Over the last few years, the gig economy has grown. Sped up by the pandemic, a growing number of people are working from home and taking on short-term projects, or “gigs,” as freelancers. Research shows 79% of gig workers are happier working on their own than they were at a traditional job. Many of these gigs focus on content creation. Freelancers might write blog articles, produce graphics, generate infographics, edit videos, or draft white papers. In some cases, people produce their own content and become an influencer focused on a certain niche. What is it about becoming a content creator that’s so appealing? There are many reasons people aspire to be content creators.
Biggest benefits of content entrepreneurship
Take a look at the advantages that sway the minds of many content creators:
Independence
Research shows the biggest reason people take on content entrepreneurship is to regain their independence, according to Insider Intelligence.
The pandemic forced many people to rethink their work-life balance. Now, people want the ability to design their own work day. Seventy-eight percent of people polled said independence was the biggest draw of becoming a content creator.
In the same vein, having flexible hours is also high on the chart. Sixty-nine percent of people don’t want a 9 to 5 job. They want to work from home, grab lunch when they feel like it, and attend their kids’ lunchtime choral concert without having to ask someone for permission.
Content creation can start as a side hustle
If you don’t want to quit your job and take a gamble on content entrepreneurship, you don’t have to. You can create content as a side job until it starts paying your bills. At that point, you can decide what’s best for you and your family.
Whether you’re working to build enough clients to earn a steady paycheck or want to partner with consistent brands as an influencer, earning a living as a content creator will take time.
Work from anywhere
If you’re a freelance content creator, you can work from your bed in your pajamas, at the nearest coffee shop, or write articles from a veranda in Bali. Content creators can fall into the category of “digital nomads,” a term used to the describe location-independent jobs that can be done from anywhere. In 2021, 11 million people described themselves as digital nomads, up from 4.8 million in 2018.
You pick your niche
Content creators often work in niches. For instance, a writer might focus on travel, business, or gaming content. That’s not to say that you can’t branch out and write content on another topic, but generally, writers stay in a certain lane.
What should you pick as your niche? That’s the perk, it can be anything that you’re interested in. If you’re into weight lifting and eating healthy, you might lean toward exercise or nutrition content. If you like exploring the latest tech gadgets, product reviews might be in your future.
Usually clients want to see specific examples of work before hiring a content creator. Having a well-defined niche can help you land jobs.
Create helpful content that impacts others
Whether you’re drafting an ebook that focuses on improving mental health or offering healthy recipes as a nutritional influencer, the content you create helps others. You are producing content that can educate, motivate, or entertain people. And you get to use your own creativity to do it. The words you choose for an article or the colors you pick for an infographic all flow from your creative mind and work to create a completed work that others will see.
No experience is required to start
Content creators need a laptop, time, and the willingness to hone their craft. Of course, experience or education in writing, marketing, or producing videos, for example, is helpful but not necessary.
There are plenty of young entrepreneurs who created their own content and built their own brand.
Kyle Giersdorf, a teenager and Fortnite World Champion, creates his own gaming content and works with big names in the gaming industry. Bethany Mota, a 26-year-old content creator who shared snaps of fashionable outfits, now has her own clothing line in Aeropostale.
Of course, it takes time and commitment — and a lot of content — to create a profitable channel like this, but it’s doable.
If you’re entertaining the idea of becoming a content creator, weigh these benefits. This career can be rewarding and profitable, but it’s important to research the role to know if it’s right for you.
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