How to Become a Content Creator
Are you a creative individual who enjoys coming up with original ideas? Do you enjoy interacting with an audience and using various tools and platforms? If so, you may want to consider the career of a content creator.
People everywhere enjoy creating. According to a survey conducted by the financial technology company Oxygen, 88% percent of respondents feel they are a creator or freelancer.1 In today’s digital world, with information available at every turn, career opportunities in content creation are becoming more widely available than ever before.2 Read on to learn how to become a content creator and why this career path could be ideal for you.
Content Creator Job Description
Content creators guide and produce concepts and topics that are developed on different media or platforms. This could be in the form of written words, videos, photos, artwork or a variety of other types of content. Some content creators work for businesses or brands to create a presence and raise awareness. Others work on teams or agencies. Still others build up their own content and platform as freelancers.3
The duties of a content creator may differ but can involve:
Brainstorm Ideas
Content creators must be able to brainstorm and come up with original ideas for their platform. For example, some content creators may have to write unique emails or social media posts that introduce a new product or service. Other content creators may conceptualize videos or photos for TikTok or Instagram.
One trait that is very beneficial for a content creator is the ability to think outside the box and take ideas from unexpected places.3 When people see something new or unique that pertains to them, they are likely to take interest. Otherwise, content can get lost in the overabundance of media being produced and put out daily.
Plan Execution
Once a concept has been chosen, content creators must plan out how they would like to execute their idea. For example, if a content creator is choosing to focus on easy fashion ideas with skirts, the creator must find the best way to execute the content to reach their audience. Will photos be taken? When will the content be released? How will the post reach the most people?
Develop Content and Asset Creation
Probably the most well-known duty of a content creator is developing and producing content. Whether this is through written words, art, video, photos or a whole other range of content creation tools, a content creator must be able to make the content that they intend to put out into the world.
This could involve recording a video, writing a blog, taking photos or creating posts. Some content creators may work on large teams to complete campaigns and create content. Others may accomplish this on their own in a simpler manner. A good content creator is familiar with the tools and resources that are necessary for a project.
Aspiring content creators must be familiar with asset creation and working on different aspects of content. For example, an animator may work an animating an explainer video that will be used as content on a website or as a series on social media.
Analyze Impact
Content creators must be able to analyze what works and what doesn’t work for their audience. Perhaps for one creator, long videos or posts connect better with their target audience than short clips and hashtags. On the other hand, another creator’s audience may prefer brief content. Creators must know how to adjust their materials accordingly if necessary.
Content creators who work for clients may have to justify or explain the impact or reach of their content and show the client why it’s necessary to take a particular route with future marketing. Freelancers or content creators who work independently need to monitor their content to ensure it’s in line with their vision and reaching their target audience.
How to Stand Out as a Content Creator
Data predictions for 2023 show that adults in the U.S. are expected to spend 8 hours and 20 minutes per day interacting with digital media.4 A plethora of content is being produced online in the modern day and age, so it is important that as a content creator, you stand out to your audience from among the noise. Here are some ways to stand out as a content creator:
Earn a Relevant Degree for Content Marketing
Earning a bachelor’s degree in a relevant area can be of great value as you enter the content marketing profession. A degree can not only teach you concepts that will help you connect with your audience and adapt in a world of changing technologies, but it can also give you authority in your field and knowledge that can be useful for the content you are producing.
A social media degree is a solid choice for those who want to pursue a career in content creation on social media platforms. Social media students gain an understanding of digital marketing and how to create successful content campaigns.
If you want to enter the field of content creation but do not necessarily want to work on the social media side of it, you may also choose to pursue a digital film degree with an emphasis in production. This degree allows students to advance their video production skills and editing.
For individuals who enjoy the written aspects of content creation, a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing for New Media can help you develop your talent and learn how to compose different types of written media, from blogs and emails to creative writing pieces.
Another option is to earn an animation degree, such as a digital design degree with an emphasis in animation. This degree helps turn students into animators and gives them essential design knowledge that can come in handy when pursuing a career in content creation.
Practice and Gain Experience by Building a Content Portfolio
As with any skill, practice is important in content creation. It takes time to gain experience in content creation. Content creators must be willing to spend time building a following and growing their audience. It takes perseverance to stand out as a content creator and build a solid portfolio.
Content Creators Must Develop a Style and Niche
It is important for any type of creator to develop their own style. You may also want to pick a niche to work with. For example, maybe you decide to create content about traveling in Arizona on a budget, or perhaps you create content about dance for students. Finding an interesting niche can help you grow a following as people view your original content. If you are working for a company or brand, you may have to learn how to develop content in their style that fits their niche market.
Relate to Your Audience and Create Appropriate Content
It is important for a content creator to relate to their audience. If you are too distanced from your subject or audience, people will notice and may find your content irrelevant or uninteresting. For example, if your content is about beauty tricks, but you have never used the products or are unable to answer your audience’s questions relating to your tips, you will not be able to stand out.
Creating appropriate content is also important when developing content. Making sure your content is tailored for the right age range is crucial to being a successful content creator. As a content creator, you should avoid posting offensive materials, which can create a disconnect with your community and result in a loss of audience.
Connect With Other Creators
In many professions, connecting with other professionals in the field can be extremely beneficial. In content creation, networking and collaboration allow you to learn from the experiences of other creative professionals. You may even have the opportunity to work together on projects. These connections can help you grow your following.
Keep an Eye Open for Inspiration and New Ideas
There is inspiration everywhere for content creation. Read blog posts and web pages. Watch YouTube videos and explore social media. Explore different types of art and design. Looking at the work of other creators can spark inspiration and new ideas that can help you in your own content creation.
Studies have shown that being open to inspiration is extremely important. Openness can change perspective and give a renewed vision when it comes to working and thinking creatively.2 Content creators must be willing to grow and develop from inspiration to fit the needs of their audience.
Do you want to pursue a creative career in content creation? Grand Canyon University’s College of Arts and Media offers programs such as a digital design degree with an emphasis in web design, social media degree and digital film degree with an emphasis in production. To learn more, click on the Request Info button at the top of your screen.
Retrieved from:
1Oxygen, Oxygen Survey – The Creator Economy in June 2022.
2Content Marketing Institute, B2B Content Marketing Insights for 2022: More Budget, More Work, More Empathy [Research] in June 2022
3Siegemedia, What is a Content Creator? And How Can You Become One? in June 2022.
4Marketing Charts, US Adults to Spend Almost As Much Daily Time on Their Mobiles As on TV and Radio, Combined in June 2022.
5Harvard Business Review, Why Inspiration Matters in June 2022.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
