The term "content creator" is a used as a generalisation for all professions that create content for digital media. The produced content is used in social networks or on a website, for example. The possible forms of content are as varied as the medium on which it is published. As a content creator, you create texts, images, videos, audio formats or even graphics and illustrations.
Here's all you need to know to become a successful content creator!
Online marketing is becoming more and more important for companies of all sizes and in all sectors. This circumstance calls for creative experts who produce outstanding content for digital media of all sorts. As a content creator, this is exactly your job. Seize your opportunity and enter an exceptional career that turns your talents into a profession!
Online marketing is becoming more and more important for companies of all sizes and in all sectors. This circumstance calls for creative experts who produce outstanding content for digital media of all sorts. As a content creator, this is exactly your job. Seize your opportunity and enter an exceptional career that turns your talents into a profession!
What exactly is a "content creator"?
Is "content creator" a real profession?
In short: YES, being a content creator is a profession!
The more companies advertise and sell their products and services online, the more important it becomes to stand out in the digital world and therefore also from the competition. A brand that wants to find and win over new customers online is more dependent than ever on excellent content creators. Hence, this job is one of the most crisis-proof and promising professions in marketing.
Content Creator vs. Content Manager
The profession of content creator combines activities from the fields of journalism and marketing. In companies, content creators usually work together with various departments and strengthen the marketing team. The tasks often overlap with those of other professional groups, for example those of a content strategist or content manager. Strictly speaking, however, there are differences in the designations:
As a content strategist, you develop strategies to achieve the company's marketing goals. You are essentially the brains behind the projects.
As a content manager, you are often also involved in the strategy, but are primarily the interface between content production and content planning. You take on administrative tasks, coordinate the creators and plan which content is to be published on which platform at what time.
As a content creator, you are ultimately responsible for creating content to promote a product or service, for example. The content must correspond to both the target group and the specified marketing objectives.
Content Creator vs. Social Media Manager
As a lot of digital content is produced for social media in online marketing, the boundaries between content creator and social media manager are blurred.
As a content creator for social media, you focus on social networks such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube. You not only create content, but also ensure that it is published and distributed on each of the appropriate channels. This is achieved, for example, with hashtag campaigns, TikTok challenges or photo competitions. Your job as a social media content creator usually also involves interacting with the community.
UGC Creators - sought-after talents in online marketing
There are now hundreds of thousands of content creators on social networks who upload vast amounts of content every day. As a social media or content manager, it can be your job to find exciting content from these countless videos, photos and reels that fits your company's brand message. User-generated content (UGC) is becoming increasingly popular amongst online marketers. This is because content created by private users appears more authentic, strengthens credibility and can give companies a real head start when it comes to conversions and ultimately sales.
Freelancing vs. being permanently employed
Your work as a content creator does not only vary in terms of content, but also gives you freedom in terms of how you want to practise your profession. You can work independently as a freelancer or be permanently employed by a company. Both options offer advantages and disadvantages. Which path is right for you depends on your professional goals, your life situation and your future plans.
As a freelance content creator, you are more flexible due to the freedom to organise your time. In return, you have less planning security and bear a lot of personal responsibility for finding work as well as taxes and social security contributions.
A permanent position as a content creator offers more financial security thanks to a fixed income. Thanks to regular working hours, you can usually also plan your free time better.
To-dos of a content creator
What your day-to-day work as a content creator will look like depends on your specialisation and the requirements of the client. Your tasks may include:
Development of (online) marketing strategies
Development of cross-media concepts in line with the online marketing strategy
Production, publication and management of digital content
Planning and managing social media channels
Reporting and quality management
Analysing KPIs
Smaller companies and start-ups in particular rarely have enough budget to afford experts for different marketing areas and formats. This is why content creators often take on tasks in several areas.
The variety of content creator categories
If you specialise in a certain type of content as a content creator, you can also have different job titles. These are:
Copywriter
Written text is the basis of every marketing campaign and the carrier of the advertising message. Copywriting creators write advertisements, blog articles and search engine optimised texts, for example. They develop stories and content for websites, press materials or online magazines. The term copywriter is often used synonymously. However, copywriters primarily write advertising copies and take care of a company's product communication.
Photographer
Images are indispensable in the digital media world. If you specialise in this form of content, you provide photos that match the company's advertising or marketing objectives.
Videographer
Videos are particularly good at conveying emotions. They are therefore one of the most popular forms of content in digital marketing. As a videographer, you produce image and advertising videos, how-to guides or testimonials for social media channels, for example.
Graphic Designer
Graphic designers and illustrators are also content creators. They come up with the right packaging for a brand or company and use visual means to ensure that the target group is addressed by the content.
Audio content creators
Audio content is used when information is to be conveyed in spoken language, for example as a podcast or radio advert.
As a rule, no form of content can do without at least one other form of content. This means that a good text needs a suitable image. A video and a podcast need a script or a description. As a content creator, you can be a real all-rounder and create different types of content. However, very few all-rounders are equally good at copywriting, producing professional photos, convincing audio formats and videos. It usually makes sense for you to specialise in one or two areas and become a true professional in those fields.
Requirements to become a content creator: What skills should you have?
To be successful as a content creator, it is crucial that you have an excellent command of your speciality. Your aim should be to deliver unique content that appeals to the target group and stands out from the crowd. To achieve this, you need a broad set of skills.
What kind of "soft skills" do you need as a content creator?
Planning and creating content is creative work. The challenge lies in finding the right tone or the right visual language. This requires, among other things, versatility and ingenuity, but also empathy and sensitivity. With the following soft skills, your career prospects as a content creator are quite good:
Communication skills and open-mindedness
Creativity and curiosity
A modern approach to language and design
Empathy
Enthusiasm
Structured, analytical and conceptual thinking
Understanding of different target groups
Affinity for technology and social media
Interest in social, political and pop culture topics
Tip: Authenticity and personality are particularly important for your success as a UGC Creator. What counts here is individual, credible and engaging content rather than perfectionism.
What kind of "hard skills" do you need as a content creator?
In addition to personal requirements, as a content creator you also need technical and professional expertise. The skills you need to master also depend on your specialisation.
As a video creator, you should be able to operate the recording equipment and editing programmes with confidence.
As a photographer, you need to be able to use a camera and image editing programmes.
As a copywriter, you need research skills, storytelling skills and very good knowledge of grammar and spelling. Knowledge of foreign languages, especially English, is also an advantage.
In principle, career changers can also be successful as content creators if they have creative talent. Practice and experience in dealing with social media as well as knowledge of online marketing are an advantage.
Study & training: How can you become a content creator?
As the job title is still very new, there is currently no specific training programme for content creators. However, the job description touches on activities in different areas that are offered as traditional apprenticeships and degree programmes. In this way, you will also acquire all the necessary skills to become a content expert.
For example, training or a degree programme in the field of
Linguistics
Communication sciences
Marketing, advertising and PR
Media studies
Journalism
Media Design
Media management
Tip: You can also learn skills for producing videos or podcasts in various workshops or seminars.
Becoming a content creator - how you can start from scratch
Content creators are becoming increasingly important for companies to impress with authentic content and a personalised brand message. User-generated content is a real ace up your sleeve when it comes to reaching a larger target group and remaining competitive in the digitalised world. As a UGC creator, you can make a significant contribution to the success of a brand or product.
But how do you find the right way to get started and earn money as a content creator in no time? Speekly can help you do just that! Our platform brings together top brands and UGC creators in Germany. Try it out and apply for your first job as a video creator!
Content Creator FAQs
Content creators can be active on all platforms on the Internet. Classic platforms on which content creators create and distribute content are:
- Social networks such as Facebook and Reddit
- Blogs & online magazines
- Websites & landing pages
- Video portals such as YouTube, Vimeo and TikTok
- Photo sharing portals such as Pinterest and Instagram
- Audio platforms such as Spotify, SoundCloud and Deezer
- Online forums and community platforms
- Wikipedia
Strictly speaking, content creators are also users who create digital content such as memes and GIFs or share photos, videos and stories on public platforms. If you upload content out of private interest, you will be of interest to online marketers as a UGC creator. You can create user-generated content as a
- Facebook Creator
- Instagram Creator
- YouTube Creator
- TikTok Creator
- GIF, memes or reels creator
Content creator is neither a classic training occupation nor a protected job title. It describes a broad occupational profile that combines various fields, for example social media management, (online) marketing and journalism. Working as a content creator becomes a profession if you regularly create digital content on behalf of companies and are paid for it.
The distinction between a content creator and an influencer is not always clear-cut, as there are many overlaps. Both influencers and content creators create content for digital media, can earn money with these activities and act on behalf of a company. By definition, most influencers are also (social media) content creators. However, a content creator can only call themselves an influencer as they become better known.
