What is a content creator, anyway? And how can you skip the trial-and-error so you can make money faster?

That’s what you’re going to learn in this article. If you’re serious about things like…

• Earning more money than you’ve ever made in your 9-to-5
• Working from anywhere 
• Having more purpose in your professional life

…then becoming a content creator could be an ideal fit for you.

Want to learn more? Here we go.

How to become a successful content creator: 

• Find a niche
• Know your audience 
• Decide on a platform
• Publish content
• Use tools to automate and measure

What is a content creator?

First off, a content creator is someone who creates content for a digital audience. 

As you can imagine, this can mean a lot of things because content comes in so many forms: Blogs, podcasts, videos, social media, and so on. 

For example, you could be a content creator who creates podcasts about a particular topic, like personal finance.

Is writing your strong suit? Then you could start a blog and create written content instead. 

For example, I have a YouTube audience, a blog audience, and a sizable email list. I share advice on something I have 10+ years of experience in – building businesses.

ou get the idea…

The important thing? Choose a medium you can see yourself committing to for long enough to see results. 

So, if you hate the idea of being on video, vlogging probably isn’t your best bet. Ideally, choose something you already enjoy or want to learn more about because this will help you keep going. 

Okay, but what else can you do to succeed faster? 

That’s what you’re about to find out.

How to become a successful content creator in 5 steps 

Here’s what I recommend to maximize your results.

1. Find your niche 

If your goal is to grow quickly as a content creator, niching down is really important. That means targeting a specific market segment rather than trying to reach everyone. 

Here’s an example: Let’s say you want to become a podcaster because you like discussing ideas and having interesting conversations.

Great! Here’s the thing, though… Podcasting is still really broad. 

And because it’s really broad, it doesn’t speak to anyone in particular. 

So, think about a specific topic you’re knowledgeable about – and that others will be interested in. 

For instance, maybe you’re passionate about helping young adults live debt-free because you used to be in debt and turned things around for yourself..  

Or maybe you want to help middle-aged adults get in shape using science-based strategies you’ve had success with.  

Having a niche will help you speak to your target audience and address their specific pain points.

Ultimately, think: What are some problems that I could help people solve based on my experience?

Once you’ve chosen a niche, you’ll have a solid foundation that you’ll be able to build on. 

2. Know your audience

Okay, so you’ve chosen a niche. The next step is to get to know your audience and what they want. 

Because remember… 

To create engaging content that solves people’s problems, you have to know what those problems are in the first place. 

So, what would attract the people you’re trying to reach? 

Going back to our earlier example, if you want to appeal to young adults trying to get out of debt, you wouldn’t use the same language you’d use to appeal to people in their 50s.

That’s why it’s so important to research your target audience. 

For example, look at what discussions people are having in online groups, how they engage with other content creators, and so on.  

Think: What do they need? What are their priorities? How can I use my experience to make their lives easier? 

If you create content with them in mind, that’ll help you get better results.

3. Decide on a platform 

Once you’ve decided who your audience is, you have to choose what platform you’re going to use to reach them. This step is essential, and it ties into knowing your audience.

Why? Because just as communication styles differ, so too do people’s preferences about how and where they consume content. 

For example, Gen Z is a big fan of visual platforms like Instagram and TikTok. So if you’re trying to appeal to a younger market segment, those are great platforms to target.

On the other hand, if you’re aiming for a slightly older audience, Facebook is a better choice. 

(Also, keep in mind that statistically, adults who are 55+ tend to prefer text-based content versus video.)

Here’s a quick overview of different platforms and what they’re best for:

• Facebook: Ideal for building niche groups on a variety of topics, especially among millennials (69% use it).
• YouTube: Ideal for long-form and short-form video content, especially if you’re trying to target Gen Z or millennials. 
• Instagram: Ideal for sharing visual content, with a majority of users (over 60%) being between 18 and 34 years old. 
• TikTok: Ideal for short video content to attract Gen Z. 
• X/Twitter: Ideal for sharing written content, podcasts, and videos. Most popular among men (60.9%).

As you can see, there are a lot of great platforms you can use to reach your target audience as a content creator. 

In fact, you might even be tempted to sign up for all of them to try to reach more people.

Sounds like a good strategy, right?

Actually, trying to grow on a bunch of different platforms at once can be counter-productive. Instead of reaching more people, you’ll risk reaching less – and burning out in the process. 

Let me explain…

Unfortunately, you can’t just use one strategy across the board. Different platforms require different approaches, and it takes time to figure out what works and what doesn’t on each.

And if you try to do it all, it’ll be much harder to get traction. 

So, here’s what I recommend: 

• Start with one or two platforms
• Learn as much as possible about the platform(s) and what users want to see (for example, user-generated content is popular on platforms like Instagram, and funny posts work great on Facebook)
• Once you get traction, rinse and repeat elsewhere

With this strategy, you’ll get better results, fast.

For example, when I was starting out, I got really good at using one platform (Facebook) to help me scale. 

Later on, I added YouTube and search engine optimization, which helped me build the sustainable eight-figure business I have now.

4. Publish content consistently  

Being consistent is one key to growing an audience as a content creator. 

Okay, but how?

Choose a medium that works for you.

Remember: If you enjoy creating content, it won’t feel like a chore. 

And… if it doesn’t feel like a chore, you’ll be much more likely to want to do it every day. Even if you don’t see results immediately.Sticking to a schedule is also crucial. I recommend creating content early in your workday so you’ll be less likely to skip it – especially if you have a busy schedule. 

Want more tips? I go into a lot more detail in this video:

5. Use tools to automate and optimize

So, how can you effectively automate as much of the process as possible? 

That’s where tools come in.

These days, there are a lot of tools you can use to get better results and automate, like Later, and Tailwind. 

Other tools, like Google Analytics, help you measure your results, so that you know how to improve your content and reach even more people. 

What skills do content creators need? 

The content creation market is expected to be worth $23.2 billion by 2026. 

In other words? The demand for content creators who know how to create engaging content isn’t going anywhere.

And if you want to quit your job and become one yourself, there’s plenty of room in the market for you. 

With that said, the specific skills you’ll need as a content creator depend (at least in part) on what format you choose for content delivery. 

Here’s what I mean by that…

Some people excel at creating engaging videos that viewers love consuming. Or they’re really good at interviewing people and creating podcast episodes that their audience comes back to again and again.

But… sometimes, the same people can struggle to create attention-grabbing written content, like social media captions or blog posts. 

The good news is that you don’t need to know everything about content creation to be successful. Choose a format that works for you. 

If you’re a strong writer and video isn’t your thing, that’s fine. Just stick with writing and get even better at it.

Ultimately, no matter what format you go with, here are some key things you should get good at:

• Creating valuable content – Ask yourself: Is this useful to my target audience? Does it address a problem they have?

• Researching trends – What’s new? What do people want to see? 

• Monitoring your content’s performance – Are certain types of content getting more traction than others? Look for patterns that can help you focus on creating content that will outperform what you’ve made in the past.

• Building an audience – This is a key part of being a successful content creator, and it starts with identifying a target market.

• Monetizing your content – From brand partnerships to monetizing videos and podcasts, there are a lot of ways to make money from your content (and we’ll get into the details in a bit).

• Coming up with a content strategy – Think: Who am I trying to reach? What am I going to post? How often? Having a plan will help you work effectively and know if you’re on the right track or not.

What are the best content creator ideas?

Now that we’ve looked at what skills you need as a content creator, what are the different ways of becoming one? That’s what we’ll look at next.

Blogger

If writing is your thing, blogging is an ideal way to become a content creator. 

According to LinkedIn, 77% of internet users read blogs. 

Which means? There’s a huge audience you could tap into. 

And remember, you don’t need any formal higher ed to be a blogger.

In fact, having an academic background can work against you because you might have to unlearn the stuffy writing that’s taught in college.

So, what do you need?

The key to effective blogging is creating content that interests your audience. Be engaging. Be funny. Use your personality. 

That’s how you’ll set yourself apart.

Read more: The 16 Best Blogging Platforms (& How to Pick One) 

YouTuber

As a YouTuber, you’d create videos geared toward your specific audience and get paid through sponsorships or YouTube itself (and I’ll cover specific ways you can earn later on). 

There are all kinds of YouTubers out there – from teens who do makeup tutorials to middle-aged digital nomads who vlog about their lifestyles.

One benefit of going this route?

Unlike other platforms, like Instagram, YouTube content has a much longer lifespan. 

In other words, you can create valuable content and keep making money on it years down the road. 

In fact, that’s why I’ve moved away from Instagram in favor of YouTube myself:

Ultimately, if video creation is your thing, choosing YouTube specifically is a solid choice. 

Why? 47% of internet users watch YouTube videos at least once a month, so there’s a huge audience to tap into. 

Read more: How to Become a YouTuber and Get Paid: 13 Tips 

Content writer 

If you decide to become a content writer, you could create a wide range of content, from ebooks to articles. 

But again, it does help to have a niche. 

That way, you’ll know who you’re writing for and you’ll get better at writing for a specific audience.

Plus, as a content writer who runs their own thing, you’d have the flexibility to work from anywhere.

Ultimately, practice is key to becoming a better writer. Once you’ve decided on a niche, get some experience under your belt for your portfolio. 

Don’t have any professional experience yet? Don’t worry, you can still get published on platforms like Medium. 

Read more: How To Become a Content Writer | Top Content Writing Skills 

Social media content creator

As the name suggests, social media content creators focus specifically on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and so on. 

Depending on the platform, you could engage with your audience via videos, captions, pictures, or other types of content.

Read more: 27 Social Media Tools Every Content Creator Needs | Digital Marketing Institute 

Influencer

In a nutshell, influencers leverage their popularity to promote products or services among their target audience. 

As we’ll see in a bit, making money as an influencer depends on a few factors, like the size of your audience, your engagement rate, and what you promote. 

And as an influencer,you could use various platforms, like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Again, choose what makes sense for you. 

Read more: How to Become an Influencer in 11 Steps | Coursera 

Podcast host 

Podcasts are an incredibly popular form of content. 

In fact, over 500 million people listen to podcasts worldwide. 

And in the U.S. alone, the average listener spends seven hours per week consuming podcasts.

Clearly, there’s a big demand for engaging podcast content – and again, there are all kinds of niches you could explore, from food to personal finance. 

If you enjoy interesting conversations with people on a range of topics, podcasting is a solid choice.

Read more: The 10 best podcast hosting platforms 

Designer

Content designers are in charge of curating digital content to enhance the user experience (UX). 

So, they focus on understanding the target market they’re trying to reach, developing a consistent style guide, and evaluating how content is performing. 

As a designer, you’d work to make designs across mobile and web applications easier to understand and use. 

Read more: What is a Content Designer & what do they do? 

Photographer

These days, content is incredibly visual. That means, knowing how to take great pictures is a valuable skill. Plus, as a photographer, you could work in a variety of settings.

For example, you could work with influencers, do weddings, or specialize in something like portrait photography instead. 

To get your foot in the door, learn how to use industry tools like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. 

Read more: How to Become a Professional Photographer

Videographer

Videographers create and edit video content. 

In the world of content creation this often means making content for video-based social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Videographers also work on websites, films, and marketing campaigns. 

If you’ve always wanted to work behind the scenes on a viral video, then this could be the career for you.

Read more: How to Become a Videographer (Next Steps + Requirements) 

Streamer

Simply put, a streamer is someone who uses social media platforms (like YouTube or Facebook) to go live for an audience. 

By streaming live, you can interact with your viewers in real time and get immediate feedback.  

There are all kinds of streamers out there, from gamers to chefs. No matter who your target audience is, streaming can be a great way to to create a genuine community around your content.

Read more: How to Be a Successful Streamer: Do You Have What It Takes? – Restream Blog 

How do content creators make money?

The average income for content creators is $89,128.

However, as a content creator, you don’t have to depend on one income stream, like you do in a typical 9-5.

Let’s take YouTube as a quick example:

As a YouTuber, here are some of the ways you could earn money from your content:

• Ads (specifically through Google AdSense and the YouTube Partner Program)
• Super Thanks
• Super Chats and Super Stickers
• Brand sponsorships/partnerships
• YouTube Premium

And YouTube is just one example. 

What are some other ways to earn?

Here are a few:

• Affiliate marketing
• Online courses/services
• Digital downloads
• Merch (t-shirts, mugs, hoodies, etc.)
• Exclusive content on Patreon 

There are plenty of different ways you could monetize your content depending on things like your experience, the format you choose, your niche, which platforms you’re using, and so on. 

Of course, how much you earn also depends on how big and engaged your audience is. And the bigger and more engaged you are, the more control you have about how much you can charge for things like brand deals. 

For instance, content creators with at least one million followers can earn $10,000 for a single post – and some charge significantly more.

However, there are lots of content creators who make significantly less or not much at all because they haven’t built a sustainable business from the start. 

Focus on creating high-quality content and becoming an authority in your niche. Once you’re doing that, earning money will be a lot easier.

Examples of successful content creators

Okay, now that we’ve talked about how content creators make money, let’s look at some specific examples. 

LuisaZhou.com

First up, hi – it’s me, Luisa. As an eight-figure coach, my top platforms include this blog, email, and YouTube. My secret to getting traction and results? Focus. As I mentioned earlier, signing up for too many platforms and trying to do it all won’t help you grow. Instead, stick to one or two platforms and learn the ins and outs of how to use them effectively. 

IWillTeachYouToBeRich

This platform is all about helping people create a rich life and get rid of limiting beliefs they may have about money. The founder, Ramit Sethi, reaches his audience through his podcast, his blog, X, and Netflix. He’s even written a best-selling book. 

AliAbdaal.com

Ali Abdaal is a former doctor turned YouTuber, podcaster, and New York Times bestselling author who creates content around topics like productivity, money, and tech. 

As you can see, these content creators all have a focus. 

In other words, they don’t create random content and hope that people will like it. They have a specific audience in mind, and they create content geared toward that audience. 

For example, in my business, I help people who are disillusioned with their boring, restrictive 9-to-5 and want more freedom, money, and purpose. 

Since that’s the audience I want to attract, I speak to their pain points in my content. 

Ultimately, knowing who you’re trying to attract will make it easier to create the kind of content that will help you succeed too. 

Next steps  

So, there you have it! 

Now you know what a content creator is and how you can become one yourself. As you can see, you have all kinds of options to explore depending on your interests and preferences. 

Ready to get started but not sure where to go from here?

I’m giving you FREE access to my PDF to help you avoid three big mistakes creators make.

Read more: 

How to Use SEO for Course Creators (get more sales) 

Social Media for Business: The Best Platforms & Tips

How to Work for Yourself and Make 6-Figures (in 8 steps)