How to find your voice when posting content online

Don't let fear hold you back

If your goal is to become a Software Engineer, I encourage you to create content. Creating content has many benefits such as broadcasting who you are and your skillset to potential employers. Content marketing also allows you to set yourself apart from the crowd of aspiring developers who may not be engaging in it.

Creating content on platforms like LinkedIn is how I managed to land my first legit job as a Software Engineer. But how do you engage in making content when fear, lack of confidence, and social anxiety are constantly knocking at the door of your heart? In this article, I will share four tips to help you overcome the roadblocks that might be holding you back from making content.

Tell your story

When I told my former supervisor I was starting a newsletter, he was delighted to hear about my plans. He also communicated to me that he wasn’t bold enough to share the type of information I share on platforms like LinkedIn when he first started his career. This got my mental wheels spinning and I started to consider why I wasn’t hindered by fear or lack of confidence when creating and sharing content online. I realized one of the keys to my “boldness” was I spoke about my experiences.

When you speak about your experiences in a genuine way, it’s easier to be confident about what you speak about. Why? Because no one knows your experiences better than you. You know the victories you’ve had, the mistakes you’ve made, and the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Even if you recently started your tech journey, you have something to share. For example, you can create post on the catalyst that led you to pursue a career in tech. Or you could write about what programming language you’re currently learning. Whatever you decide, be genuine and true to your story!

Speak about things you’ve researched and studied

I believe confidence and preparation are interdependent. Think about your time in high school or college if you attended. Were you more or less confident about doing well on a test if you studied? If you participated in athletics, were you more or less confident about competing in an event if you trained extremely hard prior to the event? In both cases, I would bet you were more confident when you prepared for the task at hand.

I believe you can acquire this same confidence when producing content if the content you produce is heavily researched and studied. This may mean reading blogs, watching videos, or a combination of both. 

Pick a medium you’re comfortable with

I suppose some may think that producing content means being a “YouTuber” or “professional blogger”. Though blogging and “YouTubing” are viable mechanisms for creating content, they don’t have to be the status quo. Creating simple post on social in a consistent manner can lead to fruitful results over time. When I wrote the post below, I had no idea it would lead to my former job. But I’m grateful to God that it did!

“The rescinded offers by Coinbase has made me reexamine "contract" work. Being able to consistently work for different companies/clients is a hedge against board room decisions at the top.”

Understand the difference between someone who uses content and a “content creator”

It may sound like I’m playing semantics but from what I’ve seen online, there’s a huge difference between content creators and those who simply create content. The difference comes down to purpose. Serious “content creators” base their livelihood on content and perhaps content alone. If they don’t make content, they don’t eat. They have to play the “Youtube game” by constantly putting out content. If they miss a week or two, they may start losing favor with the “algorithm”. 

Those who use content, create for a purpose. For example, to promote a course, merchandise, or a business. They use content as a means to and end. Subscribers, likes, and ad sense aren’t top of mind for people who use content. Instead, they focus on the results that the content produced. For you the aspiring developer, this could be building your network, landing a job, or building your brand.

When you shift your focus from “content creator” to someone who simply uses content for an external purpose, you won’t be burdened with the day to day grind that many professional YouTubers have to engage in.

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