The Future Belongs to Creators

Everyone has a passion. But what happens when you take your passion public and start building an audience? Corey Miller is doing just that. Corey makes music under the name Season Cove, and he’s bringing his audience into his creative process in a unique way.In today's episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel chat with Cory about his decision to open up that creator journey, his creative philosophy, and how he balances passion with the pressure of producing music in public.“Stories matter more than anything. I would say the pinnacle of the human experience is found in music and in story. And when you can combine those two, you really have something magical.” ~ @corydhmillerMain takeaways[05:45] It’s helpful to have an internal or personal drive when it comes to creativity. Creating to sell your creativity is fine, but if you’re creating for your own personal gain, that removes some of the pressure and can give you space to just create. [13:51] Deciding to pursue your passion as your side-gig rather than a full-time money-maker can take away the pressure to create for anyone besides yourself. [15:26] On the flip side, pressure can be a good thing when it comes to productivity and producing consistent work. [27:27] Sending an evergreen newsletter is a great way for new subscribers to quickly become integrated into your community.Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekCory MillerLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeSeason CoveCory on YouTubeCreator SessionsDermot KennedyNoah GundersonIngrid AndressBear RinehartWillie JonesU2Desert TripBring Me the HorizonEric FriedensohnGot 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

Starting to create can feel like a lost cause when we compare ourselves to already-successful creators. So how do we push through imposter syndrome and take the creative plunge anyway? In today's Q&A episode, Charli and Miguel answer your questions about overcoming imposter syndrome, balancing authenticity with the desire for likes and views, and the best way to kickstart a successful newsletter. “Part of the journey, the fun part, is discovering what my niche can be. What’s the thing that’s really specific to me that I really enjoy? And my hope would be that I would create something hyper-specific that’s super fun for me and then discovering that other people out there have that same interest or I just met that need for a bunch of people.” ~ Miguel PouToday’s Questions [02:15] Why diversify platforms? [04:42] How do you even begin with creating fun/educational content when you look at amazing creators online and feel like your work would just disappear in a sea of content? [10:11] How do you balance staying authentic and creating content you’re passionate about with the temptation to just make content other people will like and want to see? [20:04] What’s the best way to start an email newsletter? What are the technical things to know about starting one? [26:42] Can you make custom HTML and CSS templates on ConvertKit? Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeTwitchSara DietschyCharli’s YouTube ChannelSteal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin KleonStreamYardMarketing Design DispatchSlackThe Future Belongs To Creators 106: The Responsibility A Creator Has To Do Right By Their AudienceGot 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

Most of us have experienced burnout in some form. Whether it’s fatigue or overwhelm from the chaos of 2020 or just being overworked and worried this unproductive rut will keep you stranded forever, there are practical tips and mindset shifts to help you get through it. And sometimes those shifts are just admitting you’re burned out and taking a much-needed breather. In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel talk about creative burnout and their strategies for overcoming the inevitable creative block. As creatives and side hustlers, it can be hard to slow down and even harder to say no. But if you’re looking for long-term success, here are a few reasons why saying no can help you say yes to the things that matter the most. “Where are you overloaded? Where are you trying to do too much? And what do you really care the most about at the end of the day? Because if you try to keep doing everything, nothing’s going to move forward.”  ~ @charliprangleyMain takeawaysThe harder you struggle against burnout, the deeper you’ll fall into it. So sometimes the answer is to simply turn everything off and step away.Going on a walk to clear your head or just unplugging for a while is a great way to reset.To prevent burnout, seek out mentors and coaches and build positive relationships in your field so you have a support system to fall back on when burnout strikes. These relationships can offer support and advice when the going gets tough. Automate processes and systems whenever possible. If you can backload your content and take away the pressure to create every single week or every single day, you’re carving out the space to deal with burnout. You can’t be great at everything but you can be great at a few things. Do less better. Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeDesign LifeInside Marketing DesignChristina MaslachHappy Happy HouseplantCreator SessionsThe Future Belongs to Creators 101: Choosing The Right Medium For Creating with Ben SchoefflerIsa AdneyBasecampHenry Thong on InstagramHenry Thong on YouTubeAt-Home with Documentary Filmmaker - Henry Thong on Creator SessionsGot 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

Chances are, you began creating for yourself. Your work was a labor of love and touched people as a result. But now that you’ve got an audience who tunes in daily or checks your feed every few hours, who are you creating for? And how must your mindset shift now that people are looking to you for advice and inspiration? In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel dive into the responsibilities we have as creators and how taking responsibility for past slip-ups can help your audience trust you.“As a consumer of content and also as a creator, you have to be mentally prepared for, not just what you’re receiving, but how your work is received. You need to iterate on that, learn from it when possible, and then use that to get better at what you do. You’re not always going to do the perfect thing.” ~ Miguel PouMain takeawaysEvery creator with an audience has a responsibility to their audience. The bare minimum responsibility is to do no harm. However, the audience also has a responsibility to do their research rather than trusting the word of one online influencer. Owning your mistakes after-the-fact will boost trust between yourself and your audience. And reminding your audience that you don’t know everything will make them more likely to listen.When you endorse others or let others use your platform to share their voice, you’re essentially co-signing their platform and inadvertently telling your audience that you share the same message. That’s why it’s beneficial to provide a counterpoint if you don’t agree with everything someone says rather than choosing to stay silent. In this instance, it’s your responsibility to be an advocate for your audience. Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeTeddy WilliamsPerformance Painter, Patcasso, and DJ Steady Rock breakdown their work on Creator SessionsSharon McMahonGwyneth Paltrow x Adam Grant: Think AgainSteve RamseyCreating Art for What Others Want vs. What You Wan‪t‬Influencers vs CreatorsGot 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

At ConvertKit, we speak directly to creators, helping them build an online presence and make money doing the things they love. But what distinguishes a creator from an influencer? Can you be both? Neither? Understanding where you fall can be essential to growing your business, speaking to brands, and cultivating an intentional career.In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel unpack what it means to influence versus create. Because whether or not you like the word influencer, having an online following means you influence. And with great influence comes great responsibility.“We all, every single person who is a part of the creator economy, has a responsibility for the reputation of the creator economy. And (influencers) are a part of that and they are having an impact on the creator economy.” ~ @charliprangleyMain takeawaysRegardless of why you have an audience, if you have one, you influence people and therefore carry the responsibilities that come with being “an influencer.” Sometimes people use “influencer” in a way that’s derogatory to undermine the work that goes into gaining an influence. Many people who aspire to be an influencer don’t understand the work that goes into the content that ultimately fuels someone’s ability to influence. Is your motivation to create content or to make money and gain a following? Your motivation can determine your classification. Whether we call followers an audience or a community or simply, followers, that distinction depends on how the creators speak to their followers. Communities are more of a collaborative experience. Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeChallenge Winners!James SmithJames ClearI Am A BloggerGood Influence(r)Chris Loves JuliaCharlie D’AmelioGot 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

If you’re a side-hustling creator, you’ve probably fantasized about taking the plunge and quitting your 9-5. But despite our fantasies, it’s always difficult to leave something good for something unknown. So what actually goes into pursuing a passion full-time? And is working for yourself really all it’s cracked up to be? In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel chat with a creator who’s plunged into the unknown and lived to tell the tale — Matt Ragland. Matt’s here to discuss the rarely talked about practical aspects of financing a freelance career. He also shares his reasoning for risking it all and how to keep pressure from stifling creativity.“I do encourage creators who are really early on in the process, that if you want to do this, then the most important thing that you can do is just start making things. And it doesn’t have to be about a specific topic, it doesn’t have to be about a specific niche. Often that will cause you to get stuck. ” ~ @mattraglandMain takeawaysBefore going full-time as a creator, start setting and achieving monthly revenue goals. Make sure you’ve saved up enough money to protect yourself if things go awry.When you put in consistent work, you’re bound to achieve something great, even if it’s just the confidence of gaining a new skill set. Part of being a successful creator is continuing to push yourself forward, even when it feels like you’re not making any progress. Find the convergence between what interests you, what interests other people, and what makes money.If you’re waiting to start creating...stop waiting and just start! Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekMatt RaglandLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeMatt Ragland on YouTubeJoin Matt’s Email List!I Quit My Job For YouTubeAli AbdaalCraft & Commerce ConferenceMarques BrownleeEpisode 101 - Choosing The Right Medium For Creating with Ben SchoefflerGot 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

Sometimes we all need advice from those who’ve paved the way and came before us. As a creator, we all struggle with building a presence, listening to our audience, and following our passion versus following a dollar sign. In today's Q&A episode, Charli, Miguel, and Haley answer your questions about the best way to turn Twitter followers into email subscribers, when to monetize, what to do if you're camera-shy, where do I start, and more!“(The best medium) goes with whatever you feel the most excited about creating. Because it’s hard to get started and it’s hard to keep consistent once you get started. And so if it’s something that you’re enjoying, then you’re more likely to keep going.” ~ @charliprangleyMain takeawaysOffer something unique or exclusive in your emails to incentivize followers on other mediums to subscribe. Your audience will tell you what they want from you, but you can also listen to your audience and choose to pivot your services or your offering. Sometimes it’s better to stick with your passion rather than answering the beck and call of every follower. Practice makes perfect when it comes to being comfortable in front of a camera. And remember, no one is judging you as harshly as you’re judging yourself. The medium that’s best for you depends on how you want to monetize and what your product or skill set is. There’s no perfect time to start being a creator. Don’t get ready, just get started. Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeEnter the I Am A Creator book giveaway for freeHappy Happy HouseplantVintage RevivalsIsa 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

The early adopters have joined Clubhouse. Relatively new to the social space, Clubhouse is an app for real-time audio conversations focused on a specific topic. Far from a conference call, Clubhouse is an innovative way for people to connect at a time where connection feels tougher than ever. And it’s a great space for creators to grow. But is Clubhouse the right place for you to grow your audience? In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel are joined by former host and COO of Convertkit Barrett Brooks, to discuss opportunities on the app, potential limitations, tricks for quick growth, and whether or not you can win at Clubhouse while owning your relationship with that new audience. “If you can do a good topic with a structured outline, a representative panel that isn’t all white dudes, and a focused moderation where you’re facilitating the conversation (not just letting it happen to you) — if that’s a skill set that you have, I think you must be on Clubhouse right now.” ~ @BarrettABrooksMain takeawaysYou have the opportunity to grow your audience faster on Clubhouse than any other platform because the platform notifies everyone about everything.To succeed on Clubhouse, you have to be a good speaker, quick on your feet, and a decent moderator. Schedule your events to meet your audience when it’s convenient for them.Take advantage of the app’s seemingly endless character limit and write compelling bios.While challenging, the spontaneity of this app also lends itself to growth. There are various audience waves throughout the day meaning you have the potential to reach followers you wouldn’t be able to otherwise.Users search by topic rather than by creator, so you don’t need a large following elsewhere to gain a following on Clubhouse. Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekBarrett BrooksLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeClubhousea16zCultural Leadership FundFelicia HorowitzKat ColeJasmine FoxConvertKit Grow Your Audience ChallengeUnited By BlueGot 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

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve got a creative side hustle. Or at least have the desire to dive into one. But with so much content on the internet and a seemingly endless array of channels, it can feel overwhelming thinking about which one(s) to choose and when. If you’re a blogger, should you spend time and money expanding into podcasting, YouTube, Instagram, or Pinterest? All four? Sometimes the medium lends itself to your artform. As a musician, SoundCloud or YouTube feels like an obvious choice. But often, it’s about figuring out who your true fans are and going where they’ll meet you. In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel chat with Ben Schoeffler, a creator who knows first hand the challenges of finding your medium. Ben is also a lead product specialist at ConvertKit. They explore the importance of expectation-setting and building an audience on a platform you own.“If you have a message you want to share, you need to somehow make it sustainable for you...I was doing a disservice to my fans by not monetizing a lot earlier on to make it sustainable for me and them.” ~ @BenSchoefflerMain takeawaysTo maintain your passion, start by focusing on the platforms you love.If you’re struggling to grow on one platform, look for opportunities to repurpose your existing content elsewhere.Expand into as many mediums as possible so you have a greater chance of finding the initial momentum that’s so important for long-term success.Your primary medium has to be financially sustainable for it to help you grow and maintain your audience.Set expectations for content milestones appropriately, otherwise failure will happen consistently.Transparency will move the creator community forward faster than anything else.Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekBen SchoefflerLinksBen On YouTubeBrilliant SideShut Up, BrainCraft & Commerce ConferenceMatt RaglandAli AbdaalConvertKit Grow Your Audience ChallengeGot 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

How do you find the balance between artistic creation and vision? Between serving your audience and serving your art? The good news is that it doesn’t have to be one or the other. You can serve your audience in a way that builds the trust necessary for you to serve your art more fully. In this episode, Charli, Haley, and Miguel discuss how to persevere with your art even when others don’t understand, sticking to your artistic vision, and putting in the work to establish your artistic point of view. “I feel like, as educators, we are always telling people to ask their audience what they want. We are trying to teach people how to serve their audience. As a creator, if you focus on serving first, then you can ask. That’s really the best kind of sales pitch.” ~ @HaleyJanichekMain takeawaysIt’s hard to stick with something when people are doubting it. But if you’re confident in it, don’t give up. Sometimes your audience doesn’t know what their needs are. You have to figure out what they need to hear, even if they’re not asking for it specifically. If you try and make something that everyone is going to like, you will end up making something that no one likes. Stick to your vision. If you know in your gut that an idea needs to exist, you have to put your full effort behind it, no matter what others say. Persistence is essential. Connect with our hostsCharli PrangleyMiguel PouHaley JanicekLinksWatch The Future Belongs to Creators on YouTubeAmy Vitale’s White Rhino PhotoSara Dietschy YouTube ChannelGot 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