Are you an Influencer or a Content Creator?⚡

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Today on Stay Fearless or Die Trying:

  1. What’s the difference between creating content &

  2. Which one can put $$ in your pocket TODAY!?

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There’s a difference between content creation & influencing.

Many people view being a content creator and an influencer as the same thing. As you’ll hear in this week’s episode of Dare to Be Fearless, there’s a difference! Being a content creator often comes FIRST, before being an influencer. Here are some key differences:

  • Influencers have the follower count to back it up: Influencers have hundreds of thousands of followers, that follow them for reasons unrelated to brand deals. Influencers leverage their INFLUENCE on social media to promote products. Unfortunately, in this day and age, even I can’t really call myself that. The brands looking to purchase that type of ad space are looking for hundreds of thousands of downloads per episode or video. Isn’t that wild?

  • Content Creators often work FOR the brand: Content creators usually work for the brand, creating content that gets posted on the brand’s social media, YouTube, etc. Their energy is focused on creating highly polished content that brands can utilize. Then you can up charge to post on your platform.

  • Revenue comes from different sources: Influencers make money through brand partnerships, sponsored posts, and product collabs. Content creators make money through project deals, merchandise sales, and ad revenue. I personally do not do affiliate partnerships, but if you’re just starting out I highly suggest trying them.

You can’t start your career as an influencer right away, it takes years of building your brand, your follower count, and your niche.

How to start making money right away from content creation:

1. 💭 Understand your value

seth meyers GIF by Late Night with Seth Meyers

You have to bring something specific to the table to create content!

  • Look at products you use every day and think about why you use them.

  • Understand what your value is as a consumer and how your story might appeal to brands.

  • Focus on things you know a lot about. Don’t just reach out to Samsung when you use an iPhone every day.

In this week’s podcast episode, entrepreneur and creator Terry Rice talks about what he brings to the table:

I always have a strategy. Like, why am I pitching this? It’s not “I’d love to work with you,” but, you know, “I’m a father, I live in Brooklyn, I’d love to show how we’re keeping our kids entertained during the summer, and one way we do that is through these toys that you have. Can we do some kind of campaign where we show you my kids playing with these toys?” That’s all you have to do.

2. 😱 Post first, partner later

Start with a free promo. Terry Rice swears by this. Show the brand your value before expecting them to give you money.

  • Post a promo: Create a quality, well-edited piece of content that shows your story in relation to the brand.

  • Reach out to the brand: “Hey! I just posted this Instagram reel about why I love [brand]. I would love to chat further about a strategy I have for getting this product in front of more people with me creating content.”

  • Repeat!: Keep creating, keep pitching. Rejection will roll off your back if you have hundreds of brands in your inbox.

3. ✍️ Stay in touch!

Sign Off Let Me Know GIF by megan lockhart

You’ve landed paid content. You’ve delivered your product. You’ve deposited the check. Don’t just forget about the brand now!

  • Follow up: Reach out immediately afterward, thank them for the opportunity, and ask for feedback. I’m a huge fan of custom cards. I buy mine from Anna Made Design Co.

  • Follow up again: Find a reason to contact the brand at least once a quarter. Did they launch a new product? Do you have another idea for content?

  • Follow up even more!: Keep the line of communication open to stay ON THEIR RADAR! That way when another opportunity comes up you’re first in line.

Dare To Be Fearless with Entrepreneur and Content Creator Terry Rice

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"The secret sauce of being a successful creator on the platform is just being true to yourself. And that sounds sort of very cliché, but I wish somebody had given me that advice early in my career because nothing rings more true"​

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