How to avoid content limbo: 3 steps to action

Feeling off about your content? Here’s why. Most people don’t write to express—they write to impress. You post something "inspiring" but deep down… You're hoping it gets likes. Hoping someone says, “You’re amazing.” That’s not honesty. That’s performance. True authenticity doesn’t come from clever phrasing. It comes from clean intent. You’re allowed to be messy. You’re allowed to ask for help. Just be real about it. Next time you post ask yourself, why did I write this?

Why do people scroll past your content in less than 3 seconds? It’s not because they don’t like you. It’s because you didn’t give them a reason to stop. Here’s the reality: – Weak hooks kill attention. – Fluff kills interest. – Boring visuals kill engagement. The 3-second rule decides everything. If you can’t grab attention fast, your message never gets heard. So next time you post, ask yourself: Would I stop for this in 3 seconds? If the answer is ‘No,’ don’t hit publish yet. 📩 Want content that hooks, not just looks? Let’s make it happen → alameenthespark@gmail.com”

I’ve written 2,880 LinkedIn posts in the past two years! And for my own profile? Around 100; with 30 to 40 of those written just last month. And I still never run out of content ideas. Well, there’s one powerful mantra most creators won’t talk about: “We consume a lot.” Yeah, a lot. And no, I’m not talking about calorie intake here. I mean read voraciously. Be relentlessly curious. Explore things outside your niche. Read books, binge newsletters, scroll through Reddit threads, watch documentaries, and follow good Insta content. Because the content doesn’t come from a blank page. It comes from a well-fed brain. It’s this simple: When you consume better, you think better. And when you think better, you write better. Try this, and you’ll notice that now you have so much information that it is dying to come out. And it will. Either in the form of writing or speaking.

Your content might be good… but does it have you in it? 🤔 I met with a client last week, brilliant guy, sharp wit in person. But when I reviewed his content, none of that personality showed up. It was polished, but flat. Here’s the truth: people don’t just connect to information, they connect to your personality.! That’s what makes your content memorable. That thing that makes you unique, it could be your warmth, your curiosity, even your quiet thoughtfulness. Don’t leave it out of your content! So if your content feels a little basic, ask yourself—are you actually showing up as you?

Why your content feels boring (even to you) If your content feels boring to you, your audience definitely feels it too. Here’s why that might be happening: ⤷ You’re copying other creators instead of building your own voice
⤷ You’re playing it safe to avoid judgment
⤷ You’re always teaching but never sharing your story
⤷ You’re posting what you think you should, not what you believe in Here’s what helped me break out of the “meh” phase: → Infuse more YOU into your content, your tone, your thoughts, your truth
→ Share the behind-the-scenes
→ Talk to one person, not “everyone”
→ Focus on conversations, not just conversions Your story is content. Your process is content. Your thoughts are content. If you’re bored, switch it up. Your people will find you when you show up as YOU.

🚀 How to Write Hooks That Make People STOP Scrolling If your first line doesn’t hit, your content is invisible. Here’s the simple framework I use 👇 1️⃣ Know WHO you’re talking to A hook only works if it hits a pain point or desire. Ask: what’s my audience struggling with right now. 2️⃣ Pick the Emotion Trigger Curiosity 😲 Relief 😌 Urgency ⏳ Authority 🏆 (choose ONE per hook – don’t mix five things) 3️⃣ Use a Proven Format How to [big result] without [pain]. Stop [bad habit]. Do this instead. I did [X crazy stat] — here’s what happened. If you [audience], read this 👇 These are easy plug-and-play formulas. 4️⃣ Make the First 3–5 Words Sharp Numbers, verbs, or shocking words. Weak: “Some tips on marketing” Strong: “3 marketing mistakes killing your reach 5️⃣ Keep It Short & Real One or two lines max before you expand. Break lines. Make it skimmable. No fluff. 6️⃣ Match the Hook to the Content If you promise “10x growth” but deliver “just be consistent” — you lose trust. Curiosity ≠ clickbait. 7️⃣ Test & Repeat Write 3 hooks for the same post. Publish or A/B test. Double down on what gets the pause, saves, or comments. 💡 Takeaway: Hooks aren’t magic. They’re empathy + clarity + curiosity, delivered fast. Think of it as a door the cleaner you make the door handle, the more people open it. Follow me Noman Rafeeq for mor #ContentMarketing #SocialMediaTips #HookWriting #ScrollStoppingContent #PersonalBranding

💡 The best content isn’t about you. It’s about the person reading it. Here’s how to spot the difference: 🚫 “We’re the best at what we do” → noise ✅ “Here’s how you solve this problem” → value Content that works has three things in common: 1️⃣ Speaks directly to a need or frustration 2️⃣ Offers something useful straight away 3️⃣ Leaves the reader thinking “this was made for me” That’s when content stops being self-promotion — and starts building trust. 💡 Takeaway: If your post could only live on your profile, it’s promotion. If it could live on theirs, it’s value.

YOU... want to create content but you don't know how. You know you have a story to tell, but it feels overwhelming to think about where to start. And you don't have the budget to hire help... Hi 🤝🏻 I asked myself 3 questions to understand my story - and finally started creating content that didn't (always) feel cringe. 1. What have I lived through that shaped how I see the world? 2. What do I wish someone would’ve told me sooner? 3. Why does the work I do actually matter to me - beyond money or titles? Answering these made me stop trying to impress people and start trying to connect with them. It gave my story clarity. Also gave my content more purpose. And it helped me show up as a human. If you're stuck trying to figure out what to say, start here. Get quiet. Ask the real questions. And don’t filter the answers. Because the better you understand your story, the easier it becomes to share it... and the more people will actually feel it.

Confession: I didn’t want to create content. I wanted to help people buy well. But the internet wants you to talk first. My early posts? They read like a lecturer who swallowed a brochure. Too safe. Too polished. Not me. Then a client said: “Your emails feel like you, but your posts feel like your uni.” Ouch. Accurate. So I changed the brief: Write like I speak to a client at a kitchen table. --> Short lines --> No fluff --> One useful thing We built a simple content engine: --> A running list of real client questions --> One filming day a fortnight --> A ruthless rule: if it isn’t useful, it doesn’t post Some clips flop.Some surprise us. But over time, the right people show up: --> Values-aligned --> Practical --> Humour intact That’s the point. Not virality— velocity toward the people we can help. We exist to simplify property decisions. My job is to say the quiet, unsexy truths out loud— until you feel confident to move. If you’re a founder hiding from content, I get it. What’s the one thing you could say this week that would actually help someone?

I once wrote 20 posts no one read. The missing piece had nothing to do with content. It wasn’t the hook. It wasn’t the structure. It wasn’t even the idea. The problem? I showed up with words… but no presence. No tone. No authority. No trust. Once I fixed that, everything changed. Posts stopped being ignored. Clients stopped scrolling past. People actually listened. So if your content isn’t landing, don’t just change the words. Change the way you show up. Because the voice behind the post matters more than the post itself.