to become a content creator: The Inside Scoop

There is content everywhere! It seems that there is a constant need for content. It’s why I quit a lucrative sales job ten years ago to work as a content creator full-time.

What do content creators do in reality? We don’t only post memes.


Irony

I’ll give you an inside look at the work of content creators, how much they earn, and what you need to do to become one.

This article is aimed at anyone who wants to be a content creator. It’s also for businesses that want to include more content in their marketing and individuals looking to hire content writers.

Let’s start.

Table of Contents

What is a Content Creator?

Content creators create content to generate revenue, either for themselves or their organization. Content can be published on any platform or channel, from social media sites to websites to printed publications.

Anyone who posts an adorable puppy photo on Instagram is considered a content producer. Content can include things like fiction novels or feature films. In this article, we are talking about digital content that is used to increase leads and customer numbers. It’s also content that is used to support a marketing campaign.

Content creators’ workplace

Three scenarios exist in which digital content creators operate.

Freelancers have more freedom, but also less security because they are responsible for finding their own gigs. Content creators who work in-house have more consistent work, but a more strict work environment. The work of agency creators is usually varied, but they have less control over strategy and workflow.

Content creators can be classified into several types

The to-do lists of content creators vary greatly. The line between the two blurs; an influencer who creates TikToks can also be a videographer.

You can easily see the differences between content creators by looking at my list of the most common ones.

Influencers are brand ambassadors.

Brand ambassadors can make money through social media by selling or recommending products to their audiences.

Brands often pay influencers for their product promotion.

Influencers don’t have to be millions of followers. Some brands work with micro influencers who have a few thousands followers.

Influencers can also sell their products. Khloe Khoury and her Good American brand are a great example.

You’re in a great position if you want to be an influencer. Influencer marketing is expected to grow and reach $11 billion by 2023. You could probably eat a large piece of that pie , but you’d be competing with and thousands of other for attention.

Social media content managers and creators

This content creator creates social media content for a brand. They also manage the social media accounts of the brand.

They are multi-talented. They can capture images and videos, create captions and manage publishing calendars. There is usually a component of Social Listening that helps to determine the online reputation of a brand. Social media managers track metrics and report them.

Zaria Parvez would be a good person to look up to if you are interested in this kind of work. She manages Duolingo’s social media accounts.

Parvez posts a variety of content, from product demonstrations to dancing challenges, across multiple platforms.

Vloggers and streamers

Influencers are also known as vloggers or streamers. They have a similar approach to vloggers, in that they build their own audiences and use them to promote brands and sell their products.

The mediums they use are the biggest difference.

Vloggers create video blogs and then upload them to a platform such as YouTube. The topics they cover may include their everyday life or the way to build something.

Justine Nelson is the host of a Vlog titled The Debt-Free Millenial.

Nelson’s Vlog is great because she has found a niche that’s relevant to a certain audience.

Steamers stream live videos on platforms such as Twitch. People watch streamers open product boxes or play video games.

Pokimane has over 9 million Twitch followers, making him one of the top live streamers.

Find something that you are truly passionate about if you want to be a streamer. If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, your content will become boring.

Photographers and videographers

This category includes professionals who either capture static images or video (or both!) ).

They can find many outlets for their creative work. These professionals can sell their content on stock image websites or create their own social channels. They can also work directly with brands, social media managers, and other companies.

product photograph is a lucrative side-business (pun intended). For example, ecommerce brands need to have high-quality video and imagery for their ever-growing catalogs as well as ads on social media.

Writers

The best content creators are writers. We cover a wide range of topics for many different mediums.

Professionally written copy can be seen in:

Writers can also work as freelancers or at agencies, just like other content creators. Many content writers earn their living by writing for their own channels.

Ann Handley is an example of a well known business writer who has her own website, blog and email newsletter.

Handley is a self-employed content marketer who uses her digital channels to promote her books.

Read this guide on how to create great landing pages to learn more about Ann’s landing page.

Podcasters

The popularity of podcasts has exploded. Every week, the average person listens to 7 hours worth of podcasts. Brands take advantage of the popularity of podcasts by creating their own podcasts or advertising on them.

Podcasts can range from short motivational talks of two minutes to long history lessons. You can find podcasts that are episodic, where actors act out a story. There are also many podcasts that provide information on every subject imaginable.

Podcast creators can be the producer, writer, host or any combination of these.

SEO 101 is an audio podcast that teaches you the basics of Search Engine Optimization.

Both hosts run their own marketing agencies, so this pod serves two purposes. The pod generates direct advertising revenue and builds brand awareness for both the hosts’ marketing agencies.

Are you interested in SEO? This guide will help you to get on page one of Google.

What is the average salary of a content creator in 2023?

We’ve heard of the huge dollars that influencers earn. MrBeast earns upwards $10,000,000 just from his YouTube videos.



Source

It’s good to know how much the average content creator makes. In case you do not reach that level.

Glassdoor reports that freelance content creators earn an average of $53,000 a year. This average is lowered by the fact that some of these people freelance on the side.

You can expect to earn between $35 and $100 per hour if you are a freelancer. I know of several full-time content creators who make six figures.

Zip Recruiter reports that the average salary of an in-house writer is $115.733 a year. According to Indeed data, content writers earn 20/hour in average.

According to my experience, content creator jobs in-house pay anywhere between $40,000 and $130,000 annually. The higher end is reserved for jobs that require higher levels of experience and activities such as strategy.

Influencers are paid by a variety of sources. Influencers are paid by brands when they promote their products. Influencers may receive a portion of the advertising revenue generated by social media platforms. Many influencers are “paid” with freebies. It’s hard to quantify.

Influencers’ income usually increases as their followers increase. According to Petal’s research this is what influencers with different audience thresholds could earn:

How to become an online content creator in seven steps

Content creators have a rewarding job. You can exercise your logic and creativity muscles. It’s also really cool to watch your creations in action and be experienced by others.

Here are seven steps I would take to create paid content, whether you want to do it full-time or part-time.

1. View other creators

When I asked for advice on how to become a successful writer, the first thing I heard was “read a lot.” I would expand this and add “watch a bunch.” This is especially true for visual creators such as social media influencers.

Choose three creators that you admire, and then consume all of their work. We’re not learning a secretive trade here (we’re just talking about a public profession).

You can also do this for specific topics. Follow a few fitness tags to get started and search for common themes in the content that is most popular.

Note the details such as how often they post and. What they are using for thumbnails. What topics are they talking about?

Try to guess what their strategy is. What do you think their audience definition would be? Can you tell us how they repurpose content?

As you continue to learn, you will notice more and more.

2. Join public creator groups

You can find a variety of public groups for creators on social networks such as Facebook and Slack.

I could list a dozen of these groups, but I usually find them by searching Google for “groups [creator type] for [channel].” For example, if I wanted to connect with content marketers I would search for “groups content marketers for Slack”.

Ask questions as soon as you are familiar with the rules of the group. Do not be afraid to ask questions. You still have some ideas, even if you are new.

3. Learn to speak the language

You will have to put in the hard–and sometimes frustrating–work. Many companies provide free resources.

Visit the website for any tool that you would use (like Canva, if you are into design). These companies are trying to get you to use their products by teaching you the basics.

Our blog has a wealth of resources for writers and content marketers.

Both social media platforms and search engine have their own educational guides. Google, Meta (also known as Meta) and TikTok all have creator resources. Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have all created resources.

4. Create, create, create

Nobody expects to get a contract with the NBA before they begin playing basketball. It’s the same for content creators. Before you get paid, you’ll have to show off your skills and practice.

It’s important to get over your fear of beginning. Grab your phone and snap a photo of your dog or your current art project. Post it, and mimic the tone of a favorite influencer. Rewrite the post of a content marketing expert you admire.

Do not worry if you make mistakes in your first attempts. Try to embrace this phase of your development.

You must do reps if you want to improve.

5. Your voice and style should be refined

You’ll copy other artists a lot in the beginning of your creative journey. That’s OK. It’s OK.

How can you create your own style?

Then add them to yours. Add them to your own. You will eventually have a dozen or more things that blend together to create something unique.

6. Create a portfolio

Save your content as soon as you create it, whether for money or practice.



Image source

Start with Google Docs, or any other free tool. Keep a spreadsheet that has links to the files if you have multiple files.

Do not be afraid to share what you have. When you share certain items, you can restrict access.

You can publish your portfolio online on a public site. This list contains free places to host your portfolio.

7. Network

It’s only half true that the old saying “It’s not about what you know but who you knows” is correct. It is important to be able to create your own content. Who you know is important when you’re looking for paying gigs.

LinkedIn is the first person you should contact. Follow people who are in your field. Share, like and respond to their posts. After they’ve seen your name several times, ask them to connect.

Here’s my personal tip: Contact people after they have been guests on a podcast. The majority of people are interested in knowing that their podcast episode was good. So I sent them a LinkedIn note telling them how much i enjoyed the episode.

Reddit, for example, and industry groups are both great places to start.

When people start recommending you for new job opportunities, all those connections begin to pay off.

Get started today with your content creation journey

One step is all it takes to begin a journey. Perhaps you will post on social media more thoughtfully today. You can also read about and how to write blog posts.

Remember these tips no matter where you begin:

The post How To Become A Content Creator: Inside Scoop first appeared on WordStream.

Tagged

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *