Today, we’re living in the era of social media. It is the most popular pastime for everyone. From kids to adults to grandparents, everybody is obsessed with social media. Social media has taken over our lives. But there’s another side to it. Where do all the pictures, videos and other content we see come from? Who makes them? Enter social media content creators! These creators work with brands or by themselves to bring you all your favorite content on social media. It might not seem so, but they have a very challenging job to do. Entertaining millions of people! Yeah, I’m sweating just thinking about that.Â
So what is a social media content creator? What do they do? And how can you become one? Let’s find out!Â
Table of contents
What Is a Social Media Content Creator?
A social media content creator is a person who posts content on different social media platforms to entertain the masses. A creator may be posting content for fun, promoting themselves or a brand. Or they may be working a corporate job as a professional content creator. All of these are legit content creators and do the same thing, albeit for different purposes.
Content creation is a very broad term and encompasses a lot of different types of content under it. And social media is just one subset of this. Although, it has risen to be one of the biggest. Social media content creation is a very sought-after job. Be it for your personal self or as a professional employee.
The most common type of social media content creator that we know of is the influencer. These are people who have the power to influence purchase decisions through their content. They do so through strategic endorsements and product placement in their social media content. Most influencers have a huge following on social media, which is why it’s a very successful job. But influencers who have more standing in distinct niches seem to be more profitable for brands and businesses.
Who Was the First Social Media Content Creator?
What everybody wants to know is; Who was the first social media content creator? Where did all of this start? Sadly, there’s no clear answer! Content creation and influencing have been around for ages. The first records of content creation in the digital world can be traced back to blogger moms. In 2002, Melinda Roberts launched her blog, TheMommyBlog.com, which became a huge hit.
The shift from blogging to social media came with the advent of Instagram in 2010. What was simply a platform to share pictures of your kids and pets became a huge sensation in the marketing world. Social media content creation really took off with reality stars like Kim Kardashian and Nicole Polizzi, aka Snooki.
From thereon, social media content creators started popping up everywhere. Now, every industry has its own set of social media content creators. From gaming and entertainment all the way to real estate. Even the healthcare industry has some really popular content creators. And rightfully so! The influencing abilities of these creators are phenomenal.
What Platforms Do Social Media Content Creators Use?
The platforms these creators use are as important as the content they create. Every social media platform has its own set of unique users with distinct demographics, interests and preferences. It’s near impossible to target them all. So, content creators look for the best fit. They choose platforms with users that are closest to their target audience. This is why choosing the right platform, or a mix of it is one of the most important decisions a content creator has to make.
Some of the popular social media platforms creators use are:
- YouTube
- Twitch
- Snapchat
- TikTok
All of these platforms are vastly different from each other. The type of content you can post on these platforms is also very distinct. Instagram is used for sharing images, videos and 24-hour stories. Instagram may just be the most popular platform for content creators. Twitter is an excellent platform to share your thoughts and observations. It doesn’t really rely on the visual aspect but more on the intellectual. Most creators use it as a supplementary channel to make announcements and reveals.Â
YouTube and Twitch focus on long-form content. YouTube creators upload pre-recorded videos ranging from product reviews to educational videos. Twitch is a streaming platform majorly focused on video games. Content creators live-stream themselves playing or promoting games. TikTok is the latest trend in social media. It’s a platform where people can post videos of up to 30 seconds. These short-form videos have become insanely popular in a very short time.
How Much Do Content Creators Earn?
So, how much can I earn if I were a social media content creator? Well, that depends on the kind of creator you are. If you’re working as a social media content creator for a company, your salary may range from $40,000 to $60,000. The top content creators in this category earn about $75,000. But if you’re an influencer and are working with other brands, that’s another story entirely.
An influencer’s earning potential is higher because they work with several brands and campaigns. The social media profiles and follower count usually determine how much money they make. A micro-influencer, someone with ten to fifty thousand followers, can make up to $40,000 to $80,000 every year.
Influencers with a follower count in the millions can easily earn a six-figure salary. Let alone celebrity influencers like Kylie Jenner, who is said to earn about millions for every post on Instagram. Christiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid influencer earning about $2.4 million for his posts.
How to Become a Social Media Content Creator?
Becoming a social media content creator is easier said than done. Especially if you want to earn the big bucks. There’s a lot that goes into content creation for social media. Most people think taking a high-quality picture with an endorsed product is all that creators do. But there’s so much more than that.
To become a social media content creator, you have to create a profile that others want to follow. That means finding your voice and style, curating your story, and building a portfolio. But we’ve broken it down into actionable steps to make it easier for you;
- Choose your niche
- Select a social media platform that suits your needs
- Define and understand your audience
- Optimize your social media profiles
- Create a thorough content strategy
- Create relevant content
- Develop a content calendar
- Grow your following
- Collaborate with other creators
These steps make it much easier to understand what a social media content creator really does and how to become one.
Trying to Get Your Social Media Game Up?
Social media content creators have taken over the internet. Open up Instagram or TikTok, and you’ll see someone promoting something. It may be as simple as shampoo or a restaurant. You’ll even find people trying to sell you a home! Content creators and influencers are a vital part of marketing now. But becoming one isn’t easy. It takes time, effort and, most of all, consistency!
Are you a social media content creator? Share your story with us in the comments below!Â
