The Creator Spotlight Podcast Ep. 59: How his $40K side hustle became a full-time career ft. Colin Rocker
May 20, 2025
Colin Rocker, a creator dedicated to educating first-generation professionals, shares his inspiring transition from corporate skepticism to thriving on TikTok. He discusses the vital skills for creators, the importance of authenticity, and how he built a personal brand. Colin emphasizes diversifying platforms like Instagram and TikTok, managing time effectively as a full-time creator, and ethically monetizing an audience. He also highlights the value of community-building and the changing demographics of his followers, showcasing the broad appeal of his content.
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Early Content Struggles and Pivot
- Colin tried multiple types of content on TikTok including workout videos and business news before career advice resonated with viewers.
- Career advice took off as people sought guidance during the pandemic and TikTok's content norms were still forming.
Niche Discovery Boosts Growth
- Defining his niche as 'first-generation professionals' helped Colin authentically differentiate his career advice content.
- Sharing his personal story deeply resonated and doubled his audience across platforms within a year.
Platform Audience and Strategy
- Instagram's older demographic better matches Colin's growing audience, making it his strongest platform.
- TikTok remains valuable for experimentation with a longer video lifespan, despite Instagram outpacing it.