Content lessons from honeybees
Honeybees are nature’s ultimate content creators.
Gary Bloomer | SHAKING THE TREE # 224
Honeybees are nature’s ultimate content creators. For millions of years, they’ve perfected the art of producing something valuable (honey), structuring it efficiently (by building honeycombs), and distributing it sustainably for generations to come (through pollination).
As a content creator, I’ve long been fascinated by their process—because if you look closely, bees offer a masterclass in content strategy. Here’s what honeybees can teach us about content creation:
Start with a clear purpose: honey has a job.
Honey production isn't a hobby for bees - it's their lifeline. Every drop of honey serves a purpose: as food for the colony, as energy for flight, and as food reserves to see the hive through winter.
Lesson for creators: Don’t create content just to fill space. Ask: *Does this serve my audience’s needs? Does it sustain my long-term goals?* Like honey, good content should nourish—whether by educating, entertaining, or inspiring action.
Structure matters: think like a bee and use the hexagonal advantage
Bees build honeycombs in hexagons, not because it’s pretty (though it is), but because it’s the most efficient shape. Hexagons use the least amount of wax and hold the most honey, with no wasted gaps.
Lesson for creators: Optimize your content’s structure. Whether it’s a newsletter, video script, or social post, trim the fluff. Use formats that maximize engagement (lists, storytelling arcs, visual hooks) while minimizing friction. Efficiency = impact.
Collaborate like a colony
A single bee can’t build a hive or make much honey. It takes thousands, each bee playing a role—foragers, builders, nurses—all communicating through precise dances and pheromones.
Lesson for creators: Great content creation is rarely a solo endeavor. Collaborate with editors, designers, and peers. Leverage tools (SEO, analytics, scheduling) in the same way bees use pheromones—to signal what works and to refine your approach.
Adapt to the environment
Bees adjust their honey production based on the seasons, the weather, on flower availability, and on the needs of the hive. They don’t waste energy when resources are scarce.
Lesson for creators: Be agile. Double down on what resonates (like bees favoring high-nectar flowers). Pivot formats if platforms change. And don’t burn out producing nonstop—strategic pauses, like winter clustering, ensure longevity.
Repurpose everything
Bees reuse wax, they recycle damaged combs, even repurposing pollen into royal jelly. Nothing is wasted.
Lesson for creators: Try turning one idea into multiple assets. A blog post becomes a tweet thread, a video script, and a podcast episode. Edit, update, and re-share evergreen content. Efficiency is creativity’s ally.
The sweet spot
As far as we know, bees don’t waste much time overthinking their process; they execute with instinctual precision, just as they’ve been doing for millions of years.
As creators, we can borrow that focus:
Purpose. Structure. Collaboration. Adaptability. Repurposing.
So next time you see a jar of honey in the supermarket, remember: it’s not just sugar—it’s the realization of a 30-million-year-old content strategy.
And if it works for bees, it might just work for you.
As always, thanks for reading.
—Gary
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P.S. If you found this useful, share it with another creator who needs an ego check (in a nice way). Want more unfiltered takes on content creation? Join my newsletter. No fluff, just the stuff that works.
Next time on Shaking the Tree: Marketing truisms
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Originally from the U.K., Gary Bloomer is a writer, branding advocate, marketing specialist, and an award-winning graphic designer.
His design work has been included in Creative Review (one of the UK’s largest design magazines). Since 2009, he has answered over 5,000 marketing and business questions in the Know-How Exchange of MarketingProfs.com, placing him among the top 3% of contributors. He lives in Wilmington, Delaware, USA.