The Future Belongs to Creators

Change is hard, especially when it comes to a business or project you’ve built from the ground up. So how do you know when it’s time to iterate on a side hustle? How do you iterate without losing your existing audience? And is it ok to reverse those plans when you suddenly realize that change isn’t always for the best? When you’re solving a problem, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and doubt the gut feeling that’s encouraging you. But making those tough decisions and moving away from what’s familiar doesn’t have to feel impossible. In this episode, Charli and Haley share their experience with iteration as both professionals at ConvertKit and independent creators. They dive into real-life examples and discuss overcoming the dreaded decision fatigue. Here’s everything you need to know about making a change without losing yourself along the way. “The beauty of iterating as a creator is that you can start anywhere. Start with what your gut says is the best direction and as you learn more information, as you get more experience, you can make changes from there and iterate as you go. And it means that you didn’t hold yourself back from starting.” ~ @charliprangleyMain takeaways [07:59] When you’re thinking about an iteration, ask yourself what’s not working about your current process or project and make sure the change you’re about to make actually solves that problem. [10:52] When you’re deciding what to iterate on, focus on the aspects of your business that are the most important to achieving your goal. Sometimes, that just means focusing on what’s most important to you as a creator. [13:13] Always think future-forward.  Don’t hold on to what’s worked in the past because it’s familiar. Fear of change should never limit what you can become. [15:30] You can also iterate on process. An iteration doesn’t necessarily have to be visible to your audience. If it’s visible to you and it impacts how you feel about what you’re creating, then that is important, too.Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyHaley JanicekLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeDesign Life podcast Femke van SchoonhovenInside Marketing Design Podcast LoomCreator Sessionsmonday.comDrew Holcomb returns with new wisdom and music | Creator SessionsSlackNathan BarryEtsyCraft & Commerce ConferenceGot a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!Start building your audience for freeWith ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.Stay in touchApple PodcastsSpotifyTwitterFacebookInstagram

In a world where numbers matter, it can feel discouraging comparing yourself to influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. When you’re just starting out, the path to online influence can feel like an uphill climb with a destination that’s far out of reach. But to become a successful creator, is it necessary to amass a giant following? There's a difference between being an influencer and an independent creator. One caters to a mass crowd while the other cultivates community. One relies on an app while the other builds something bigger. While there are pros and cons to each category, understanding the differences can help you shift priorities and reconsider your long-term creator goals. In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel discuss a recent article outlining the difference between influencers and independent creators and why the latter may have a surprising advantage. “The idea is not just to feed the social media sites, but to be building an online hub, a primary place for yourself. And you use the social media sites to get people to that hub.” ~ @charliprangleyMain takeaways [04:30] The first pillar of becoming an independent creator is owning your audience. This means you can reach them regardless of which platform they prefer. [05:57] Owning your audience is critical because your email list subscribers are more likely to be true fans and convert than your casual Instagram followers. [14:34] The second pillar is going niche. When you have fewer followers that are hyper-engaged, it allows you to explore a niche. You lose the pressure of grabbing the attention of a mass crowd and watering down your creativity. [21:20] The third pillar is cultivating communities over audiences. Communities interact amongst each other versus focusing all of their attention on the creator. When followers feel like they’re part of a community, they’re more likely to be true fans.[30:01] The fourth and final pillar is creating a self-sustaining community. Influencers are only as relevant as their last post.Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeMove over, Instagram influencers: Welcome to the era of the independent creatorCharliMarie TVThe Future Belongs to Creators Episode 105: Influencers vs Creators InstagramPatreonFacebookSubstack My Favorite MurderClubhouse Barrett Brooks Haley Chamberlain The Future Belongs to Creators Episode 131: Getting off the Content Hamster WheelInside Marketing Design Podcast The Future Belongs to Creators Episode 137: The Realities of Starting a Second YouTube Channel From ScratchCreator SessionsJoy Oladokun: Using Songwriting to Navigate Self-Identity and AnxietyGot a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!Start building your audience for freeWith ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.Stay in touchApple PodcastsSpotifyTwitterFacebookInstagram

In the early days of YouTube, popular creators often started second channels: one channel for main content and the other for vlogs. While that trend has since faded away, second channels are still an important content stream for major influencers and niche creators alike. But how do you know when to establish a second channel? Could you create a playlist that achieves the same thing? How do you cross-promote with two YouTube channels fighting for the same attention? As a veteran YouTuber, Charli launched a second channel earlier this year for podcast-related content. She made the move after realizing that podcast episodes and clips on her main channel drew fewer views and less engagement than her regular videos. Additionally, her podcast audience felt different from her main channel followers, so it seemed like the right path to take.In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel discuss best practices for launching a second channel, the risk and reward of decentralizing your content, and when channel No. 2 should stay a pipe dream.“I wouldn’t recommend people even start thinking about this unless their content is very different, like a completely different niche, or they have over 100,000 subscribers already. I think under that, you’re better to put all your fuel into one place to fan the flames and keep the fire going.” ~ @charliprangleyMain takeaways [03:53] When you post videos that are different from your normal content, the algorithm works against you. Rather than simply creating playlists for viewers and segmenting your content that way, creating a new YouTube channel can solve an algorithm headache. [09:42] When it comes to cross-promotion, don’t be afraid to explicitly ask your audience to support your second channel and be transparent about what their support means to you.[10:16] While your second channel may have fewer subscribers, the people that do subscribe will be the people most interested in that type of content, so you’ll likely see increased engagement and promising viewership analytics. [27:03] Sometimes it works to decentralize your content and let your audience find you in whichever medium they prefer. Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeCharli’s Second YouTube ChannelInside Marketing Design Podcast Roberto BlakeNathan’s podcastNathan Barry Show on YouTube Nathan Barry Show Clips Sean McCabeStripeInside Marketing Design at Stripe Tatiana Van Campenhout Alexis TeichmillerBandit Coffee YouTube Isa AdneyGot a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!Start building your audience for freeWith ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.Stay in touchApple PodcastsSpotifyTwitterFacebookInstagram

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, the top one percent of streamers on Twitch earn more than half of all revenue generated on the site. Does this surprise you? Discourage you as an emerging creator? Or does it inspire you to stay the course and keep hustling until you find yourself in that top one percent?In this episode, Haley, Miguel, and guest Ben Schoeffler, a content creator and Support Operations Lead at ConvertKit, discuss their viewpoints on the creator economy and the opportunities and restrictions all creators face when it comes to earning money and truly owning an audience. Whether you’re an all-in creator or stay true to the side hustle, you can flourish in the creator economy, or at least boost your chances of reaping the financial benefits. “Whatever side hustle you feel like doing, make sure it’s something that you enjoy, because there’s a good chance, a very good chance,  you won’t make very much money at all.” ~ @BenSchoefflerMain takeaways [06:59] It’s important to own your audience outside of the various platforms so that you aren’t relying on a handful of apps for financial support. [08:27] Aside from owning your audience, it’s also important to diversify your income streams. If one platform dies, that shouldn’t derail your entire business model.[12:19] Although many creators aren’t making a full-time income, it’s important not to discount the significance of earning cash on the side every month, even in small amounts. [18:52] Making money and becoming business savvy are skill sets many creators lack, but you must learn how to sell your creativity while continuing to create if you plan to grow your side hustle. [21:29] No matter where you are in your creator career, it’s important to stay the course. Avoid the urge to constantly bounce from one specialty to another, and stay consistent in producing the work you do best. The highest earning creators on Twitch are the ones who stayed the course. Connect with our hostsMiguel PouHaley JanicekBen SchoefflerLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeTwitchTwitch Data Leak Shows Some Streamers Make Hundreds of Thousands Per MonthInstagramFacebookWhatsAppAmouranthDrDisRespect YouTube Charli on TwitchHappy Happy Houseplant HeatherJustCreateThe Future Belongs To Creators 135: Jack Of All Trades vs. Specialist...As A Creator?Apex LegendsFloret FlowersMagnolia Network Marie ForleoGot a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!Start building your audience for freeWith ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.Stay in touchApple PodcastsSpotifyTwitterFacebookInstagram

America was built on specialists. People that were so exceptionally good at one thing that other countries depended on that unique skill set. Entire industries were born overnight from a singular focus. But as creators, we often feel like jacks of all trades. And if we’re constantly juggling multiple hats, can we ever become great at our craft?As new creators, learning to edit your own videos, market yourself on social media, and balance the checkbook all while maintaining a 9-5 is crucial for long-term success. When you can’t afford to outsource, staying skilled in every area is often the only way up. So what’s the happy medium? In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel discuss the pros and cons of both routes, balancing your niche with building a business, and the most important skill every emerging creator should cultivate.“An expert in something is someone who repeats. They do the thing. They do it again, better the next time. They do it again, better the next time. And they learn each time as they go. I think that being a creator (how we can apply our maybe more scattered passions and energy when it comes to this sort of stuff) is to just do one thing at a time.” ~ @charliprangleyMain takeaways [01:01] Be a V-shaped person. Have one specialty but allow yourself the room to build on other skills that support your core skills. Stay open to learning![06:07] As creators, it’s tough to balance being an expert with being a generalist. Creators often feel pressure to carve out their niche but to succeed as a new creator, you have to be a jack of all trades. [07:30] Creators are often afraid to niche down for fear of losing parts of their audience, but ultimately you have to figure out what it is you’re truly passionate about. Once you choose, your best, most engaged audience will stick with you.[18:19] Communication is the best skill you can develop as a creator. You need to express your thoughts in a way that grabs an audience. [32:37] There’s value to being an expert and value to being a generalist. But avoid going in only one direction because you’ll inevitably lose value along the way.Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeThe Creative Person Dilemma To Becoming An Expert vs Jack of All Trades.Peter McKinnonIsa AdneyMalcolm GladwellLewis HamiltonCreator SessionsHenry ThongBen BakerThe Future Belongs To Creators 098: Introducing the new hosts of The Future Belongs to Creators podcast!David EpsteinApply to work at ConvertKit! Got a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!Start building your audience for freeWith ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.Stay in touchApple PodcastsSpotifyTwitterFacebookInstagram

Is there an app you always click on? A channel you gravitate to? A community that never fails to inspire you or make you laugh? For creators like Charli and Jay Clouse, that app is Twitter. After watching a friend create ceramics for 100 days straight with incredible success, Jay was inspired to explore fostering that consistency on Twitter. Jay developed a hashtag that auto-populated an online dashboard to help participants share their results publicly. This feature allowed participants and followers to show engagement in real-time.In this episode, Charli and Miguel talk with Jay about what happens when you commit yourself to consistency, the power of public accountability, and why asking your audience for support is always acceptable. “Twitter I think is an underestimated and misunderstood platform for lead generation too and meeting new people and getting your ideas in front of new people. And every time that I did put some effort into sharing my ideas on Twitter, it went well.” ~ @jayclouseMain takeaways [02:14] Twitter is one of the shortest paths to meeting people you’re actually interested in getting to know. Users are very responsive in their replies, so you’re also more likely to have a conversation in a low-risk environment. [16:15] Public accountability is a great motivator. Adding a challenge or goal to your Twitter bio increases your likelihood of success. [31:11] Asking people for support can feel awkward, but it’s fair to ask for compensation from people if you’re providing consistent value. If you ask for support with low pressure and show visibility for where you’ll use the money, there’s nothing to feel awkward about. Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouJay ClouseLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeJay ClouseJay on TwitterCreative Elements Join #Tweet100Michael Ian BlackMark Hoppus TwitterFacebookInstagramLinkedInLalese StampsAutomate All The ThingsZapierIntegromat AirtableDickie BushDavid PerellTypefullyHypefuryiloTweet HunterCreative Elements #51: Dickie Bush [Feedback Loops]Creative Elements #35: David Perell [Serendipity]Buy Jay Clouse A CoffeeCreative Elements #64: Charli Marie Prangley [Commitment] - Building a YouTube Channel with 200K subscribers (on the side!)Got a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!Start building your audience for freeWith ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.Stay in touchApple PodcastsSpotifyTwitterFacebookInstagram

In today's Q&A episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel discuss how the pandemic and the “Great Resignation” have impacted the creator economy. They also answer questions about the benefits and pitfalls of short-form content creation and which platforms will give you the greatest chances of success. “We’ve all been forced to take stock of what is important to us in our lives and how we want to be spending our time, and I don’t think we’ve really seen the impact of that yet on the creator economy. Because it takes a while to get things spun up and I think we’ll see, in six months time to a year from now, there is just gonna be so many more full-time creators killing it, doing what they love, because they took this bet at this time .” ~ @charliprangleyToday’s Questions [03:07] What do you think about the “Great Resignation” and how that will affect the greater economy? [07:57] How has the pandemic changed how you think of yourself as a creator? [17:29] What are your thoughts on short-form video content strategy? [22:02] Are the shorts that Charli is creating viewed mostly from new people not already in her audience? Does that differ from a traditional YouTube video? [24:28] What is the easiest way to get started producing content? Which channel is easiest to get started with? [30:25] Have you ever bought a product or signed up for a course and then shortly after seen a big discount for it or a new version? How should creators handle this to make sure their audience feels like they didn’t miss out? [34:27] What’s in your pantry? Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeThe Future Belongs To Creators 132: Crafting Your Dream Career with Alexis TeichmillerSketchUpCreator SessionsZoomAdobe Max: The Creativity Conference Apple EventsBen Schoeffler Tidy StyleGot a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!Start building your audience for freeWith ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.Stay in touchApple PodcastsSpotifyTwitterFacebookInstagram

Quitting your 9-5 and launching a business is both worshipped and glamorized. Building a lifestyle business is the new American Dream. But as those who’ve taken the plunge will tell you, it’s never an easy or seamless journey upward. This is especially true if your goal isn’t just to escape the corporate grind, but to build a life doing what you love. Nine months ago, Alexis Teichmiller was losing money. She’d just quit her full-time job and was beginning to question whether she was cut out for entrepreneurship. And though she eventually found a sweet spot and consistent revenue, it wasn’t without its challenges. In this episode, our hosts talk with Alexis about the ups and downs of building a dream job, experimenting as an entrepreneur, and learning to fill your calendar with work that matters. “The biggest piece of advice in your career, whether you’re an entrepreneur or not, is to do an evaluation every six months of where you’re at. ” ~ @alexisteichmillerMain takeaways[06:39] Everything you do as an entrepreneur is an experiment. You’re constantly gathering information that either affirms you’re moving in the right direction or hints that you need to pivot. [09:19] Are you spending your time on things that align with what you claim to want and what life you’re looking to build? If not, it may be time to reassess. [10:46] Because there are endless opportunities to pursue, narrow your focus to work that aligns with your long-term goals. This helps you avoid decision paralysis. [26:22] Taking a side hustle full-time is a privilege. Quitting a full-time job is often romanticized but it’s important to be realistic about what works for you. [33:57] Invest in external feedback. Sometimes you need other people in your corner to remind you of your power. Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeAlexis TeichmillerDeeper Life PodcastAlexis on InstagramWork Life with Adam GrantCraft & Commerce Pat FlynnJake Kelfer Deep Reset Challenge The Future Belongs To Creators 130: Think Like A ScientistGot a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!Start building your audience for freeWith ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.Stay in touchApple PodcastsSpotifyTwitterFacebookInstagram

Constantly feeling overwhelmed, rushing up against deadlines, and scrambling until the last minute is the perfect recipe for burnout. For creators, this often manifests while they’re trying to generate content to keep up with their audiences. Regardless of the cause, every creator finds themself racing the hamster wheel at one time or another. While it may work once in a while, it’s not a good place to land permanently. Getting off of the hamster wheel is important for the sake of your creativity and the sake of your mental health.In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel discuss secrets for getting out of a vicious cycle and finding your creative footing. “I think it’s really important that we point out that it’s the motivation behind what you’re doing that puts the heart behind what you’re doing. If my motivation is, ‘I said I was going to do this every week so I’m doing this every week’ that probably is not going to produce the kind of results that you’d hope for. But if the motivation is, ‘I feel recharged, excited to get back into it, I have a lot of great ideas,’ what’s going to come out of that is going to be so much better.” ~ @miguelp.imgMain takeaways[07:15] Staying purposeful with your work can prevent the hamster wheel cycle. Create a side hustle that you’re passionate about because constant creation is the reality for full-time creators. [10:03] Allow yourself time to iterate on your projects so you’re not releasing content up to the last minute. When you’re constantly racing against a deadline, you’ll always feel overwhelmed and you’ll never have time to achieve larger goals. Create in batches to help give space between finishing the work and launching it.[23:30] There’s a difference between creating consistently and being on a hamster wheel. You can create content consistently without feeling like the second you stop your world will fall apart.[26:42] Outsourcing, finding helpful workflow tools, simplifying production, and being intentional with your focus also prevents burnout. Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeToday, ExplainedThe 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New RichCreator SessionsInside Marketing DesignChloe AnnaAllen Iverson's Practice Rantmonday.comPatreonSlackBuy Me A CoffeeGot a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!Start building your audience for freeWith ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.Stay in touchApple PodcastsSpotifyTwitterFacebookInstagram

The scientific method is straightforward. Identify a problem, draw a hypothesis, run an experiment, collect the data, and find a conclusion. What if we approached our creative side hustles with the same data-driven mindset?Creators of all types procrastinate, get stuck, burn out, or simply lose momentum. When work is personal or we live like perfectionists, it’s especially hard to break out of a rut and keep creating. Sometimes the best method for creative success is to hit refresh with a brand new perspective. It’s time to think like a scientist. In this episode, Charli and Miguel discuss why experimentation and analysis often lend themselves to something unexpected: creativity.“There is something to be said for launching something that might be half-baked or three-quarter baked, and then be very prepared to iterate on it as things happen. So if you’re holding yourself back because it’s not quite perfect, at least entertain the idea that maybe it doesn’t have to be.” ~ @miguelp.imgMain takeaways[03:56] Stop viewing missteps as failures and start viewing them as valuable learnings for future work. Just because you didn’t do something perfectly doesn't mean it was a wasted effort. [08:19] Before embarking on a creative experiment, determine what success will look like.  [10:36] When you’re trying to figure out which creative experiment to run, consider whether or not you’re passionate about the project, whether the experiment will be useful to other people, and whether the outcome has something unique to offer others in the same space. [22:47] It matters less how much time you’re spending on something and more how much attention you’re giving it. Focused work is better than finishing with lackluster effort. Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeAdam GrantWork Life with Adam GrantThe Wharton SchoolHow I Built This with Guy RazThe Future Belongs to Creators 111: The Future of Email Marketing for Musicians The Future Belongs to Creators 114: 1,000 True Fans Charli on YouTubeThe Futur2021 income streams report - I DOUBLED my side hustle income!How much do web designers earn? [Real salary numbers] The Future Belongs to Creators 129: Oversupply and Competition Between Creators A Scientific Approach To Entrepreneurial Decision-Making: Evidence From a Randomized Control TrialGot a story to tell on The Future Belongs to Creators podcast?We'd love to have you on the show to talk about successes or failures you've experienced on your creator journey. Submit your story here!Start building your audience for freeWith ConvertKit landing pages, you can build a beautiful page for your project in just a few minutes. Choose colors, add photos, build a custom opt-in form, and add your copy. All without writing any code! Check out landingpages.new to get started.Stay in touchApple PodcastsSpotifyTwitterFacebookInstagram