Why Influencers Are Now In The Economy of Creators (and what this means for you) --
We witnessed significant shifts in the world during the past year due to the worldwide epidemic. One of the most significant shifts that had nothing to be related to medical or political fields involved the Creator Economy. The biggest gainers from that shift were influencers, YouTubers and content creators, people who are business-minded and independent working at what they love and actually making money.
These individuals did not come out of thin air-and they're certainly not moving anywhere, but the methods by that they influence their impact on the Creator Economy and contribute to its development are now easier to access more than ever. Knowing what the Creator Economy is and how to start benefiting by it as an independently-owned company is essential to making money from your own content.
What Is the Creator Economy?
Let's take a look at what is the Creator Economy is.
First, the Creator Economy isn't a new concept. Platforms driving the creator economy, like YouTube, Instagram, and Spotify are in existence since the late 2000s.
When content creators on these platforms started to gain popularity and reach incredibly loyal audiences Brands began to see they could rely on the creators of these platforms to influence their fans by way of covert advertisements. This has led to the rise of paid content (both authentic as well as fake) as well as influencer marketing agencies - really, the foundation of the phenomenon known as influencer marketing which we have in the present.
However, as SignalFire so thoroughly examines the history and situation of Creator Economy There are some reasons that the Creator Economy had to change from what was called "influencer marketing" to what it is now. Those reasons are:
- Content creators have understood that the platforms may not always have the best interest to be in the forefront, but also changes in the behavior of users can significantly impact the likelihood that certain platforms remain profitable.
- The ways in which platforms determine how and why creators monetize content are often not clear, resulting in creators having to broker deals directly with sponsors so that they can make profits from their content.
- There are up to 50 million individuals who are monetizing their content on a regular on a regular.
- According to the Influencer Marketing Hub at the time of its launch in May 2021 "it's possible to conclude that the Creator Economy boom is at the fullest in 2021, with the estimate of $104.2B market size"
Due to the overwhelming number of creators and the record-setting quantity of funds being put into the possibility of monetizing being a creator Creator Economy environment has grown more intricate than ever.
Are You a YouTuber? Influencer? Creator?
While these terms may seem to be mutually exclusive they were not mutually exclusive at one point - they are not. The current state of the Creator Economy has allowed the creators of content to go all three and monetize with a way no one had ever could have imagined in the early 2000s.
However, while brand-related deals as well as sponsored posts remain being viewed as the most important source of income to content producers, they have myriad alternatives to make money from the content you're already creating. Various social media platforms have program and funds for creators to compensate creators as well as offer ways for them to collaborate directly with brands that make sense for their content and audiences.
As mentioned earlier, though the creators have generally abandoned being limited to a specific platform to avoid having to be concerned about issues like platforms fatigue, demonetization or being in the hands of brands who pay them to create content.
The demand for content
Did you realize it is the case that YouTube isthe second most popular website in the world and it's the only social media platform with a consistent user base across almost all demographics? Additionally, according to MediaKix YouTube, tutorial-style videos rank among the top three most popular video types on YouTube.
The demand for content which entertains and instructs is on the rise and is likely to continue to expand because Gen Z looks to platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to discover creators that help them become more educated on a variety of topics. This means that ad revenue is expected to continue growing for each of these platforms - and likely other ones in the near future, giving content creators the opportunity to both increase their incomes through these platforms, and also earn money from their content already created.
Content Creators Are Creating their own businesses
We've mentioned earlier Content creators need to consider themselves legitimate businesses within the Creator Economy. This gives them an "opportunity to build something, from scratch, for yourself at your own pace ( Inc.com)."
If you're contemplating making a career of a content creator full-time, that leap into the unknown can be intimidating. There are plenty of statistics out there that could discourage you from taking that risk. However, as we've seen from the evolution of the Creator Economy There are many ways for you to effectively and quickly begin to profit from your work to earn an income that is sustainable.
Strategies to monetize your reach as Content Creator
Creators are finding more and more methods to manage their businesses and earn the highest possible amount of money by selling their works.
If you are a creator of content, it is still necessary to create an audience using social media sites like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok using a multi-channel approach to maximize your reach and influence. But, today there are many ways creators can maximize their incomes.
This consists of independent creators monetizing their content via multiple platforms and channels. This includes personal sites ebooks, books, exclusive content available on websites like OnlyFans as well as merchandise as well as courses for fans to gain access to through subscriptions or memberships.
The top options for this are:
- Platforms for subscription like Patreon allow creators to offer exclusive content for sale with a sliding-scale. However, these platforms, take a cut of their monthly revenue in order to use the service.
- If you're looking to make money from content requests and opinions, apps such as NewNew allow fans to be paid to vote on any topic you ask to vote on. This app does also take commissions.
- Platforms for selling merchandise like Moteefe let creators design and sell their own merchandise through social media platforms according to a "need-to-have" basis meaning you don't need to purchase stock in advance.
If you're consistently giving your viewers educational content that they can benefit from on an ongoing basis, then you're in a ideal position to develop courses and request your viewers to pay to gain access. While there may be some large platforms out there which have a wide range of creators, there are certain disadvantages of using them.
In the first place, these platforms are saturated with other creators. There's simply no incentive for members to check out your video. If you're part of an extremely competitive category of content there's a chance that you'll get a very small share of views from students.
Then, certain course creation platforms will charge you up to $400 a month if there is a substantial library of courses and content.
Be the Entrepreneur You Dream to be
Once you've got the skills and knowledge you need to start earning cash from your blog, there are a few things you may need to ensure your success.
Get our business-focused creator template to create your own sustainable financial viability with the help of the right content.
