Forbes Top Creators And The Key Takeaways
From vloggers to influencers and even TikTok comedians, thousands of creators are creating a fortune on social media platforms by showcasing their personalities and cultivating an audience. These creators use platforms like TikTok and Instagram to partner with brands to promote products, and also give advice on personal issues, fashion, and beauty. Although creators might speak on similar topics, no creator is the same , and each creator brings a new, unique perspective to the social media realm. The question is: How does a creator reach the top? How does a creator stick out to have millions of followers and earnings of $10 million or more? Does it come down to mindset, values, or just pure luck? Lucky for us, Forbes has recently come out with a list detailing the top 50 creators of the year, and each honoree gave an inside scoop with Forbes about how they got to where they are today. From watching the interviews, here are the key patterns and takeaways I learned from the top creators of 2023.
1. Capitalize on your cringe
In other words, be unapologetically yourself. In the interviews, many creators stated that they started making videos about something that they already loved doing or that they thought would be beneficial to others. For example, the comedian Druski grew up watching shows like Living in Color and comedy shows by Dave Chappele and Kevin Hart. He had a passion for making people laugh and created skits imitating situations that happened in his own life. Alix Earle also started out by revealing her struggles with face acne. Although she was initially embarrassed about it and tried to hide it, she soon realized that this was a real struggle that resonated with many of her followers. From there, she spoke up about products she was using and took her audience along the ride to becoming acne free. By being real, vulnerable, and authentic, creators like Alix Earle and Druski were able to capture the attention of the right audience which led to higher engagement and higher earning potential.
2. Know your core values and protect your audience
“If it doesn't align with my core values, it's an immediate no.” - Olivia Dunne
Your core values are what you believe in. It’s the characteristics and traits that you want to exemplify and inspire your followers to do the same. If your core values are respect and compassion, then you're not going to promote videos about bullying. It simply doesn't align. The top creators were able to walk away from brand deals when they didn’t agree with the mission statement or they didn’t believe in the product that they were selling. They understood that if they took on a partnership with a brand they didn’t like or use, their audience would see right through it and it could ruin their reputation and credibility. The top creators take time to analyze and interact with their audience through liking comments, stitching videos, and replying to direct messages. This makes creators better understand their followers which helps them determine what products and brands are best suited for their audience.
3. Envision the dream, but don’t attach yourself to it
Many of the creators had always been fascinated with content creation and looked up to the top performers in their field. They loved everything about the lifestyle and knew they could do it, but they didn’t put so much pressure on themselves to make it happen. They did the hard work, had fun, and let it happen. They treated it as more of a hobby and passion project than as something that had to be reached in order to make them happy and fulfilled. Since these creators did not have a specific one way that their life and career would go, it allowed more ideas to flow and come in. Oftentimes, when we restrict ourselves and have tunnel vision on one goal or idea, we get frustrated when it doesn’t turn out how we want or come when we want. The less stress, pressure, and resistance we put in, the more flow, creativity, and flexibility are able to come into play.
4. Community means everything
Even if you’re a creator with a huge social media following, your community is not only your audience. It’s your family, friends, and the higher powers that you believe in. You need to have a team of people who support and trust your vision so that they can comfort you on the bad days and celebrate your wins on the good days. Having managers and working with agencies also helped these social media stars balance fame and fortune. They were able to lessen their workload so that they could focus on what's important: the content. It’s easy to get bogged down with negotiating with brands, attending meetings, and figuring out taxes, so it's nice to have a professional come in and guide you in the right direction.
All in all, social media is still a new and emerging phenomenon. It's unpredictable, messy, but fun and exciting. Although becoming a top earning social media celebrity isn't down to an exact science, there are different influencers that you can follow for motivation and tips. You need to immerse yourself in the culture by researching a variety of trends, watching vlogs and TikToks, and of course, making content and putting it out. You never know where it will take you. Who knows, you might one day find yourself on the Forbes Top Creators list.
Always in your corner,
The Content Queens
