Strategy
What Does a Content Creator Do? 7 Most Sought After Content Creator Skills
A content creator is one of the most sought after jobs right now. This article gives you all the information you need about content creators- who they are, what they do, and how you can become one.
You must have come across the words “content creator” on many people’s social media bios. I first saw this word a few years ago, and thought to myself, “I create content when I write for my personal blog. Does that mean I am a content creator?”
Let’s find out the answer to that question!
What Is a Content Creator? What Do They Do?
A content creator does just that- create content. However, the role of content creator is often associated with brands. This means that a content creator is someone who is responsible for creating content for a brand’s audience.
“Content” could mean anything here. It could be a blog post, or an instagram reel, or social media ads, or simply a photo.
The most important thing to note here is that a content creator creates content for a specific target audience with an end goal in mind. This could be anything from converting the audience into customers to getting them to sign up to a newsletter.
Does this mean that a person who maintains a personal blog is not a content creator? Correct. In this context, they are not a content creator. Because they don’t create content for a brand, and neither does their content have an end goal.
An online content creator needs to understand their target audience and create content that will appeal to them. They also need to know a little bit about marketing, because that plays a huge role in deciding what type of content to create.
For example, short and snappy captions tend to do well on Instagram, meanwhile blogs are good for long-form content. But the same long-form content most likely won’t do that great on Twitter, for example. So a content creator needs to know how to optimize content according to each platform to increase traffic.
7 Most Sought After Content Creator Skills
Did you know that a content creator’s salary can range anywhere between $30,000 to $50,000 annually? This is just an estimation. You can earn more depending on experience, location, and whom you work for.
But before you start looking for content creator jobs, you need to have certain skills.
- Research
The basis for creating any content is research. As a content creator, you must be able to dig through the depths of the internet and support your content with research.
Research skills also come in handy when you try to gauge what kind of content is suitable for which social media platform.
- Writing
No matter what type of content you create, writing ultimately plays a great role in everything. Whether it is to simply write captions or tweets, you need to know how to convey the brand’s message succinctly using your words.
- Editing
Each piece of media needs to be polished before uploading. Whether you’re a writer or a photographer, you need to master basic editing skills for different types of media.
- Photography/ Videography/ Graphic Design
Although you don’t need to be a pro at this, knowing the basics of how to take a good photo, shoot a simple video, or create some basic charts to support your data will go a long way.
Since visual media is very powerful in luring visitors, having these skills will add a lot of value.
- Search Engine Optimization
SEO is one of the best ways to drive organic traffic to your content. Optimizing your content according to SEO requirements will give you results even without having to spend a lot of time promoting your content.
- Data Analysis
This might not seem obvious, but data analysis skills are very important for a content creator. This will give you insights as to which of your content is performing well and which isn’t. Using this, you can tweak future content to give better results.
For example, if you have been posting long captions on Instagram, and your data analytics software tells you that this isn’t doing so well, you can switch your content strategy to posting short captions.
- Content Planning
Finally, we come to one of the most important content creator skills- the ability to plan content properly. You will likely be working on content across multiple platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Blog, etc.
You will, most probably, be creating and posting something or the other every day. And we all know how important timings are when it comes to social media, right?
To ensure that you stay on top of everything and don’t miss a deadline, you need stellar content planning skills. You know what can help in this regard? A content calendar! Read this article to know more about how to create one.
How To Become a Content Creator for Big Brands
The first step to landing a content creator job with big brands is to develop your skills. Make a list of things you’re already good at and things that you need to learn. Then work on them every single day.
Understand the ins and outs of social media platforms, specifically which type of content works best. Learn about the different types of audiences that each platform has.
Learn from the experts and incorporate their advice. And most importantly, start building your portfolio. You can pick a brand you like, and simply create different types of content for them. This will be a great way to showcase your skills to brands and show them what you can bring to the table.
Staying on top of content creation trends is also important.
Now you’re ready! Start applying to content creator jobs that catch your fancy. You can use job sites such as Indeed to search for them.
Another way to land a great job is by networking! Believe me, it will take you places. Talk to the other people in the industry. Make genuine connections. Follow people who post frequent job listings.
You can even contact brands directly on social media. Brands sometimes like to include their followers in their social media strategy by asking them to use certain hashtags or post a certain type of content in exchange for the chance to get featured.
For example: a phone company asking their customers to upload a picture taken from their phone. This is a great chance for you to get on their radar while also showcasing your skills (in this case, photography).
A content creator gives voice to the brand, and is one of the most popular jobs out there right now. So what are you waiting for? Brush up on your skills, and land your dream job! All it takes is passion and dedication. But before you go, share this article with anybody who might find it useful. Let’s all help each other.
