Looking for that one resource you saved 3 weeks ago? Forever?
Been there, done that. Bookmarks in browsers, links in Notes app, resources in random places that never sync up, online or offline.
You are not alone. 207 million content creators are getting bogged down in digital clutter. The creator economy is predicted to be valued at 528 Billion by 2030, so the digital clutter becomes more and more suffocating.
It’s not enough to be a creator these days; one also must remain organized.
In this article, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about putting your resources in one place. It’s been a lifesaver for me, at the very least.
- Reasons why managing your resources matters
- The key to productivity for creators: a link collection hub
- Everything you need: tools that work
The one thing most creators won’t tell you…
Content creators lose 2-3 hours per week looking for resources they’ve already found and bookmarked somewhere. The lost time could be spent creating.
The fix is not a subscription to some overpriced software suite or complex organization system. Content creators need what Korean creators describe as 사이트 링크를 쉽게 모아보는 서비스 (“a service that easily collects site links”). Literally describing a one-stop, all-in-one resource, collection hub where everything saved is live and accessible.
Good creators know where everything is at all times. Their valuable resources are easy to find because they’re all located in the one place, their resource hub. The time wasted never happens for them.
It happens all the time for the rest of us.
How many times have you hunted for something this week that you saved?
Countless times. Creators, the most productive creators, have systems in place that make this a non-issue. Systems are what separate successful creators from everyone else.Why content creators need a place to store their resources
Content creation is not a cakewalk anymore. New data shows that 36.7% of creators say the main challenge is consistency with their content production.
A huge part of that? Resources.
Creators need things, links, videos, tools. The work they do requires that they have access to an enormous amount of tools on demand. Whether they’re working on a blog post or trying to get that shot-perfect visual for the perfect post, everything’s just a search away. The seconds lost, and the time wasted scrolling through bookmarks to find the saved content slow creators down.
Successful creators? They work at lightning speed. The resources to make that possible? They have them. All links and everything saved has to be in one place, their resource hub. Curation? Everything inside has been tested, tried, and true.
So, how to start a personal resource hub?
Creating a resource hub is about having everything saved, right? Wrong.
Don’t get bogged down downloading a dozen new apps. Start small, focus on essential functions and build out as necessary.
Let’s break down what the ideal hub should include and what tools do the job. Links (Resources), of course, but also, planning tools, productivity, storage.
Link management tools
Organizing links starts with having a place to collect them all. Bookmarks won’t cut it. Here’s why:
- Bookmarks folders lock resources to the device and browser.
- Bookmark management is an issue when switching browsers or using a desktop browser and a mobile one.
- Bookmark folders take forever to navigate.
What should you be looking for in a link management solution?
- Cross-device syncing
- Tags and categories for curation
- Search functionality
- Sharing and collaboration support
The only criteria? The most user-friendly system is the one you’ll actually use.
Content planning software
Links are just one layer of an organization system. Another critical step in putting all resources in one place? Planning the work, creating a content calendar and system for converting inspiration into content production.
Notion is a content planning powerhouse. All in one note-taking, project management, and content planning platform.
Other creators have gravitated towards Trello boards or Google Docs. Doesn’t matter the tool, the most important part is the creator building the habit of using it.
Focus
Content planning ideally incorporates spaces for research links, ideas, creation schedules, and performance tracking. All tools are included in a one-stop system.
Productivity tools
Ideas, resources, links, files are just one side of the resource hub puzzle. Nothing ever gets created in a vacuum. Distraction free productivity is key to content creation success.
The best time-blocking, work scheduling, and focus apps keep creators locked in to tasks at hand. Easy access to productivity tools during work sessions means creators can work through entire projects and ideas from start to finish.
Minimal collection of productivity apps make up the final element of the ideal resource hub for content creators.
File and resource storage
Files are another essential form of digital resources that creators use and collect. Images, video, sound, templates, design files, export files, project files. The list goes on and on.
Adding one more step to the resource hub elements above? File and asset storage.
What keeps creators from getting organized? Lack of central storage. Sorting through digital files is every creator’s worst nightmare.
A smart creator will build out a folder hierarchy that mirrors the workflow.
Video creators are separated by project with individual folder for raw footage, graphics, and final exports. Folder structure may look like
Project Name
Raw Footage
Graphics
Exports
A writer would separate sources, drafts, and published pieces.
How to organize files is up to the creator but use the same system across all projects.
Cloud storage is essential for several reasons.
Keep files organized and accessible on all devices
Backs up files against accidental deletion or loss
The right storage keeps important resources in one place. The wrong one? Lost files are a disaster. Mistakes happen, project files go missing or deleted. Using cloud storage means having an offsite backup for disaster recovery.
Now that you have the hub, what’s next?
Have you ever built something really great and then never used it again?
Been there.
Your resource hub should be a living system. Meaning it’s updated, organized, and revised constantly. The work stops the minute everything’s set up.
Add 10 minutes per week to review, organize, and curate new links. Delete old resources that are no longer relevant. Update the tagging system as needed.
When a resource is discovered, save it to the hub. Don’t save it as an open browser tab.
Tabs. That’s the quickest way to digital clutter. Creators who use their resource hubs love, saving that link NOW vs that link later. Saving and organizing happens in the moment of discovery. The mess grows with every tab saved, never collected, never organized.
Yes, there’s a learning curve when building out a personal resource hub. Making the habit of using it daily is the second phase. Routine maintenance will keep it organized and allow for its fullest utility.
Tools to collect all the links
Thousands of different productivity tools in the universe. Creators only need a core set.
- Link management – storing, curating, accessing saved links.
- Planning software – organizing ideas and the process of creating.
- Storage solutions – files and assets ready to use when needed
- Productivity apps – staying focused on the work
Focus on the 4 key categories. Start with one tool in each. Master it. Add more when needed. It’s way better to have five tools one’s extremely good at versus struggling with 20 half-assed ones.
The best tool? The one you use every time.
Let’s wrap up
Creating a personal resource hub puts all valuable resources in one place, all in one time. The disorganization of clips saved in Evernote, links forgotten on mobile, all the digital clutter…done.
Resource hubs aren’t built in days or even weeks. Migrating existing bookmarks, organizing stored files, and building new habits takes time.
Commit. Build out your resource hub, commit to the process and add 10 minutes per week to maintain it.
The creator economy is still growing more competitive. Those who have an edge? The ones working smarter not harder have a leg up. The efficient, organized creator gets more done with less stress every day.
One of the best things I’ve done for my online presence?
Building a personal resource hub
Build it. Use it. Watch your productivity soar.
It’s really as simple as that.