In an industry where trends change overnight, Lizzy Capri’s longevity in the creator space showcases the growing pains and potential of internet-based careers.

From her humble beginnings to her current status as a multi-platform influencer, Lizzy’s journey offers a window into the complexities faced by today’s content creators.

Her experiences—from algorithmic pressures and burnout to revenue diversification and the quest for authenticity—mirror the broader trends shaping the digital space as the industry matures. 

In an exclusive interview with Net Influencer, Lizzy shares her story, exploring the realities of content creation and offering a glimpse into the future of the creator economy.

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The Unexpected Influencer

Lizzy’s path to content creation was unexpected. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a double major, she initially pursued a traditional career path.

“After [college], I went straight into a 9-to-5 job, and that’s what I thought my life would be,” she recalls.

Lizzy’s entry into content creation came when she helped a friend with their YouTube channel. This experience opened her eyes to the potential of digital media.

Starting her content journey in 2016, Lizzy has progressed from producing kid-friendly challenges and vlogs to becoming a versatile creator with a significant following.

“I started off posting a lot of content that was definitely for kids,” she says. “I think the content landscape has changed a lot over time, and I’ve also grown and changed.”

Leveraging analytics and studying successful YouTubers, Lizzy and her collaborators refined their approach. 

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“We leveraged using analytics to our advantage. We studied the algorithm,” she notes.

Despite her online popularity, Lizzy remains grounded. “I think the weirdest thing about being a digital content creator is that you don’t see your fans in real life as often as you might think,” she reflects.

Battling Burnout and Rediscovering Passion

Lizzy is candid about her challenges in the digital content industry. After years of success, she is experiencing a period of introspection and rediscovery.

“For the past year and a half, I’ve been going through this experimentation phase of trying to rediscover myself,” the influencer explains. 

She acknowledges the potential downsides of her career, noting, “There is a dark side to content creation, in the sense that it can be isolating and [mentally overwhelming].”

Lizzy describes a shift in her content creation process from spontaneous to highly produced. 

“Initially, I thought it was slightly more natural when we started. And it became more and more forced over time,” she reflects, adding that this transition led to a disconnect between her authentic self and her online persona.

The social media maven now aims to realign her content with her interests. 

“I want to get more into personal development, adventures, lifestyle, even fashion,” she tells us. “I love being active. I love sports, fishing, the outdoors, and travel.”

Despite facing burnout and struggling to connect with her audience, Lizzy remains optimistic. “I’ve been able to take a little bit of a step back and reevaluate things,” she states.

Passion vs. Pressure

Lizzy exposes the often-unseen challenges in the digital entertainment industry. Despite the profession’s perceived glamour and ease, she reveals a more complex reality.

“The biggest challenge in the beginning was all the excitement that comes with going viral and then being able to recreate that, which is also really cool,” Lizzy tells us. 

As creators grow their audience, they face new challenges. 

“You start to become almost a slave to the algorithm, but also to your audience,” Lizzy notes. This dual pressure can lead to creative constraints and personal strain.

The toll of constant content creation becomes evident in Lizzy’s experience. 

“I would feel so drained after filming videos,” she admits. “I got to a point where I would be coming up with video ideas, and I just [wouldn’t] get that excited anyway.” 

Lizzy also emphasizes the importance of balance and self-care: “Spending time with family and friends and doing hobbies that are not performance-based, they’re just for fun. I think that’s important.”

Addressing the misconception that content creation is easy, Lizzy advocates for empathy and understanding. 

“Everyone is on their journey, and everyone has unique experiences from their past that no one could fully ever understand,” she says.

Platform Demands and Personal Fulfillment

Lizzy grapples with content creation challenges across multiple platforms while maintaining her creative passion. 

Like many of her colleagues, she faces the dilemma of adapting to new formats without losing their core identity.

“TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have unique audiences and different ways people digest the content,” Lizzy explains, noting that this diversity presents both opportunities and challenges for content creators.

Seeking to rebrand and move away from the kids’ space, Lizzy explored OnlyFans. It allowed her to experiment with more mature content.

“The pivot for me was that I wanted to rebrand and get out of the kids’ space,” she shares. It was fun, but I wanted to return to making YouTube videos.” 

Initially, the content creator attempted to cater to all platforms, implementing a rigorous content schedule. 

“I had this whole content schedule where I focused on shorts, reels, and TikToks one day of the week, and then the rest of the week, I focused on my long-form content,” she reveals. 

However, this approach proved overwhelming.

Recognizing the need for focus, Lizzy decided to return to her roots.

 “I’m a YouTuber at the end of the day,” she states, emphasizing the need to master one platform rather than spreading herself too thin across multiple channels.

Lizzy also reflects on the balance between audience demands and personal fulfillment. 

“For the longest time, that’s all I looked at. What does my audience want to see?” she admits. Such an approach led to a sense of losing herself.

Lizzy now strives for a more balanced approach. “I need to balance what I enjoy doing plus what resonates with my audience,” she says.

Building a Sustainable Content Business

Initially, Lizzy’s primary income source was YouTube AdSense revenue. “You get paid per thousand views. So I focus a lot on that,” she explains. 

However, as her career progressed, she diversified her income streams.

Although Lizzy acknowledges the potential disconnect between personal values and content requirements, brand partnerships became a significant revenue source. 

“You do end up working with a lot of brands that may not necessarily resonate with me as an individual, but it did work with my content,” she reflects.

Lizzy has experimented with merchandise but found it challenging to embrace it fully. 

“I’ve kind of gone into merchandise here and there, but I just found that it never really clicked that well for me,” she admits.

Demonstrating financial prudence, Lizzy reinvests much of her earnings into content production. 

“I spent a lot of my revenue and stuff back into my content, in terms of just building out my studio, improving my equipment, hiring people,” she says.

Looking beyond content creation, the influencer has diversified her investments. 

“I also invested into real estate and stuff like that,” she notes, highlighting the importance of long-term financial planning for creators.

The Path to Authentic Content

As she contemplates her future, Lizzy emphasizes the importance of authenticity and personal growth.

Consistency emerges as a key factor in her advice. 

“There’s an important aspect of consistency,” she notes, drawing parallels with traditional media. However, she stresses the need to balance content creation and personal life.

Lizzy candidly shares her struggle with authenticity, admitting, “I felt like I was molding myself to be somebody that I wasn’t.” 

She advises creators to resist external validation and instead focus on self-discovery. 

“If you know who you are, you can look back at your life and evaluate the parts of your life you had fun with and which parts were fulfilling.”

Embracing failure and experimentation is another crucial aspect of Lizzy’s philosophy. 

“It’s okay to fail. It’s okay to try something new,” she states.

As Lizzy enters a new phase of reflection, she expresses gratitude for her journey and fan base. 

“I’m grateful that I have such a big fan base, and I’m hoping I can make myself and my fans proud, too,” she concludes.