On Being a Creator vs. an Influencer // FrameAmbition

For those of us involved in the world of digital influencers – be it aspiring to, hiring, envying or simply observing them, there are few territories the ‘influencer’ has not made an unmistakeable mark. ‘How to become an influencer’ is a legit frequent search on these internet streets. Thanks to the power of social media, the select few influencers who make bank from doing what they enjoy on the internet for millions to watch have become the ultimate ambition for kids today.

But nobody seems to actually know for sure what it takes to get to that level, except what some of the said success stories tell us and what digital media pros find in their research. Consistency, branding, connections, clever purchases and investments, strategic friendships…. And sometimes it starts to seem like the actual content – photos, written word, videos, etc. – even matters.

#mood staring in to the abyss of online content like 👀 I believe in myself, my work and my unique voice but bruh, it's tough sometimes to remember what's special about you...comment if you feel me! - - - - - - #WATG #theDameTraveller #SoloFemaleTravel #travelFly #visiterlAfrique #TheDiscoverr #travelNoire #WeGoTooWorld #triphackr #PassionPassport #wanderlust #travel #travelshots #nomads #blacknomad #blackvoyageurs #blacktravelfeed #wheninroam #twitter #loveCapeTown #CapeTownMag #CPT #vayaMzansi #shotleft #visitSouthAfrica #tembeaAfrika #AfriExpert #iAmANomad
A post shared by Julie O: Solo Travel Blogger (@frameambition) on Oct 20, 2017 at 3:56am PDT

Which is interesting because as a person in the camp of wanting to make a sustainable living making my content online, I’m always straddling the border of trying to grow my audience (because that’s generally what money and brand strength grows from) and just making exactly what I want to without worrying about how many people will see and engage with what I post.

Both are important to me but lately I've been in a creative guilt-funk from not really making anything visual I'm proud of for a while.

So I made a short experimental video with some footage I had stashed from going to Zanzibar in February. After a bunch of content scheduling (which I seldom keep up with) and the fixation with drawing in more views and audience numbers with ‘useful’ or ‘popular’ content, I decided to just take a breather.

Don’t get me wrong, I still do take this as a business and try to focus on improving and on growing an audience (as much as I appreciate all of you who are here now! Thank you!). Myself and a few other bloggers wrote about what we do to become better influencers here for South African travel marketing pros Big Ambitions.

But while I still can, I’ve chosen to mess around with ideas just because I enjoy it.