Alex & Books is officially 4 years old!
Here are 4 hard truths about being a content creator.
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Here are 4 hard truths about being a content creator.
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1/ Don't expect to build an audience overnight
Here's a glance at the current A&B audience:
β’ 500k+ website pageviews
β’ 91k+ Instagram followers
β’ 43k+ podcast downloads
β’ 21k+ Twitter followers
β’ 4k+ newsletter subs
BUT...
This has been a 4-year journey.
Here's a glance at the current A&B audience:
β’ 500k+ website pageviews
β’ 91k+ Instagram followers
β’ 43k+ podcast downloads
β’ 21k+ Twitter followers
β’ 4k+ newsletter subs
BUT...
This has been a 4-year journey.
Building an audience takes time.
You can't rush relationships.
Yes, a minority of your content will go viral and drive most of your growth, but you never know what will go big so you have to consistently produce content and focus on the process instead of the outcomes.
You can't rush relationships.
Yes, a minority of your content will go viral and drive most of your growth, but you never know what will go big so you have to consistently produce content and focus on the process instead of the outcomes.
2/ Don't expect to get rich quick
Building an audience is a lot like building a startup, you won't make much in the first few years but it will grow exponentially.
Alex & Books still isn't a full-time job but I've made more money in 2020 than I did in '17, '18, & '19 combined.
Building an audience is a lot like building a startup, you won't make much in the first few years but it will grow exponentially.
Alex & Books still isn't a full-time job but I've made more money in 2020 than I did in '17, '18, & '19 combined.
Some creators hit it big early on but that's because they have years of experience already built up.
@jackbutcher had years of agency and design experience before launching @visualizevalue.
It's important to remember the quote that an overnight success takes about 10 years.
@jackbutcher had years of agency and design experience before launching @visualizevalue.
It's important to remember the quote that an overnight success takes about 10 years.
3/ Don't be surprised if you get addicted to social media
If you're constantly producing content it's only a matter of time till you get addicted to social media.
You will be hungry for more likes, followers, etc., and find yourself constantly refreshing your notifications.
If you're constantly producing content it's only a matter of time till you get addicted to social media.
You will be hungry for more likes, followers, etc., and find yourself constantly refreshing your notifications.
When this happens:
β’ Set screentime limits on your phone
β’ Remind yourself that checking your stats doesn't help drive growth
β’ Teach yourself to not babysit your content, post it and let it be free
β’ Set screentime limits on your phone
β’ Remind yourself that checking your stats doesn't help drive growth
β’ Teach yourself to not babysit your content, post it and let it be free
4/ Don't be surprised if you want to quit
The journey to being a content creator is filled with tons of highs and lows:
β’Β One month I gained 10k followers on Instagram, the next it dropped to 3k.
β’ It took me three years to get to 1k followers and then one year to go to 16k.
The journey to being a content creator is filled with tons of highs and lows:
β’Β One month I gained 10k followers on Instagram, the next it dropped to 3k.
β’ It took me three years to get to 1k followers and then one year to go to 16k.
If you ever feel burned out or feel like quitting, take a break from creating content.
Your physical and mental health comes first.
Being a content creator is a long-term game and the best way to win is to stay in it (even if it means taking a temporary break).
Your physical and mental health comes first.
Being a content creator is a long-term game and the best way to win is to stay in it (even if it means taking a temporary break).
TL;DR
β’ Focus on the process of creating content and be consistent.
β’ You can make money as a content creator but the early days are the hardest.
β’ Notice the signs of social media addiction and curb it.
β’ Take a break when you feel burned out, this is a long-term game.
β’ Focus on the process of creating content and be consistent.
β’ You can make money as a content creator but the early days are the hardest.
β’ Notice the signs of social media addiction and curb it.
β’ Take a break when you feel burned out, this is a long-term game.
If you enjoyed this piece, follow me (@AlexAndBooks_) for more.
PS:
Here are 7 pieces of advice for building a social media following:
PS:
Here are 7 pieces of advice for building a social media following:
https://twitter.com/AlexAndBooks_/status/1351676198099804160
Check out a visualization of this thread by my friend @Sathyanand1985
https://twitter.com/Sathyanand1985/status/1374699244519452673
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