We live in a world where we are constantly drilled with ads. These ads often tell us we NEED their product to be better or to make it BIG.
I have lots of gadgets that I love, and always look for more to try in the hopes of making my life easier or more interesting but it is SO important to realize that you DON’T need to BE or HAVE all the extra things many people tell you that you need to start content creation.
👎🏼 DON’T THINK YOU NEED TO BE PERFECT:
Everyone starts somewhere, and you are not the exception to this. Perfect doesn’t even exist.
I dare you to scroll back on your favorite content creator’s Instagram, ALL the way to post one. Chances are you are going to be shocked by the edit, cringed out by the caption, and most importantly sure that you can do it if they did.
Your journey does not match the same timeline as theirs.
You take a picture or write something out, and then start to second guess whether it is “good enough” or gives your audience enough value. We all do it, myself included. I suggest you continue to critique your work, but don’t let your own self-doubt stop you from moving forward altogether.
It is also important to note that people are going to tell you that you must narrow down your niche quickly. Sure, you may see faster growth if you are strategically using hashtags and only interacting with certain accounts. That is okay to do if you know exactly what you would like to post about 24/7 but if we are being realistic, you will have more to say.
🌟 INSTEAD BELIEVE IN YOURSELF & JUST START:
Start with a few different ideas, and see which one you are most passionate about sharing.
YOU GOT THIS! Each and every person has their own interesting perspective, and their own unique story to tell. The internet allows us to connect with anyone and everyone in the world. We have been blessed with the ability to listen to other’s stories and have fun telling our own.
Again, think about your favorite creator and ask yourself why they are your favorite. Chances are it is NOT because they have the prettiest photos or most well-written content. You most likely find that you both share something in common or they mirror where you would like to be in your future.
Post what makes you happy. Be creative, and authentic. People will take note.
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👎🏼 DON’T THINK YOU NEED A BIG BUDGET:
To me, this is the best part. If I was going to tell someone just starting out everything they needed to be successful, I would answer with two things: a phone, and a personality.
Most likely, you already have these two things. 😊
As you continue to grow there may be things you can choose to invest in, such as apps, props, cameras, mentors, subscriptions, so forth but for the most part you can go an incredibly long way with just your phone and access to YouTube for tutorials.
🌟 INSTEAD START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE:
Even the lower models of the iPhone have good cameras on them, and newer iPhones are out of this world. You can shoot, and edit photos and videos on your phone with ease. In fact, I rarely even edit from my laptop because I am so used to doing it on my phone instead.
Dollar tree is a great place for cheap props, and some of my favorite photos are in my front yard. Stop overthinking it.
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👎🏼 DON’T THINK YOU NEED TO LIVE IN A BIG CITY:
There is beauty all around us. Don’t let living in a small town or less-known area hold you back. Sometimes this can be your superpower.
Do you know of a “top secret spot” in your hometown that could be shared with your audience?
Are there any amazing coffee shops that you want to share with the world?
How can you take your unique perspective and bring it to life?
🌟 INSTEAD EXPLORE & EXPERIMENT:
Go with what you know, and be comfortable searching for more of what is around you. Ask yourself the questions from above, and find engaging ways to showcase your hometown.
Then, explore what is around you. I always say that traveling doesn’t have to be to far off places. I constantly find new places I didn’t know existed right around where I live. It is just as thrilling to find a hidden gem, if not more, than exploring a cave in Belize.
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👎🏼 DON’T THINK YOU NEED A HUGE FOLLOWING TO MAKE MONEY:
Ever sat in a room of 300 people? I think it is safe to say that 300 is a LARGE GROUP of people! We constantly see people getting 1,000’s or 100,000’s of likes and think that the 300 likes on our photos makes us less. WRONG!
You are closer to your audience when you are smaller, and brands value this. In some cases, they may choose you because of this, instead of the mega influencers.
Growth happens when you make connections with these 300 people and continue to interact with them, even when you begin to grow.
An engaged audience is always more valuable than a huge audience.
🌟 INSTEAD KNOW YOUR WORTH:
Brands will start to take note and will begin reaching out to you. Ensure that you are only working for brands that match your personal brand, and value your worth.
Gifting is OK, especially when you are growing, but NEVER ever pay for a product to promote it. There are hundreds of influencer marketing apps that offer gifted and paid campaigns to nano and micro influencers.
You can also reach out to local companies that are growing and offer to help them spread their reach in exchange for a gift card or service at their establishment.
Overall, the only thing that can stop you from being a successful content creator is yourself. Not all brands or people will value or understand you. But, when you find the people who do want to hear your unique story, the gig is pretty awesome.
Create your community and have fun with it! 🤗
To be a part of my community where I teach everything I know about content creation as well as share my lifestyle, travel and style follow me on Instagram @mellowyellowpay or check out my blog mellowyellowpay.com! 🌟