The Netflix Value Test

Because Content is Competition

There are at 4 series on that screen that I highly recommend — guess which ones in the comments 😉

One tip that I give entrepreneurs at The Family is to evaluate their content using the “Netflix test”:

Every person you’re targeting has a browser tab with Netflix open, right next to the tab where your content appears. They’ve probably even got a Season 2 episode of Rick and Morty on pause. Is your content able to compete with that in terms of value?

(Ok, I added the Rick and Morty bit for the article.)

“Competing” is important, because the internet has already created an infinite amount of content, more than anyone could ever consume. Earning someone’s attention in today’s world means that they make the decision to pay attention to you and not to Netflix.

“But, Self!” you say to yourself, “Netflix is incredible! I can’t compete with that.”

I’m just going to curl up over here and cry a little.

But having great value doesn’t mean equaling Netflix in terms of pure “entertainment”. After all, Netflix’s own value comes from various places: filling your leisure time, maybe providing some cultural capital, or a few Netflix ‘n Chill benefits in your love life. So the question is what criteria let you truthfully evaluate your content’s value.

It can help to consider your content according to a few categories:

• Economics: Am I clearly offering savings or earnings to my clients? Is it obvious how my product does that? Do I respect the fact that no one owes me anything, and that I have to earn their attention?
• Entertainment: Is my content amusing, compelling, captivating? How? Have the courage to ask the big question: “Is this boring?”
• Time: Is my content taking more time to get to the point than needed? When does a stranger clearly feel my value add? If it’s at the end of an article/post, that’s way too late.
• Durability: Am I providing content that will stick with my audience? Is my post something to “Like” and then forget forever? In 24 hours, will they remember my message?
• Professionalism: Does my content match my target? Is the tone what they expect/want? Do I follow the linguistic/grammatical codes?

The relative weight of each of these categories changes depending on your business and even on each individual piece of content. There is no universal, “correct” formula that will maximize value: not every piece of content directly sells your product, a Facebook post is shorter than a Medium article, etc.

Those categories can help you get a general feel for what you’ve produced. But that will only be helpful if you add in the most important piece of the puzzle: Be brutally honest with yourself. If there are things that you can change and make better, do it. If you’re way off, throw it away and start over. If it has Netflix value, go for it.

Honesty is hard, but less hard than figuring out why your company died.

If you liked this article, hit the 👏 & share it with your friends. If you know the right answer for the Netflix series I’d highly recommend, comments are down there👇 😘