Why Perfect Content Fails And What Works Instead
- 31 Jul 2025
- 4 min read
Last week, my client told me this…
"I spent 5 hours on that LinkedIn post. Started writing at 9 AM, finally hit publish at 2 PM."
Five hours. For one post. The moment he said it, I knew exactly why his his approach won`t work in long-term.
What His 5-Hour Post Actually Looked Like
Hour 1: The Blank Page Panic
Staring at the screen thinking "What the hell should I write about?" Scrolling through the feed hoping for inspiration. Start typing something. Delete it. Start again. Delete again.
Hour 2: False Progress
Finally picking a topic and starting to write. But every sentence feels wrong. Second-guessing himself constantly. Halfway through, he scraps everything and start over.
Hours 3-5: The Perfectionism Death Spiral
Reading and re-reading the same paragraph. Changing words that were perfectly fine five minutes ago. Spending 30 minutes on one sentence. Adding a section, removing it, adding it back.
The Final 30 Minutes: Publish Paralysis
"Is this good enough?" "What if people think it's stupid?" "Maybe I should just wait until tomorrow..." Finally hitting publish with his heart racing.
The Real Cost of Content Perfectionism
While my client spent 5 hours crafting that "perfect" post, he could have:
- Created an entire week of content (7 posts at 45 minutes each)
- Actually engaged with his network instead of hiding behind his laptop
- Worked ON his business instead of obsessing over word choice
- Eaten lunch (he literally forgot to eat)
- Responded to the client emails piling up in his inbox
Why Perfect Posts Don't Build Business
Most people don't get this: One perfect post doesn't build trust or authority.
You need to show up consistently, not perfectly.
Think about how you actually decide to work with someone:
- Recognition: "I've seen this person's content before"
- Familiarity: "They seem to know what they're talking about"
- Consistency: "They always share helpful stuff"
- Trust: "I feel like I know them and their expertise"
- Action: "I should reach out about working together"
This process needs multiple touchpoints over time. One brilliant post won't cut it.
Why "Good Enough" Beats "Perfect"
Consistent B+ content destroys sporadic A+ content because:
The algorithm rewards frequency. Platforms want regular, engaging content. More posts = more opportunities for your content to take off.
People need multiple exposures to remember you. Consistency builds familiarity and trust way better than occasional brilliance.
More content = more chances to help people. Every post is an opportunity to address a client pain point and stay top-of-mind.
What "Good Enough" Actually Means
Good enough includes:
- Clear main message that provides value
- Readable structure with good flow
- No major grammar/spelling errors
- Authentic voice that sounds like you
- Actionable insights people can use
Good enough does NOT require:
- Perfect word choice for every sentence
- Elaborate metaphors or clever wordplay
- Complex formatting or design elements
- Anticipating every possible reader question
- Sounding like a professional copywriter
What to Actually Measure
Stop tracking:
- Perfect grammar and word choice
- How "clever" your posts sound
- Whether every post gets high engagement
- What competitors might think
Start tracking:
- How often you're showing up (consistency)
- Quality of engagement and conversations
- Business impact (inquiries, connections, opportunities)
- How quickly you can create valuable content
Anti-Perfectionism Action Plan
- Set a 45-minute timer for your next post
- List 10 client questions you could answer in posts
- Choose "good enough" over "perfect" for one piece of content
- Track your time and results vs. perfectionist posts
Your "imperfect" consistency will beat perfect sporadic posting every single time.
Business relationships are built through regular, valuable interactions - not occasional moments of brilliance.
The goal is consistently providing value that builds trust, demonstrates expertise, and keeps you top-of-mind when opportunities arise.
Building efficiently,
Lisa ✨
