The Real Reasons Why Creators Get Extra Popular is Not What You Think
Being original is overrated. You need something more than originality to get popular as a content creator
Being a content creator is easy. Converting your content creation journey into a full-time rewarding career needs more than just originality and skill.
Read the entire note to know more.
Can anybody be a content creator?
The best and the worst thing about being a content creator is that the barrier to entry with becoming a content creator is next to nil.
Every person with a smartphone technically has what you need to become a content creator.
However, less than 1% creators end up becoming big enough to convert their skill into a rewarding career opportunity.
What is their secret sauce?
The secret sauce is actually a concoction of multiple traits, skills, work ethic, but in this note I’m going to double click on one aspect of content creation that’s rather misunderstood.
The 3 traits you need to become a content creator
Before we unfold the core subject, let’s touch upon the three legs on which the career and growth of a content creator is actually dependent on.
Every content creator needs to be a master of these 3 traits.
01. Passion
Content creation is a difficult, laborious, and a time-consuming journey.
Very rarely does someone end up becoming a case of runaway success.
Most of your favourite content creators have had a journey of months and years before they saw their first paycheck from content creation
So, if you’re not passionate (and patient) about content creation, don’t even bother entering the arena.
02. Unique
The formula to win may have various factors that will have to work in your favour, when it comes to winning at the game of content creation.
However, the recipe to fail is pretty straight forward.
Try emulating someone, and the audience will make you feast on the humble pie.
Find your unique take, a style that’s true to you and something that’s not made to (only) cater to the crowd.
03. Storytelling
Irrespective of your niche or your target audience, you will have to find a way to make your content interesting, engaging, and valuable to your audience.
Every piece of content you put out, must help your target audience to feel a mix of being more informed, educated, entertained, enlightened, empowered, inspired; than they were before consuming your content.
And to achieve that perfect blend of educational + entertainment cocktail, storytelling is the tool that will be your go to resource.
How important is originality?
You must be wondering, “But hey! What about originality?”
Isn’t that the most important factor?
What I’m going to suggest next may seem extremely controversial, but that’s why you need to read the post till the end to get the complete context of the story.
Originality is technically overrated, when it comes to content creation.
You need to understand that you can’t come up with any original ideas.
Everything that you want to say/ create has already been done in some way/ form.
So, wanting to be original is actually an unnecessary burden that causes most content creators to never start their journey.
They feel so pressured by the phrase, “be original” that they end up failing even before they start.
I want you to understand that being original is the wrong way to approach the journey of content creation (or anything else in life).
The most important factor to achieve success
Confused, right?
I’m sure at some level you’re not even convinced that a content creator doesn’t need to be original to achieve success.
If you’re one such person, and if you’re still reading, thank you and I appreciate that you’re open to a healthy conversation, you’re receptive to change and you’re always open to learning something new.
Aren’t you wondering if originality is not the most important factor, what is?
Well, the answer is one simple word.
A word that’s easy to say, but very difficult to imbibe and master in your life.
A word that’s actually the secret sauce of every successful person.
The most important factor to achieve success as a content creator is…
AUTHENTICITY
Yes!
That’s what you need more than anything else.
Every piece of content you create is an iteration of something else that has inspired you.
Your followers won’t follow you because you come up with the most innovative ideas, or the most creative examples, if you come across as a fake/ inauthentic person in your videos/ content.
I know of so many popular social media stars who don’t get an audience, despite their content being funny, shot in really high quality, because the audience feels that the content is not authentic.
Your authenticity comes through in your content, your vibe creates a parasocial connection with your audience that’s extremely difficult to explain.
So, if you have been stopping yourself from creating content, let this note be a reminder to help you get the right perspective.
Be authentic, and start creating content, TODAY.
You will improve with time.
Your community will grow with time.
Don’t let “I don’t know how to edit” or “I’m not feeling ready, yet” or “I will get a lot of negative feedback” stop you.
You will never learn how to edit the most perfect video, unless you edit 100 videos.
You will never feel ready. I feel a slight amount of nervousness at the back of my mind every time I write this note/ newsletter or face the camera.
But do you know what made that nervousness move to the back of mind? Me creating content consistently.
Do I only get positive feedback? I’d like to show gratitude to my lovely audience who are always supportive of what I do, but every now and then, I get a message that pulls me down.
However, when you’re passionate about what you do, the process and the impact on the lives of the people who follow you becomes the driving force that keeps you going.
The Bottom Line
When you start creating content from a place of authenticity, over time you find your voice, you understand how to adapt, you start adding your creative nuances to your content style, and within months you will create a style that’s absolutely unique and “original” to your personal/ content brand.
Your Thoughts!
What are your views on what you’ve just read?
You think what I shared makes sense?
Do you feel that you’ve been giving too much (unnecessary) weightage to originality in your mind?
Do you agree that authenticity is more important than originality?
Let’s continue this conversation (or ask your questions about the post) in the comments below.
Keep Going Keep Growing 🚀
Have I earned your share?
Thank you for reading the full post. Since you read this till the end, it’s safe to assume you found value in the content.
Please consider sharing this post with your audience on social media. You may end up helping someone who’s struggling in their career/ business because they don’t understand the importance of building their personal brand.
I’m sure if you think hard, you will easily come with a few names who you know must read this.
Share this with them, help them and earn your blessings.
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Prompt used to create the image for the note
P.S.: Image made on Meta AI using the prompt, “Imagine a super excited content creator looking at their phone”
Hey u wrote beautifully.. firstly.
The explanation is on point. N I do believe in authenticity.. but isn't there a thin line as to being authentic and getting liked by the audience or becoming a fools game while posting.?
Great question Rushty!
I believe in a simple equation. A content creator must create and post content that they want to create. However, the langauge, tonality, and the examples used in the content must be chosen in a manner that the target audience resonates with the posts and gets the message.
If someone doesn't connect with the message/ tonality of your content, in most probability, they're not your "target audience" and if too many people are not resonating with your content (despite being your target audience) you need to make the necessary changes to your content/ voice.
Hope this answers your question.
Thank you for your comment.
Keep Going Keep Growing 🚀