Content creation has become one of the most exciting ways to make your mark on the world, connect with audiences, and potentially earn an impressive income entirely online. And as a whole, the rise of the creator economy has redefined how people consume media.
Content creators come in many forms, from bloggers and video creators to social media influencers and podcasters. Of the platforms they use, YouTube arguably stands out the most, having been a pioneer of and remaining a dominant force in the landscape thanks to its vast audience and strong monetization options. Nevertheless, successful content creators abound on other apps and websites as well, including Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Of course, choosing whether to pursue a career creating YouTube videos or viral social media posts and clips is the best option for you is a major decision. On that note, the following guide will detail everything you need to know about becoming a content creator on YouTube and other top digital venues.
What Is a Content Creator?
As the term suggests, a content creator works specifically to create content for a specific audience or topic, either independently or with the help of a small team. Instead of producing videos for digital marketing purposes, though, content creators seek to build their brands so they can monetize their channel(s) and open the door for other revenue-generating strategies.
Types of Content Creators
Not all content creators are the same, as each platform and medium offers unique ways to express oneself and connect with an audience.
YouTube Creators
YouTube has become the world’s second-largest search engine and boasts roughly 2.6 billion monthly active users. As you might expect from such figures, YouTube creators can certainly make it big.
Take PewDiePie, for instance. The hit gaming YouTuber has a net worth of roughly $85 million, most of which came from YouTube. There’s also Jack Doherty, who has become (in)famous for his prank and stunt videos, several of which cross onto the wrong side of legality. He has been able to keep his net worth private, but it’s estimated to be in the tens of millions.
Other Platforms to Consider
While YouTube has become synonymous with “content creation,” it’s not the only option out there. Countless creators have achieved great success on other platforms altogether.
You can be a social media content creator and focus on producing posts and videos on your favorite apps, like Instagram or TikTok. Alternatively, you can become a content writer or blogger, which can open the door for brand partnerships and content marketing opportunities.
One platform that sometimes gets left out of the conversation is Twitch, a live-streaming platform that primarily appeals to gamers. Some of the world’s top gamers broadcast themselves playing and interacting with fans on a regular (if not daily) basis.
Hasan Piker is a great example of a content creator who has enjoyed success on multiple platforms, including YouTube and Twitch. His estimated revenue from YouTube is a little over $500,000, but he’s earned at least an additional $1.5 million on Twitch and has used his stream to raise millions for various charities.
Felix Lengyel, more commonly known as “xQc,” is another cross-platform streamer who has enjoyed success on both YouTube and Twitch, having an estimated net worth of more than $60 million.
Getting Started as a Content Creator
Regardless of the kind of digital content creator you want to be, there are a few steps you’ll have to navigate first:
Choose Your Platform
Start by figuring out which content creation skills you have or want to develop, and then determine which platforms best align with your interests. Instagram and TikTok can be solid choices if you have a knack for creating short, snappy content, whereas Twitch tends to favor avid gamers who enjoy being part of an active community. YouTube is arguably the best all-around option, thanks to its massive audience and favorable monetization program.
Find Your Niche
Here, in what’s perhaps the trickiest step, you need to find a niche that not only interests you but that you can consistently create content about. The subject you choose needs to have a large enough target audience in order to grow your channel. However, you probably don’t want to pick too broad of a topic, because your channel may get lost among the trove of others like it out there.
If you do want to pursue a broad topic, try to find your own niche within the community you love. For example, if you want to do clothing hauls, try a few different niches like jewelry, athletics wear, dresses, or products from specific popular brands.
Whether you want to produce entertaining or educational material, the age range of your primary audience and the ways you will stand out from other influencers are all things you need to consider.
Buy Essential Equipment and Tools
You don’t need to spend thousands on high-end cameras and sound equipment to get started as a content creator. However, you will need a few basic tools, such as a tripod and a lapel microphone. If you own a recent smartphone with a good camera, it should be able to capture video of sufficient quality but phone mics are often not great.
You’ll also need some good editing software to support your content creation process. Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve can bring a professional touch to your content. And free software like Canva can also be a great addition to your toolbox for designing thumbnails and other visuals.
This all depends on what kind of a content creator you want to be. For example, if you just want to do a few clothing hauls or unboxings, you probably don’t need much more than your phone camera and maybe a microphone. A ring light or something similar is a great addition too as good lighting is absolutely essential for making high-quality content.
Content Creation Process
Developing a structured content creation process is key to sustaining your content journey and keeping your audience engaged. Here’s what you need to do:
Create a Content Calendar
Consistency is absolutely essential for content creators as many social media recommendation algorithms (namely YouTube) take it into account. A calendar or posting schedule will be an unmistakably important aspect of your content strategy. You should identify how often you want to post content and on what days.
When planning in advance, make sure that you schedule posts for times with peak traffic. For example, social media experts from Influencer Marketing Hub, Hootsuite, and Sprout Social agree that the best times to post on TikTok are Tuesday at 9 am, Thursday at 12 pm and 7 pm, and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons.
If you plan to use YouTube as your primary content creation platform, you’ll likely need to publish a new video about once every week or two. Try to do so on the same day every week, and make sure to promote new videos using YouTube Shorts. If you are going to use another outlet, like TikTok or Instagram, you may need to post more frequently. It is certainly possible to succeed with fewer higher-quality posts, but the recommendation algorithm clearly favors consistency.
Do Your Homework
You’ll need to perform a hefty amount of research on keywords, topics relevant to your niche, and whatever’s currently trending. Incorporate relevant keywords into your video titles, descriptions, and script, but don’t overdo it. Keep your content natural.
Write a Script
If you are filming a YouTube Short, Instagram Reel, or TikTok, you can make things up on the fly. However, if you struggle to come up with spur-of-the-moment dialogue, feel free to create a script for your short videos, too. In either case, you’ll need a script for your long-form content.
Film Your Content
You’re ready to start filming, but don’t feel as though you need to rush the process. Perform multiple takes and make sure you capture every important shot. You don’t want to sit down to start editing only to find out that your key shots have errors or poor-quality audio.
Ensure Quality Through Proper Editing
You need to make sure every aspect of your content is as polished and refined as possible, from your thumbnails to your descriptions and even your channel’s trailer. Doing so all but requires feature-packed editing software.
Even if you find software that’s “user-friendly,” there will still be a bit of a learning curve. That’s okay. Experiment with your editing tools and try out all of the different features. Ultimately, you want to find a platform you like and stick with it. If you don’t know anything about editing and just want to get started creating high-quality content immediately, you can pay contractors on Fiverr, Upwork, or similar platforms to edit for you.
Build a Personal Brand
All of the most successful content creators have a unique voice and clear target audience. If you want to build a strong following, you’ll need to find your voice, determine who you want to reach, and understand the value your channel will provide them with.
These qualities form the foundation of your personal brand, which is what will set you apart from the rest. Whether you’re quirky, educated, or motivational, being yourself is what’s most important. As your brand becomes recognizable, people are more likely to remember you and keep coming back for new content.
Growing Your Audience
Building an audience takes time, but there are a few recommended ways that you can take advantage of to accelerate the growth of your channel, such as:
Marketing on Social Media
Be they gamers or general influencers, all of the top YouTube content creators excel at social media marketing. You can borrow some of their winning marketing strategies to get yourself noticed and gain traction with your target audience.
Focus on organic content to start, as it’s a low-budget option that requires little to no cash. All you need is a bit of creativity and plenty of consistency. Share new posts on your favorite social media channels, host Q&A sessions, or publish interactive content, like polls. It’s generally smart to use multiple social media platforms so that you can maximize your reach.
Understanding SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) strategies can help you make your social media channels and content more visible. Use keywords in your titles, descriptions, and tags to help search engines rank your content higher. Tools like Ahrefs can help you find phrases that fit your niche and attract relevant traffic.
Engaging With Your Followers
Successfully joining the ranks of the top social media influencers means engaging with your followers on a regular basis. Reply to comments, ask for feedback, and show appreciation to those who follow and support you. These actions make people feel valued and may encourage them to stick around for the long term.
Collaborating
As you build some momentum as a content creator, seek out collaboration opportunities with other creators in your niche. Teaming up with popular social media or YouTube personalities can introduce your brand to new audiences and bring fresh perspectives to your content. Look for other creators in your niche and just reach out to a bunch of them. You may be surprised by how many creators are looking for collaborations.
Content Creator Monetization Strategies
Here are a few different ways you can start generating revenue as a content creator:
Earn Platform-Specific Revenue
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) represents one of the most well-known ways to generate income directly through a specific platform. The YPP pays creators based on their video views and audience engagement. You’ll have to hit 1,000 subscribers and rack up 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months or earn 10M Shorts views in the last 90 days to qualify.
Other platforms, like TikTok and Instagram, also offer ad revenue options, allowing you to earn money directly through your content’s performance. Eligibility requirements vary between platforms, though, so make sure you know what sort of follower and engagement levels you need to reach.
Sponsorships
Once you build a strong following, you may have an opportunity to partner with brands for sponsorships. Find brands that align with your niche for authentic collaborations. There aren’t any hard rules regarding how much you’ll make on sponsorships. However, the more followers you have and the better your reach, the easier it will be to negotiate top pay.
Merchandise
Selling merch lets your fans support you and represent your brand. Merch is often the most profitable income source for top content creators and you can work with companies that will make the process extremely easy.
You can include links to your merchandise on your profile page or directly in the comments of your YouTube videos. Make sure to mention your merchandise in your content to maximize awareness.
Memberships
Membership platforms like Patreon allow fans to support you monthly for exclusive content. For example, you could publish a standard video on YouTube and then publish an extended or behind-the-scenes version for your patrons.
Just remember to keep your support tiers affordable so you don’t cause friction among your followers. Even $5 or $10 subscription fees can quickly add up.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a revenue-sharing model that’s particularly appealing to content creators. You’ll use your online presence to promote a company’s products in exchange for a commission. Many of the world’s biggest brands, including Amazon, Walmart, and more, run affiliate programs. Still, several lesser-known programs, such as Affiliaxe, Rakuten Advertising, and Awin, have great commission splits.
Tips for Success in Content Creation
Here are a few tips to give yourself the best odds of success as a content creator:
1. Be Consistent…
Develop a consistent posting schedule. Frequent upload builds anticipation and keeps your audience engaged.
2. Maintain Good Quality
Prioritize quality over quantity, even if it means posting less often. Your audience will appreciate polished, well-thought-out content. Consistency won’t do anything for you if the content is low quality.
3. Interact With Your Audience
Engaging with your audience fosters a loyal community. Respond to comments, ask for suggestions, and make people feel seen. You can try giveaways or just ask your fans to comment on whatever you’re discussing in the video.
4. Learn and Adapt
Content creation is an ever-evolving space, so you must never get comfortable or settled. Always keep up with the latest trends, tools, and algorithm updates that may impact your visibility in order to maintain your edge.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Every content creator faces challenges. Learning to handle things like the following is going to be a big part of your journey:
Algorithm Changes
All video publishing and social media platforms periodically update their algorithms. Some of these changes are minor, whereas others could have a major impact on your visibility. Adapt and experiment with new content types whenever your preferred platform’s algorithm shifts and keep an eye on competitors in your niche to see how they adapt.
Creative Blocks
While you need to publish content consistently, it’s okay to occasionally step away to seek new inspiration. Still, you should try to create a backlog of content so that you have a few videos on hand in case you ever need to take a break.
Work-Life Balance
Becoming a content creator can be incredibly fun and rewarding, but it’s often more taxing than you might expect. Maintain a good work-life balance and set boundaries for yourself to avoid burnout.
Competition
There is a ton of competition in the world of content creators. Don’t get caught up in what others are doing. Focus on your unique voice, and don’t compare your journey with others.
Ready to Become a Content Creator?
The content creation industry is showing no signs of slowing down. While the market may be flooded with brands and influencers, you can still carve out a niche for yourself and become a successful content creator so long as you apply yourself and follow the above tips to ensure consistency, creativity, and dedication.