s really happening: your content blends in with everything else online. They want something new. Something real. Something they can’t find anywhere else.
Original content marketing means you create the information instead of just sharing what already exists.
You become the source. Other people quote you instead of the other way around.
Think about it like this: Would you rather be the kid who tells the same joke everyone’s heard, or the kid who makes up funny new jokes that everyone wants to repeat?
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The 6 Easy Ways to Create Original Content That Gets Noticed
1. Test Something New and Share What Happens
What to test:
Try experimenting with new social media strategies, email subject lines, different blog post formats, or fresh tools and apps to see what actually drives better engagement, clicks, or conversions.
Real results come from testing, not guessing.
Test example:
One Pinterest creator ran a month-long experiment, testing different posting times to see what worked best. They found that pins shared at 8 a.m. consistently got twice as many saves compared to those posted at 2 p.m., making early morning their sweet spot for engagement.
The insight helped them refine their content schedule for better visibility.
Why this works:
Most advice online is just opinions. When you share real results from real tests, you give people facts they can use, and that kind of insight builds trust and sparks curiosity.
2. Count Things in Your Industry
Look around your industry and count stuff. How many, how often, what types. Turn those numbers into content.
Things you can look for:
For example, I reviewed 15 popular blog posts in the “make money online” niche and used ChatGPT to estimate their word counts to see what the popular number of word count is for writing blog posts.
The posts ranged from around 800 to over 2,500 words. I also looked at engagement levels, focusing on how many comments each post received.
Interestingly, posts between 1,500–2,000 words seemed to attract the most interaction, some with over 50 comments, while shorter posts under 1,000 words often had little to no engagement.
That led me to pay closer attention to the longer posts to figure out what they were doing right.
The secret: People love numbers. Numbers feel more trustworthy than opinions.
3. Interview Experts and Share Their Secrets
Find people who are good at what you do. Ask them questions and share what they tell you.
How to do this:
- Make a list of 5 people you respect
- Email them 3 simple questions
- Put their answers in a blog post
- Tag them when you share it
Most people love talking about their work. If you ask good questions and promise to share their business info, they’ll usually help.
Bonus tip: Start with people you already know. Your network is bigger than you think.
4. Predict What Will Happen Next
Look at what’s happening now in your field. Make smart guesses about what could be coming next. Then write about your predictions, people love insights that help them stay ahead of the curve.
What to look for when predicting:
Notice what successful creators or business owners are starting to do differently, like switching from Instagram to TikTok due to a shift in where audiences are spending more time.
Keep an eye on new tools or platforms gaining popularity, like new writing tools popping up in Facebook groups or forums, it could be the next big thing.
Watch what younger users are adopting early (they often set trends) like ditching traditional email lists for SMS updates or community apps, that trend could gain traction fast.
Look for repeating patterns in the news or industry changes
Just to clarify, some of these examples have already started, or have totally taken off.
These aren’t predictions, they’re just here to show you how to spot patterns and think ahead.
Don’t overanalyze them, just use them as inspiration to make your own calls.
My prediction example:
In 2024, I noticed more businesses starting to use AI tools for writing.
I predicted that by 2025, most small businesses would be using AI to create social media posts, blog content, and more. That’s exactly what happened!
Seeing that play out gave me more confidence to keep paying attention to what’s next. Don’t just wing it, people can tell! Do your homework so your audience knows they can count on you.
Look at what’s happening now in your field. Make smart guesses about what comes next and write about your predictions.
5. Share Your Mistakes and What You Learned
Everyone makes mistakes, but most people hide them. You can use yours to help others avoid the same problems.
Mistakes that make great content:
~ Marketing campaigns that failed – I’ll be honest, my first welcome email sequence was rough.
The open rate tanked, but after going back, reworked the copy, it made it more genuine and relatable.
My open rate started climbing… Just goes to show how much the right words matter!
~ Tools that didn’t work like expected – When I was on TikTok I used a hashtag research tool that gave super outdated suggestions.
None of the tags performed well on TikTok or Facebook.
~ Strategies that backfired – Using only trending audio without adding a whole lot of value.
I got views, but no real engagement or clicks.
~ Money you wasted on bad advice – Buying course after course and being promised to teach me all the “affiliate secrets,” but it was mostly recycled YouTube advice and generic tips.
No support, no community, no implementation help. I then realized the real value is in how it’s taught, not just what’s inside.
Let’s say someone spent $300 on Facebook ads and doesn’t make a single sale.
Ouch. That kind of thing stings, but that one mistake could fuel a whole post
Why? Because people connect more with honest struggles than picture-perfect wins. It’s human.
6. Create Your Own System for Doing Things
Think about how you do something well in your business. Turn that process into a step-by-step system. Give it a name.
Systems that work:
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- Your method for writing good emails
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- How you plan social media content
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- Your way of organizing projects
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- Steps you take to help customers
The system I created what I call the “Steady Growth System” is a simple and sustainable content rhythm that helps me stay visible without burning out.
I post 1-3 times a day on Pinterest, send out two emails per week, and share two Facebook posts per week. I batch create my content a lot of times to make things easier for myself, you should do the same.
This routine keeps me active on the platforms that matter to my audience while allowing me to stay consistent and focused.
I still have room to increase my posting as I grow.
I’m intentionally keeping things manageable, for both myself and my viewers, so I don’t overwhelm anyone while building trust and momentum.

How to Turn Your Ideas Into Content People Share
Now you have ideas. Here’s how to make them into content that spreads.
Step 1: Start Small
Don’t try to interview 1000 people for your first project, start with 10 to 20 at first. Small studies can still create big results.
Step 2: Make It Easy to Understand
Use simple words, share your main finding in the first paragraph. Most people only read the beginning.
Step 3: Use Pictures and Numbers
Turn your findings into charts, graphs, or simple images. Visual content gets shared 40 times more than text-only content.
Step 4: Tell People Where to Share It
End your content by asking people to share it. Most people need permission to share things.
Common Mistakes That Kill Original Content
Mistake 1: Making it too complicated
Simple questions get better answers than complex ones.
“What’s your biggest challenge?” works better than “How do you prioritize multi-channel attribution in your conversion optimization strategy?”
Mistake 2: Not promoting it enough
Creating the content is only half the work. You need to share it everywhere: email, social media, relevant online groups.
Mistake 3: Giving up too fast
Original content takes time to spread. Don’t expect overnight success. Good content builds momentum slowly.
What You Really Need to Stand Out
You want people to see you as an expert, but right now, you sound like everyone else.
Original content marketing fixes this. It makes you quotable instead of forgettable.
People start coming to you for information, other websites begin linking to your content (which helps with Google rankings), and you build real authority in your field.
The best part?
When you consistently create original content, people begin seeing you as the go-to person in your topic area.
To get started, pick one method this week:
Survey 25 people with a simple question, test something new for 30 days and track your results, count something in your industry, interview three experts, or make one prediction about your field.
It takes just 2–4 hours, costs nothing (unless you offer small survey prizes), and the potential impact is huge.
By Month 1, you’ll have one original piece published. In Months 2–3, others may start quoting or sharing your work.
By Months 4–6, you’ll be seen as more of an expert. After that, people may even start reaching out to you for advice and opportunities.
This isn’t just about website traffic, it’s about transforming how people perceive you in your space.
Ready to Stand Out Instead of Blend In?
Most people will read this and do nothing. They’ll go back to writing the same content as everyone else.
But you’re different. You understand that original content marketing isn’t just a strategy, it’s how you become the person others want to copy.
Your audience needs fresh information. They want someone who actually knows what they’re talking about because they’ve done the work to find out.
That someone can be you!
What’s your first original content project going to be? Pick one method from this post and start this week. Your future expert self will thank you!
Leave me a comment below telling me what it will be for you, I would love to hear..
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Thanks a ton for spending some time with me today. I hope this post gave you a little boost of motivation to keep moving forward in your journey. You’ve got this, keep showing up, stay consistent, and I’ll see you in the next post!
To Our Success,
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P.S. Share this post with a friend or family member who needs to hear this. It might just be the push they need to finally get started.
Hi Meredith – This is absolute genius! I never thought about me intentionally becoming the SME and a quotable presence in my niche. That is not to say that I didn’t think about it, but I never considered to seek it out. I had not heard of the concept “Original Content Marketing” but I can see how it can produce results in time. Thanks for these tips and now I am thinking about my first survey question(s). Have a great week!
Hi Ernie! So glad this was helpful for you! Survey questions are a perfect starting point, even simple ones can give you unique insights that set you apart as the expert. You’ve got this! I would love to hear how your first survey goes. Thanks for sharing!
Meredith
Hi Meredith,
This is a great blog entry filled to the rim with fantastic information!
It definitely provides great structure and a sense of how you can grow both your business as well as you being comfortable as an SME!
Results take time and you definitely have shown us how that road can be managed. Merci!
Hi Marc! Thank you so much for the kind words! I’m thrilled you found my post helpful, that’s exactly what I was hoping for. You’re absolutely right that results take time, but having a clear roadmap makes the journey so much easier. I love that you’re thinking about both growing your business and getting comfortable in that expert role. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts!
Meredith
Great suggestions here. I know when I interview people, which I haven’t done for a while, I get better views. Asking questions and posting answers is a novel way to open conversation and insights. Keeping it real is ultimately the best creative approach!
Hi Kate! You’re absolutely right about interviews, they really do give you those golden insights you can’t get anywhere else. It’s such a simple but powerful way to create content that actually matters to people. I love that you mentioned “keeping it real” – that’s honestly the secret sauce. People can tell when you’re being genuine versus just trying to fill content quotas. Maybe it’s time to dust off those interview skills again? 😊 Thanks for the great comment and for stopping by!
Meredith