Lessons after 10 months of being a Full-Time Creator
YouTube: To fully express myself as a creator, I created a mix of videos on my channel, including photography and short motivational films. Lesson: However, I realised that having a niche is crucial for growing an audience and attracting sponsors. Therefore, I will focus solely on photography videos in the coming months. It's been a significant learning curve, nonetheless, and my films are testimonies to my expertise that I will use to secure paid video projects in the Cape Town market.
My Photography Courses: I've created four photography courses, with two more on the way. Lesson: Sales are coming in slowly, but I need a more substantial social media presence and brand to earn full price instead of Udemy taking its commission. This aligns with my YouTube strategy.
Paying for SEO and Ads: While I feel sad about the money spent with no ROI, I can no longer afford to invest in SEO and Ads with the company I hired. So it has come to an end. Lesson: If the ROI isn’t there, don’t waste more money; change strategy. I'll use these lessons to strengthen my business, Insha Allah. I have moved on.
Blogs on my website: I will write more blogs to make my website content-rich and attract referrals from Google and other search engines.
Writing: Paid writing has brought me immense joy and creative fulfilment. Lesson: Get more clients and increase earning potential and fulfilment. I have another very reputable client on board. I will be writing content and making videos for them, too. Masha Allah. In fact, I just sent my first paid article to them.
Travelling: Travelling has been a joyful and enriching experience. I still have so much unpublished content. Lesson: Use travel opportunities to earn. Writing about my adventures has recovered my travel costs, and I plan to share more.
Newsletter: It has been my place of therapy, making friends, and an outlet to express myself. Thank you for reading.
Client Projects: There have been opportunities, but nothing materialised, which is okay. It hasn’t been my primary focus. I will be pursuing more clients. It’s a matter of time.
Networking: I have made friendships and contacts that have helped me. You can’t network if you don’t put yourself out there on social media or in public gatherings.
Bigger Lessons: I never took a marketing, business strategy, or any such role in my corporate life that gave me a business mindset. In the last ten months, I have learned lessons that I will use to shape my business. You don’t learn if you don’t walk the path. Working for yourself differs from earning a salary; it is unpredictable and more challenging because your stakes are high. There’s only one of you and so much to do; being organised helps a lot. Your brain never switches off, but for some reason, I don’t find it tiring. You are thinking for yourself, and not someone else’s corporate dreams. To have support from your family and partner is vital. Also, ignoring your health is even more critical. So don’t forget to hit the gym, eat healthy and take those walks.
Amidst all this beautiful chaos of figuring it out, I have created a balance between work and family life. I am proud of that. I am happy, content, and creatively fulfilled. I don’t want to do anything else. Lastly, you make a plan and a wish list before you resign, but the universe/God/fate/whoever you believe in has a plan for you, and you walk that with your head high and perseverance. There will be ups, downs, joys, sorrows, setbacks and breakthrough moments, all part of the game. Never forget WHY you started all of this in the first place. It doesn't seem like work if you remember why you started it.
Quote of the Day: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” ~Winston Churchill
Video of the week: “Photographers: You Need To Hear This” by Muji.
Kind regards
Muji
