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I’m a content material creator. I create content material—primarily weblog posts—for the Ahrefs weblog, which generates round ~300,000 visits monthly (from Google alone).
How did I change into a content material creator for such a preferred weblog? Nicely, I’ll speak about it later within the submit. However earlier than you stick with it studying, I need you to know there are a lot of paths to changing into a content material creator. The trail I adopted is merely considered one of them. However because it’s the one one I do know, it’s the one I’ll share.
Let’s start with some fundamentals.
What’s a content material creator?
A content material creator is somebody who creates written, audio, video, or visible content material for a digital platform like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or a weblog.
They are often working in-house for a corporation (like me) or company, freelancing, or doing their very own factor (e.g., influencers).
What does a content material creator do?
They create content material. (Duh!) Moreover that, they might additionally:
- Create a content material technique.
- Handle a content material calendar.
- Analysis content material concepts.
- Design and edit visuals.
- Document and edit movies.
- Produce podcasts.
- Do fundamental search engine optimization.
- Have a deep understanding of the channels they produce content material for, together with the most recent updates and modifications.
How a lot do content material creators make?
There isn’t any restrict to how a lot a content material creator can make.
However how a lot you make will depend on whether or not you’re working in-house, freelancing, or doing your individual factor. You might also earn extra if you:
- Have subject material experience.
- Have a sizeable following on the platform the place you create content material.
- Have a well known and well-respected model.
In response to Zippia, the median content material creator wage is $52,000 yearly. Nevertheless, some content material creators have been identified to earn as much as six figures.
For instance, Jon Morrow of SmartBlogger used to cost as much as $2.50 per phrase when he was freelancing. That’s $5,000 for a 2,000-word submit. One article per week means Jon’s making six figures a 12 months.
Different examples embody:
The right way to change into a profitable content material creator
Trying again at my very own profession, I’ve recognized some key issues that led me to change into a content material creator.
1. Select a distinct segment to develop your information and expertise
To create content material, it is advisable to first have a subject. It may be something: finance, soccer, and even Pokemon playing cards. In truth, I began off writing about breakdancing.
I selected breakdancing as a result of it was one thing I used to be already accustomed to. I had been doing it for nearly eight years at that time and had collected a ton of data. I simply wanted to determine learn how to share it.
Content material creation is in the end not about simply how stunning your writing is or how magical your movies are. In fact, they play an element. However the core of content material creation is about your concepts. In case you don’t have one thing to share—otherwise you don’t have the required information—it doesn’t matter how a lot time you spend refining your work. Individuals simply received’t care.
As bestselling finance writer Morgan Housel places it:
Good concepts are simple to put in writing, unhealthy concepts are arduous. Problem is a high quality sign, and author’s block normally signifies extra about your concepts than your writing.
To change into a profitable content material creator, it is advisable to begin with an space the place you both have current information/experience or an space the place you may develop information.
It’s OK if you happen to don’t have experience proper now. Quite the opposite, it’s an effective way to start. Doc your journey and create content material round the way you’re studying, working towards, and gaining information. Individuals like to observe tales of somebody going from zero to one.
In truth, #buildinpublic is a well-liked hashtag on Twitter, and it has been a rallying level for a lot of people who find themselves creating content material and studying in public.
Added the product demo to the touchdown web page!
Initially added the video in 15 min…
Then determined I couldn’t dwell with the way it seemed
Spent one other 2hrs on design and now very pleased with it.
Remaining model on this tweet, however the way it advanced is detailed under
1/5 pic.twitter.com/AH0mS8VYD5— Marie Ng 🦙🌳 (@threehourcoffee) January 30, 2022
Lastly, the area of interest you select now shouldn’t be one thing you’re restricted to ceaselessly. You’ll be able to at all times change matters as you progress. I now not create content material about breakdancing and, as a substitute, spend most of my time writing about advertising and marketing.
However the important thing level is that this: You must select one thing to get began—one which matches your strengths and the area of interest you’re growing your experience in.
2. Select a content material creation ability you’d wish to develop
Subsequent, you need to select a content material format after which develop expertise in that space. Kinds of content material creation expertise embody:
- Copywriting/writing
- Graphic design
- Images
- Video manufacturing
- Podcasting
And extra.
For instance, in case your area of interest is taekwondo, then maybe it’s possible you’ll need to think about growing your expertise in video manufacturing.
That being mentioned, taking part in to your strengths is extra essential. Creating content material is a protracted journey. And creating the kind of content material you want on a subject you’re keen about will assist you go a protracted method.
For this reason, even if writing was (seemingly) a horrible medium for breakdancing, I nonetheless selected to go for copywriting in the long run. The truth that I used to be already taken with writing—coupled with me being digital camera shy—made this determination a no brainer. In hindsight, writing matched my strengths and has served me properly so far.
In case you’re like me and need to enhance your copywriting expertise, I extremely suggest these assets:
3. Create a “Do 100” undertaking
There’s no method round it. If you wish to learn to create content material, you have to create content material.
If you wish to enhance your content material creation expertise, one of the simplest ways is to truly make one thing and put it on the market. Sure, it’s scary. Sure, it is going to harm to get suggestions. However you need to undergo this part to change into a profitable content material creator.
To sort out the above, I like to recommend making a “Do 100” undertaking. That is an concept that was popularized by my good friend, Visakan Veerasamy. Principally, commit to creating 100 of X, the place X is the content material creation ability you need to enhance.
Right here’s the magic of Do 100 Factor: the primary 20 may appear like crap, and also you may assume you’ll by no means get higher if you happen to do 1000, after which quantity 30 seems higher than you thought attainable (h/t @shrinetothevine) pic.twitter.com/Kz8cISI5Yk
— visa is sorting via outdated recordsdata (@visakanv) October 11, 2021
For instance, if you happen to’re making an attempt to excel at making short-form movies, then decide to creating 100 TikTok movies. In case you’re writing, decide to crafting 100 tweets or writing 100 weblog posts. In case you’re studying images, submit 100 images on Instagram.
The explanation why this works is twofold:
- Dedication – A undertaking is a forcing hand. No extra procrastination or fixed deliberation. That is the rationale why challenges like #tweet100 and #ship30for30 are so common.
- Quantity – A ceramics trainer cut up his class into two teams: One was graded solely on the amount of labor they produced, the opposite on the standard of labor. The outcome: The group graded for amount produced works of upper high quality. Amount results in high quality. The extra you create, the higher you change into.
My story is comparable too. Whereas I didn’t name it a “Do 100” undertaking again then, I dedicated to sending an e-mail a day, 5 days every week, to the subscribers of my breakdance weblog. I finally wrote over 100 emails. Trying again, I now notice this undertaking actually skyrocketed my writing expertise.
4. Get a job as a content material creator
After working my breakdance weblog and dealing for an (finally unsuccessful) startup, I used to be employed as a content material advertising and marketing supervisor at ReferralCandy. At ReferralCandy, a giant a part of my work was to create weblog posts. But it surely wasn’t merely any weblog submit. I needed to create weblog posts that have been a part of a content material advertising and marketing technique.
Due to my work at ReferralCandy, I finally joined Ahrefs—and that is the place I’ve been for the previous three years.
You don’t should get a job to change into a profitable content material creator. However I don’t remorse this path. In spite of everything, a content material creator’s job at present is now not nearly content material creation. It includes many elements of selling.
Working at a number of corporations has launched me to essential advertising and marketing expertise like content material advertising and marketing and search engine optimization. It has additionally helped me to learn to plan and create content material as a part of a coherent advertising and marketing technique. All of those can solely serve to higher your profile as a content material creator.
I extremely suggest selecting up these expertise too. Use this useful resource to get began or watch this course:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btwC4zmewss&record=PLvJ_dXFSpd2vk6rQ4Rta5MhDIRmakFbp6&index=1
Essentially the most direct technique to get a job as a content material creator is to search for open job positions. Along with your “Do 100” undertaking as your portfolio, you’ll be in good standing to get one. Look by these job boards and see if you happen to match the roles’ standards. Develop your horizons a little bit—positions like “content material advertising and marketing supervisor” or “content material strategist” could possibly be good matches too.
Networking is essential as properly. I acquired my jobs at ReferralCandy and Ahrefs as a result of I had met and befriended each the heads of selling. Don’t overcomplicate this. In case you’re studying from somebody proper now, attain out and thank them for his or her content material. That is how one can kickstart a relationship with somebody you admire.
5. Furthering your profession
As you progress alongside your profession path and publish extra, you’ll start to realize a status in your area of interest. You could even construct an honest following alongside the method.
In case you’re , you may think about branching out and taking part in with totally different tasks. For instance, it’s possible you’ll need to freelance for different web sites. If that’s the trail you’re pursuing, I like to recommend studying this submit by Nick LeRoy. Whereas it’s particularly about search engine optimization freelancing, a lot of the rules might be utilized to any type of freelancing.
There are different monetization alternatives too, in addition to freelancing. Concepts embody:
- Product sponsorships and promoting
- Talking engagements
- Substack or different types of subscriptions
- On-line programs
- Books
- Affiliate marketing online
- Ecommerce, e.g., organising your individual store to promote merchandise
The world’s your oyster. Mess around and see which one matches your circumstance and context.
Remaining ideas
As a content material creator, you by no means cease studying.
You have to keep updated and be taught concerning the modifications in your chosen area of interest, in addition to the platforms you’re creating content material for. You additionally want to remain present on what your viewers desires to see.
Lastly, as you be taught an increasing number of, you’ll begin to develop tastes and opinions. You’ll start to determine what works and what doesn’t. This might be what makes you stand out from the a whole bunch and hundreds of different content material creators.
Did I miss out on something? Let me know on Twitter.
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