Wow. Even Target Is Getting In On It.

My in-person visits to Target are few and far between ever since I discovered the joy of "curbside pickup." 

Order on the app and they bring it to my car. Even when the temps are well below zero here in Minnesota. 

But yesterday I actually went INSIDE Target with my boys to pick up a couple of things, and to play with Nerf blasters. You know you do the same. 

The major change that will remain on the other side of this pandemic is our understanding of technology and the need to create content. 

Of course, that's what we do at Digital Legend, help small businesses create content. Video and podcasting content. We love it. Live for it. 

That's when I saw what's pictured in this article. The shelf full of stuff to produce content. 

Microphones, a key light, headphones, and streaming hardware. 

The target audience for this stuff is gamers. I asked my 14-year old son how many of his friends stream on YouTube or Twitch. He told me close to half either do it frequently or have tried it. 

That's why this stuff is in the gaming/electronics department of Target. Forget music or movie stars, kids, especially teenage boys, want to be the next big thing on Twitch.  

But what about the rest of us? If you like to create content for your business, if you like to produce videos that bring customers into your world, do you need this stuff? 

Simple answer, and it's No.

Would a Yeti microphone make you sound brighter? Yes. Would that key light like make you look brighter? Yes. 

Do you need it? No.

The only thing you need is what you're probably reading this on right now -- your phone. 

Today's phones are portable production machines. They record great video, good audio, and can go live on any platform within minutes.

It is still a miracle to me. 

When I started my career in broadcasting in 1989, technology like this would have cost tens of thousands of dollars. 

There are NO barriers to building relationships through digital media online. 

Just pick up that damn phone and do it. 

How do you do it?

I'm going to give away my secret sauce:

Purpose: What's your objective with the piece of content you're about to record

Pull: What's the headline? The first 3 seconds of your video (or podcast) is important.

Personalize: Wrap yourself, your story, your morals, and your purpose around everything you talk about. Make every piece of content yours. 

NOW, is it nice to have some technology to make you sound and look pretty?

Yes. 

If you understand that creating content will be the engine that drives your business, and you're already producing content on your phone, and you would like to step it up, then yes, grab that key light. 

And yes, grab that Yeti, too.

But -- you DON'T need it. 

The ONLY thing you need is your desire to produce consistent and focused content. 

And your phone.