235: From a fear of public speaking to full-time content creator | Chloe Thomson
Content creation - a creative marketing style but also can be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster.
Some things work well, some things don't. But it is a great way to connect with your audience and share your message!
I have content creator, Chloe Thomson on The Content Queen Podcast to chat about her journey and to give some very valuable tips for all business owners who create their own content!
If you LOVED this episode, make sure you share this on your Instagram stories and tag us @contentqueenmariah and @beantheredugthat.
✨ Work out what channel is best for you - take our QUIZ✨
KEY EPISODE TAKEAWAYS 👇
How to start on the right channel
Top tips from a content creator
The inspiring journey of Chloe from horticulturist to content creator
SHOW RESOURCES 👇
FOLLOW Chloe's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/beantheredugthat/
CHECK out Chloe’s website - https://www.beantheredugthat.com/
VIEW Chloe’s YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@BeanThereDugThat/videos
WHAT channel SHOULD you be on? Take our quiz - https://sales.contentqueenmariah.com/content-quiz
Find out more about how to WORK WITH US - www.contentqueenmariah.com
Connect with us on INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/contentqueenmariah
If you like this episode, don't forget to share it to your Instagram stories and tag me @contentqueenmariah!
Other than that, enjoy - chat next week 💕
ABOUT THE GUESTS
Chloe Thomson is a passionate horticulturist dedicated to inspiring others to embrace gardening. Growing up on a small hobby farm, Chloe was surrounded by veggie gardens, chickens, and horses, which ignited her love for the outdoors. After earning a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) and a Graduate Diploma of Horticulture from the University of Melbourne, she embarked on a diverse career in the gardening industry.
From working in the strawberry industry to sales and communications roles for popular gardening brands, Chloe has extensive experience. Now, she freelances for several horticultural businesses, focusing on copywriting, video production, and digital content creation.
Chloe's backyard in outer north-eastern Melbourne is her sanctuary, transformed from a barren space into a thriving garden filled with edible plants, natives, and flowers. With her husband and two young boys, Chloe continues to nurture her ever-evolving green oasis.
PODCAST TRANSCRIPTION
This is episode 235, and I'm talking to content creator, Chloe Thompson, all about finding the right channel for you and how that can pay off in the long term. Welcome to the content queen podcast. I'm your host, Mariah, entrepreneur, storyteller, digital nomad, creator of content bootcamp and founder of content queen.
I'm here to teach you how to share your unique story, create content and market your business with strategy through the channels that work for you. Each week I'll deliver a story to help you connect to a powerful strategy around marketing, business and content creation. I'll also be joined by amazing souls and entrepreneurs who are here to share their own journey along with actual steps to help you take your business to a whole new level through amazing storytelling, powerful and marketing and content strategy.
Let's do it. Hello gang. Okay. So, finding the right channel for you. I get it. It could be hard. As I've mentioned in quite a few episodes, we have a quiz to help you get started, but I really wanted to bring Chloe onto the podcast because, like us, wasn't a content creator before she started and now it is her full time job.
gig, essentially, doesn't mean obviously you have to become a full time content creator out of what you do, but I think it's really cool to learn from people that have really, um, honed in on that skill in their industry to create awesome results. And I sat next to Chloe at a quarterly event and, um, basically we had a chat.
She was, you know, sharing some stuff she'd done with her content and I was so fascinated by some of the insights that she had. So I had to get her on the podcast to chat with us. So Chloe Thompson is a passionate horticulturist dedicated to inspiring others to embrace gardening. So yes, this is what's so cool about Chloe is she started off in this space and now creates content.
So you'll be so fascinated by this journey. So growing up on a small hobby farm, Chloe was surrounded by veggie gardens, chickens, horses, which ignited her love for outdoors. After getting her bachelor in agricultural science, her honors, and a graduate diploma in horticulture from the University of Melbourne, Chloe worked in the gardening industry.
So she worked for multiple different types of horticulture, and she worked in the sales marketing communication space. for popular gardening brands. And Chloe was really able to expand her experience. Now she is a freelancer and she does content creation for, uh, horticultural businesses. She works in video, writing, digital content creation, and she also has her own brand where she sells her own digital products.
So super cool, super interesting. She talks about Her fear of public speaking from a young age and how she was really able to connect to a channel that she really loves. Chloe now, uh, lives in Melbourne, of course, in her beautiful backyard, which was, she transformed from a very barren space to a thriving garden.
And she lives with her husband and two kids. So I'm excited for you to hear about Chloe's content creation journey, and the tips that she has to share with you that can really help you, Get passionate about marketing your business and putting your message out there. Welcome Chloe to the podcast. I'm very excited to talk to you today.
Can you please tell everyone a little bit more about who you are and what you do? Thanks so much for having me, Mariah. I am very excited to be here. I am a horticulturalist, which a lot of people actually say, what's that? Uh, and essentially it means I work with gardening and plants. So I work in the gardening and plants industry, and I tend to horticulturalist of many hats.
And the reason for that is because I do so many different things on a day to day basis. Um, one thing I don't do is other people's gardens, which is again, the most common question I get after, what do you do when I say horticulturist? They say, Oh, you do gardens. Uh, no, I don't do other people's gardens, but what I do do is help People become better and more confident gardeners.
So I've worked in horticulture now for 15 or so years or a bit more probably. And I specialize in content creation for the horticultural industry. So I work with a number of clients creating content for them, be that video content, written content, blog content, um, sometimes photos, but I also then have my own channel where I promote things like my online sprout school, which is my online gardening school that I created during lockdown.
And I just have a bit of fun with content essentially. Um, I'm really just passionate about getting more people gardening and more people out there enjoying their outdoor space. I love it. This is so cool. Everyone, like, it's so, um, such an interesting niche that you're in and I know lots of people that, even when I've been with you, have said, I need your help with this part of my garden.
But it's so, it's so interesting what you do and I'm sure people, when they first heard you say you work in horticulture with gardens, that I don't think they thought you went down the content crate. They would have been like, Hang on. What? So this is very interesting and I really want to dive into your origin story.
So obviously, um, you would have started somewhere to then get into the content creation space, of course, you know, then starting your own, um, digital product and everything like that. So yeah, share your business story and how you got to where you are now. Yeah, sure. So, um, when I finished uni, I went on to work for a couple of different businesses in the horticultural industries.
And a lot of my jobs then were in sales, marketing, and comms with them. Uh, and in one of them, the one that I was made redundant from, um, I did a lot of public speaking, which is odd for someone who as a kid was actually terrified of public speaking, by the way, absolutely petrified of it. But I realized that, Gardening is my passion and educating about gardening products and how to garden.
made me confident as a public speaker and made me confident to talk to camera and just confident in general. So while I was working with this company, I was doing a lot of public talks and people were saying, you're really good at explaining this. People were saying, you're, I really like your presentations.
And again, this is coming from someone. And I was literally that kid at high school and even at uni who would like try and be sick on the days when you had to give a public you know, an oral presentation. Um, so. That's where that part of my presenting to public career started. And yeah, as I said, I walked, worked for this company for four years and I was made redundant when I was about 34 weeks pregnant, all of the story.
But anyway, um, so I was made redundant, obviously had my first child and. I suppose I was at that point with, you know, what do I do? Where do I go? I got a few little random contract jobs while he was, you know, in toddler phase. Uh, and then I actually met a good friend who's also in horticulture and she also does a lot of presenting and a lot of public speaking.
And we both had kids around the same age. So we'd sit there with our little toddlers playing in the park and we'd natter about what we wanted to do. And at the time we were like, and this is gosh. When is this? This is like 2013, 2014. Oh, it must have been a bit later, maybe 2015, 2016. And we got to the point where we're like, no one is doing anything for gardening that's dedicated to online content.
You know, people do gardening TV, people do gardening magazines, But no one does anything dedicated for online. So we were like, well, let's come up with something. So we did. We came up with an online gardening show. Well, it was based on YouTube and we had sponsors. And for four years, nearly four years, we did that together.
So we. co present some little episodes. We'd do individual episodes. We had sponsors, but it was an educational series. It was fun. We had a bit of a funky sort of 1940s, 1950s vibe to our, our styling, which made us stand out as well. So if ever we went anywhere. Like the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show because of the way we looked and the way we dressed, you know, overalls and hair and funky hairdos with little ties.
We really stood out. And that was a load of fun. And as fun as it was having a look and a vibe and a style, it wasn't really practical. I couldn't just pull my phone out and whip out a video content. You know, in the blink of an eye. Uh, so I really sort of was at the point where I was like, I just want to create content the way I want to create content and being genuinely me, uh, who's a bit of a goof, is a bit of a geek, it's a bit of a nerd, um, likes having a bit of fun, likes laughing at herself.
And, um, yeah, it can be quite spontaneous, but also it can be quite planned out as well, depending on what mood I'm in. And so that's when I really ramped up my own socials essentially. And this all sort of happened just before lockdown. So we would have been active from sort of 2015 to about 2019. And obviously end of must've been summer of 2019 is when our business partnership ended.
And that's when I was just like, right. Okay. You know. Time to go out on my own completely, completely this time. Uh, so yeah, I was able to reach out to clients. snowballed with lockdown because clients were ringing me going, well, we had this shoot where we were going to shoot five products planned and you were going to, you know, be the presenter in that shoot, but we can't do it anymore.
Can we just send you the products and you film them in your garden? And I was like, yeah, totally. So my husband is a professional photographer. So I was like, you know how you take photos? Well, it's kind of the same thing, but you just move. No, I've got probably got all the videographers out there going cringe.
Um, but no, he transitioned really well to going from photography to videography. Um, I think a lot of that was to do with, and I'm not trying to blow my own trumpet when I say it, but the way that I produce and the way that I direct him, because I've been around, I've done gardening TV, I've done, you know, other gardening videos with professional camera operators and producers.
Um, I know how to, I know how to produce it, I suppose. So I know how to direct him. So yeah, we ended up creating content in our own backyard with products that were sent to us during lockdown. We had hoses, we had plants, we had, gosh, garden tools, we had all sorts of things. Um, and sometimes there were small beers, sometimes there were big beers, uh, and it was a load of fun.
Uh, and that's also when I, during lockdown, where I created my online gardening school as well, which obviously then needed promoting and content to promote it as well. So that's a very quick rip round. Yeah. Oh my God. And I just love that. You know, how often do we just, have a conversation with someone and then all of a sudden, you know, we reflect five years later and we created this whole thing.
You know what I mean? I was, it's so interesting to think, you know, you were just at the park with your friend and, um, your children and all of a sudden you created an online gardening show. I think that is just so cool. Like it was so, It's just then, um, my partner was like, how did you come up with your business name?
And I'm like, Oh my God, that's so funny. Because you sort of forget how ideas just come to you. It's like the, you know, the best ideas come in the shower. It's always a conversation or something that just happens, but it's the execution. That's the most important thing, right? Like you had an idea. And you could have just stayed at the park, but you actually went on and did it.
And I think that is amazing. And just from there, like the evolution of your brand and, um, being able to create content and not letting, you know, obviously after the partnership had ended, you know, not letting the fact that you'd had a brand previously determine what you're going to do next. COVID, you know, stop you from doing what you wanted to do.
So that is such a cool story. I absolutely love it. And, um, as I said, we sat next to each other like a month ago, nearly a month ago now time flies. Um, and it was just so cool to hear your, you know, your content, you know, how you think of content ideas and even your growth as well, which was awesome. Um, but obviously there was that video element that came to you.
Um, I'm assuming that's your favorite type of content to create, but I would really want to talk about, yeah, finding your channel. What made you go down the video, you know, cause you could have 2015, 2016, you could have easily gone blog. You know, that was the time where we could naturally, we went blog. I went blog in 2014.
Um, so yeah, what made you go towards video? And what is your favorite type of content to create now and why? I mean, I'm assured if it wasn't video, I would be very surprised, but I would love to know. Yeah. Why video? Why did you decide video then? What was the thought process around that? And. Yeah, we'll go through your, you know, how you enjoy it and all the things, but um, yeah, I just want to know why, why did you choose video from the beginning?
Well, I'm actually, I'm one of those weird people that actually enjoys video, like. Trust me, you're not weird, but yes, I know what you mean, like, fear of public speaking and then let's do a YouTube. Yeah, let's do YouTube. Let's do Instagram videos and reels. Why not? No, I really enjoy video. I find it an extremely creative outlet.
And again, this is coming from a kid who would not describe themselves as creative. I remember an art teacher in high school telling me my work was rubbish and I never wanted to do art ever again. Uh, so, you know, I, and I was even saying this, I don't know, maybe a year or so ago to a friend, a horticultural friend, um, you know, I'm so not creative.
And they just looked at me and were like, Sorry, what? And they were like, are you kidding me? Creative. And they're like, um, okay, Chloe, we need to have a chat. We need to redefine creativity to you. I've been there. Trust me. Don't worry. No, now I'm very proud to say, no, I am creative. Uh, and I enjoy being creative.
Uh, I, I find it quite fun coming up with the concept and the ideas and being inspired, uh, particularly in the horticultural world, the way that gardening TV is done is virtually the same, no matter what show you watch. Better Homes and Gardens is just playing in my mind over and over again. Yep. Friday nights, Better Homes, before the footy started, that was like, Yeah, which I haven't watched in years, so I've got no idea really, but I've seen, I've seen like snippets and bits and pieces and I've seen them produce it at, you know, the Flower and Garden show.
And honestly, it's, it's the same. It's the same, same, same. So I am passionate about creating content. To serve my clients. So, you know, I create content for their, uh, for them that suits them, their tone of voice, their style. Are we going horizontal? Are we going vertical? Are we going creative? Are we going, you know, talk down the barrel.
Are we going, it's scripted or are we going dot points? Uh, you know, every client is different and I will a hundred percent work with. Whatever the client wants. Uh, and you know, as I said, some clients are very free reign, uh, you know, here's the product go and create a video. We don't really care what you say, but these are the three dot points.
Off you go. Others are, let's write the script and we want you to go word for word for the script. Totally cool. But when it comes to my own stuff that I use on my own social media, so particularly on my Instagram, I love creating content that tells a story, uh, that educates, and sometimes with a little bit of a quirky bit of humor or a bit of fun or Yeah, just me, just my personality.
Uh, I actually find a lot of gardening reels and Instagram posts, again, very same, same. Uh, so I find I don't actually follow a huge amount of garden influencers or garden people on Instagram because a lot of their content is pretty beige. Um, but I find a lot of inspiration from other places, other industries.
Um, so So that might be fashion, it might be cook, cooks, food people, uh, but I often look at their stuff and think, wow, that's really cool. Hey, I could kind of do that for gardening or plants, or I could kind of use that technique to explain this story or break that down. Uh, and you know, one of the big examples would be the, the storytelling in parts.
And that's really taken off for me probably even in just in the last. month or two, you know, um, I'm doing a seven part shade series. Try saying that quickly. Um, and yeah, it's gone off. People are like, okay, when's the next episode? When's the next episode? Uh, so, you know, storytelling and creating things that are a little bit different that make people want to watch that make people want to come back.
Uh, you know, I get comments like, like watching your stuff, it's fun. Or I like watching your stuff because I really learned something. Uh, and you know, most of the time I'm keeping it in that minute 30 reel. Which is powerful. Like, you know, that's really cool. And, um, I love what you say with that because I don't scroll Instagram anymore because I'm generally tired of it.
Everything is very similar and I actually look to TikTok for different inspiration. Um, because I find it's all very different and what I love about what you do. And I think this is a really good reminder, whether you're a business owner, whether you want to do more content creation stuff, because it's a very, it is extremely creative.
And it's so funny that you said that because I literally did a podcast. Um, that went out and I talked about my creative process, but I also did an email saying like, I actually didn't think I was creative because I wasn't good at drawing. Yeah. And we associate that, but now I've come to understand create, like being a creative person is not just about drawing.
art. And it's, you know, I'm a writer. You're, you know, you write as well. You, like gardening, super creative. Like, you know, even how you, you know, I'm just thinking about my parents house, like how the person would have designed the garden here. Cause it's really beautiful. And like, Yeah. The thought that went into it and, you know, certain plants you'd use here and there, and like, it is so, and the colors you use and everything like that's very creative in itself.
But then the fact that you go and create content, like you are extremely creative person, but I get it. Like we think, Oh, I can't draw. So I'm not creative. And it's like, but there's like so many, and I've seen it in the business space. Entrepreneurs are just generally creative because you're thinking of new offers.
You're thinking of. New things all the time, but I totally can understand that that's the thought process. The fact that you go and look to other, um, industries to get inspiration like that is just so outside the box thinking. And we've always just been thought, Oh yeah, you know, go with the trend, go with the mold.
Like that's where you'll get the engagement or the reach or the, but actually when you go against it. Yeah. And that's what I love about content because often we can get stuck in that mindset. Set of, but it's harder to stay up with what everyone else is doing. It's easier to stay in your own lane and do what you like, what really resonates.
And that's what I'm really passionate about sharing with people because that you resonate with the people think your stuff is great. And then, you know, it's even like, if you look at branding, like there's that aesthetic that everyone goes for and you end up just like looking like everyone else and maybe you want to, and that's fine.
But, you know, um, there are some of us that. Get tired with trying to keep up like I was never a trend gal at school. Like I don't know the latest trends. I'm about to plan a wedding. I have no idea. I'm just going with what I like. That is what I like. You know, I'm not, you know, there's so, and, but I have a lot of friends that are like, Oh, have you got the latest this or the latest that and what is that I don't know.
So, you know, it's, it's. It's amazing to have that, like, to know that other people are like, this is how I do it. And that's how I am really creative. And I think that is amazing because it's too hard to stay up with everyone else's doing like, you know, it's better to find what you love, find inspiration, as you said, like, you know, looking at different industries, especially because you do create content, um, as your part of your job, you know, um, Looking at what is happening and, but sometimes it's just fun.
You're just scrolling and like, you know, this is just my scroll time. I'm just like learning new things. And that's what I love about TikTok. I'm like market research. And I would just spend hours watching TikTok. It's like my, you know, you know, when like, it's like a late night and you're scrolling and go to bed and you're just like, 10 more videos or one more minute.
And it's like way too late. That is me in a nutshell. Um, but I love that. And I, I love that you find, obviously there's other elements you do, you know, you write, you said you write, um, blogs and things like that, but for your own content, you know, really finding what you love. I think that's the most important thing, whether you're a content creator, a business owner, like you just have to enjoy it.
Otherwise it becomes a chore. And it doesn't resonate with people and it just doesn't land and, and you've probably had those moments where you're in a content rut and sometimes you just create. And I know I've been in those times when life is just busy, but when you enjoy it, that's when it really does resonate with people.
Yeah, it does. Uh, and just having. Having some fun with it, sometimes not overthinking it, you know, sometimes, yes, I'll plan out like a series of stories, you know, I'll dot point what I want, which I've what I've done for my seven part say, I can't even say it, seven part shade series. Uh, you know, I dot pointed.
The seven videos, you know, I want to vaguely say this in each video. I want to say dot, dot, dot. I haven't scripted them per se. Um, but the great thing I find when I'm creating content for myself is I can try something and because I know how to edit the video. I can film it the way I want, you know, film it to work with an edit or film it because I know it's going to look like this when I edit it.
And then if I can even sort of almost stand in my garden and edit it on the fly or think, okay, well that look, will that work good? Will that work well? And if it doesn't work, well, I'm the client. So I can go, no, I had in my head that that was really going to work, but it's not, it's not working. It just looks weird.
Okay. Scrap that idea. Let's think of something else. Um, which you don't necessarily get with client work, you know, you can't necessarily, you know, go with the flow, um, and be creative on the fly. Yeah. No, that makes total sense. And I, I'm just visualizing, you know, when you have that vision in your head and like, that's exactly what I want it to look like.
And sometimes it lands, sometimes it doesn't. I think probably the hardest thing, and you might find it too, is just like, You know, say your partner's filming stuff, like trying to get them on to the vision, like, just, just go with it for a second, just, I'm like that. There was one where I wanted to jump. Off something in our backyard and I wanted it to look like I was jumping into a watering can, you know, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
And he's like, it's not going to work. It's so not going to work. I'm like, yes, it is. Yes, it is. I just need to do this. I just need to do that. And a lot of the time I film myself, you know, with a tripod. Um, by the way, if you've got an Apple watch, your Apple watch can connect to your phone and you can see the viewfinder in your watch, which is such a good hack.
Yeah. Yeah. I think it's called camera remote on Yapaw. But anyway, you know, I'm getting him to move to all these different spots in the garden. He's like, it's not gonna work. Yeah, sure enough, it didn't work. Well, at least you tried, right? You don't know until you try. So yeah, um, having a patient partner if you are asking, but you know, learning how to use a tripod.
Yeah, learning how to use some editing apps. You know, start basic and then, you know, move up. I am now faster to edit a lot of my reels using a desktop editing app. So I used to be, Um, I prefer DaVinci Resolve. It's kind of like Premiere Pro. If you know how to use one, you can work out how to use the other.
But you know, I started off using iMovie on my Mac. And you know, if it's a simpler thing, then I will just use InShot on my phone. That's still a fairly basic, but simple enough editing app. Um, but it depends on what you want to create and how creative you want to be and how difficult you want to make it for yourself.
Yeah, that's very true. And I think it's one of those things like, I was, it's an analogy, but I was talking to my partner about investing and like learning about investing. And I'm like, you know, when you first start, you. You know, you probably only invest a few things. You won't go risky. You might just go long term, but then over time you learn it, you understand it, but it's hard to make a plan on where you're going to be until you start.
You know what I mean? Like you have like a vision of where you want to go. And that's the same with the content creation process. You go, Oh my God, editing a video or editing a podcast seems so hard. Like how the hell am I going to do that? And then. Over time you get better and then you, yeah, you download new apps and you try different things and, and it's really about just understanding the channel that you really want to start working with and then just start small because yes, you see people that have amazing transitions or, you know, do, you know, they might be watching you and going, Oh my God, I want to do some things that like Chloe does on her channel.
But like, you just have to start somewhere and then get better with time because as you say, it becomes quicker with time. Yeah, you know, like if you've never done it before, literally start with something that's got like a scene change. You know, you're talking to camera for the first 30 seconds here, and then you're talking to the camera the next 30 seconds over there.
And, you know, just learn to splice those two little clips together in InShot. Once you've learned to do that, then like look at other ways that you can splice things together, you know, move on, advance, but definitely just start. And I say to people as well, like if they're nervous about creating a video, learn to edit it.
And vice versa, like if you're nervous about editing, just have a go at creating it because it's very hard to do one without the other. I think anyway. Yeah, that's a good tip. Yeah, I've, I've tried in the past for my long format content, which is my YouTube channel, I have tried sending that raw footage, which, you know, again, I film in order.
I, you know, I'm talking to camera. It's, it's fairly easy to edit in that I'm filming it in order. The B roll sometimes is a little bit left at the center, but I've sent that to editors thinking, okay, well, you know, can you just edit it for me? And they just don't do it the way I want it done. You know, they're not editing it the way I want it.
They're not editing the style I want. So, you know, if you find your style or the way that you want something to look, sometimes it's so much easier to do it yourself. Yeah. Uh, and learn to do it yourself. I taught myself, I taught myself to edit video and I taught myself how to use DaVinci Resolve. Um, lots of YouTube.
Yeah, watching YouTube to make YouTube videos. I know, the irony, right? But that's when we can look at things and that's, you know, what I've mentioned before, like some clients prefer to write. So they want to outsource the other things. So if you prefer to edit your own videos, what other things could you get help with so it makes your life easier?
And I think that's a really good thing. You don't have to edit, like even my podcast, I edit all the podcast episodes and it's not, I'm sure someone would do a great job at it. And even, um, my partner said, I'll edit your podcast, but I generally like listening back to it. It helps me create content ideas.
It helps me think of ideas for the future. Like, and obviously my Instagram is very heavy on my podcast. So. It just helps with that. So I was like, you know what? I would just rather you help me with like something else. So let's just find something else that you can help me with. Because there's just some things that it is a lot easier to do it on your own.
Unless, yeah, you're like totally like, okay, I don't know how I want it to look. So I need someone to help me with that. It just depends, right? Like I think, and that's what it's about. It's that self discovery and understanding what works. Like you tried to outsource it. Didn't work. Okay. I know that's not going to work for me.
And I think that's really important. Finding what you really like, enjoying, like doing in the content creation process. So I really want to move into that. Like what, um, advice would you give to people to help them enjoy the online content creation process? Because you can tell in your content, how much you enjoy it, even having, you know, conversation with you, like you really love it.
And that's so refreshing because sometimes like social media or content, like the point of it is, it is that creative process. And if you can learn to enjoy it and find something you like, I think that's really powerful. So yeah. Any advice on how to actually enjoy it if people don't. I think the, the big fear that a lot of people have about videos and talking on videos is.
Uh, I look silly. I look dumb. I don't like the way I look. I don't like the way I sound. Um, I'm scared. I look petrified. I think all those things that go through your head, you have to just get over them. Uh, and also just give it a shot. Give it a shot and find out what style of video makes you comfortable.
If that's picking up your iPhone and holding it in your hand and talking to camera like that. If that makes you more comfortable, do that. If sticking it on a tripod and having it, you know, two meters away from you makes you more comfortable, do that. If it's actually better if someone is filming you, someone's holding the iPhone and filming you, then do that.
Find what makes you feel the most comfortable and, you know, If necessary, write yourself a script. I generally say you're better off writing yourself a dot point rather than a script. Uh, I can see I'm thinking. Does that make sense? In the video, if I'm actually thinking of the words. Um, and I've had producers say to me, Chloe, I can see you're thinking.
Uh, because you do, you sort of, I think you go into this sort of semi frozen, stunned, what am I actually trying to say? Oh, yeah, I've got to say this word next. Oh, whoops. Um, mode. So, you know, don't, if you can, completely script yourself, but dot point yourself. So, um, You know, that way, you know, I've got this next dot point to come up.
I've got this next dot point to come up. And for something like, say you wanted to mention five dot points in a video, you can film each one of those dot points separately. And then. Splice them all together to make one big video. Uh, so it breaks the content down into smaller bite sized pieces. Uh, even on TV they do this, you know, an eight minute long story by a presenter.
The presenter is not talking solid for eight minutes. They're not expecting them to talk to camera solid for eight minutes. So, you know, take small bites, uh, and work up and build up to, to what you can achieve. Over time, don't think that you're going to do a, you know, talking down the barrel of the camera walking while also creating something, you know, start simple, I think, um, start simple and find the style that makes you feel confident.
And remember to be yourself because the camera can kind of tell if you're not. You know, I've had people come up to me like at the Flower and Garden show, they say, are you exactly like you are on Instagram? And I'm like, I'm the same person. I'm not AI. I'm not, I don't have to be any different. But yeah, I guess that, that, you know, we're so used to that because we hear about celebrities, you know, in real life, like, you know, and, and that's what happens.
Like, I don't know, you know, I'm sure you have it like, Oh my God, it feels like I'm seeing you so much on social media. It feels like I'm meeting a celebrity. So I guess people like think that you're not going to be nice because that's what we're used to seeing in the headlines, you know, like, um, you know, movie star is unfriendly in person or whatever.
So we just, I guess assume, but the whole point of this online platform now is to be as authentic as you can. And sometimes authentic can be like that loaded word, like, what does that even mean? But I think the more casual, you make it to you, the better that is. And if you are a formal person, like that's great, like do that.
You know what I mean? But I think like sometimes we can get so caught up in like how we should be perceived online that we forget that we just have to, like, if I went to a networking event, someone's going to get the same amount of passion and conversation with me than they would if they watched one of my videos.
Like, I think that's, you know, I think that's You know, and sometimes it's not as easy to achieve because we're so thinking about all the other things that we have to do to make a piece of content or to get our brand out there. But I love what you say about filming in bite sized pieces. Um, and even like for any type of content creation, doing it in bite size, because sometimes it can be a lot to get it all done in one go, you know, break it down into 10 second chunks.
Yeah. Break it down into sentences, go sentence by sentence. Yeah. And it makes that like. the video too. So it like actually makes it more engaging to watch, I find. Um, And then of course you can change different positions if you want. Like, okay, after this dot point, I can move to here, or I can do that. And then with time you can add more skills to it.
But as you say, it is Definitely about doing it. And even if you have been creating videos for a long time and you're like, Oh, I want to make it more fun and engaging for myself when I'm doing it. Yeah, you can add different. Sometimes it is just like a change in angle that just like changes the video, right?
Or makes you feel like it's better. quality or it looks better. Um, there's so many little things that you can do that changes the video. It doesn't have to be like a big change my whole format of video. It can just be like changing something that you do in it. Um, I've got this really cool idea that I want to create.
We have this blanket, I'm just going to show you, no one, we bought this blanket in Peru and we have patches from our travels and we want to sew the patches onto the blanket and whilst we do it I want to film it and then talk about a story from that place. Yep. And then like have b roll, anyway that's our next project for our Tik Tok, but, um, I'm so like, it's something that like, it makes me feel so excited about creating them.
Like, when are we going to do this? And Mitch is like, we're still in Columbia, according to our Tik Tok. So we need to finish those videos first. Cause obviously for us, our travel page is a project. It's not so much, um, It's definitely on the last of the to do list, but it is something that is really fun.
And it is about that, like finding those ideas that you're just so excited about doing them. And even if someone says like, Oh, I don't really get it. Just try it. Like you just don't know who's going to identify with that and think that's really cool. Oh yeah. I mean, and I've certainly done stuff. I've been like all pumped and excited about it, done it.
And then I'm like, Oh, Oh, it's not, it doesn't look as good or didn't get received as well. Yeah. I thought it would. Yeah. Um, but then other times, yeah, it just works. It just clicks. But as you said, I love that, uh, you know, being excited to create, to create that content. And some of that needs to be, you know, you putting aside, Oh, I hate the way I sound on camera.
I hate the way I look on camera. You know, stopping so negative to yourself, I say to those people, um, I edit my YouTube channel, uh, uh, 10 to 15 minute videos of myself and I edit them. I know. My husband, we share an office and he puts on noise cancelling headphones because he's like, Oh my God, she's so annoying.
I'm like, I know. You know, I saw this, this reel the other day and it was like what my clients think I'm doing when I listen to a reel. It's like the whole song and it's like, and what's actually happening. It's like this, this, this, this. And I'm like, Oh my gosh. Yeah, you're trying to line the B roll up.
Over and over and over again. It's like, oh, okay, we get the point. Next move. Next. Sometimes I'm commentating when I'm doing things and I'm like, oh, that was good. And then I'm like, oh my God, shut up. But I still do it. It's not that I don't, you know, but it's so true, right? You've got to get used to really like, I used to hate my voice too, um, when I did my podcast, because I hated my voice so much.
Also because I drank a lot of alcohol. So, um, my voice is always very husky. So when I listen back to, you can tell when I stopped drinking alcohol in my podcast, it's so crazy because my, my voice Voice completely changed. Um, yeah, probably because I most likely recorded it because I was working full time on a weekend, maybe after a big night, who knows?
Um, but no, I love it. I think it's, yeah, finding those ideas that you love and remembering it. Content creation is not linear, unfortunately, like you would have had those periods where you're like, Oh, you know, like, growth, and then sometimes it dips and you're like, why? Like, I thought they really would have liked that, as you said before.
Um, but what I loved about what you mentioned before, and maybe, and we talked about this, you know, you found that a common pain point was shade in, um, people not knowing how to grow plants in shade, which, um, yet like is a common problem for your audience. So you created this part series. So like listening to your audience as well as finding what you enjoy.
So you listen to your audience. That was something that was a pain point. Yep. You've then gone away and you've gone, okay, I'm going to create this type of content, this series, because that's something that I think I would really enjoy doing. And then obviously you got really excited about it. So there's that balance between listening to what your audience is saying and then finding a way for you to create it that you enjoy.
Because there's sometimes like people ask me questions and I'm like, Oh really? That's a question that you want to know. And then I can go away and think about a way that I deliver it in my own unique way. So I really love that you did that. Well, and then someone said to me on a business coaching call the other day, now you're making an ebook out of that shade series.
Aren't you? And I went, am I? She goes, uh, I'd buy it. I was just like, Oh, I hadn't thought of doing that. Uh, you know, so sometimes you create content and then there's ways that you can, you know, use it elsewhere. My shade series, I'm breaking down into seven emails for my email subscribers. You know, so having that.
Content repeated across all your platforms, but just in different ways is a great way to, you know, reach different people in your audience, I think. Yeah. And actually something that just came to me, like, you know, video is your key, you know, what you're very good at. So you did that first. Yep. And then from there you can repurpose it because you've created like the main core part that you enjoy.
And then I know you could transcribe it or you could then find ways to do it in different, you know, if people aren't writers, there's a lot of AI now that can kind of help us if we do a video to transcribe that and turn that into something. So that's a very good point because if we don't, Love creating content.
I mean, you're not saying that because you're very good at creating content in all forms, but if someone didn't love do it in the format you love and then try and use it, you know, make, and I think that's a really powerful thing to share as well, because that helps us build our digital footprint and expert.
And there are some people that don't want to watch a video. They would prefer to read. And unfortunately, you know, we want to. Hit those people as well and give them a chance to hear what we have to say or to be out of benefit from our work. That's a very important note to say. So thank you for sharing that too.
All right. That's okay. So I'm going to leave one last question for you on your content creation journey. Uh, what has been the biggest thing that you have learnt in this process?
Gosh, I don't, biggest thing I've learned, probably the biggest thing that I've had to literally learn from scratch has been editing video. So, you know, I've spent, yes, I've dedicated a lot of time to learning how to edit video and remembering how the producers produced that I worked with. But I mean, obviously if you've never worked with a video producer before, then, you know, start looking at the videos that you like and not watching.
What they're saying, watch how it's edited, watch how, if it's edited like that, how did they film it? So start to dissect the stuff that you like and work out, well, how could I recreate that from a filming and then editing point of view? So big, big thing for me has been learning that editing side of things.
I think also, like, if you go back to me as. It's a kid and a teenager and a high school university student, you know, the kid who was petrified of public speaking, who literally would sweat like a pig, whose hands would shake violently, you know, trying to do the oral presentation at uni. I've had people come up to me, um, you know, who I went to high school with and say, you do what now?
Uh, so don't think that just because, you know, you are terrified of public speaking or you don't like the way you look on camera or don't like the sound of your voice currently, don't think that that's forever, you know, and use the passion that you have for your product, your business, your style, to give you the confidence that you need because it's there.
That is very good advice. If you asked me to talk about computer science or something else, I'd be as nervous as all hell but , you know? Yeah, yeah. No, that's a good thing to note because yeah, like we have all these fears and we had an episode recently about fears holding us back and feel the fear and do it anyway, and that's just like life, like we can't.
Get rid of our fears. We can just find a way to navigate. Okay, why do I feel like this and how can I shift and just do it anyway, because I can't get to where I want to be if I don't do this and avoiding it, you know, avoiding something isn't going to make it go away. It's still going to be there. Yeah, exactly.
And I mean, you said that before about, you know, if, if someone has written a blog. And that's their favorite blog and they're really passionate about that blog or that article, you know, think about, well, you're so passionate already about that. Well, could you create that into a video or a TikTok or a reel or, you know, long format, short format video, um, think about something that you're already passionate about and how you could change that content up.
And one thing you also noted about, you know, learning the process of video editing, it's really about like understanding yeah. What content. works for you and what you really like, and then sort of mastering that craft. And I think that's like writing for me was always something that I've loved. And I wrote a book in one month, that was my challenge to get better at writing.
So I ended up writing like 90, 000 words in a month. It was insane. Um, because I wanted to improve my skill and it takes time. Like, obviously then from there I've developed it with time and time. Like that was 20, 6, 17. So now I'm a different, like, you know, I've evolved again. But it's like when you really want to enjoy the process of something, you invest time in learning it.
And I think like, you know, your video editing, I'm sure if you did a comparison from like your first videos to now, it's like, Oh my god, like, but you don't notice that because you're just actively doing it until you do that kind of comparison. Like, even my videos as well, like, when I used to present early days in Content Queen, I used to think, Oh yeah, like, oh, I'm pretty good in front of the camera, I did it for work and stuff.
But now I look back and go, oh my god. Like, you know, like, you know, but you don't notice it because you're just in it. I think that, you know, and, and even you sharing your story and going, Oh, wow. Like, you know that. And when you reflect back on what you've done in that time, it just, it is time, um, with consistency.
I always talk about exponential growth, being time and consistency. And I think, um, we're very impatient beings, unfortunately. Yeah. We expect that like the first video we're going to create, it's going to be perfect. Yeah. That happens. That happens. And it, you know, and even with results, right, like we think, Oh, you know, we're gonna, and you know, content, social media channels are just filling up.
They're not getting like, it's not like the reach is getting better. In fact, it's probably getting harder, but, um, it just means you have to be more creative and you have to enjoy it and, and more creative shouldn't be stressful. It should be fun. Like, I think if you. learn to like the process of what you're creating.
It makes such a difference. So thank you for sharing that because you would get, like, every time I have these conversations, I'm like, Oh my God, I'm so excited about content. Um, and you've made me really excited about creating video and I'm hope and I know, not hope. I know people listening, but like, Oh, okay.
Yeah, I get it. And I'm going to find what lights me up. In the content creation space, because we both know we work in this industry. It's not going anywhere. It's increasing exponentially. Like even 2020, like when COVID happened, I was like, Oh my God, my business is booming. And now it's like four years later, I'm like, Oh my God, no, it's like really like, you know, you COVID people are sick of content.
Absolutely not. No, no, we want more and we consume it fast. You know, You just think about how you binge watch a Netflix series that takes, you know, three years to make in two days. That's so true. That is very true. So thank you so much for coming on Chloe. I've absolutely loved hearing about your journey and your content process.
So how can people find you and connect with you? Cause now I'm sure everyone's like, Oh, I want to see these videos. Now I'm going to use them as, you know, understand, like if anyone wants to dissect editing process, you can go and watch Chloe's videos. so much. Bye guys. Bye guys. Bye. Yeah, sure. So I'm most active on Instagram.
That's my favorite channel, probably, as you said earlier. Uh, so you can find me as beentheredugthat. Now that's been like the one that you eat and there as in over there. Uh, and that handle I go across all platforms. So you can find me on YouTube, beentheredugthat, TikTok, beentheredugthat. Uh, it's just so long as you spell it correctly, you'll find me.
We'll have you in the, all your links in the show notes, but such a cool name. I absolutely love it. So thank you so much, Chloe. I've really loved chatting about your content journey. Thanks so much, Mariah. How great is Chloe and her energy. I absolutely loved chatting with her and just learning about her journey from, you know, just coming up with an idea and executing it.
And as I said, you might not be like, Oh, well that's where I want it to go into content, you know, full time content creation, but maybe you want to expand your business. You want to reach a new audience. You want to. Amplify your message, your purpose. You know, we all are very impact driven entrepreneurs. We all have a message.
We all have things we want to share and to be able to get that out there into the world, these content channels can really help us do that. So Chloe was able to find her love for video, even though, yeah, she had this fear of public speaking when she was young, but because she loved it and she was passionate about what she did and she was able to play around, learn the craft.
And now, you know, obviously helps other. Horticultural businesses create content and things like that, which I think is super cool. So what is that channel for you? What is that one where you're like, oh, I'd love to give it a go I'd love to try this platform or I want to start a podcast or I really would like to start a YouTube Drown out the noise of, it's saturated, it's this, it's that, and just give it a go and see what can happen and learn the skill and it can become, you know, a, like whilst your business is your business, it's definitely not a hobby.
But the content creation side of things can become fun, it can become a little bit of a hobby, you know, sometimes I'll expand in different channels just to test it and have fun with it. Mitch and I have our own TikTok for our travel videos. you know, side of things. It's not necessarily for business, for marketing or anything, but it's where I can really practice.
You know, creating TikToks and learn a little bit more about the travel industry because I would like to help people in the travel industry more. So there's so many things that you can do. And I loved Chloe's, you know, tips from just, you know, learning the art of it and finding what's overwhelming about the process and, and trying different things.
You know, different scene changes for video. There's lots of amazing video tips in there. And just, you know, Go out there and give it a go, and see how it works out for you. You just, you just actually never know. And even, you know, there are lots of, and um, influencer space might not be the space you want to go down, but there is a lot we can learn from these influencers, because they do say, you know, they never expected it to be what it was, and they just wanted to share and do videos and do certain things, and look where it's gotten to now.
So you can kind of, you know, tap into that advice and just, you have nothing to lose, you know, maybe time, but you just don't know where it's going to go and teach you. And there's so much that you can learn from building in other spaces. So I hope you really enjoyed that episode as much as I enjoyed talking to Chloe.
It was so great and be a content queen or king. And remember that developing a strategy and your story develops your business. Thank you so much for joining me today and please don't forget to share this with all your business and entrepreneurial friends. You can do this by adding it to your Instagram stories and tagging me as content queen Mariah, or you can just simply share an episode with them.
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