how to be a social media content creator

How to Be a Social Media Content Creator

A social media content creator is someone who creates and shares content on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for other brands. The role involves promoting other brands’ products by creating engaging and converting social media content. 

However, it can be tough to stand out and get noticed as a newbie in this saturated market. In this guide, we’ll tell you how to be a social media content creator. Let’s get started. 

Who Is a Social Media Content Creator?

Social media content creators create text, images, graphics, videos, short-form posts, and any type of content that you can publish on a social media platform. 

The goal of this content is to hook, engage, and convert a target audience on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and others. The content you produce as a creator isn’t random; it’s targeted, which is only possible when you have your target audience in mind. The goal can be to generate more conversions, get more clicks, or build a bigger following. 

Social Media Manager vs. Social Media Content Creator

social media content creation

A social media content creator plans, creates, and publishes content. They need to stay updated with the latest trends and create a strategy accordingly. Whereas, social media managers have a wider range of duties. They may be responsible for strategy formation, ad management, analytics, and even content creation. To be a social media content creator, you need to be good at coming up with engaging content all the time. 

Platforms for Social Media Content Creation

In order to become a successful social media content creator, you need to learn about the most popular platforms out there. 

Instagram

Statista predicts that there will be about 1.44 billion monthly active users on Instagram by 2025. Instagram is inarguably the biggest image-based social media platform. If you have a knack for producing engaging visual content, it’s perfect for you. 

In addition, Instagram Reels introduced in 2021 to compete with TikTok are gaining a lot of popularity as well. Creating these Reels is easier than long-from videos. Plus, since they’re short, it’s easier for a marketer to grab a user’s attention with them. 

YouTube

Unlike TikTok and Instagram/Facebook Reels, YouTube is focused on long-form video content. Videos on YouTube are educational in nature, which makes this platform perfect for detailed reviews, informational content, and personal experiences. Plus, it’s a search engine, so businesses that want to get long-term traffic are your ideal clients.

Related: How to Become a Freelance Social Media Manager

Twitter

Twitter has a different vibe than other social platforms, the character limits for Tweets being its stand-out difference. There’s a cap of 280 characters on each Tweet, so you need to be super concise to convey a message. You can add more Tweets as comments and create detailed Threads. Twitter also supports videos, images, and external links. 

Facebook 

Launched in 2004, Facebook is one of the oldest social media platforms out there. This makes it a perfect place to reach a millennial audience. Plus, it’s a versatile platform, allowing you to post all kinds of content types:

  • Short and long posts 
  • Short and long videos
  • Live videos

Moreover, it has a massive active audience, more than any other social platform. Plus, the advertising tools it offers make it ideal for small businesses to reach their audience. As a content creator, you’ll be responsible for creating written posts, Stories, and Reels. 

Tools for Social Media Content Creators

Learning the tools of the trade can help you get a social media content creator job quickly. Here are the top tools you can leverage as a social media content creator. 

Canva

canva

Canva is an all-in-one, beginner-friendly graphic design software. Thanks to its pre-made graphic templates and a simple drag-and-drop designer, Canva lets you create professional graphics without any experience. It has a generous free plan, which is enough for most use cases. Canva’s paid plans aren’t expensive either.  

Trello

Trello, a project management platform, is perfect for organizing your workflows. You can also invite other members of your team to collaborate on projects easily. Trello lets you easily visualize your content plan with simple boards. 

Grammarly

Grammarly is a must-have for every content creator. It pinpoints spelling, typos, and grammatical mistakes, allowing you to keep your content error-free. Grammarly’s free plan is more than enough for most content creators. 

Buzzsumo

Buzzsumo helps you stay on top of social trends by allowing you to monitor relevant keywords. It’s basically a social listening tool that helps you create fresh and in-demand content for your target audience. 

ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a chatbot that can help you with content ideation, topic learning, outlines, and more. For instance, you can use it to come up with a content plan for the next month. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s address some frequently asked questions about becoming a social media content creator.  

How Much Do Content Creators on Social Media Make?

According to ZipRecruiter, a typical social media content creator makes $57,977 per year and $28 per hour. The income also depends on the company you’re working with, your exact role, and your prior experience. 

What Does a Content Creator on Social Media Do?

A social media content creator is usually responsible for creating engaging content on topics that resonate with the brand’s target audience. They may also be responsible for strategy formulation, content scheduling/publishing, and other micro roles. 

How Do I Become a Content Creator with No Experience?

Start by learning the skill of content creation for social media audiences. Get familiar with the most popular social platforms and how their algorithms work. Use networking on platforms like LinkedIn to get noticed and land clients. 

Wrapping Up

To become a successful social media content creator, you don’t need a degree or years of experience. Everything you need is at your fingertips. Start by learning the basics of social media content marketing and get familiar with different platforms. Tools like Canva, ChatGPT, and Buzzsumo can save you a lot of time and help you create engaging content. 

If you want to sell your services, get registered on different freelancing platforms or job sites. One of the best ways to attract potential clients to your services is by networking on LinkedIn. 

Related: Skills Needed to be a Social Media Manager

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