The creator economy is booming, and thousands of people are entering the space, leaving their regular jobs behind. People are discovering they can make money online through relatively simple methods. Many believe we are still “early in the game,” meaning plenty of opportunities still exist. Unfortunately, creators can and have, made mistakes along the way. Doing the wrong thing can set one back and prevent them from reaching their full potential.
That’s where this post can help. We explore the pitfalls creators encounter so you can avoid them. Here’s everything you need to know:
Losing Authenticity
The first mistake creators make is losing authenticity by trying to jump on the latest trends instead of maintaining brand image. Many will jump around all over the place, changing their ideas to suit the times instead of remaining true to their core principles or ways of viewing the world. While this tactic can yield some short-term results, it can put people off in the long term. Your audience will be unable to connect with you and will be unsure of what you represent and stand for.
Underestimating The Learning Curve
Many creators imagine all they need to do to grow their audiences is continually publish content. But these approaches only get you so far. Professionals find out what works and then relentlessly pursue those tactics to get the desired results. You must research and stay up-to-date on the latest technology and resources.
As a creator, you should never stop learning. Continually pushing the boundaries of what’s possible is how you grow and gain a larger audience.
Not Protecting Themselves Online
Creators can also fall foul of the temptation not to protect themselves online. As sites like https://clearvpn.com/blog/how-to-protect-your-ip-address/ point out, simply tracking your IP address and browsing history is often sufficient to launch attacks against you.
That’s why it is a good idea to use a VPN. These prevent anyone from tracking you, letting you browse freely without fear.
Lacking Clear Goals
Creators must have clear goals. Not knowing the direction you want to take can result in enormous challenges. You can waste a lot of time not knowing what you are trying to accomplish. You’ll end up putting out content that doesn’t resonate with anyone.
Your goals should align with your life’s purpose and what you hope to achieve. Take time to understand why you want to create content and how you want to do it. Understand who you are trying to reach and what message you want to get across. When you establish clear goals, you can create a strategy to help you succeed.
Rushing Creativity
Many creators also need to work on rushing their creativity. The goal becomes greater output instead of quality or anything that might excite their audiences. If you rush things, you may put out content that is full of errors or does not represent your brand image. You could lose followers and supporters you have. You could also scare away potential followers and customers.
To avoid this trap, always remind yourself the quality of your creations is what counts. Remember, the value you deliver to your audience rather than the amount you produce matters more. If you consistently make quality content, you will not just gain new followers, but your current followers will want to share your content with others. Through their sharing, your audience will grow. A bonus is that if you have a product or service you promote, your sales will also increase.
Fearing Imitation
Focusing on imitation can also be a potentially harmful approach. As David Perrell points out in the essay “Imitate The Innovate,” many creators refuse to imitate others, but this is where your greatest lessons can occur. You can develop your unique style by studying others who have become successful in your niche or industry. Your goal should be to find out what works first and then do something fundamentally new that people haven’t seen before. This approach helps you stand out among a sea of creators and generate something unique and valuable to audiences. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Being a creator can offer a lifestyle of freedom, security, and fun. However, many make mistakes along the road to success. Keep these six things in mind as you travel, and you will save time and money. Here’s to YOUR success!
Carolyn R. Owens is an ICF-certified Master Coach and serves as a Career Strategist, Executive, Leadership, and Mentor Coach. She can assist you by helping you up-level your skills to up-level your income, career, business, or life. Carolyn provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, and personality assessments. She is certified to give the Energy Leadership Index and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Assessment. You can learn more about assessments and other products and services at https://www.infinitycoaching.net.
