There are 50 million content creators in the world today. You may know them as influencers, podcasters, or substackers. Some are large businesses like Jillian Michaels, Marc Maron, Joe Rogan, or even Huda Kattan, whose Huda Beauty content empire is worth $500 million.
Then you have solopreneurs such as Jake Paul, Addison Rae, Khaby Lame, Kendall Toole, and Anthony Pompliano. These personalities reach millions of people by running their own social and digital media empires. They don’t own a broadcast tower or have an FCC license. They simply have their cell phones, a camera, and a social media account.
While some of these creators have mainstream media experience and grew their audiences off the back of an already popular online presence, most started with nothing. No followers, no platform, and no income. All they had was an idea.
But these ideas of building a business and career that generates an income—not just any income. An income that can sustain a lifestyle and grow a wealth of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars—are unlike the entrepreneurs of the past. The Steve Jobs, Donald Trumps, and Mark Cubans of the world sweat blood and tears with endless days running into nights as they build their empires. They spent countless hours working and saw multiple failed projects before they saw success and made their mark on the world…and their billions!
No, the ideas the content creators have need four things to come alive: a cell phone with a camera, a social media platform, something that people will want to see, and, most importantly, an audience.
A New Age of Storytelling
We live in an online world where each and every one of us overshare our lives with friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. We do it for fun, self-gratification, to feed our egos, and, for most, because we like to document our lives. We embed our memories digitally as a way for us to look back on later and share with family, friends, and, if our social media accounts are public…the world. The vacations, the interactions, the house remodeling, and even that new car you want to proudly show off. They all live digitally and for the world to see. And let’s not forget about the food. Oh, how we love documenting what we had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The idea of sharing our lives, loves, and passions with the world is nothing new. We are social creatures who, throughout history, have told stories that have been etched in the sands of time and shared through generations. It’s only natural that, when the world evolves in technology, so does the way we tell our stories and, more importantly, the way we share them. And that is the key. Sharing. Because the more we share, the more we’re seen. And the more we’re seen, the more people pay attention, and when people pay attention, they want to see more. And before you know it, you have an audience. The hard part is keeping that audience interested, and that is what sets many creators apart. The key is content, keeping ahead of trends, and knowing what to post and when to post it.
The New Celebrity
Today’s content creators are changing the world, and their influence is growing. We’re seeing influencers attending the Oscars and the Met Gala, where fashion designers are rushing to have them wear their clothing. If 15 million followers see their favorite online personality wearing Dior, that’s more impressions than ANY paid ad campaign will bring in. It’s fair to say that an investment into a content creator for any brand is a lucrative one.
While we’re a long way away from them becoming the new A-List, the content creator’s rise has shaken the world of celebrity. There used to be a time when you could go to a high-end club or restaurant in New York or Los Angeles and spot celebrities dancing the night away or enjoying a meal with friends. Now, You’re more likely seeing the kids from the TikTok Houses sharing tables and drinking overpriced champagne and dropping thousands of dollars on the night out. Except they’re not. They’ve been comped. Why? Because all it takes is one tweet, one post on Instagram, or one TikTok video from them telling their followers where they’ll be that night, and tables will be filled with people wanting to share the experience with them. You can understand now why so many aspire to be in that position and know what it takes, or more, what it doesn’t take to get there. I refer back to the blood, sweat, and tears mentioned above.
The Road to a Million Followers
So how do you get to that level as a creator? And how many followers does it take to gain that status? First of all, it’s not easy. For every influencer with 500k+ followers, there are tens of thousands who struggle to get over the ten thousand followers mark. And even more with lower. The question is, what content creators need the most to grow? Where do they go to for help growing their audience? Building a community around their brand and, of course, where do they find the help monetizing their audience?
And, finally…who can they get help with what content will get the more attention and the most views?
They’ll get all of this with Idea Engine.
Are you a content creator who is ready to take the next step in your content creation journey? Sign up today for our FREE trial to learn more about your audience.
