A customer recently asked me a thought-provoking question: "Why don’t you reduce the quantity of content and focus only on the ones that work?" On the surface, it seems like a great idea—quality over quantity, right? But in reality, this approach is fundamentally flawed. To explain why, let’s take a closer look at one of the greatest success stories in music history: Mariah Carey.
The Mariah Carey Content Lesson
In 1994, Mariah Carey released a song called "All I Want for Christmas Is You." Fast forward 30 years, and that single track has earned her a staggering $800 million. The song is a global phenomenon, and no doubt, it worked.
But here’s the thing: between 1994 and 2004, Mariah released over 50 other songs. While none of them became the cultural juggernaut that “All I Want for Christmas Is You” did, they were all essential to her career.
If she had decided back in 1994 to stop creating and “only do what works,” she would have missed out on honing her craft, experimenting with different sounds, and connecting with new audiences. In short, she wouldn’t be Mariah Carey as we know her today.
The Flaw in Focusing Only on What Works
Now, back to content creation. Imagine reducing your output to only the “successful” pieces of content. Here’s why that doesn’t work:
You Can’t Predict SuccessJust like Mariah Carey couldn’t predict that her Christmas song would become an evergreen hit, you can’t always foresee which content will resonate most with your audience. Success often comes from experimenting and putting out a variety of content.
Learning Through FailureNot every piece of content will be a hit—and that’s okay. The ones that don’t perform well teach you just as much as the ones that do. They help you understand what your audience wants and how to refine your strategy.
Building a Consistent PresenceCreating more content ensures that you remain relevant and visible to your audience. It’s about staying top of mind so that when your “All I Want for Christmas Is You” moment happens, your audience is there to amplify it.
The Power of Quantity in Quality
The truth is, quantity leads to quality. The more content you create, the more chances you have to hit that sweet spot where everything aligns—your audience, the timing, and the message.
Mariah Carey didn’t stop making music after her Christmas hit. She kept creating, experimenting, and learning. The same applies to your content strategy. The only way to find out what works is to keep producing, analyzing, and iterating.
Key Takeaway
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that creating less content is the way to success. Instead, focus on creating consistently and learning from every piece of content you put out. You never know which one will be your next big hit—or when it will happen.
So, take the shot, create that content, and let the Mariah Carey example remind you: success comes from consistency, not hesitation.