The power of experimentation
Without trying new things, we never know what can be improved!
Gary Bloomer | SHAKING THE TREE # 234
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of creating content—whether it’s writing, video, or interactive media—it’s that experimentation isn’t just helpful; it’s essential.
More and more these days it’s important to test differing directions, even if that means learning new skills.
Too many creators fall into the trap of sticking to a tied and true formula. In certain cases, there’s nothing wrong with sticking with what works. But what happens when nothing’s working—despite your best efforts?
The problem with many content creators is that they find something that works—a style, a format, a tone—and they repeat it until it becomes stale.
But here’s the problem: audiences change and evolve.
Algorithms shift and adjust.
Attention spans drift and wander.
What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow.
Experimentation keeps your content fresh.
It allows you to test new ideas, fail fast, and iterate toward something truly remarkable.
Some of the most successful creators—whether on YouTube, TikTok, or blogs—are the ones willing to take risks, pivot unexpectedly, and surprise their audience.
So, what’s the biggest barrier to experimentation?
By far it’s fear.
Fear of failure, fear of alienating your audience, fear of wasting time. Fear of making a mistake, or fear of being laughed at or ridiculed.
But here’s the thing: failure isn’t the enemy—stagnation is. If you’re not changing, if you’re not trying new things and sticking with same old, same old, you’re not growing as a content creator. And if you’re not growing, you’re not evolving.
Every "failed" experiment is a lesson in what to avoid doing. Maybe that new video format didn’t get the number of views you thought it might have generated, but if that’s the case, instead of seeing the result as a failure, look at it as learning something about your audience’s preferences.
Maybe that experimental blog post didn’t go viral, but if it helped you refine your voice and hone your direction, you still come out ahead.
The key is to fail forward, to fail quickly and often, and to learn from the outcomes—the key is to extract insights from every attempt and to then apply whatever you learn to the next step in the journey.Once you adopt this mindset you become unstoppable.
How to experiment effectively
Start small. Instead of reinventing everything about what you do, try tweaking headlines, testing different visuals, or experimenting with posting times.
Small changes can lead to big insights.
Listen to data (but trust your gut). Analytics are crucial, but they don’t tell the whole story.
Sometimes, a creative risk won’t show immediate returns—but it might pay off in long-term audience loyalty.
Engage your audience. Ask them what they want. Polls, comments, and direct feedback can spark new ideas and make your audience feel invested in your creative process.
Steal like an artist. Experimentation doesn’t mean reinventing the wheel.
Take inspiration from other creators, industries, or even offline media, and adapt those ideas to your niche.
Content creation isn’t a static craft—it’s a living, evolving practice. The creators who thrive are the ones who treat their work like a lab: testing, iterating, and never settling.
So, the question is, what’s your next experiment?
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: Building a foundation of trust and belief
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.