What Is a Content Creator?

A content creator is any person who creates engaging material through various platforms. While some content creators are moving toward digital content and social media, many businesses tend to use content creation for print material such as newsletters, brochures, articles, and annual reports. Depending on your target audience, content creation includes elements of copywriting, brand analysis, project management, content marketing, and design to create a dynamic presence for a business. This presence has become a cornerstone for modern marketing strategies, allowing for personal connections and consumer relationships.

If you want to involve yourself in content creation for businesses, learn more about this growing profession.

Types of content creators

Content creation can include a combination of digital and non-digital platforms. Non-digital content creators focus on traditional forms of media such as newspapers and magazines. This form of content creation relies heavily on design elements, as less emphasis is put on the channel that holds the content.

Below are just a few examples of non-digital content creation positions.

Copywriter

Copywriting is a branch of content creation that involves writing about the services and products you provide to a target audience. A major factor in copywriting is enticing an audience to act immediately to consume a product. Copywriters often specialize in specific areas such as print marketing, digital marketing, social media, and more. The core of effective copywriting is understanding a consumer’s needs.

Content photographer

This position can include lifestyle and fashion photographers, interior design photographers, and portrait photographers. Your goal as a content photographer is to develop a visual aesthetic for a company to attract clients. This visual aesthetic is either distributed virtually or printed in advertisements.

Brand ambassador

A brand ambassador promotes a product or service to their own audience—both online and offline. These content creators act as spokespeople for businesses and endorse products to try to build a repeat customer base.

As a brand ambassador, you typically represent the brand’s values and share authentic company service recommendations. Most companies, regardless of industry, require a content creator to promote their business.

What do content creators do?

Content creators have a broad range of responsibilities that all fall under the task of creating captivating content for viewers. This material can include videos, images, audio files, or printed works. Content creators must maintain a consistent schedule to produce steady content for clients. 

Clients' content might include various blog posts, newsletters, e-books, and video scripts. Work in this area typically includes researching, writing, and editing the topic that you are specializing in.

How do you become a content creator?

Becoming a content creator involves cultivating a combination of technical and creative skills to ensure strategic insight and audience engagement. Discover the most effective ways to pursue content creation professionally below.

Earn a degree.

While earning a degree in a field like communications, journalism, or marketing may be beneficial, it is certainly not necessary to become a content creator. However, a degree may result in more resource access and better networking opportunities. A journalism degree strengthens your writing, researching, and editing when pursuing non-digital forms of content creation. It also allows for an understanding of credible and effective content.

Stay current on topics.

When creating content, staying updated on current trends and news is important to engage your audience. Incorporating trending topics into your work maintains relevance and allows for more brand partnerships. Setting up Google alerts for niche trends and staying updated with relevant trade publications are great ways to practice staying current.

Create a portfolio.

A portfolio is a key way to market yourself to future employers. Whether you are copywriting, creating brochures or infographics, or working in digital content creation, a portfolio can help you network and create a brand for your work. A content creator portfolio typically includes a personal introduction, content samples, and analytics reports. When creating a portfolio for content creation, you’ll want to showcase your technical proficiency and versatility across different platforms and industries.

Know your audience.

Content creation is about communication with clients. The better you know your audience, the better you may achieve consistent communication and form analytics that can help you market your content. Knowing your audience allows you to tailor your content creation to your audience.

Content creator salary

If you are considering a career in content creation, getting an idea of the expected salary is important. A content creator’s base annual US salary can range from $40,000 to $73,000, averaging $53,457 [1].

How do content creators get paid?

Agencies pay content creators for in-house or freelance work. As a freelancer, you will work for various agencies on a project-by-project basis and be compensated accordingly. Most freelance content creators work remotely. As an in-house content creator, you will work for a specific business and become well-versed in the product or brand of that company. Advantages of working in-house include salary, benefits, and office space.

Content creator examples

As a content creator working in a non-digital atmosphere, your work will include printed materials to advertise a brand or company. Below are a few examples of printed content you might produce in this field.

Articles and research papers

When creating content for a brand, well-researched articles and papers establish expertise for the company you are working for. Writing compelling, accurate, and valuable information for a business enhances audience engagement and promotes a brand.

Infographics

Similar to articles and research papers, infographics allow your audience to become informed, but in a visually compelling way. Infographics are highly effective in communicating data for a business and promoting a company’s social media platforms or websites.

Brochures

A brochure allows potential clients to read about useful information in a non-distracting way. Using visually impactful and high-quality printed materials such as brochures is a practical way to attract potential customers to a business.

Next steps to becoming a content creator

As a content creator, you can help reach consumers through various media and content. If expanding your content creation skills interests you, many resources are available to help you reach your goals. Consider the Adobe Content Creator Professional Certificate, which is available on Coursera. For more specific guidance, Michigan State University provides the project-centered course Design and Make Infographics, which is also available on Coursera.