Everything You Need to Know [+ Tips to Get Started]

More businesses and social media platforms are relying on digital creators to drive brand awareness, revenue and engagement, making digital content creation popular with marketers and creatives alike. But what exactly is a digital creator and how can you become one? In this blog, we’ll explore what a digital creator is, the difference between being a creator and an influencer, and how to get started creating content.

What is a digital creator?

How to be a digital creator

1. Find your niche.
2. Gather the materials you need.
3. To create.
4. Set SMART goals.
5. Be organized and with a consistent schedule.
6. Be active on social media.
7. Take advantage of monetization opportunities.

What is a digital creator?

A digital creator is someone who creates content through digital platforms. Content can be videos, photos, graphics, blog posts or other forms of media, and platforms can be YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, a website or any digital space.

Often called content creators, digital creators produce content intended to engage audiences. Engaging content can include formats such as TV show reviews, tutorials or day-in-the-life vlogs. But regardless of what their content looks like, a digital creator needs to produce engaging, high-quality material; after all, this is their job.

Although the two may overlap, digital creators are not the same as influencers. Influencers are social media personalities whose content is intended to influence their followers to do or buy something.

Typically, the influencer earns a percentage of the sale or receives some other incentive. Digital creators tin influence your audience, but that is not the intention of your content. The intention is to educate, entertain and engage people.

How to be a digital creator

There’s no one-size-fits-all way to get started as a digital creator, but if you follow the tips below, you can set yourself up for success.

1. Find your niche.

You need to have a clear niche for a couple of reasons. For one thing, it will be difficult to attract a loyal audience if your content is too broad, because your audience won’t know what kind of content to expect from you. Second, a specific niche will help you stay focused and consistent. If you hit a mental block and aren’t sure how to move forward, you can return to your niche to remember why you create content in the first place.

For example, Therapy for Black Girls is a niche podcast that focuses on mental health as it applies to Black women and the specific issues they face. This niche attracts a loyal audience that desires this type of content. She also keeps the podcast focused on her goal: to provide Black women with mental health tips and resources.

Source of the image

2. Gather the materials you need.

Once you know what type of content you want to make, it’s time to gather the equipment you’ll need, such as a microphone, camera, and lighting. Just remember: you don’t have to splurge on the most expensive materials to get started, especially if you’re new to content creation.

For example, if you want to start a YouTube channel, you can probably get away with using your smartphone camera while saving up to buy a better camera. For lighting, natural sunlight from a nearby window can work well. If you need a microphone, Amazon has a variety of microphones that are as cheap as $10.

Not only is it perfectly fine to use more affordable gear at the beginning of your creator journey, it’s also wiser. You wouldn’t want to spend thousands of dollars on equipment only to realize that you don’t enjoy creating enough content to sustain yourself.

3. Create.

Now that you know your niche, understand the type of content you want to make, and have the right equipment, it’s time to start creating! Don’t be discouraged if your content isn’t perfect at first. The best way to improve is to keep doing it.

Track your creative process and note what works and what doesn’t. For example, you might find that shooting earlier in the day is better than shooting in the evening because you’ll get more natural lighting for longer. Whether you’re podcasting, posting to YouTube, or writing a blog, be sure to go back and evaluate your work so you can improve with each post.

4. Set SMART goals.

One of the best ways to improve as a digital creator is to set goals. For example, your goal as a podcaster might be to increase your audience by 30% in the next year. To help you set appropriate goals and stay focused during your creator journey, you should set SMART goals.

The SMART goals are:

• Specific, clear and well defined.
• It can be measured and tracked with numbers, like the podcaster example.
• Achievable, which requires being honest about what you can do.
• Realistic and relevant to your overall purpose.
• Timely and include a target date for completing the goal.

SMART goals are more likely to be achieved because they serve as a roadmap to reach your ultimate goal as a content creator, whatever that goal is for you.

5. Get organized and with a consistent schedule.

To keep your audience engaged, they need to know they can expect quality content from you on a regular basis, so it’s important to stick to a consistent schedule. Consider strategies such as recording content in batches and scheduling it over a period of time. For example, over the weekend you can record five TikTok videos in one day and schedule them to be posted individually over the next week.

When it comes to organization, some digital creators do well with physical planners and calendars, but there are also digital apps and tools that can keep you on track. A popular tool among digital creators is Notion, an app that lets you write, plan, organize your content, and coordinate deadlines all in one place.

Source of the image

6. Be active on social media.

No matter what type of digital creator you are, you need to be active on social media to get your work in front of as many people as possible. Being active can be as simple as responding to comments on your social posts.

You should also create graphics, videos, polls, and other unique social media posts to increase engagement and communicate with your followers. For example, you can post short clips of your YouTube videos to TikTok or Instagram Reels. You can also create video content for your podcasts to promote a special guest.

7. Take advantage of monetization opportunities.

Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitch and Instagram have paid opportunities for creators who have a certain number of followers and engagement. Track your progress on these applications to see if you’re eligible or close to being eligible. Other ways to make money as a creator are brand partnerships, sponsorships, and collaborations.

If brands aren’t approaching you organically, create a press kit that includes information about your content, follower count, social media, and engagement, and start reaching out to brands yourself.

The path to digital content creation looks different for everyone, but using the tips above to get you started will make your journey easier to navigate. With proper planning and a goal, you’ll know what kind of digital creator you want to be and how you can grow over time.