As a blogger and digital marketing freelancer, it’s become really important to be able to pin down my creative process. It might seem like writing a blog post or creating a freelance writing piece is easy. You just type up the content on your computer, hit publish and you’re done, right?

Wrong.

Writers, designers and creatives alike are all problem solvers. We have to know there is a problem worth solving and then come up with a solution. That involves a whole lot of steps to get to the finished outcome.

Like most careers, it’s so beneficial to have a process in place for your work to help make you more productive. I’ve seen many designers approach this subject, but not bloggers. So over the next few weeks, I thought it might be helpful to launch this series. I'll be sharing my own creative process as a blogger and freelancer.

My method may not suit everyone out there, and that’s completely fine. Instead, I hope it inspires and encourages you to think about your own creative process.

Having a creative process is a way of being able to craft the best content possible. It contains various steps that you have to take to get to a finished product.

Without a process, creating content is a lot harder than it needs to be. You lose your message, your voice and your path.

You might think that creating a blog post involves the same process and that’s sort of true. It involves the same type of tasks, but their method will never be exactly the same.

So the series officially kicks off tomorrow. But today, I thought it’d be worth explaining why having a creative process is so useful in the first place.

Just before we begin, I've created some adult homework for you if you're interested in joining in the series. Today's task will only take 10 minutes out of your day. Click the button below & it's yours for free!

#1 | YOUR PRODUCTIVITY WILL INCREASE

Outlining your tasks for each piece of content you have to create enables you to get more done in a lot less time. Instead of wondering what to do next, your creative process is there to do the hard work for you.

You’ll be able to be more productive and keep to your deadlines as outlined by your publishing schedule. All because you’ve got a thorough step-by-step guide to help you.

#2 | IT HELPS READERS BECOME FAMILIAR WITH YOUR BRAND

Your creative process is beneficial to you. But it’s also helpful for your readers. They learn to know what to expect from you, and you are then more able to create the best content possible for them.

#3 | IT STREAMLINES COLLABORATIONS

A creative process is definitely valuable when it comes to clients. Outlining how you create a piece of content is very attractive to potential clients. It lets them know the exact steps you’ll take to write an article for them. It also gives them an insight into the time and effort that goes into your projects. And just like readers of your blog, they’ll also learn what to expect from you.

#4 | IT HELPS YOU BE MORE CONSISTENT

Having a method that you follow for blog posts means you’re creating content consistently. The tasks you carry out will enable you to provide consistent content, in the same way each time.

#5 | YOU’LL HAVE A STRUCTURE

If anything, defining your process helps you create a timeline. You’ll know how long it’ll take you to write a blog post (dependent on your topic). This will also help you to accomplish your other goals and tasks.

This will help you streamline your work, set deadlines and create structure in your routine. Especially if you’re running your blog or freelance business alongside your full-time job. You’ll know how much time you’ve got to work with and allocate that to a specific step in your creative process.

#6 | IT’S HELPFUL IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF FREELANCING

Most of you know that I run this blog and my freelance business alongside my full-time job. Boy, it's a struggle at times. When you’ve got many projects to juggle, writing out your process should be the first step on your list.

You've got to be able to identify each step in your routine for a particular project and how each one will take. This will give you a better idea of how much extra work you can handle. It also helps to determine a schedule for your blog and how many freelance clients you can work with. This means you’re creating a schedule in a unique way and still leaving yourself with breathing room.

#7 | YOU’LL NEVER RUN OUT OF IDEAS OR CREATIVITY

You know those days when you don’t feel creative or you don’t know what to write a post about? A creative process solves that problem.

When you’re reflecting on your creative process, don’t just think about what it takes to write a post. Think about what it takes to create it. Think about the stages you need for each part. Like researching, creating new ideas and coming up with inspiration. These are all crucial stages. I’ve found that I’m much more creative and inspired now my process is defined.

Want to start thinking about your own creative process? Remember to download your homework here to get yourself going, and I'll see you tomorrow!

Now it's your turn - what does your creative process look like? I'd love to hear the methods and processes that help you stay organised and productive whilst running your blog. Tune in for the start of the series tomorrow!