While some see social media as just a fun pastime, others see it as a promising and engaging career path with numerous perks and benefits. That said, becoming a social media content creator isn't all glamour and fun; it takes a lot of work and effort to get there. To help you out, we've put together this guide to help you tap into your creativity and become a successful content creator. As you go along, you'll find lots of useful tips and tricks to help you on your way.
We'll run through how to build your following, connect with an audience, and create a personal brand that could allow you to turn social media into a full-time job. So, join us as we discover the steps to becoming a social media sensation.
How Social Media Content Creators Make Money
Social media content creators can earn money in various ways, such as brand sponsorships, ad revenue, donations, and creator funds, to name a few.
The amount of money you can earn depends on the number of monetization methods used, the size of the audience, and the niche chosen. But, you can absolutely earn enough to become a social media creator full-time if you put the time in and build an audience.
How to Become a Social Media Content Creator
Establish Your Content Style
Figuring out your content style means choosing the type of content you want to create and the areas you want to focus on. It's a good idea to make content about something you're interested in or enjoy, but it doesn't have to be limited to that. Today, social media creators make content on all kinds of topics, but they usually have a main focus, like books, makeup, or politics. This makes it easier to find an audience and use monetization techniques later.
Alongside this, having a clear understanding of the types of platforms and content formats is essential. For those who enjoy creating vlogs, hauls, and get-ready-with-me videos, TikTok might be the ideal choice. Conversely, individuals who are passionate about writing and expressing their thoughts could join X, or photography buffs might prefer Instagram. Working this out early on is a key step in planning content and building a personal brand that people love and remember.
Create a Content Plan
Every successful social media creator has a marketing strategy and content plan to build their online presence. Especially for new creators, creating a content schedule helps to stay organized and avoid getting overwhelmed. Overall, consistency is key to building a following - people love regular content to keep them absorbed.
Planning three weeks in advance is a prudent strategy, yet it's important to maintain adaptability, particularly when an emerging trend presents an opportunity. Tools such as Loomly, Notion, and Acuity can aid in the organization of your plans, and crafting a written plan can be equally beneficial. As you map out your strategy, you might want to think about incorporating details like:
- What kind of content are you looking to produce, and on which days of the week? It could be a vlog one day and a product review the next.
- The platforms you'll be posting on.
- The trends and hashtags you're planning to use.
- The themes your content is going to follow.
Prepare for Launch
Once you have an idea of where you want to create your content, set up accounts on each social media platform and make sure you optimize your profile. Include a profile photo and images that speak to your niche, as well as keywords in the bio and descriptions that have been identified using Google Keyword Search. You can also include a bio link with contact information, merchandise, affiliate links, and an email newsletter signup to make it easy for followers to find and stay top-of-mind.
Before launching the profile, creating around 5 pieces of content that introduce the creator, their style, and niche is recommended to upload on launch day. This will give new followers a clear idea of what the creator’s page is about right from the start, so they don't end up looking at a blank profile. In addition, preparing and collecting design elements or themes for posts can save time when creating content in the future. Overall, it’s important to get your content out there so you can see what’s working, and what isn’t, and adjust as needed.