How Influencers are Now In The Economy of Creators (and what it means to you) --

May 19, 2022

There were significant changes in all over the globe in the past times due to the global pandemic. One of the biggest changes that did not have anything to do with be related to medical or political fields included the Creator Economy. The biggest gainers from that change were influencers, YouTubers and content creators, all independent business-minded individuals doing what they love while realizing a profit.

They didn't emerge from nowhere, and they're not going anywhere-but the ways in the ways they impact their impact on the Creator Economy and help contribute to the growth of it are more readily available more than ever. Knowing the Creator Economy is, and knowing how to start benefiting from it as a self-sustaining company is essential to making money from the content you create.

What Is the Creator Economy?

Let's take a look at what is the Creator Economy actually is.

First, it's important to note that the Creator Economy isn't brand new. The platforms that drive the Creator Economy, like YouTube, Instagram, and Spotify exist since the mid 2000s.

Since content creators who were on those platforms began to garner more attention and earn a significant amount of trust from their fans Brands began to see that they had the potential to rely on them to influence their fan bases through covert ads. This led to the rise in the popularity of content sponsored by brands (both authentic and fake) as well as influencer marketing agencies and influencer marketing - the core of the phenomenon known as influencer marketing which we are witnessing in the present.

However, as SignalFire analyzes with great depth its historical and present condition of the Creator Economy it is possible to identify some reasons that the Creator Economy had to grow from being called "influencer marketing" to the state it is today. The reasons include:

  • Content creators have understood that platforms do not always have the best interest in mind but changes in user behavior can greatly determine whether or not certain platforms remain profitable.
  • The manner in which platforms decide how and why creators monetize content are often not clear, resulting in creators being required to negotiate agreements directly with sponsors in order to earn a profit from their content.
  • There are up to 50 million individuals who are monetizing their content on a regular basis.
  • According to Influencer Marketing Hub, as of May 2021 "it's certain this: the Creator Economy boom has hit the fullest in 2021, with an approximate $104.2B market size"

Due to the rapid growth of creators as well as the record-breaking quantity of funds being put in the potential to earn money being a creator Creator Economy landscape has become more intricate than ever.

Are You a YouTuber? Influencer? Creator?

These terms could appear mutually exclusive of each other - and were mutually exclusive for a time - actually, the present state of the Creator Economy has enabled the creators of content to go all three and monetize with a way no one had ever could have imagined in the early 2000s.

While brand deals and sponsored posts are still thought to be the main source of revenue in the world of content creation, you can find myriad other ways to monetize your existing content. Different social media platforms have Creator Funds and Programs that pay creators, and allow them to work directly with companies that are appropriate for their content and audiences.

Like we said earlier, however creatives have mostly abandoned being limited to a specific platform so that they don't have to worry about things like platforms fatigue, demonetization or being in the hands of companies that provide them with media.

The demand for content

Did you consider that YouTube isthe second most popular website worldwide and is the only social media platform which is used consistently across almost all demographics? Furthermore, according to MediaKix, how-to/tutorial style videos rank among the top three most watched video categories on YouTube.

Content which entertains and educates is growing and will likely continue to increase because Gen Z looks to platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram for creators to assist them in becoming more educated on a variety of topics. That means that the revenue from ads will increase for each of these platforms, and possibly other ones in the near future, providing content creators with the chance to both increase their incomes via these platforms as well as make money off the content they're already creating.

Content Creators Are Starting Business of Their Own

In the past, as we mentioned the content creators must consider themselves legitimate businesses within the Creator Economy. This gives them an "opportunity to build something, entirely from scratch, on your own terms ( Inc.com)."

If you're contemplating making a career of a content creator full-time taking that plunge into unknown territory can be intimidating. There are many facts available to discourage you from taking that risk. But, as we've learned through the development of the Creator Economy There are many ways that you can cleverly and effectively begin to make money from your content to earn an income that is sustainable.

Ways to Monetize Your Reach as Content Creator

Creators are now finding many ways to take control of their business and make the most possible income by selling their works.

As a content creator, it is still necessary to create an audience through social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok and utilizing the multi-channel strategy to enhance the reach and impact of your content. There are numerous ways creators can make more money.

The latter is independent creators monetizing their content via multiple channels and platforms, such as personal websites and books, as well as exclusive content available on websites like OnlyFans products, merchandise and even courses that fans are able to use to access their content through subscriptions and memberships.

The top ways to do this include:

  • Subscription-based platforms such as Patreon let creators offer exclusive content for sale in a sliding scale. The platforms, however, take a cut of monthly income in order to make use of the platform.
  • If you're thinking of monetizing opinion and content applications like NewNew allow fans to make a payment to cast their votes on whatever you ask to vote on. The app also takes a commission.
  • Marketplaces for selling products like Moteefe let creators design and market custom-made merchandise on social media in a need-to-buy basis meaning you don't need to purchase stock in advance.

If you're constantly giving your viewers informative content they could benefit from on an ongoing basis, you're in a great position to create courses and request your audience to pay for access. Although there are large platforms out there that feature a lot of content creators, there's certain disadvantages of using them.

The first is that some platforms are overrun by other creators. There's simply nothing to encourage users to watch your videos. That means if you're in a highly competitive content category, you could receive only a small portion of viewing from students.

Second, some course creation platforms may charge as much as $400 a month if there is a substantial collection of content and courses.

Make yourself the successful entrepreneur you want to be

If you're now equipped with the information and skills you need to start earning income from your content There are some factors you'll require for success.

Download our Business Canvas Creator template and create your own plan for sustainable financial viability with the help of content.