There is an increasing demand for social media content consumption in the recent years with rise of platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and many more which leads to the rise in content creation.

The choice can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to figure out which platform to choose to for your content.

In this guide we will understand how each platform may be better suited for different types of creators, their advantages and disadvantages, and how you might want to approach using them in your content creator journey.

What is a content creator?

A content creator is anyone who writes, designs, records, broadcasts or expresses ideas or content in such a way that is engaging to the users and with the intent of reaching to a wide audienceon the Internet.

Example of Content Creator :

  • Bloggers
  • YouTubers
  • TikTok-ers
  • Social Media Influencers
  • Storytellers
  • Podcasters
  • Writers

The list goes on & on and as we can see just about anyone who desires to publish original work online is a content creator. Various new platforms have been launched over the years to help these diverse creators promote their work in unique ways.

Top 5 Content Creator Platforms

Let’s us look at the Top 5 Content Creator Platforms

1. YouTube

YouTube is one of the oldest (and most lucrative) platforms for content creators.

How does it work ?

  • Creators launch a YouTube channel
  • Creators can showcase their content in a video format and upload it to YouTube
  • Viewers can engage with the content using the Like & Share feature.
  • Viewers can engage with the content creator using the Comment section.
  • Viewers can Subscribe to the creator’s content using the Subscribe button on YouTube to get a notification everytime the creator adds a new content on YouTube

If you want to earn money on the platform, you must apply to YouTube’s Partner Program and once your application meets the program guidelines and gets approved creator’s can monetize your YouTube channel.

Monetization Techniques

  • Link Google Adsense account to YouTube channel to earn a share from Ad Revenue generated from Ads displayed to the viewers while engaging witht the content
  • Creators can launch channel memberships so that their subscribers can pay a membership fee to receive exclusive premium content, including live chat, badges, and other goodies.
  • Sponsorships & Brand Deals
  • YouTube Shorts — an excellent option for new channels without lots of subscribers to monetize their channel.

Suitable for:

  • Video creators
  • Musicians
  • Educators
  • Podcasters
  • Celebrities

2. Patreon

Patreon is an excellent option for creators who want to monetize their content and engage with the audience or supporters directly and provide exclusive innovative video, audio, and photographic works through monthly subscriptions.

How does it work ?

  • Creators can create a Patreon account with no upfront costs
  • Fans can become patrons by pledging a certain amount of money every month to support your work.

Monetization Techniques

  • The subscription model also encourages your fans to give you consistent revenue, which is more predictable than one-time donations and fundraising campaigns.

Patreon simply takes a small percentage (around 5% to 12% depending on the plan + payment processing fees) of your monthly subscription fees, based on how many features you need.

Suitable for:

  • Video creators
  • Musicians
  • Educators
  • Podcasters

3. Medium

Medium is a one of the most popular option for writers because it’s free to use and has an easy-to-navigate interface. Medium has an active, loyal user base that supports and shares content and authors on Medium.

How does it work ?

  • Creators can share content in specialist topic communities and groups
  • Creators can create their personal brand pages, blogs to promote their content.
  • Medium offers subscriptions for Medium users.

Monetization Techniques

  • Partner Program writers are paid monthly based on how much time Medium members spend reading their stories. The longer members read, the more writers earn
  • Every time you convert a reader to a paying member you get half of that reader’s membership fee, net of standard payment processor fees, for as long as they are an active member.

Suitable for:

  • Tech writers
  • Bloggers
  • Novelists and fiction writers
  • Journalists

4. Substack

The Substack platform is an excellent choice for independent writers, journalists, and those who want to push their writing to a broader audience.

How does it work ?

  • Substack is a newsletter platform free for anyone to use, so you can get your work out there without spending much money.
  • Substack is designed as a newsletter service, with email as the primary form of distribution.

Monetization Techniques

  • Set up paid subscription options for subscribers who value your content enough to pay you a monthly or annual fee.

Suitable for:

  • Comic book creators
  • Novelists and fiction writers
  • Local news journalists
  • Podcasters

5. Wordpress

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems in the world.

How does it work ?

  • WordPress is an open-source platform
  • WordPress can be easily hosted on a shared or dedicated hosting
  • WordPress Managed hosting solution is another alternate option with an extra cost by service provider for managing WordPress platform

Monetization Techniques

  • Online eCommerce Store
  • Create Business Websites to bring your business online
  • Sell Digital Products like e-Books or Courses
  • Affiliate Marketing
  • Ads

Suitable for:

  • Writers & journalists
  • Travel bloggers
  • Small businesses
  • Professional content creators

You can use anyone or a combination of the above platforms to get started with your Content Creator journey.