The dream of being a content creator is where passion meets profit, which is why so many people have aspirations of becoming an influencer. The reality of being a content creator, however, isn’t always as glamorous as it seems, and success is far from easy.
For aspiring content creators, we break down the challenges you may face in becoming a successful influencer while giving you the greatest piece of advice on how to thrive in this extremely competitive industry.
How Difficult is it to Become a Successful Influencer?
If you’re aiming to get into the independent content creation business, you’re far from the only one. The business is surging – largely due to the benefits of audience connectivity when partnering with brands – and while content is more accessible than it’s ever been, true influencer status remains hard to come by.
A September 2024 article on CNBC’s “Make It” blog highlighted some eye-catching statistics, regarding influencers, content creators, and their monetization trends.
According to the “Make It” article, less than 5% of social media users worldwide make money off of their usage. And of that segment of creators, around 50% make less than $15,000 US dollars per year. Around just 30% make over $50,000.
Being a full-time content creator – enough to provide for yourself and be self-sustainable – is an extremely lofty goal.
Being a part-time content creator is an option, but odds are, you need another job or another source of support to make that possible. And the time and effort you spend on that job is time and effort you can’t spend on your passion.
As businesses rely more and more on influencer marketing, you’ll have a chance to catch and ride that wave if there are opportunities within your sphere, and if you manage to cultivate a sizable audience. But even here, there are no guarantees.
So what do you do? The first step is knowing what you’re getting into. Content creation isn’t easy. If you decide that’s what you want to do, you’re signing up for a great deal of challenges, a great deal of uncertainty, and a work-life balance that might not always be preserved.
Nevertheless, if you’re following a passion and posting about that passion, some of those costs can be diluted. And once you understand and accept the challenges afforded by this field, you can start to approach them in a methodical way.
The Formula for Success as a Content Creator
Frankly, the odds are against you if you want to become part of that 50% that makes over $50,000. And to even take home a chunk half as big could be difficult. But whether you’re set on either making your sports media path fruitful, or hedging for the uncertainty that comes with it, diversification is the universal answer.
Diversify your skills. Diversify your platforms. Diversify your focus.
You may have a niche that you fall into – writer, videographer, etc. Put in the work to become versatile within that niche, and give yourself the ability to wear a number of different hats. This will not only make your content richer, but it’ll also give you security that extends across industries.
Diversifying is important for this reason in particular: It makes you more versatile, and your work more complete. But it also makes you more marketable when searching for opportunities beyond your independent venture.
In truth, diversification can be one of the most powerful catalysts for your career growth — whether you choose to remain an independent content creator, or eventually leverage that experience and proactivity into a new path.
Content creation is grueling and at times thankless, but it never has to be a worthless endeavor for you. Even when you’re building up your brand and attempting to gain a foothold in the industry, you can hone your skills and pick up intangibles that will quicken your progress when the right opportunities open to you.
The bottom line is this: Since success is far from a guarantee, don’t stray away from your passion. And once you’re settled within that brand identity, diversify as much as possible, so you can give yourself the best chance to make it – as so many aim to do.
