Want to know how to become a content creator? Who is not only paid, but also well paid?
Well, good news my friend: you are in the right place!
Content creators, whether freelance or in-house, are in high demand. And there are no signs that this demand is slowing down.
In this post, we will discuss what exactly it means to be a content creator and how you can apply this title to yourself. In addition, we will share a step-by-step process on how to become a content creator, what to include on your resume, and what tools you will need to get started.
Who is a content creator?
A content creator is anyone who creates and publishes digital content. And while anyone with an Instagram or TikTok account is technically a creator, professional content creators take things one step further. They use their digital platforms to build an audience and generate revenue from their content.
The term “content creation”has become popular over the past few years, especially in relation to creating content for social media. But in practice, content creation has been around for much longer. Journalists, artists and sculptors fall into the category of “content creators”. The cavemen who made pictograms on the walls of their caves were, in fact, the world’s first content creators. They can be called influential people of the Stone Age.
Since you’re reading the Hootsuite blog and not, say, Pictographs Weekly, we assume you’re interested in becoming a digital content creator. We’ll introduce you to a few of the most common types of digital content creators.
Note. These categories of content creators can (and often do) overlap. For example, you can be an influencer, photographer, and vlogger.
Influencers or brand representatives
Content creators who want to monetize their personal brand can be called influencers or brand ambassadors. These creators can be life coaches, speakers, or anything else where you make money from your personal brand.
Chances are you’ll be taking your own photos or videos, writing your own captions, and developing your own social media strategy. You will be the jack of all trades when it comes to content creation.
Social media managers
“Social Media Manager”is a fairly broad name that is often seen as a catch-all for social media tasks.
The responsibilities of a social media manager cover many topics. These roles often handle everything from content creation and campaign planning to social listening and reporting.
Freelance social media managers are often limited to the skills that interest them the most. But those who are just starting out can expect to touch all aspects of content creation. If this sounds like you, be sure to bookmark these customizable social media templates.
Here’s more about what you can expect as a freelance social media manager.
Writers
Digital copy and content creators cover a huge spectrum of content creation. As a writer, you can monetize articles, blog posts, brochures, web copies, email marketing copies, news pieces, voiceover scripts, social copies, ebooks, or white papers, just to name a few.
The opportunities are huge, and as I always told my mom, every industry needs a good writer.
Hey friends! Jsyk I write instant copy and my portfolio spans a variety of industries. Check it out: https://t.co/5Qv7nSLdBX
— Colleen Christison (@CCHRISTISONN) August 15, 2022
If you choose to become a copywriter or content writer, you may need to develop additional content creation skills. In most cases, it will not only be a letter. For example, you may need photography skills to create images for platforms like Instagram.
Photographers and videographers
Social media apps require attractive images. This means that the digital world always needs more photographers and videographers.
Photo and video freelancers often decide to become Instagram content creators. Big brands often outsource some of their social media assets to creators.
In addition, stock image sites always need visual content. Websites, blogs, and e-commerce sites are also great sources of potential work.
Vloggers and streamers
Thinking about monetizing your daily life? Vlogging or streaming may be suitable for you.
The difference between them is small. A vlogger is someone who creates and publishes vlogs. However, a streamer is someone who broadcasts himself live or posts a video after the fact. Streamers can play video games, put on tutorials, or conduct interviews.
Take, for example, Rachel Ost. She is a YouTube content creator who posts vlogs that basically just show her life.
Designers and artists
Artists and designers have always been visual innovators. These skills are even more important when creating content for the online world.
To be successful, you need to know how to tell a story through your posts. You will use elements such as color, light, and composition to create visually appealing content.
Instagram is a natural place to stretch your artistic muscles. With a beautifully designed ribbon, you can reach a wide audience and draw attention to your brand. Many designers use the platform as an online portfolio to showcase their work.
How much are content creators paid in 2022?
As we pointed out at the beginning of this article, content creation can vary greatly.
This makes it difficult to accurately determine the average salary of a content creator without going into details. You also need to consider local market rates, environment, and themes. And, if you decide to carve a niche in a particular industry, you can raise your stakes.
Glassdoor says the average Canadian content creator makes $47,830 a year; for the US it is $48,082. However, ZipRecruiter is slightly higher at $50,837 for a US content creator.
But it’s pretty broad, and different platforms have different pay ranges for creators. YouTube, for example, will pay you between $0.01 and $0.03 to view ads. This means that you can earn approximately $18 per 1000 views. According to MintLife, the average YouTuber salary for those with at least 1 million subscribers is $60,000 per year.
Most successful content creators make money from brand sponsorships. They can drastically increase your salary. Popular YouTuber MrBeast, for example, made $54 million in 2021.
Partnering with a brand on TikTok can net you $80,000 or more.
On Instagram, macro influencers (over a million followers) can earn anywhere from $10,000 to $1 million per post. Micro-influencers (10,000-50,000 followers) expect $100-$500 per post.
And, if you make money on platforms like TikTok or Instagram, you can also create a Patreon account. With Patreon, you can convert followers to followers and further monetize your brand. If you are a micro-influencer, this could be around $50-$250 per month.
How to Become a Content Creator: 4 Steps
The paths to different positions may vary, but there is a general process that you can follow to become a social media content creator. Here are four steps to becoming a content creator.
Step 1: Develop your skills
You probably already have an idea of what kind of content creator you want to be. Now you just need to hone or develop your skills.
Try to practice with brands you know and love. For example, you want to become a copywriter. Try a simulated creative challenge to show off your skills. You can write a product description, social media post, and headline to promote a new shoe launch.
Or, if you want to become a graphic designer, you can create a dummy ad to promote said shoe launch.
You can continue to develop your skills in the courses. There are many online courses that will introduce you to different types of content creation. Or reach out to other content creators whose work you admire. Ask them for advice on how they’ve developed their skills, or (if they don’t mind) look at your work and give feedback.
Step 2: Create a portfolio
Once you’ve started developing these skills, it’s time to showcase your work. Create an online portfolio to share your best examples with potential clients or employers.
Just starting and nothing to show? Share some speculative work (it just means “think of something”). Or, if you’ve created something remarkable while developing your skills, you can post it here.
Your portfolio doesn’t have to be flashy. You can even host them for free on Squarespace or Wix.
Even if you’re building your personal brand as an influencer rather than, say, a videographer, a portfolio is a useful tool. Do you want to attract brands that want to partner with you? Show them how you’ve collaborated with other brands in the past.
Be sure to link your social media accounts and make your contact information easy to find. And you’ll want to have a solid brand promotional presentation in your back pocket.
Step 3: start fussing
You can find potential clients almost anywhere. Start by making connections or reaching out to job postings or job postings that freelancers want. You can even try to take advantage of the opportunities you see in your daily life.
You may have noticed that there is a website that needs new banner ads. As an aspiring graphic designer, you can email them and offer your services.
Here are five ideas for finding a new job:
- Join as many freelance Facebook groups as possible. Clients may post required work, or you may forge valuable professional relationships.
- Post your portfolio or presentation in relevant online spaces. If you specialize in travel photography, look up travel groups online.
- Content marketing groups on Slack are a great place to connect.
- Look for relevant Reddits subcategories like r/copywriting.
- Be active on LinkedIn and create posts with keywords relevant to your industry and title.
Step 4: Get paid
Assessing yourself when you are just starting out can be difficult. Take a look at your market average to get an idea of how much others in your experience range are charging. Try not to sell yourself at first!
If you’re looking to apply for a corporate job as a content creator, research the industry average for your position. This way you can weed out positions that are too high (expectations may be higher than your skills) or too low (get what you’re worth).
If you are looking for a freelancer, make sure you sign written contracts with your clients. Include payment terms and penalties for late payments.
Follow these four steps and you’ll get our vote as the next content creator of the year!
What should be on your resume as a content creator?
Whether you’re a freelancer or looking for a job within a company, a content creator resume can help you look professional. Freelance clients will sometimes ask for it along with your portfolio, so it’s best to be prepared.
As a content creator, you will only want to include relevant information about the job you are applying for on your resume. This means you probably don’t want to include a summer part-time job as a dog washer. (Unless some of this work included posting adorable puppy photos)
If your resume looks a little sparse, it might be time to do some volunteer work. Ask in your local community for a reputable organization that you could devote your time to. This will give you the content creator job to add.
If you don’t know what to write on your resume, look for content creator job descriptions that are similar to the job you want. They will be full of useful keywords that you can include on your resume.
Source: Glassdoor Jobs
In the example above, we could pull out “content marketing creator”and “create and manage content across all channels”. Just make sure you have the experience or knowledge to match those keywords!
What is a Content Creation Kit?
Content creation kits vary depending on where you get them. But the idea is to provide content creators with everything they need to create quality content efficiently.
A social media manager or copywriter’s kit might include templates and editorial calendars. If you’re an email marketer or web designer, your kit might include a library of stock photos and videos.
If you’re a vlogger or streamer, the set of content you’ll be interested in might include a camera, tripod, and memory card.
It’s not that hard to find creative kits. For example, camera manufacturers saw the potential in the market and started creating content creation kits. The Canon EOS m200 Content Creation Kit includes most of the things a successful streamer would need.