If you think the era of social media content creators is over now that the pandemic is winding down and people are able to go to work again, you might want to give that another thought.
26-year-old social media content creator, Tanvi Shah, started working on her social media channels as a side hustle during the pandemic. What’s interesting about Shah’s content is that she talks about stuff that’s not usually addressed in the corporate world, for example, how it affects mental health and what it’s like to be a South Asian working woman. She really struck a chord with people, and within just a year, she started thinking about leveraging her growing fan base.
In an interview with Insider, Shah spilled the beans about how she had to balance her social media content creator gig with her full-time corporate job. She had to wake up at the crack of dawn (6 AM, to be exact) to edit her videos. The problem is, as she kept doing her thing, her passion shifted towards increasing her online presence, and she started feeling like there wasn’t much satisfaction in her 9-to-5 job. In other words, the corporate environment wasn’t doing it for her anymore. And with a gutsy move, the London-born micro-influencer said goodbye to her career in corporate and went all-in as a full-time social media content creator, in which she soon realised she could bring in just as much money.
Today, Shah is crushing it on Instagram with over 44,000 followers. And let’s not forget TikTok, where her highest followers number almost 100,000. Her biggest achievement so far? Well, several months ago, Shah was chosen to be the face of Samsung on a London billboard! Who knows what other amazing opportunities lie ahead for her?
A social media content creator is basically someone who represents a brand online and shares all sorts of interesting info about that brand on their platform, and usually in more ways than one. In most cases, these people start off as just passionate individuals who are totally into social media and creativity.
In terms of their actual work, social media content creators are the captains of their (online) ships. They make posts, manage content, etc., to keep things running smoothly and maintain engagement across all their different platforms. If they want to succeed, without having to hire assistants, they need to develop a powerful combination of skills that might include, but not limited to, storytelling, visual editing, copywriting, and data analysis. However, one thing is for sure, they all need to be on top of their game when it comes to interacting with their followers and subscribers. Also, they have to know the ins and outs of each platform they’re using in order to ensure their message reaches as many people as possible.
Now, if you want to join the social media content creator club, there are a few things you’ll need to bring to the table. First off, you need a solid grasp of what makes people tick. Understanding their interests and desires is key. Second, you need to feel comfortable enough being in front of the camera and/or doing voice overs.
Social Media Content Creators vs. Influencers
Content creators influence internet people in their own way, but they are definitely not the same as social media influencers. The motivation and style of content creators and influencers differ in general, even though both create and share relevant content via social media.
Social Media Influencers
Social media influencers build their own personal brand and share content that revolves around their own lives and interests. As soon as they’ve built up a solid fanbase, they team up with brands to give them ‘a shout-out’ or promote their products on their pages.
Content Creators
Content creators create content for different businesses. They also cater to their specific target audience by adapting their marketing strategies. Instead of just focusing solely on themselves, they collaborate with clients, bringing their expertise to the table. And for the most part, content creators liaise with recruitment agencies on creative direction and campaign ideas, making sure everything aligns with the brand’s vision.
Most Used Platforms for Social Media Content Creators
As of 2023, there are more than 20 popular social media platforms in the market. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough space to discuss each of these platforms today. So, let’s just take a look at the top four platforms occupied by most social media content creators.
YouTube
Youtube has to be the most popular video-sharing platform by far, because what other channel has 2.6 billion (yes, with a ‘b’, not ‘m’) active users each month?
Often referred to as YouTubers, there are over 51 million of them on the channel. That number keeps on growing, which is hardly surprising. In fact, what surprises us is that there were nearly 30,000 YouTube channels with over 1 million subscribers in 2022. And that’s a whole lot of audiences tuning in, if you ask us.
What’s also crazy is that these YouTubers cover just about every topic under the sun. We are talking travel vlogs, beauty tutorials, healthy meal plans, fashion inspo (2022-2023 is the year of these ‘Get Ready with Me’ trends), game reviews, music—the list goes on.
Now, let’s get to what many of you are super curious about: How do YouTubers make money? The answer to this question is that there is more than one way to get paid. They can generate some revenue directly from YouTube itself, but keep in mind that there are certain requirements in place. And if that’s not enough, they can also rake in some money from their sponsors, which many see as an easier and potentially more lucrative source of income.
Instagram is one of the apps in the Meta family, as everyone knows. The app is more popular among Millenials and Gen Z, as is Tiktok. In the past, Instagram was all about uploading photos. But things have changed in recent years. Rumor has it that they wanted to take on TikTok, so they decided to hop on the video train, and now you’ll find features like ‘reels’ taking centre stage.
A social media content creator on Instagram is an individual who creates beautiful or interesting visual content to capture the attention of their followers. Due to the platform’s visual nature, these content creators have their sights set on health, fitness, beauty, travel, and fashion content.
Being an Instagram content creator means juggling a variety of tasks. These Insta content creators spend most of their time photographing, filming, and editing their content. Not to mention the final stage before uploading when they need to come up with captivating captions that goes with their content.
As if that weren’t enough work. These creators have to be master planners too. They’re strategizing their content, making (and hopefully closing) deals with relevant brands, networking to boost their presence, while taking care of all those day-to-day admin tasks.
So, whoever says being an Insta social media content creator is a breeze has clearly never seen how it’s done behind the scenes.
TikTok
In case you have been living under a rock for the last couple years, Tiktok app, originally owned by the Chinese media company Douyin, has taken the world by storm and it’s now the go-to platform for young content creators.
What sets TikTok apart is its nifty built-in recording and editing capabilities that make it a breeze for content creators to whip up videos and put them out there in no time. And when they’re done right, those videos can go viral faster than you can say ‘TikTok famous’.
Now, let’s talk about what it’s like to be a content creator on TikTok. It’s kind of similar to what we discussed earlier about Instagram creators, but the focus here is solely on video content.
Podcast
Despite not being as mainstream as the other three, podcast shows great potential for growth, with more than 850,000 podcasts active last year.
These podcast content creators usually monitor and oversee the production process, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Their tasks also involve digging deep, researching guests and scheduling them for juicy interviews. They also need to do audio production, which is actually the most important task.
Because Podcast is a sound-driven platform, creators need to work extra hard to make sure it sounds just right before releasing it. This does not mean, however, that content planning is not their primary task. Like content creators on other platforms, they are always busy writing up future content for just one reason: to keep their listeners hooked.
Here’s an interesting tidbit: some of these podcasters also make videos for their YouTube audience. Yup, there’s a bit of a crossover going on between podcast producers and YouTube video creators. Essentially, it’s like a double dose of content creation.
The Perks of Becoming a Social Media Content Creator
You Are Your Own Boss
Embrace your freedom, because as a social media content creator, you are your own boss. Say goodbye to that monotonous 9-to-5 grind. You get to design a work schedule that suits your needs and preferences. When the inspiration strikes, all you have to do is grab your trusty devices, and start working. Need a breather? Take a break, savour a delicious meal, or indulge in some much-needed self-care. You’re the one calling the shots.
And here’s the cherry on top: you can work from anywhere your heart desires. Content creation knows no boundaries. Whether you fancy slipping into your cosy pyjamas, sitting at your favourite local café, or even soaking up the sun on a beautiful island, you can make it happen. The world is your office, and again, you’re the one in control.
Wait, there’s more. You also have the power to choose your niche. Now, it’s all about sharing your passions with your audience. Are you all about fitness and health? Then go ahead and create awe-inspiring gym workouts and mouth watering nutrition content. Got a serious case of wanderlust? Unleash your inner travel aficionado and craft captivating travel blogs. The choice is yours!
A Rewarding Career - and Potentially a Well-Paying One!
As a social media content creator, your words pack a punch. Your content has the power to inform, educate, and inspire your fans. But this career isn’t just rewarding emotionally—it can also pay off financially. You’re looking at a payday that can even surpass the basic salary of those sought-after office jobs in some cases.
Take YouTube for example. The average national salary for a YouTuber in the UK sits at around USD 38,175 per year. That’s just an average, however. In this day and age, we have a whole range of creators out there, and their earning potential differs from one to the other. We have those fresh-faced beginners barely making a living. But at the other end of the spectrum, there are those big-time creators who make millions every single year.
A Supportive Network of Your Own
Social media content creator jobs go beyond just making content. It’s also about forging genuine connections with your community. And trust us, there are millions of creators out there, and chances are, you’ll find your people, people who share your interests and passions. Along the way, you’ll discover the power of building relationships that are just as authentic as the ones you make in real life. You’ll connect with like-minded creators who get you, who understand your vision. Together, you’ll form a tight-knit community where you can bounce ideas off one another, collaborate on joint content, and support each other’s creative journeys.
What Is SEO in Digital Marketing, and How Can It Benefit Your Business?
We have finally reached the part you have all been waiting for: what is SEO in digital marketing, and how can it benefit your business? Buckle up, because things are about to get intense.
When it comes to digital marketing, SEO is a crucial strategy, a secret sauce that can help your business grow exponentially. Here’s how it can work wonders for your business:
Increase Online Visibility
First off, let’s talk about online visibility. When you implement a killer SEO strategy, your website gets a sweet boost in search results. Consequently, more of your target audience stumble upon your business on the internet, making it much easier and faster for them to find out what you have to offer.
Boost Website Organic Traffic
SEO in digital marketing also helps you boost website traffic. When your rankings climb higher in the SERPs, more visitors flock to your website. They devour your awesome content, explore your products and services, and that can only mean more sales and revenue for your business. Chaching!
Stands Out From Competitors
Last but not least, SEO in digital marketing allows you to stand out from your competitors. What if you outrank your biggest rivals in search results? Suddenly, you’re the shining star, the go-to expert in your field. That’s some serious credibility boost. And that, dear readers, attracts new customers like bees to honey.
Bottom Line
Becoming a successful social media content creator isn’t a walk in the park. It takes dedication and hard work to make your mark in this ever-evolving digital landscape. Sure, there will be moments of stress and challenges at some point, but trust us when we say that the rewards are worth it.
The secret sauce is: you have to enjoy the process. Embrace the journey with open arms because there’s a whole world of knowledge waiting for you to explore. And guess what? You’re going to have a blast while you’re at it!
Give it your all, pour your heart and soul into your craft, and watch as your efforts pay off. It’s important to remember that success doesn’t come overnight, but with perseverance and a genuine passion for what you do, you’re bound to make waves on the world of the internet.
