The lockdown across many cities in the world has created a huge demand for content--content creation and consumption. As a content creates for the past decade this seems like a unique opportunity to attract more people to my page. Unfortunately, I do have a specific niche and it has quite difficult attracting and retaining a lot of audiences. Prior to my time on steem/hive and other crypto-based social platforms where I monetize my content, I used to be a storyteller and poet. Asides the time and effort needed in creating good poetry or plots for short stories, there is the onerous text of promoting my content which takes double the time to create. Personally, it's more profitable to stay opinionated and discuss matters regarding cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and issues of interest to the community I belong to because there is the economic incentive to do so. So while my brand hasn't necessarily grown, I have made a sizable income for myself. In the short run, this is beneficial but moving forward, it is also important that I improve on my brand.
Prior to my involvement in cryptocurrency, many people knew me as a writer. It's quite embarrassing knowing that most of my posts then where badly written but I did manage to get the attention of a few people. Often people would refer me to writing gigs which I found flattering because they considered me to be a writer.
You know it's real when you are who you think you.
It's one of the best affirmations of your potential when people identify you with the things you identify with.
Now, speaking of the unique opportunity for content creators. So basically there are two types of content creators--those who create demand and those who meet demand. For content creators in the mainstream space, meeting demand is key. Creating demand, on the other hand, is quite challenging but more rewarding if you manage to gain the attention of loyal audiences. Meeting content demand is more of a mainstream requirement. There are certain things in demand now--dance videos, comedy skits, gaming video, etc you are most likely to go viral doing the things previously mentioned. However, creating a demand for content basically is creating awareness for a type of content that isn't popular. It is already hard enough for a content creator to get the attention of the masses for doing the said things that are supposedly in demand. Now imagine doing something people hardly pay attention to, like cryptocurrency or blockchain for example. If you're not within the crypto community or a nerd such content will hardly interest you. They provide the least form of entertainment which the masses crave.
What does content creator consume?
I'm currently on a platform where everyone considers themselves to be content creators. Well, to be fair we are all creating content. However, I consider myself to be a writer which greatly impacts my taste. There are very few things that interest me and I hardly get past a badly written post (although I am guilty of this myself--sometimes). So what does a content creator like me consume? First of all, I enjoy video content more than writing content because they engage one passively unlike written content. This gives me the opportunity to multi-task while watching or listening to a video content. I am a creative so I enjoy creative writing but it must be readable and that depends on a few things like your use of English and your ability to express your thoughts and ideas in the most concise and creative way. Writing is a skill and an art, just like speaking. Some people are good orators while others just know how to string sentences together. The basic way to improve your writing skills is by reading and writing more.
I also enjoy ideacentric content i.e Tedtalks. It is important for me to learn something new or deepen my knowledge about a particular thing, so I appreciate content creators who spend considerable time researching. It's a daunting task. I barely do any form of research for my continent because of the fast-paced environment I am in which requires one to churn out content regularly to earn something substantial. How I do compensate for this is my consuming large volume of information daily which informs and updates my knowledge about a lot of things. I think that's one of the major challenges as a content creator--not being able to put the work that is required. The world is getting faster and content creators must keep up. Unfortunately, good content takes time to create.
Regardless of the many bottlenecks, there are limitless opportunities for content creators. So you shouldn't be having second thoughts about putting yourself out there. I respective of what you do there is a niche for you. It's not necessarily about the size of the platform but the impact you have on it and vice verse.
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Commented earlier with the wrong account. Deleted.
The problem with video contents in places like Nigeria is the cost of internet subscription plans. Streaming videos requires more data usage than text and photos. Might explain why only a few Nigerians are creating video contents.
I personally would have loved to. I enjoy video contents too, but I haven't come to terms with getting myself on screen yet. How do you cope with that?
I have a few 'great posts' as it were, from 2 years ago. Looking back at them today, I find too many glaring errors for something I'd gone over a couple of times and they can be quite embarrassing.
Good to talk to you again.
I am back to creating content and I need recommendations of communities you find interesting.
Thank you.
Well, the most simple way to put it is--I DONT GIVE A FUCK. I do actually but there is something about repetition and practice that takes the shyness away. I am a more confident and eloquent thanks to vlogging. Just like you I hated sitting in front of a camera. It was never my thing but hey, we learn to learn.
For now gems happens to be the biggest curating community on hive. I post most of my content there.
Welcome back.
Thanks, man. We move.
I consume little outside of Hive. I also drop by on Steem every once in a while. I log in to Facebook to check out if there's anything interesting going on in the lives of the people I know from the walking world. I don't spend much time there. I may read the local online newspapers. I watch 2-3 tv series and the news regularly. That's it.
Lol very efficient. Very Mark-live