Digital Creator: What Is It & How to Become One (2023 The Guide) |
In this piece in this piece, we'll present the concept of digital creator. We'll define "digital creator," assist you in understanding the pros and cons of becoming one, walk through different kinds of digital content and then, show you how you can become a digital creator. If you're considering being a creator of digital content then this article is the one for you!
((toc))
What exactly is the digital creator?
The definition of digital creator of content
Digital creators are creator who develops, creates and publishes original content through electronic formats. The most common digital creators use formats like texts, video, written words, photography, and animation. As opposed to people who produce physical works digital creators enjoy greater freedom with digital tools and are able to leverage huge distribution networks online to reach an audience, gain fans and even sell their digital creations.
Online content is split between the content produced by creators who are independent and content developed by organizations and brands. While content creation may appear identical between the two but there are usually distinct goals.
- Creators of their own work often produce works of art for education, to grow a following, and to earn money for their works .
- Companies and brands frequently engage digital creators for educational content for customers, create members-driven growth companies, and increase brand recognition.
The growing popularity of digital content
Digital creators are an essential part of our engagement with technology. The majority of our favourite apps such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook or LinkedIn are not possible without digital creators to populate them.
Here are some astonishing statistics that show the digital creators won't be going away any time soon:
- A minimum of 300 million people from social media sites regularly share content to create digital artifacts.
- 30% of those aged 18-24 believe they are creators. 40% of those aged 25-34 believe they are creators of content ( Hubspot ).
- 40 percent of Generation Z recommends value-based buying more than their friends or relatives (Hubspot).
- The global value of influencer marketing has been estimated at $21.1 billion dollars .
- 46% of all digital creators earn less than $1000 in annual revenue ( Linktree ).
- 66 percent of digital creators view themselves working part-time (Linktree).
- Even though AI has a major impact on content creation, only 26% of people believe in the content made with AI (Hubspot).
These numbers are both encouraging and humbling. With so many digital content creators, and with so many content sources, it's a shame that many creators aren't earning much. We'll talk below about some of the highest-paying ways to create digital content.
What can an online creator accomplish?
Digital content creators don't always do it all However, if we examine the capabilities of the average creator, there's nothing to sneeze at. Although your parents may not get it (you publish photos on the internet? Do you think that's difficult? ), being an online creator isn't simple.
Digital creators typically...
- Examine the playing field for digital content and see possibilities.
- Make digital content by using digital and analog tools to design, build and edit, then build.
- Are extremely creative and technical (e.g. editing videos, photography and writing), digital marketing, etc. ).
- Learn how to use the power of social media, emails or communities., to get their work noticed all over the world.
- Navigate interpersonal relationships (with members, followers as well as sponsors, brands (with members, followers, sponsors, brands. ).
Why become the digital creator?
Creative expression
If you believed that the Italian Renaissance was the peak of human creativeness It was not, there is nothing like this. Millions of independent creators are able to do what they are passionate about, and put it in front of people with no gatekeepers.
Thanks to the internet, there's a market that covers almost everything. No matter how niche. You can find an audience.
This makes it an ideal opportunity to become an online creator. You can basically be yourself in any manner you want.
Flexible career paths
20 years in the past, being a writer meant getting published in an important magazine. Becoming a photographer probably required a dark room, a lot of expensive equipment, and an exhibition. Painters might require exactly the same things.
But now, there is a wide range of jobs that require digital designers. You can work as a freelancer and develop a successful online company, or you take your expertise to one of the thousands of companies that needs them, you've got the makings of a flexible career.
Location independent
Digital creators were some of the early digital nomads who took benefit of the flexibility their jobs gave to roam the world.
When you're creating stuff to make available online, it typically doesn't matter where you live. That means that not only do you have great possibilities for career advancement, but you also typically have the freedom of location.
You can write blog posts using Philadelphia, Paris, or Phuket. It is possible to take Instagram images from anywhere on earth. Your Instagram feed will probably be more appealing for it.
The majority of digital creators only require an laptop, and can move anywhere.
In demand
Digital content creators are in demand. Because of the huge amount of content available online, individuals who make things that translate into views, likes and subscribers are highly sought-after. This could mean directly monetizing your digital creations and there are many options to accomplish this. It could also involve working for a company that wants digital content-most firms are making content that they can make available online.
Types of digital content
Here are a few examples of types of content that are digital.
- Written: Blog posts, ebooks, social media, newsletters
- Multimedia includes: Photos and vector images, memes, GIFs
- Video: Long-form video, shorts, livestreams, video templates, online courses
- Audio Podcasts and music. Sound effects,
- Digitized art: Paintings and graphic designs, logos NFTs, and paintings
- eCommerce: Listing of products, knowledge base articles and reviews. list, knowledge base reviews, articles
- VR & Gaming Roblox worlds, in-game purchases, games apps, and quizzes
How do you become a digital creator
Find your niche
The best content creation happens within a specific niche. However, even creators who achieve the mass market usually begin with a specific topic or audience.
Example:
- PewDiePie (Felix Kjellberg): It began by focusing on video games and then expanded to cover other areas.
- Lilly Singh: The Canadian YouTuber first started out by presenting skits on the topic of cultural identity and daily life and then branched out to acting in mainstream films and hosting a late night show.
- John Green: Started as "The Vlogbrothers" together with Hank the brother of his. They discussed the world of science and life However, in the end, John branched out to other things-including a best-selling novel: The Fault in Our Stars.
- Issa Rae started the web-based series The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl. The show's success was the catalyst for her later to develop the HBO series "Insecure ."
Niching down helps creators concentrate on doing particular things and then build followers around that single aspect.
If you are a digital artist with an eye on a business model for digital creation it is also helpful to know what niche you are in. It helps to be more effective than trying to appeal to all. As we witness people launch courses and communities that are successful, they do so when they have a clear subject matter.
How do you find your niche
There's no ONE method to discover your own niche in the field of digital creation However, here are couple of tips to help you get to where you want to be:
- Make a list of topics you could talk about for hours. Ask yourself: what subject could you give a ten minute talk on with no preparation?
- Ask friends and/or family who they rely on for guidance or insight on.
- Look at the creators you follow. We often follow people just like us, doing things we care about. Do you see an opportunity for something you could build within those groups? (And don't let imposter syndrome get you down! The first time you encounter it, it can be scary. )
Develop your craft
The word craft might not be the first word people jump to when thinking of digital artists. However, like any great art, digital design is a craft. It requires skill and dedication. Most creators possess acquired a skill that helps them stand out.
For example, musician JVKE became a TikTok stardom during the pandemic. In each of his initial videos, he'd pretend that the mom was trying to write a song to his mom. Then he'd build amazing song mashups that "his mom" was able to create. One of his first hits was "Upside Down"--which included samples of the hit song Hood Baby, by KBFR.
The track exploded in popularity (With a lot of commenters complaining at the thought that JVKE became famous, when it was really his talented mother "creating the whole thing.")
But the truth is that JVKE was not a lucky guy. He was an incredibly talented musician before he started. However, instead of simply releasing the songs through TikTok, he created a catchy hook style which would always feature the mother of his child asking him to play music (with videos of her creating music). In combining instruments, singing along with music production amusing videos, JVKE went viral and is now producing Billboard hits like Golden Hour.
What ever your creation of content may be, there'll be craft involved. Whether you're writing, making videos, performing, singing, or teaching people how to work with Excel, honing your craft is the way to get to a content quality that's enough to make it into the news.
Today, you have the chance to build your art while sitting in a place. However, the most effective way to develop your craft is to begin producing content. When you examine the past archives of many YouTubers and you'll notice that over time they've improved in production, presentation, and even video-related concepts.
Therefore, you don't have to wait until you're a pro. Content creation is a great way to learn and experiment as you go.
Learn the right techniques
Each kind of digital creator needs a particular type of knowledge.
If we witness people start flourishing social networks, they typically are leaders who can connect people, and the ability to develop and articulate a vision other members can understand. They are able in making members feel that they belong. They also have the ability to organize an agenda for the community to move forward.
Now, you don't necessarily have all the skills you need today. Learning by doing is the best way to acquiring them.
But, regardless of whether this is via hands-on or dedicated training, the majority of digital creators acquire some knowledge.
- There are some who enroll in classes, for instance Copywriting classes, which will help you create the kind of writing that will sell.
- Some might need to master the use of equipment, such as a camera and microphone.
- Some might learn editing video, or keywords research for blog content.
There are different, essential skills needed by every type of digital creator, and knowing them can assist you to make your most effective work.
Select your preferred outlet
In the end, you'll choose an outlet for your content creation. The listing of "types of digital content" below gives examples of types of content you could create, but each of these fits somewhere.
- If you are a fan of hosting chats and interacting with your members, maybe a community is the best option. These online community website examples will get you inspired.
- If you love making videos and editing them, maybe you're destined to be an YouTuber.
- If you have an eye for photography and you want to take gorgeous photos, Instagram is the right platform for you.
- If you're looking to write about politics, offering analyses and perspectives on how things are going inside the corridors of power, perhaps you're more suited for creating an online blog (or even sending op-eds out to the major media).
- If you're looking to bring a certain name to social media and to create a space for it there perhaps you should consider becoming a social media manager.
Choose the source of content that's going to fit what you want to create.
Build a content strategy
The content you create is not a flash in the pan. Digital creators who post for a week and then quit will feel... absolutely nothing. It will be nothing.
It takes consistency, and you must stick in the same direction, no matter if you're building a community of members, subscribers to a mailing list or having a presence on social.
And the people who remain loyal to it are those who can see the growth with time.
Whether you're an individual digital creator OR you work in an office, it's helpful to establish the right strategy for your content! As an example, when we produce content for the Mighty blog, we usually have big-picture content goals for the next quarter. Then, we'll do our keyword research to see what we need from an SEO standpoint, then we outline the content we'll be creating on a Monday board.
This helps us keep track of what content we have in the field and helps keep us accountable to build it!
What ever kind of content you're creating A content strategy could really help. But do be realistic about your content strategy. Most new content creators aren't aware that it's unlikely to be realistic to declare: "I'm going to create 10 YouTube videos per week." Plus, you're more likely to become discouraged when you set such ambitious goals.
Instead of volume Make it a top priority that you stick with a particular approach to content for a prolonged period of time-even just one video, blog, or post. A week's worth of content can be a lot. It's one of the things that many potential creators aren't able to do.
Expand your network
"Community" is an phrase which is used a lot with digital media. It's true that we're biased as a platform for community-based content, but there are many instances where an interaction online is a community. If you've had an Twitter trolling troll who is adding snark to your posts, is it your community? If you've got the exact same three individuals liking your Facebook posts, is that community?
HECK no!
In any case, this is the definition of community that is found on numerous internet forums.
What they refer to when they use the word"community
for many companies and creators, the term community is:
- Your posts are constantly being commented on by people who have been commenting your posts.
- People showing up to your livestreams.
- People joining your mailing list.
- Users asking questions on the YouTube comments.
- Users who responded to a twitter poll.
The content isn't great, but a lot of creators are looking for this. A lot more subscribers. A greater number of followers. A desire to see an image of a metric that is merely vanity, without ever necessarily building the real connection with a person.
What does it are referring to when we use the word community
When we think of communities, we consider REAL human connections. This is not about the superficial remarks and a chance to go deep and really build meaningful engagement with people.
As we speak about community, we are thinking of:
- Members don't only take in your content but make the content of their own.
- Members who respond to others' questions by sharing their experiences.
- Members who make friends with each other-without you being present.
- members who take the time to attend every day, so that your community is a part of their identities.
The true community doesn't rely on the simple relationship between subscribers or fans to creators. True community is about connections and the feeling of belonging among members.
That's exactly the thing we're trying to find.
If you're a creator of digital media You may be searching for the first kind of community. As you begin, it's exciting to get subscribers and comments. But eventually, the Dopamine rushes from these likes disappear. Or, you say something wrong and people start to hate you-because they never really knew you to begin with.
Building a community of engaged members lets you do more with less. It's still possible to be the digital creator, however it's now hosting discussions instead of doing. The members you host find something more important than the dopamine rush. They find belonging.
This is what communities are doing. This is why we love them. As we discuss monetization, a community can be a successful digital business without millions and millions of fans. In fact, we've often seen seven and sixfigures businesses develop from a small group of engaged members.
Learn how to earn money with HTML0.
Most-not all-creators want to monetize at some point. If you're one of them, you'll need to figure out a monetization strategy that works for your business and brand. There are plenty of options for doing this, from advertising to selling digital items.
It is essential to choose the best solution that is suitable for your brand.
Check out the creator calculator, that helps you estimate the amount you can make from monetizing your website on various platforms.
Digital creator vs. influencer
We're using the term digital content creator in this article however, what's the main difference between an online content creator as well as an influencer?
If you'd like to learn a really simple way to think about digital creators vs. influencers it's as follows Digital creator refers to input for digital content and influencer describes someone's output. Also it's any person who produces digital media. A person who's content gets a lot of attention and followers and has built sufficient social capital to ensure that their opinions and creations can influence the thoughts and behavior of others. That's why they can make money through their brand and many creators of digital content might not yet have monetized.
For keeping it easy, consider that every influencer is a digital creator, but not all digital creators are an influencer. This is because they are assessed by the number of followers they have.
A few examples of the most successful digital creators
There are so many amazing examples of digital creators, take a look at some of our top digital creators that have created communities on Mighty!
Adriene Mishler: YouTube's top yoga instructor behind the YouTube channel Yoga that includes Adriene (12 million subscribers). Adriene along with her team oversee the Find What Feels Good and Kula communities on Mighty.
Martinus Evans: Grew his Instagram community of "back-of-the-pack runners" to 95,000 people He then grew this to an online community of more than 20,000 people.
Ashley Fox: Left her six-figure Wall Street job to teach financial literacy to the 99% of people big finance doesn't help. She launched a movement called Empify that reached thousands around all over the world. She taught financial literacy to over fifty schools and The Wealth Builders Community.
Sadie Robertson Huff: A popular author, speaker, TV personality, as well as one of the most influential voices for younger Christian women today, with more than 4.6 million Instagram followers and national speaking events, as well as a highly-rated podcast, WHOA, That's Good. She manages the LO sister community. LO sister.
Drew Binsky: A travel YouTuber with more than five billion views. Drew Binsky has launched a branded app-Just Go-to assist people in falling in love with traveling.
Do you want to become a digital creator?
In this post, it's very easy to think too much about being a digital artist. Most of the time, the most effective way to start is to start.
If you're in search of a foundation to build upon, come build with Mighty! It brings together the best of community, content, course, and commerce. Mighty is G2's most highly rated community platform. It's an ideal platform to start your content online and build a business around it.
Test it out during 14 days! There is no credit card requirement.