How To Have A Successful, Profitable Career As A Content Creator

It’s actually easier than ever.

Content creation for all its buzz worthiness is the only real way to connect with and cultivate a customer base anymore. Television ads that aren’t played during the Super Bowl are merely excuses to use the bathroom and get another beverage.

So how does the average Twitch or Mixer streamer with a few thousand followers, a modicum of YouTube subscribers, and a middle of the road Twitter following achieve the dream?

Teamwork makes the dream work

Start Your Own Marketing Company

There is a never-ending stream of individuals calling themselves creators, and they are chasing that sweet sponsorship money pot of gold at the end of the magical content rainbow.

Very few realize exactly how to capture that elusive creature because streamers, YouTubers, and the middle 60% of social media influencers tend to be solopreneurs doing everything themselves and often burning out before hitting critical mass.

So what if 3 three to five creators all with a community of 5,000 or more followers each banded together for mutual benefit?

This is an emerging online trend especially in esports as competitive gaming orgs collapse under the weight of their own bloated expectations, lack of ROI, repeated scandals, and an average career length shorter than that of most NFL players.

How exactly do I know this crazy idea actually works?

Practical Knowledge

When I was with Esports Labs, we held exclusive tournament rights to a competitive game that had a passionate, intelligent group of players dedicated to playing the game the best way possible. Tournaments were abundant and fun. The players were quite mature and easy to deal with and welcomed the structure our site provided.

The publisher came to us initially to test out bugs for the game. They just wanted to get as much raw data as possible to improve their product until they saw how a well-run event could really boost their numbers.

One major barrier to real growth for the game was the lack of evergreen how-to content, exciting gameplay examples, and positive 3rd party verification of the product. Streamers willing to consistently play the game were extremely hard to find. I would know because I asked 10 different streamers in the same genre to try it out and all turned me down even with money being offered.

However, the need for content did not change. So I dove into my network and found a few names of creators who were open to listening. That’s where I found 99 Knights. They are the perfect example of what we needed and had no desire to control how or when the content used.

And a great relationship was born.

How It Went Down

I had to assess the skills and quality of the group. Just calling yourself a content creator means very little when deadlines are seen as suggestions rather than requirements.

That’s the single most frustrating part of working in the gaming world. Dealing with streamers who possess an overblown sense of their value has lead to more ignored emails and unreturned messages than I care to count.

I vetted the 99 Knights content for any issues, and I was brutal about it. I didn’t want cuss words every other breath. I didn’t want idiots who threw their keyboards and dragged the game just because the correct mechanics were unclear in the moment.

I wanted adults. I wanted professionals.

The negotiation process went smoothly, and for $800 Esports Labs got a four-player tournament streamed on Twitch and YouTube along with a small catalog of useful, shareable evergreen content.

The Winning Formula

Making this a reality for yourself might feel new and uncomfortable at first. You like your friends, but going into business with others even if you like them is full of pitfalls. My best advice is to be very discerning. Only make the offer if it looks and feels right. Only step into it if the group skills get better with the addition of another person.

Just because you get along with another creator doesn’t mean you can make money with them.

What this all means for you as a smaller creator is rather simple yet requires a focused mind and business acumen that goes beyond just wondering when you’re going live next on Twitch.

The keys to winning are simple shifts in mindset and that same service mentality that helped to build the great community you already have. Here’s a checklist of needs to follow:

1. A small, cohesive group of dedicated creators with overlapping skill sets.
2. A shared vision that defines success as group growth and strong brand recognition.
3. The willingness to say NO to offers that don’t fit your vision.
4. The willingness to do business with people you may not necessarily like but are faithful to the terms of the contract.
5. A professional mentality and dedication to constantly improve everything about the business.

Lots To Unpack

I agree there is a lot to parse through as you ponder this idea. It feels right on its surface and there is always money to be made in content creation.

So reach out to me. Let’s chat. I’m always happy to tell you what worked for me and what didn’t. I have worked with groups and creators all over the globe, and what works in one area may not serve another.

Talk more soon.

Bill The Conquerer is a content creator, social media thinker, and gaming strategist. You can follow him on Twitter, connect with him on LinkedIn, and watch his Twitch stream for more.