The Secret Life of an Content Creator...
What most people don't know about influencers...
Hey there, my darlings! ✨
This might come as a shock to some of you, but you know all those picture-perfect posts and videos that flood your social feeds? In the glittering world of social media, the life of a content creator and influencer often appears as a dreamy montage of exotic travels, lavish events, and effortless glamour. However, behind the curated facade lies a realm of challenges, sacrifices, and relentless hustle.
While I love to create the perfect curated image and clips for you all, I also believe in transparency. I like to think of social media as an art gallery. The images posted there are designed to give a specific aesthetic, feel, create an emotion, and in essence, allow others to see a creative vision. The vision is not often reality, but looking through rose-colored glasses, as they say. So let’s take a closer look at the life of a 24/7 content creator.
The Time Investment: More Than Meets the Eye Creating captivating content is no walk in the park. It's a meticulous process that demands time, dedication, and unwavering attention to detail. From brainstorming concepts to scouting locations, from shooting multiple takes to painstakingly editing footage—the hours invested in crafting a single post or video often go unnoticed. Some of my best reels and TikToks, while they may only be 10-30 seconds in length, often take 5-12 hours to create from picking the outfit, setting up the background and lighting, shooting, editing, and prepping the post. Behind every seemingly effortless upload lies a whirlwind of effort and energy, with creators pouring their heart and soul into every frame.
Additionally, content creators try to batch their content to make the most of their time. If they are dedicating 12-16 hours of shooting and can get a solid 5-10 videos or photosets out of that time, they can then devote the next day(s) to editing. For me, this is my preferred way to create, but given my other responsibilities in life (family, dogs, kids, laundry, cleaning, etc. ) I don’t often get a solid 12 hours to create, but instead maybe 4, so I try to prep everything I need the night before like my “stage”, outfits, the music I plan to use, lighting, and what not so as soon as I am up, I’m able to get hair and makeup done and set right to work shooting before I have to stop and flip into family-mode.
The Creative Struggle: A Constant Battle for Originality In a landscape oversaturated with content, standing out from the crowd is easier said than done. Content creators constantly grapple with the pressure to innovate and captivate audiences with fresh ideas and unique perspectives. The creative process is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, with moments of inspiration followed by bouts of self-doubt and utter burn-out. Generating authentic, engaging content requires creativity, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries. It also means you have to be on the lookout for “trends” and then try to make them as original as possible - it seems like an oxymoron right? Following a trend in an original way is one of the hardest aspects of being a creator because you never want to copy another creator’s content.
The Financial Reality: Balancing Passion with Practicality Contrary to popular belief, the influencer lifestyle isn't always as lucrative as it seems. Behind the glossy facade lies a myriad of financial responsibilities and uncertainties. Investing in high-quality equipment, props, clothes (thats right… MOST clothing is NOT gifted), and software can quickly drain resources, while inconsistent income streams and fluctuating brand partnerships add another layer of complexity. Content creators often find themselves walking a tightrope between pursuing their passion and navigating the harsh realities of financial instability. Some months can be epic, and the trick is to look at those high months as never promised or guaranteed. I’ve had some amazing months with subscriptions, ad monetization, and brand deals easily bringing in 13k or more (which frankly is a small number compared to many of the top creators out there, but was a massive hustle nonetheless working 15 hours a day, 7 days a week) and other months dipping as low as 4k. This is of course 4 years into full-time content creation for me and I can clearly see a regular trend throughout the year of when to expect low months and when I can see an upward trend again. I would also venture to say that a solid 40% of that income is reinvested into making the content itself - from platform costs, supplies, props, software, equipment, travel, etc.
The Multi-Faceted Role: Jacks and Jills of All Trades Gone are the days when being a content creator simply meant producing content. Today's influencers and creators are expected to wear many hats: They are strategists, marketers, negotiators, and community managers, Public Relations Specialists, website developers, to name a few. From pitching brand collaborations to managing social media accounts, from analyzing analytics to mastering SEO—successful influencers must possess a diverse skill set and a knack for multitasking. The ability to adapt, learn, and evolve is crucial for thriving in this ever-changing landscape.
The Eternal Pursuit of Relevance: Navigating the Shifting Sands of Social Media Trends come and go on a daily and often weekly basis in social media. So, staying relevant is the name of the game. Algorithms change without warning, trends evolve, and platforms rise and fall with alarming speed, and community guidelines shift. Content creators must constantly monitor industry trends, analyze audience insights, and pivot their strategies accordingly. The quest for relevance is a perpetual journey, requiring agility, foresight, and a willingness to embrace change.
The Glamour vs. Reality of Travel: Tales from the Road While jet-setting to exotic locales may seem like a dream come true, the reality of travel as an influencer is far from glamorous. Endless hours spent in transit, tight schedules, and the relentless pursuit of the perfect shot—traveling for work can be physically and mentally exhausting. From navigating unfamiliar cities to overcoming language barriers, influencers must adapt to new environments with grace and resilience. Behind the envy-inducing Instagram posts lies a world of logistical challenges and personal sacrifices.
One thing that many people don’t realize, particularly for people who are travel influencers, is that most hotels, resorts, etc. do not pay influencers for their collaborations. They often only provide a complimentary room or a few days stay but do not pay for travel, food, or transportation. This is not always the case, but most travel-specific influencers, gain their income more from things like YouTube monetization or working with other brands.
Navigating the Minefield of Criticism: Dealing with the Haters and Trolls Today, keyboard warriors are not in short supply. Criticism, rude, and degrading comments come with the territory. Content creators are no strangers to negative feedback and trolls lurking in the comments section. From body shaming to personal attacks, the online world can be a harsh and unforgiving place. Developing thick skin, cultivating self-confidence, and learning to ignore the noise are essential survival skills for influencers navigating the tumultuous waters of social media. Some influencers even hire media managers who help to delete, block, and report the worst offenders. Because social media platforms want you to be active, it’s important to acknowledge your followers and their comments as much as you can without letting the day get away from you, but when there is an influx of negativity, it can be easy to get sucked into the toxicity of it. I’m certainly no stranger this, and it’s taken years to get over the need to defend myself when I’m reminded that giving haters attention is doing them a service, not my well-being. Thus, I’ve learned to simply block people. I’ve been emailed and told I’m not allowing “free speech” by deleting comments calling me names or degrading me, and have spoken out on the fact that while my pages are public, it does not mean I’m consenting to degradation.
Authenticity in the Age of Brand Deals: Walking the Tightrope Maintaining authenticity while pursuing brand partnerships is a delicate balancing act. Influencers must carefully vet potential collaborators, ensuring alignment with their own values and audience expectations. The temptation to chase lucrative deals can sometimes lead to compromises in authenticity, eroding trust and credibility in the eyes of followers. Striking the right balance between authenticity and commercial viability requires integrity, transparency, and a steadfast commitment to staying true to oneself.
The Never-Ending Grind: Hustle Hard, Play Harder Contrary to popular belief, being a content creator is far from a nine-to-five job. It's a relentless hustle that demands round-the-clock dedication and unwavering perseverance. From late-night editing sessions to early morning shoots, from attending industry events to engaging with followers—success in the influencer space is earned through sheer grit and determination. The journey is long, and the road is rocky, but for those willing to put in the work, the rewards can be immeasurable.
Prioritizing Self-Care: Mind, Body, and Soul In an industry notorious for burnout and mental health struggles, prioritizing self-care is paramount. Content creators must learn to set boundaries, establish healthy routines, and prioritize their physical and emotional well-being. Taking time to recharge, disconnect from social media, and nurture personal relationships is not a luxury but a necessity. Remembering that behind the curated facade lies a real person with vulnerabilities and limitations is essential for maintaining long-term happiness and fulfillment.
Cracking the Code of Brand Deals: The Art of Collaboration Securing brand deals is the lifeblood of many influencers, providing not only financial stability but also opportunities for creative expression and brand alignment. However, the path to landing lucrative partnerships is fraught with challenges and uncertainties. From pitching ideas to negotiating rates, from proving ROI to navigating contract terms—content creators must approach brand collaborations with strategic foresight and business acumen. Building genuine relationships with brands, delivering exceptional value, and demonstrating authenticity are key factors in unlocking the door to coveted brand partnerships. But amidst the rejections and disappointments, perseverance, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence are the guiding lights that illuminate the path to success.
The life of a content creator and influencer is a multifaceted journey filled with triumphs and tribulations, victories and defeats. Behind the polished veneer lies a world of sacrifice, resilience, and unyielding determination. It's a relentless pursuit of passion, creativity, and authenticity in a landscape defined by change and uncertainty. But for those brave enough to embrace the challenge, the rewards are limitless—a platform to inspire, educate, and empower others, and a legacy that transcends pixels and screens. So, the next time you find yourself scrolling through your favorite influencer's feed, remember the untold stories and hidden truths that shape their journey. It's not just a snapshot—it's a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human heart.
Freebies and Time-Wasters As a content creator, especially one in a sex-positive field, we get asked CONSTANTLY for freebies or have people DM us wanting to coax us into a free sexting session. It happens DAILY and is equally as frustrating as the people who illegally take our content and impersonate us or commit copyright infringement by posting it on other sites without consent. Asking a content creator for free content is like asking to take a trip to Disneyland to “try out a ride or two” before you commit to buying a ticket. Sorry babe, but the price of admission covers overhead costs, shows you value our time and countless hours of energy, and frankly shows that you respect the work we do. It’s one thing to DM and ask a simple question. It’s another to ask a content creator to spend an excessive amount of time with you to get you off. The number of times I’ve had men DM me and try to guilt trip me into sending them free content or give them a sexting session is insane to me. I get messages like,“I want to see what I’m getting I’m getting before I subscribe” is nearly always the line I get and it’s always met with the same response, “If you think I’m the type of person that devalues her time, effort, and passion like that, then you are following the wrong creator.” If they press harder for freebies, it’s an instant block.
Drama among Influencers? Ok, here is the one area of content creation that strikes me as just insane because it’s not how I operate. I grew up believing that there was enough pie to go around for everyone and there was no such thing as just “one spotlight” but a stage in which we all share. There is a concept of influencers sharing each other’s content as a way to poach followers. I’ve heard of discords where influencers and creators get together to target others to take them down, where following someone in your same field is looked at as trying to steal followers from them, or worse, commenting something kind on another person’s post is seen as an all-out attack because you are trying to get attention from their followers. This entire idea is so incredibly petty to me that I can’t begin to even understand it, but I do know creators who have this experience and it’s had me second-guessing posting a genuine kind comment when I see a creator I admire. It’s a sad reality that many creators deal with and honestly makes me upset and sad this experience even exists. I feel lucky that many of the women I follow are typically in the alt. modeling field (tattooed, witchy, and artistic) and have always had a positive experience where I always credit them with an idea, and ask people to go follow them because of how inspirational they are. I was raised to believe that giving spotlight to others, that’s what helps us all shine.
This Shouldn’t Surprise You… ALL influencers and content creators have a toned-down, chill side you rarely get to see. Not everyone wakes up in a Barbie Dream House. While on my accounts you see the best side of myself, 99% of the time I’m in ripped jeans, a hoodie, messy hair, and little to no makeup. I feel lucky that my mom was a professional photographer who taught me nearly everything I know like how to make a basic room seem like something out of Home & Garden Magazine with a little lighting, some well-placed plants, and the right tweaks in Adobe Light Room. She often worked for bands, music magazines, and even High Times and my first real “job” was as her assistant attending to models and setting up the space to help her achieve the perfect look. I saw firsthand the transformations that took place in a matter of hours and what made the photos so stellar was the attitude projected more than anything else… confidence, sensuality, and the right mood lighting could make any photo seem like it belonged on Sunset Blvd.
Lastly, let’s talk for a moment about followers and the reality of earning a living. If you see an influencer account that seems to have a gorgeous model with 10 pictures and yet they have 400k followers…. chances are they have bought the followers as part of a “promo and shoutout” deal, their previous account was recently banned and they have put out the call for everyone to go follow their new one, or they are a bot. Those numbers don’t happen organically in a matter of months but YEARS of hard work.
And now that we are on the topic of follower numbers, let’s talk about the money because that is what everyone seems to be the most curious about. I see so many people on subreddits in creator forums complaining about how they have hundreds of thousands of followers and make no money from Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or YouTube. What are they doing wrong?
NOTHING. That’s the reality. Yes, you can make SOME money on places like TikTok, Twitch, and YouTube as part of their creator incentive programs if you have over 100k followers. Instagram used to have a bonus program that paid out up to 8k a month based on how many views on your reels you had (they have since discontinued this and opted for ad monetization which I refuse to do because it gives them rights to place ads directly in your profile)
YouTube gives options to monetize when you hit specific milestones, but really, unless you have half a million dedicated followers or more, you aren’t going to make a sustainable income that way. The same is true for Twitch, and Facebook is a glorified billboard that YOU pay for if you want to boost your posts.
Influencers and content creators make the majority of their income through MULTIPLE avenues, not just one. They make it with subscription based models through places like Patreon, Substack, OnlyFans, and others, through brand deals once they reach a certain level. For example, as per The Influencer Marketing Hub:
Nano influencers (1000 - 10,000 followers): $10 - $100 per post
Micro influencers (10,000 - 50,000 followers): $100 - $500 per post
Mid-tier influencers (50,000 - 500,000 followers): $500 - $5,000 per post
Macro influencers (500,000 - 1,000,000 followers): $5000 - $10,000 per post
Mega influencers (1,000,000+ followers): $10,000+ per post
As a baseline, the industry standard is $100 per 10,000 followers. You can use the following formulas as generic guides:
$100 per 10,000 followers + number of posts + additional factors (i.e. expenses for the shoot, usage, exclusivity) = total rate.
Alternatively, estimate an influencer’s base rate by calculating 4% of their following and adding the number of posts + additional factors to get your final rate.
Having said all that… that’s ONLY IF YOU CAN GET THE BRAND DEAL. Big brands that can afford those numbers usually want to only work with macro and mega influencers, while any mid-tier and below influencers may be many more of the types of deals that only give you a product in exchange for promo. There are several influencer hubs out there that help connect influencers with brands looking for marketing, but finding the “big fish” in an oversaturated pond is exceptionally difficult these days. That’s not to say it isn’t worth giving brand deals a shot and pitching ideas (I keep my door open to opportunities at all times and land them about once a month) but it isn’t my bread and butter.
For most content creators and influencers, subscriptions account for the largest amount of income. It not only supports the creator and their efforts, but creates a community, helps the creator know what their audience wants to see, and gives perks that the rest of the followers don’t get. Because subscriptions are recurring, it also gives creators a more guaranteed source of income each month they can count on while giving their biggest fans the attention they deserve for supporting their passions. It’s a win-win on so many levels!
So there you have it…
Content creators, influencers, models, artists, writers… we are all in the same boat. We create because we are driven to by sheer passion and because others gain insight, entertainment, education, community, and an experience from those passions. It’s a grind that isn’t for everyone. I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard “if it’s so much work and you have to deal with so much, why bother?” Interestingly enough, Steven King was asked the same thing regularly until he scored a contract for his story, Carrie. What drives us isn’t the money, but our NEED to create, to share, and to give. We hope at the end of the day others value those efforts enough to support us, and we give even more to those supporters, but at the end of the day, even if the money wasn’t there, most creators would still create in whatever way they could, just like all artists.
There you go… the ultimate behind-the-scene look at the life of a content creator. If nothing else, as you scroll through your perfectly curated feeds, you can stop to appreciate the efforts that go into each of those posts and encourage you to support your favorite creators in whatever way you can… a like, a share, a comment, or a kind word or two.
