When I started creating content, a long time ago, I thought it was all about creating the best and most stylish content you could.

But I was wrong. Really wrong.

Content works or it doesn't, but what makes content 'good' is a fluid and loose definition.

I've learnt this the hard way, and I'm learning this every day, because I've learnt that creating content is creative work, but it's also science.

In random order, some things I've learnt that made a huge difference.

Add numbers to titles and headlines when possible

This works. Google picks this up and favours numbers in headlines over letters. This is a bit counterintuitive because, in English (but probably also in other languages), we conventionally spell out numbers ranging from one to nine (sometimes ten) and use numerals for numbers 10 (or, more rarely, 11) or greater.

But Google doesn't like that in HL.

If applicable, thumbnails work better with people

Most platforms favour people rather than things, and people and things over places.

Translated, a thumbnail or hero image with someone in it, generally works better than it would with only 'something' in it.

Original beats polished

Generally speaking, people prefer genuine-looking, original-looking content to ultra-polished stock content.

This is true even if the content looks a bit rough or unfinished.

Quantity still beats quality, but...

Quantity still beats quality, no doubt. Ten mediocre pieces of content a day are better than one great piece of content a day (although there are exceptions).

However, it's not the way it used to be. Google and all the other algorithms are also prioritising quality, and they don't like people spamming out content, especially low-effort content.

Hopefully this is helpful, and definitely let me know if you have something to add, discuss or debate. Cheers