How to Become a Full-Time Content Creator (Stats, Pay & Data)
So you want to become a full-time content creator? Anyone who creates and publishes digital content is a content creator. For example, anyone with an Instagram or TikTok account is essentially a creator – however, to make a full-time career as a content creator, you must go above and beyond. Professionals use their online platforms to grow their audience and monetize their work.
How Many Content Creators are There?
In SignalFire’s recent findings, there are now 50 million content creators online – with “amateur” creators making up 93.5% of the percentage, while roughly more than 4% are creators by profession.
Professional Content Creators (Full-Time Creators)
Among the 2M+ professional content creators, about 1 million creators post their content on YouTube, 500,000 are active influencers on Instagram, 300,000 have Partner or Affiliate status on Twitch, and more than 200,000 are musicians, podcasters, writers, illustrators, etc., publish content on different platforms.
Amateur Content Creators (Part-Time Creators)
30 million amateur content producers use Instagram to share their work, whereas 12 million use YouTube. Twitch has 2.7 million amateur content producers, and there are another 2 million amateur creators on other sites.
Based on these reports, professional content creators are far more likely to use YouTube, while amateur creators are more inclined to post on Instagram.
4 Steps to Become a Successful Content Creator
1. Find Your Niche
Fresh topics breed great content. Quality plays a part in your success, but ultimately, content creation is more about what you can bring to the table. If you want to become a content creator, you need to find your area of interest – whether it is a topic you’re already familiar with, or a topic where you can start learning more.
2. Develop Your Content Creation Skills
Once you’ve found your niche, you just need to figure out how to share it. Content creation formats include: copywriting/writing, graphic design, photography, podcasting, video production, and more. Take online courses, get advice from pros, or research online.
Want to be a graphic designer? Make a mock advertisement to promote your favorite food brand. Record your process, and post it online. Create a solid portfolio out of your best samples to attract potential collaborators/clients.
3. Find Your Target Audience
If you want to create engaging content, you need to appeal to your target audience. Be sure to have a basic understanding of your audience before beginning any new project. Ask questions such as their age, gender, social status, brand preferences, favorite digital platforms, etc.
4. Get Working
Nearly everywhere has potential clients to be found. Seize any chances you come across every day. Or you could start being active in a content creator community, in social media, networking with brand representatives, or interacting with your audience. Set a schedule for your posting, create fun events for your followers. Stick with your practice every day. If you manage to be consistent, you won’t realize you’re already making money out of your passion.
How much do full-time content creators make?
The average content creator salary in 2022 ranges between $36,000 to $74,500.
In 2022, the annual average pay for content creators is $44,192. This equates to slightly more than $22 per hour, or $3,680 per month.
The income ranges from $36,000 to $58,500, with the highest earners in the United States bringing in up to $74,500 annually.
Final Thoughts
You can create content however you want, but they all depend on the same basic principles to succeed in a business. It can be a very rewarding career that you can begin today. There are so many possibilities open for you to have a successful career as a content creator, regardless of the platform you use.
Watch the clip below from our show Good Morning Marketers where we discuss what it takes to become a content creator.