The Future Belongs to Creators

In today’s economy, it seems like everyone’s a creator. And in a bustling creator economy, making your voice heard can feel impossible. But is it actually impossible? And does success mean viewing fellow creators as competition? 

In today’s episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel discuss a recent article titled, The Creator Economy Is In Crisis, Now Let’s Fix It. Some say over-supply and unfriendly algorithms make the modern creator economy a challenging industry. With so many creators working for less (or nothing), many wonder if creators are undervalued. 

Nonetheless, if you’re itching to go full-time with a side-hustle, there are always ways to break through the noise and create for a living.  

Main takeaways

• [08:54] Oversupply makes it possible for niche content to exist instead of content that appeals only to the masses. Tools like filters and search buttons make it possible for smaller niche creators to be found.
• [09:11] Because the market is filled with tons of creators doing similar content, creators must differentiate themselves or find their niche. 
• [11:02] Platforms add to the problem of oversaturation because algorithms reward creators who post frequently.
• [15:14] Oversupply isn’t a death sentence for small creators. If people are interested in your niche, chances are they’ll find you. You can beat the algorithm by being hyper-specific or hyper-broad. 
• [25:18] Making money is a skill set. To solve the problem of underpaid creators, creators must make monetization their goal before anything else. 

Connect with our hosts

• Charli Prangley
• Miguel Pou
• Haley Janicek
  
  

Links

• Watch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTube
• The Creator Economy Is In Crisis, Now Let’s Fix It
• Everyday Carry
• Creator Sessions
• Teddy Williams
• LULA Pottery
• Charli on YouTube

Got a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?
We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!

Start building your audience for free
With ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.

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As a constantly evolving creator, nothing is ever written in stone. Just ask Hollie Arnett, brand strategy coach for creators and founder of Maker & Moxie. A master of branding, Hollie passed the ultimate test by successfully rebranding a difficult client: herself. 

Beginning her business as a designer and typographer, Hollie picked her original name quickly. But as she evolved from designer to brand strategist, it was clear the name no longer served her purpose.

The name was beginning to impact her SEO, her ability to stand out in a crowded marketplace, and her ability to share her story. So she took the plunge and started fresh. 

If you’re a creator who's scared to start over, Charli, Haley, and Miguel talk with Hollie about navigating those fears, rebranding the right way, and picking the perfect name for your business.

Main takeaways

• [07:12] Your business name should speak to your audience. Your audience should be able to identify themselves in your name. 
• [21:36] Rather than shifting your brand one incremental change at a time, rebrand in one swoop. It’s exciting, quickly gets everyone on board, and makes everything easier for you and your audience.
• [27:00] You have to find a way to future-proof your business while also making sure your business reflects who you are in the present moment. 
• [30:08] If you’re sharing your new name with a small community before making the rebrand official, share it with people who know you and your vision and who live in the audience of people you hope to work with. 

Connect with our hosts

• Charli Prangley
• Miguel Pou
• Haley Janicek
  
  

Links

• Watch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTube
• Maker & Moxie
• Hollie on Instagram
• Hollie’s Podcast
• Creator Sessions
• Creator Sessions with Sad Alex
• Arrows & Bow
• Sharon Says So
• Inside Marketing Design
• Charli on YouTube
• Inside Marketing Design on YouTube
  
  

Got a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?

We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!

Start building your audience for free
With ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.

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In today's Q&A episode, Charli and Miguel talk with ConvertKit product specialist, Ben Schoeffler, about thoughts and experiences turning hobbies into side hustles. They also answer questions about when to push through burn-out and when to quit, creating with a goal in mind, and why it’s OK to produce work without knowing where it’s going.

Today’s Questions 

• [04:26] How do you decide when and how to monetize a side hustle? 
• [07:54] How do you push through creative burnout? 
• [14:34] How do you know when to push through that creative burnout or leave your side hustle by the wayside? 
• [20:04] How important are long-term goals and how often do you think about them? 

Connect with our hosts

• Charli Prangley
• Miguel Pou
• Ben Schoeffler

Links

• Watch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTube
• Charli on YouTube
• Charli on Twitch
• Shut Up, Brain Podcast
• Thinking In Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All The Facts by Annie Duke
• Ugmonk Cards
• Metaphysical Milkshake with Rainn & Reza
• Metaphysical Milkshake with Rainn & Reza: Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble: Are the Kids Alright?
• StrengthsFinder
• Inside Marketing Design
• Marketing Design Dispatch
• Charli’s Font
• MailChimp
• Slack
• SalesForce
• Etsy
  
  

Got a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?
We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!

Start building your audience for free
With ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.

Stay in touch

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With ADHD, it’s incredibly difficult to focus on one task at a time. For creators with a lot to do, an ADHD diagnosis can make an already uphill climb feel like Mt. Everest. But, as Noah from ProvocaTeach tells us,  there are ways creators can overcome their diagnosis and turn ADHD into a creative advantage.

Growing up, Noah always felt like he was better at explaining lessons than his teachers. When he eventually started college for education, he noticed that his curriculum glossed over concepts that he felt were the most important issues for teachers to understand and solve. And when March 2020 hit, Noah decided it was finally time to share his education opinions with an online audience and he began his creator journey.

In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel talk with Noah about managing ADHD as a creator, why systems and support are the secret sauce, and how ADHD can be your greatest creative asset. 

Main takeaways

• [11:49] When there are too many tasks on your list, compartmentalize your to-dos and build systems that hold you accountable. 
• [13:27] Lean on external resources to help you figure out what your regulated creator process should look like. Learn from podcasts, research, and creators who came before you.
• [14:15] Surround yourself with supporters with whom you can talk things through when problems arise. 
• [22:34] With ADHD, it’s tempting to give up when you don’t see an immediate payoff. But you have to give something a couple of tries before you can abandon the idea. It takes consistency to gain traction and results.
• [32:22] Presenting an audience with immediate value is essential. Everyone needs a reason to stop their scroll. Otherwise, your content gets lost in the mix. 

Connect with our hosts

• Charli Prangley
• Miguel Pou
• Haley Janicek
• Noah from ProvocaTeach
  
  

Links

• Watch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTube
• ProvocaTeach 
• Noah on Twitter 
• Noah on Facebook
• Noah’s YouTube Channel
• Fiverr
• Angel at ConvertKit
• The Future Belongs To Creators 122: Building Your Network by Sharing Your Process with Teddy Williams
• Dr. Thomas E. Brown
• Canva
• Nathan Barry
• Sharon Says So
• The Sharon Says So Podcast
• Craft & Commerce Conference
  
  

Got a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?

We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!

Start building your audience for free

With ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.

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The hardest part of accomplishing anything is taking the first step. Whether you’re nervous about sharing work for the first time or fear you’ll never find success, most big-time creators have felt the same.

How do you push through those tough early stages when there’s no guarantee of success or profit? ConvertKit Product Manager, Romane Dagain, knows what it’s like to navigate the early days of being a creator while balancing a 9-5 and resisting burnout and self-criticism.

In this episode, Charli and Miguel talk with Romane about the hardest obstacles to overcome when you’re starting, reframing your mindset on monetization, and avoiding the pressure of outside perspectives. 

Main takeaways

• [04:38] Sometimes, the hardest part of starting a side hustle is accepting that you’ll have to share your work and that it’s good enough to share. 
• [09:50] Creating in public is a great way to hold yourself accountable, stay motivated, and connect with other passionate creators. 
• [12:28] You are always your toughest critic. Don’t be too hard on yourself or let perfectionism stop you from sharing.
• [20:37] Before jumping into a monetization strategy, you have to build up the habit of creating as well as an audience. Take advantage of that time before monetization and the freedom in creating just to create.
• [24:31] Part of the fun of becoming a creator is building something you love. Don’t let other people’s pressure and advice distort your passion project into something you dislike.

Connect with our hosts

• Charli Prangley
• Miguel Pou
• Romane Dagain

Links

• Watch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTube
• The New Provincial
• The New Provincial on Instagram 
• Marketing Design Dispatch 
• Etsy

Got a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?
We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!

Start building your audience for free
With ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.

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Many companies have regular performance reviews for their employees. If done well, reflecting on your work is a great way to improve and refresh your professional momentum. Even though it’s not mandated by a higher-up, we should still take similar time as creators to reflect on our work and performance.

When there’s no boss behind your shoulder or fear of firing, we as creators and solopreneurs need systems in place to hold us accountable and keep our aspirations on track. 

In this episode, Haley and Miguel break down the beats of purposeful and intentional reflection. It’s a system embraced at ConvertKit, and a system we encourage everyone to implement as their creator journeys evolve. 

Main takeaways

• [07:28] Purposeful and regimented reflection holds you accountable. Because as creators, no one else is there to do it for you. Start by breaking up lofty goals into small pieces.  
• [11:17] If you approach tasks with the mindset that you’re a learner rather than the expert, then nothing you do is wrong and everything you do is teaching you something valuable. 
• [17:27] Learning from your mistakes is great, but don’t forget to celebrate the wins too. 
• [18:00] To improve your areas of weakness, you have to be honest about them and aware of what they are. 
• [28:21] You can’t succeed as a creator if you’re not growing personally. Don’t just track professional milestones and metrics like subscribers, clicks, and revenue. If you’re learning a lot, that’s just as much of an accomplishment as gaining 1,000 subscribers or earning $1,000.

Connect with our hosts

• Miguel Pou
• Haley Janicek

Links

• Watch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTube
• 15Five
• Creator Sessions
• My Brothers And I
• James Clear
• Craft & Commerce Conference
• 1% Better Every Day - James Clear at ConvertKit Craft + Commerce 2017
• 4 Personal Growth Skills Content Creators Should Master
• The Future Belongs To Creators 114: 1,000 True Fans
• Matt Ragland
• The Future Belongs To Creators 104: Making the Leap to Full-Time Creator
• Alexis Teichmiller
• The Future Belongs To Creators 123: Launching Your First Newsletter with Daniel Beasley
• Judah & The Lion
• Judah Akers
• Sam Williams
• Alt Bloom
  
  

Got a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?
We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!

Start building your audience for free
With ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.

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Taking a leap of faith is never easy. If you’ve ever thought about starting a newsletter, what’s holding you back? Whether it’s your grueling 9-5, the daunting task of building a website, or starting with zero followers, there always seems to be something standing in the way.

But, as Daniel Beasley says, take it one small step at a time. Director of Customer Experience at ConvertKit and former business owner, Daniel has always juggled lots of ideas. When he came up with the idea to create content about remote work and traveling post-pandemic, he knew that starting small and focusing on adding value would allow his side hustle to grow without becoming overwhelming. 

In this episode, Charli, Miguel, and Daniel discuss steps for starting a newsletter, overcoming the hurdles of a side hustle, and the features that make newsletters fun and valuable resources for your subscribers.

Main takeaways

• [10:32] If you’re thinking of starting a newsletter, curating content is a great place to start. Newsletters with curated lists are invaluable because they cut through the information-saturated web.
• [16:28] Make your newsletter something you would click on and something you would be excited to engage with, not just what you think people want.
• [23:01] You don’t need lofty goals when you’re first starting a newsletter. Your initial goals should be to stay consistent and to slowly try new things with a growing audience.
• [27:01] All you need to get started with a newsletter is a landing page. Don’t worry about creating an entire site right out of the gate. 

Connect with our hosts

• Charli Prangley
• Miguel Pou
• Daniel Beasley

Links

• Watch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTube
• Subscribe to Venture Remote
• Venture Remote on Facebook
• Venture Remote on Instagram
• The Future Belongs To Creators 122: Building Your Network by Sharing Your Process with Teddy Williams 
• Teddy Williams
• Airbnb
• Subscribe to Charli’s newsletter
• Webflow
• WordPress
• Flywheel

Got a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?
We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!

Start building your audience for free
With ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.

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How do you go from casual listener of a show to colleague of a creator all in the comment section of a live stream? Ask Teddy. A staple of The Future Belongs To Creators podcast, Teddy’s here (almost) every week to ask questions and keep the conversation fun. 

In today’s episode, Teddy chats with Charli, Haley, and Miguel about his success working from the comment section and finding his audience as an emerging creator. They discuss everything from overcoming the fear of asking that first question to a creator and if building in public is really worth potential scrutiny. They also discuss the acceptability of shameless networking.

Stepping into the spotlight can be nerve-wracking. But for people like Teddy, the professional benefits have outweighed the potential downside.

Main takeaways

• [09:28] When it comes to perfectionism, sometimes you have to get out of your own way. Finishing something and creating it in public will lead to more opportunities. Don’t wait around for the work to be perfect. 
• [19:33] Even a small interaction can mean a lot to a fan or follower. Networking doesn’t have to be a huge gesture to be successful. A series of small connections is a fantastic way to build relationships.
• [23:45] There’s no shame in intentional networking. Plan for who you’re going to connect with at a networking event or elsewhere to make the most of your time.
• [28:46] When you engage with creators, you’re actually serving them. Interacting with and applying their content helps show that they are accomplishing the mission they set out to.
• [37:11] As a creator with an audience, remember to recognize the fans or followers that show up repeatedly.

Connect with our hosts

• Charli Prangley
• Miguel Pou
• Haley Janicek
• Teddy Williams

Links

• Watch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTube
• Teddy on YouTube
• Why I Watch My Favorite Podcast Live Stream on YouTube
• Teddy on Twitter
• Sign up for Teddy’s newsletter
• Teddy’s Webinar Flow Recap tweet
• Charli’s video about her promotion
• Nathan Barry
• Barrett Brooks
• Sean McCabe
• Figma
• The Future Belongs To Creators 121: The Impact of Twitch on the Creator Economy
• The Future Belongs To Creators 114: 1,000 True Fans
• Twitch
• Grayscale
• Rafal Tomal
• Farm To Closet
• Kygo
• Steph Curry
• Noah from ProvocaTeach
• Melanie Griesemer
• Ryan de Metz

Got a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?
We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!

Start building your audience for free
With ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.

Stay in touch

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While an app filled with live streaming gamers may be the last thing you associate with 2021’s highest-paid influencers, much of what makes up our modern creator economy originated on Twitch.

At least according to a recent article, Twitch Turns 10, and the Creator Economy Is in Its Debt. In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel dig into live streams, the game craze, opportunities from the app, challenges Twitch perpetuates, and why creators today should take a page from the gaming space for a healthy career doing what they love. 

Main takeaways

• [10:54] Are gamers considered creators? They create content for an audience, which is exactly what artists and YouTubers do.
• [23:11] Don’t rely on third-party tools to build a relationship with your audience, whether that be YouTube, Instagram, or Twitch. You should always be steering your audience to a platform that you own. 
• [25:59] Given its emphasis on unedited live streams, some may argue that Twitch has contributed to the rise in “relatability” and authenticity. 
• [28:33] At the very least, Twitch is another opportunity for your audience to find and interact with your content. In that sense, platforms like Twitch add to the accessibility of becoming a full-time creator.
• [34:01] If you’re a creator, try out live. Live streaming can strengthen the bond you have with your audience and add authenticity and humanity to your online persona.

Connect with our hosts

• Charli Prangley
• Miguel Pou
• Haley Janicek
  
  

Links

• Watch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTube
• Twitch
• Twitch Turns 10, and the Creator Economy Is in Its Debt
• Patreon
• OnlyFans
• The New Rules of the “Creator Economy”
• The Future Belongs To Creators 116: How Platforms Are Changing in Response to the Creator Economy
• Ninja
• Ludwig
• Charli D’Amelio
• Why I Watch My Favorite Podcast Live Stream on YouTube
  
  

Got a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?

We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!

Start building your audience for free

With ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.

Stay in touch

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In today's Q&A episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel share secrets and insights from their experience balancing work, life, side passions, and, of course, hosting a creator podcast.  Stay tuned for answers on charging for sponsorships, knowing your limits as a freelancer, recovering from creative ruts, and more. 

Today’s Questions 

• [03:45] Why is Charli so transparent about her income? 
• [12:05] What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned from doing this podcast?
• [20:06] What do you do when you’re feeling creatively uninspired or unmotivated?
• [26:37] How do you handle growth and momentum on your side gig when you can’t give it the attention it needs?

Connect with our hosts

• Charli Prangley
• Miguel Pou
• Haley Janicek
  
  

Links

• Watch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTube
• Creator Sessions
• Charli on YouTube
• Sean McKay
• 2021 income streams report - I DOUBLED my side hustle income!
• How much do web designers earn? [Real salary numbers]
• How to create a gallery wall
• Alexis Teichmiller
• Choosing The Right Medium For Creating with Ben Schoeffler
• The Realities of Trying to Make It in Music with Josh Logan
• Happy Happy Houseplant
• Working With a Virtual Assistant as a Creator with Chloe Anna
• TinLun Studios
  
  

Got a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?

We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!

Start building your audience for free

With ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.

Stay in touch

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram