More people are finding that part- or full-time content creation work gives them much-needed flexibility and independence, and many brands need this type of support. Being a content entrepreneur in any capacity can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but there are common challenges these writers face with reaching their communities and monetizing their work.
To help you assess if becoming a content entrepreneur is the right move for you and to set you up for success, in this #ContentChat recap we explain what it takes to be a content entrepreneur with Ann Gynn (@AnnGynn), a speaker, consultant, and principal at G Force Communication.
We share our own experiences and dig into The Tilt’s 2022 Creator Economy Benchmark Research, which surveyed more than 1,000 content creators to find out what motivates them and how to build a successful content business. Read the full recap below to learn:
- The top channels for content creators to reach their communities
- Solutions to common content creation challenges
- The trends that will shape the future of how we work
Q1: What motivates someone to be a full-time content creator? How or why did they get into the field?
Per the research, independence and flexibility are top motivators for full-time creators. Part-time creators more commonly view content as a passion project or hobby.
A1a: Full-time creators are motivated by independence and flexibility. They like the ability to create their own schedule and not have to follow an employer’s demands and parameters. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/oZVuh19Veg
— Ann Gynn (@anngynn) October 10, 2022
A1b: Part-timers are different. They usually start creating content as a hobby. It’s more of a passion project for them. Full-timers see content creation as a business, as a means to gain freedom. #ContentChat
— Ann Gynn (@anngynn) October 10, 2022
We operate in a world that didn’t exist 20 years. Thanks to the internet, people can build their own media companies. That’s really what a content business is. #ContentChat
— Ann Gynn (@anngynn) October 10, 2022
The community mirrors the research, adding that freelance writing work provides financial stability and gives us the opportunity to tell authentic stories and help people in their day-to-day—something many of us love to do.
A1a: I have a journalism degree, but when I graduated, there weren’t that many available jobs. So, I ended up having freelance writing as my extra work, while I had full-time marketing jobs. #ContentChat
— Erika Heald | Content Marketing Consultant (@SFerika) October 10, 2022
A1b: Today, my career is split about 50/50 between being paid as a content creator and doing content marketing consulting work. #ContentChat
— Erika Heald | Content Marketing Consultant (@SFerika) October 10, 2022
A1: I think it’s because we are all story tellers at heart. #contentchat
— Amy Higgins (@amywhiggins) October 10, 2022
A1: Overall, I enjoy teaching and hearing people’s stories. Digital marketing has expanded and I had to adapt, somewhat. #ContentChat
— Michelle Ngome 🇨🇲 (@MichelleNgome) October 10, 2022
Same! I think creators, as a whole, are pretty creative at adapting to find the right combo of work we love and paying the bills. 🙂#ContentChat
— Erika Heald | Content Marketing Consultant (@SFerika) October 10, 2022
A1a: My background is in PR, but media relations and earned media have become incredibly difficult, especially since clients are typically hesitant to pursue paid engagements. And clients can be very controlling about how they want stories positioned… [continued] #ContentChat
— Alek Irvin (@AlekIrvin) October 10, 2022
A1b: Content, however, you can much better control your message and timing. And I genuinely enjoy thinking through the target reader’s needs and challenges and finding ways to genuinely help them in their day-to-day. #ContentChat
— Alek Irvin (@AlekIrvin) October 10, 2022
