The Content Crowd

Trevor Grimes
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MARKETING

The Content Crowd is a podcast for creators, marketers, and founders who are tired of chasing trends and burning out on empty content. If you're looking to build something more honest, more human, and more resonant—this is your space. Hosted by Trevor Grimes, this show explores what makes content connect. From creative habits and storytelling shifts to behind-the-scenes breakdowns, every episode helps you stop mimicking and start making something that matters. Because content isn’t about gaming the algorithm. It’s about showing up with clarity, conviction, and something worth saying.

  1. 1D AGO

    How to Create Better Content in 2026 | Ep. 25

    What if your content isn't failing? It might just be unemployed. It lives online, but it doesn't have a job. It isn't creating conversations, leading to opportunities, or building toward anything specific. ㅤ That aimlessness is scary. It is also wasteful because it looks like you are doing everything right from the outside. You are consistent. You are showing up. Yet, you are left asking what it was all for. ㅤ In this solo episode, Trevor Grimes argues that content needs a job, not just better vibes or more polish. He explains why posting without purpose quietly burns people out and how to shift your focus from performance metrics to creative curiosity. ㅤ Trevor explains how to use content pillars as boundaries to save your energy. He also covers how to set goals that actually support your business—such as having thoughtful conversations or clarifying your thinking—rather than chasing follower counts that stifle creativity. ㅤ What We Cover Why content needs a job: Every piece of content should answer the question: "What is this here to do?" It could be to start conversations, clarify thinking, or attract a specific type of person.The real cause of burnout: Burnout doesn't usually come from doing too much. It comes from doing things that feel aimless or from putting effort in without direction.Content pillars as boundaries: Pillars aren't just topics. They are how you decide what not to spend energy on. Ideas must earn their way into your story.The Note Card Method filter: Before turning an idea into content, ask one question: "Does this belong in the story I'm telling right now?"Goals that don't kill creativity: Avoid goals that suffocate you, like arbitrary follower counts. Choose goals such as deepening your understanding of a topic or aligning yourself with a specific problem you solve.Performance vs. Curiosity: Performance asks, "How did this do?" Creative curiosity asks, "What did I learn?" The latter keeps you moving.The Creator Transformation: Becoming someone who notices ideas instead of forcing them, and creates without waiting for permission. ㅤ Resources Mentioned Previous Episode: How to Create More Content (referenced for volume strategies).The Note Card Method: Referenced as a tool for filtering ideas (Check previous episodes/videos).30-Day Content Sprint: Available in the show notes (referenced in outro). ㅤ Low-Tech, High-Impact Account-Based Marketing If you’re ready to trade expensive, tech-heavy account-based marketing for a repeatable, revenue-driving ABM program, check out Scrappy ABM. Led by a team of Scrappy ABM experts, they specialize in low-budget plays and programs that deliver high impact—no shiny tools required. Scrappy ABM has built account-based programs that have delivered millions in revenue,...

    19 min

  2. JAN 29

    How to Create More Content in 2026 | Ep. 24

    What was the reason that you kinda sucked at creating content in 2025? Not fear, not imposter syndrome or perfectionism, not a lack of confidence—just friction. The moment you finally have time to create, you sit down, and you don’t know what to work on. Doubt creates delay, delay creates guilt, guilt turns into avoidance, and suddenly weeks go by, and you haven’t even opened LinkedIn or Instagram. ㅤ Trevor Grimes keeps it simple: create more content in 2026 by designing systems that make creation the default. The note card method is a thinking tool—one idea per card, organized and labeled so you reduce decision-making anxiety later. Then the 30-day Content Sprint replaces overthinking with movement: proof that you can finish things, publish things imperfectly, and survive low engagement. Finally, design your environment so content is always one decision away—sit down and press record. ㅤ What We Cover The real reason that content dies: you finally have time to create, you sit down, and you don’t know what to work onFear shows up after something else fails: doubt → delay → guilt → avoidance → weeks go by“That’s not necessarily a confidence problem… that’s an idea storage problem.”The note card method: physical note cards, one idea per card—thought, question, frustration, something you learned, something you disagree withLabel and organize cards (story, lesson, hot take, how-to, question, behind the scenes) to reduce decision-making anxiety later“You’re not building content… you’re just building inventory,” so the inventory removes panic for laterThe 30-day Content Sprint: proof you can finish things, publish imperfectly, survive low engagement, and replace overthinking with momentumDesigning your environment so content is “always just one decision away”: keep the tripod ready, use the window/light, don’t negotiate with yourself—press record ㅤ Resources Mentioned Episode 19: “the note card method for endless content ideas”The 30-day Content Sprint (Trevor says it’s free and he’ll link it in the episode description)Platforms/tools mentioned: LinkedIn, Instagram, Notion doc, Excel, AI prompt library (as examples of what the note card method is not)Set up tools mentioned: tripod, phone/camera, good lighting/window, multicolor pen/highlighter for color coordination ㅤ Low-Tech, High-Impact Account-Based Marketing If you’re ready to trade expensive, tech-heavy account-based marketing for a repeatable, revenue-driving ABM program, check out Scrappy ABM. Led by a team of Scrappy ABM experts, they specialize in low-budget plays and programs that deliver high impact—no shiny tools required. Scrappy ABM has built account-based programs that have...

    11 min

  3. JAN 22

    Content Should Build Trust and Give Value (with Greg Toler) | Ep. 23

    Everything has to have a caveat. Every circumstance has to be accounted for. That’s the tension Trevor Grimes and Greg Toler keep coming back to: how to make content that actually matters, while still being practical, structured, and worth someone’s time. ㅤ Greg talks about shifting from managing content teams to actually writing again—and realizing how different that muscle is. Trevor shares how Greg’s “context sandwich” changed his own writing: if you stop in the middle, you should know where you’re at and why you’re there. They go from open loops and closed loops, to flowcharts and yes/no questions, to the “cost of entry versus the benefit of entry.” ㅤ Through it all, Greg’s two tenets remain simple: content should build trust and give value—and people buy from people. ㅤ 👤 Guest BioGreg Toler is a consultant on operations and go-to-market and the founder of BoostIdeal, an early-stage startup. He’s been consulting for almost 10 years and has worked in and out in a few different ways—most recently as the fractional COO at Scrappy ABM, transitioning into full-time, then back into fractional. He’s kicking off the new year doing full-time consulting and also full-time work on Boost. ㅤ 📌 What We CoverWhy writing “very strategically” feels different than actually being in the writing seat—and why the same piece can take “hours” for one person and “days” for anotherThe context sandwich: “context to details, context,” so the reader knows where they are“Open loop and closed loop” writing—mention it, close it, and don’t leave the reader hanging“Write the way that I talk” vs. “structured and organized” content—and making a “boring blog” a “joy to read.”Creativity as tone and style vs. creativity as “constructs,” “organization,” and “solving problems.”Turning subjective decisions into objective ones: yes/no questions, flowcharts, and finding the bottleneckGetting started with personal content: topic → subtopic → type, building something repeatable, and the “shame bone.”“Content should build trust,” and “content should give value”—plus the conversion theory of cost of entry vs benefitA real experiment that didn’t land: a bot with “super high value,” and the feedback that changed everything—“I didn’t come to work with your bot. I came to work with you.”“Not playing tennis” with clients and why “awkward working sessions” are the point ㅤ🔗 Resources Mentionedspan class="ql-ui"...

    48 min

  4. 12/18/2025

    Two 30: two days every six months, 30 minutes every month (with Benji Block) | Ep. 22

    Why would we spend time recording audio and leave it there when you can easily turn on your camera and start? Trevor Grimes is here with Benji Block to talk about video podcasts, trust building, and feeling like you’re a “fly on the wall” while Trevor and Benji are talking. ㅤ Benji shares a simple content strategy: record a full season every six months, plus 30 minutes once a month to answer questions, cut video clips, and turn the rest into LinkedIn posts. The through line is pre-production: the stuff you do before you hit record—why you’re creating what you’re making, the first 30 seconds, titles, and thumbnail—so it’s less of a headache and more “you,” not an arms race for people’s attention. ㅤGuest BioBenji Block says he helps companies build impact through video. He’s spent the last five years helping build 55+ podcasts from scratch, and he’s coached 100+ business leaders on communication and using video to grow their businesses. Before that, he spent years in the agency and nonprofit church sectors, leading creative teams. In 2025, he launched his own venture through Signature Series, producing numerous video podcasts. ㅤ What we coverPodcasts in the business world skyrocketed when COVID happened, and a lot of people thought audio-only was “really easy.”Video is not for everyone—it depends on your strategy.“As soon as they can see your face,” there’s personalization: it feels like being a fly on the wall in the conversation.Two 30: record long-form content in a two-day sprint, then a 30-minute recurring meeting to ask 10 to 15 questions, cut clips, and turn the rest into LinkedIn written posts.“Your brain turns into mush” after too many topics—most people can’t record more than four in a day.Pre-production is the most important and often overlooked thing: hook / first 30 seconds/thumbnail/three to five different titles for YouTube.Three-by-three method: three main points and three mini points for each.Fear, curiosity, and desire drive people to click—and it’s not clickbait if the content is actually helpful and you deliver after that one line. ㅤ Things mentionedScrappy ABMChat GPTCapCutLinkedInYouTube + YouTube ShortsTikTokCreator Hooks (Jake Thomas)My First Million (Sam Parr)Alex Hormozi + MrBeastiTunesFacebookSeries of Unfortunate EventsJesus (parables) ㅤ Low-Tech, High-Impact Account-Based Marketing If you’re ready to trade expensive, tech-heavy account-based marketing for a repeatable, revenue-driving ABM program, check out Scrappy ABM. Led by a team of Scrappy ABM experts, they specialize in low-budget plays and programs that deliver high impact—no shiny tools required. Scrappy ABM has built account-based programs that have delivered millions in revenue, and you can build your first...

    42 min

  5. 12/11/2025

    Stop Mimicking and Start Making Content That Actually Matters (with Tylor Jones) | Ep. 21

    Content that actually resonates starts with telling the whole truth about what you can and cannot do right now. In this conversation, Trevor Grimes sits down with Tylor Jones, Director of Digital Acquisition at SIB Fixed Cost Reduction and 3X demand gen leader, to talk through category busting content, flopped campaigns, and building something that really matters. ㅤ Tylor shares the long journey from 35 years of fixed cost reduction data to Spend Brain, a niche LLM that lets you “have a conversation with your spend,” plus how he borrows the B2C playbook, spends $100,000 a month on Meta, and uses UGC videos to make a complex offer feel simple. ㅤ They walk through painful PLG and FBA reimbursement flops, the almond milk story, Reddit threads, cults, The Wandering Home Podcast, and why most teams under $20 million should stop chasing podcasts and ebooks and move the needle with honest structure, clear distribution, and real communities. ㅤ 👤 Guest Bio — Tylor JonesElder Emo, 3X demand gen leader, and self-described Gandalf of growth marketing, Tylor Jones is Director of Digital Acquisition at SIB Fixed Cost Reduction, a private equity–backed cost reduction and spend management firm. He builds and scales modern demand generation engines across high-growth B2B SaaS and B2B e-commerce, owning pipeline targets, budget, multichannel strategy, and executive-level reporting. ㅤ Tylor also leads growth marketing for Getida, the largest FBA reimbursements auditor on the globe, and helps drive 3X inbound and 2X marketing-sourced pipeline. Outside of work, he co-hosts The Wandering Home Podcast, where a former pastor and a secular friend talk church, cults, and everything in between. ㅤ 📌 What We CoverContent that actually resonates vs. content that just talks: why “stop mimicking and start making content that actually matters” is the starting point for both personal brand and company brand.Productizing fixed cost reduction into Spend Brain: how 35 years of enterprise spend data, an in-house AI and LLM, and “a conversation with your spend” turned a gray-hat-feeling service into extreme clarity for $100M+ businesses.Category busting content and the almond milk example: putting yourself “next to milk in the refrigerator” even when you don’t have to be there, fighting for that position, and using competitors’ categories as the comparison point.Borrowing the B2C playbook for B2B: why Tylor spends around $100,000 a month on Meta, runs UGC videos, blends product led and sales led motions, and treats category creation like a busy experiment instead of a static play.Two big flops and what they changed: a 10-video PLG onboarding series nobody watched, and an Amazon FBA reimbursement launch with a great deck, landing page, and CGO video—but weak distribution and wrong message order.UGC talent vs. “just use your webcam”: how Billo actors, stable spokespeople, consistent lighting, strong audio, and screen-cap product tours set the quality standard brands can’t drop below—while BDRs still use lo-fi 1:1 video in outreach.PLG, support, and that...

    47 min

  6. 11/27/2025

    Free Thing or Paid Thing? Creating the Kind of Content People Expect (with Evan Cox) | Ep. 20

    Free thing or paid thing? That tension sits at the center of this conversation about what makes content resonate and how to stop mimicking others and start making something that actually matters. Host Trevor Grimes and fellow marketer, content creator, and Scrappy ABMer Evan Cox walk through real examples of templates, guides, workshops, email sequences, and “ABM in a day” offers to figure out when to gate something, when to charge for it, and when to just give it away. ㅤ Evan shares a simple line that shapes everything: “the highest motive brings the greatest motivation.” From lead gen CTAs that don’t default to “book a call,” to free products that unlock bigger, more expensive problems, they zoom in on relationship and revenue, quick wins, and logical reasons to ask for an email address. You’ll hear how to create the kind of content you want people to expect from you, why different is better than better, and how to move through crowded spaces like YouTube, Threads, and X without burning out or watering down what you do best. ㅤ Guest BioEvan Cox is a fellow marketer, content creator, and Scrappy ABMer who spends a lot of his time writing, creating, and designing content so brands stay well connected with their audience based on the content they produce. He and Trevor have worked together in a couple of settings and share a love for dogs (especially pugs) and back-and-forth riffs about Vietnamese food. Evan is also a huge football fan and brings that “different plays for different moments” mindset into how he thinks about account-based marketing, lead gen, and content offers. ㅤ What We CoverHow Trevor and Evan rethink traditional lead gen so every CTA doesn’t have to be “book a meeting” or “schedule a demo”Why a conversion can be as simple as a reply to an email, a question before a webinar, or a visit to your site—not just a booked callDifferent plays for free vs paid: starting with a free thing and turning it into a paid thing, or starting with a paid thing and later making it freeHow solving an immediate pain point with a product can unlock a bigger problem where you become the go-to problem solverEvan’s line: “the highest motive brings the greatest motivation”—and what that means for roofing guides, ABM workshops, and everyday contentTrevor’s YouTube cohort story: offering a free email sequence template, then getting asked for a proposal and paid project from the same groupUsing logical reasons to request an email address (pre-registering kids, podcast Q&A, better estimates) so it feels like a benefit, not a trapStanding out in crowded spaces with “clear, compelling, and relevant” content and the idea that “different is better than better,” plus the “whereas our competitors…, we prefer to…” framing ㅤ Resources MentionedScrappy ABM (sponsor and ABM framework / “ABM in a day” workshop reference)StoryBrand (book and “StoryBrand guide” framework referenced by Trevor)Petfinder (used in Evan’s dog adoption example)Coke / Coca-Cola (Santa Claus and polar bear holiday billboard example)Amazon (as an example of a site with lots of paid products)Stand store (mentioned as a place to sell small guides)Gumroad (mentioned as a place to sell guides and products) ㅤ Low-Tech, High-Impact Account-Based Marketing If you’re ready to trade expensive, tech-heavy...

    38 min

  7. 11/20/2025

    The NoteCard Method for Endless Content Ideas | Ep. 19

    You block out time, sit down to batch content, open a blank document or camera app… and suddenly you’re deep diving on a Wikipedia page about soup spoons. That isn’t about talent. As Trevor Grimes says, creativity doesn’t die because you’re not talented. It dies because you sit down to create something and believe you have absolutely nothing to say yet. ㅤ In this solo episode of The Content Crowd, Trevor shares the NoteCard Method, a simple, wildly tactical pen to paper system that became an absolute game changer for his content creation life and a fix for that “I’ve got nothing to post” panic. He walks through how a notebook and a stack of 3x5 or 4x6 cards can give you endless content ideas, make your process smoother, and help you stop treating content like a last minute chore. ㅤ From perfectionism and procrastination to weekly brain dumps, categories, and deck sorting, Trevor shows how to hand yourself 20+ ideas in 10 minutes, recycle and remix posts that pop or flop, and destroy blank-page syndrome with a scrappy, no-tech, high-impact method. ㅤ What We CoverWhy creativity doesn’t die because you’re not talented, but because you sit down to create and think you have absolutely nothing to say.The real reason most creators quit: not content creation, but idea generation mixed with procrastination and perfectionism.How Trevor uses a notebook plus a stack of 3x5 or 4x6 note cards to move ideas from his brain to paper and never start from a blank page.The weekly 10–15 minute brain dump: one idea per card—stories, questions, lessons, frustrations, hooks, hot takes, tactical breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes moments.Using a legend card and simple labels like story, lesson, hot take, how-to, question, and behind-the-scenes (with highlighters or numbers) so you remember you need more than one type of content.Deck sorting: pulling specific mixes of cards (story, lesson, hot take, hooks, how-to) to build podcast scripts, long form videos, short form clips, blogs, emails, and posts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads, X, or Blue Sky.Recycling and merging cards so one or two “mediocre” ideas can turn into huge hits once everything is out on paper and you let yourself find a narrative arc.Using prompts like questions your audience always asks, mistakes you made early in your journey, stories from your work or creative life, things that annoy you about your industry, and skills or tools you wish somebody told you about sooner to instantly create a 25-card deck. ㅤ Resources MentionedScrappy ABM – Sponsor that helps you build repeatable account based marketing plays and teaches you how to do them so that you can bring ABM in-house when you’re ready.“Do Over” by John Acuff – The book where Trevor first saw a note card method used to create a personal job network and categorize people, resources, and ideas on cards.“Chris Talks Cash Flow” with Chris Brown – Conversation about budgets where the note card method for money helped Trevor see how note cards could map content.30-Day Content Sprint / Content Creation Sprint – Trevor’s sprint that helps you come up with 20+ ideas in about 10 minutes and feeds directly into your NoteCard stack. ㅤ Tools & Supplies Mentioned Notes app in your phoneA physical ideation notebook or plannerA stack of 3x5 or 4x6 note cardsSharpie pen and regular penHighlighters or binder tabs for color coding and sorting ㅤ How to Use the NoteCard Method for Unlimited Content IdeasIf you struggle with running out of content ideas, the NoteCard Method is your no-tech,

    19 min

  8. 11/13/2025

    30-Day Content Sprint (with Phil Pilalas) | Ep. 18

    Guest slumps, last-minute reschedules, and still hitting publish—this conversation gets real about what it takes to keep creating when plans fall through. Trevor Grimes (host of The Content Crowd) sits down with colleague and fellow content creator Phil Pilalas to talk accountability, short solo episodes, and how a late-night recording turned into a 30-day content sprint. They compare “silly posts” that explode with impressions to educational posts that quietly serve the right people, and break down a simple model: content that “creates intrigue and eyeballs” vs. content that helps people “do their job better.” From the “Nothing burger vs. Everything sandwich” post that flopped to why a producer—or just someone who “pokes you and says, ‘Hey, you didn’t do the thing’”—can keep you shipping, this is a candid look at making something that actually matters. Actionable themes: build accountability, ship short when you must, and design offers that feel like a real extension of you—not a quote slapped on a shirt. ㅤ Guest BioPhil Pilalas is Trevor’s colleague and a fellow content creator at Scrappy ABM. Previously featured on Episode 3 (May 29), Phil brings hands-on experiments (including posting that SOA video), real talk on posts that “hit 11,000 impressions,” and a practical framework for balancing entertainment with detailed value so audiences first pay attention—and then grow. ㅤ What We CoverHow accountability (a producer or editor waiting on your file) gets you to “do the thing” and keep publishing.Turning a late-night riff into a 30-day content sprint—and why short solo episodes still count.The “Nothing burger vs. Everything sandwich” lesson: being proud of work that flops and shipping anyway.A simple split: entertainment content to “create intrigue and eyeballs” vs. educational content that helps people “do their job better.”When personal brand meets product: make it an extension of you—not just a quote on a shirt.Why some influencer products stall: quality, ease of buying, and trust (ghost kitchens vs. grabbing something at the store).Audiences that age with you vs. audiences that age out—and how that shapes what you sell.Word of mouth still matters: “These are the best peanut butter cups I’ve ever had” only spreads if real people say it. ㅤ Resources MentionedScrappy ABMLinkedInNotionFiverrYouTubePrime (hydration/energy)Beast BurgerFive GuysDomino’sTrader Joe’sCostcoSafewayIncogMYNA SnacksSquarespaceRyan TrahanMrBeastPewDiePieDrew GoodenCarl’s gummiesLunchables / “Lunchie” (mentioned as a reference) ㅤ Low-Tech, High-Impact Account-Based Marketing If you’re ready to trade expensive, tech-heavy account-based marketing for a repeatable, revenue-driving ABM program, check out Scrappy ABM. Led by a team of Scrappy ABM experts, they specialize in low-budget plays and programs that deliver high impact—no shiny tools required. Scrappy ABM has built account-based programs that have delivered millions in revenue, and you can build your first successful ABM program with their help. Start with a pilot program or launch an account-based podcast. Learn more at a href="https://scrappyabm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    43 min
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About

The Content Crowd is a podcast for creators, marketers, and founders who are tired of chasing trends and burning out on empty content. If you're looking to build something more honest, more human, and more resonant—this is your space. Hosted by Trevor Grimes, this show explores what makes content connect. From creative habits and storytelling shifts to behind-the-scenes breakdowns, every episode helps you stop mimicking and start making something that matters. Because content isn’t about gaming the algorithm. It’s about showing up with clarity, conviction, and something worth saying.

Information

  • Creator
    Trevor Grimes
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Trevor Grimes
  • Show Website
    The Content Crowd