Monday Musings: The Truth About Making It As A Content Creator

I’ve been blogging for 16 years now, 19 years if you count my first personal blog. I’ve been extremely lucky to be one of the first people to do this in the Philippines, and I’ve also been lucky to keep doing it for a living despite the pandemic flipping everything in my industry. I was simply in the right place at the right time, made a few right decisions, did a whole lot of hard work. But let me tell you the truth: only a few people these days get a chance to create content full time.

“If I started Project Vanity today, it wouldn’t be as successful as it has been,” I told my husband the other day. There are simply too many people trying to do the same thing, and more people with a more privileged starting point have an immediate advantage. I didn’t have money, connections, or even conventional good looks when I started my blog. I just happened to be early and smart about it. It was tough back then and it’s still tough right now having to stay relevant when I’m already in my mid-30s. On top of that, there are always new platforms to grapple with.

Many content creators think that when they have a few viral videos they can start making money regularly from their hard work, but nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is that achieving and sustaining a career in this space requires consistency, not just viral moments. It's about building a brand and a community that trusts and values your voice over time.

I've seen many new creators get frustrated because they expect instant results. The space is incredibly crowded today, and standing out takes more than just a couple of hits. You need to keep producing content that resonates with your audience, understand the analytics behind what works, and sometimes, pivot your strategy entirely based on what your followers seem to engage with most.

Speaking of engagement, the relationship with my readers has been my compass. From the early days of Project Vanity, I've treasured every comment, every shared post, and every piece of feedback. This connection has helped me stay grounded in why this is important to me. Because if I only cared about money - I wouldn’t be writing things like this.

While the barrier to entry might be lower now than when I started, the barrier to success is much higher. It requires a mix of passion, strategy, and adaptability. So to all aspiring content creators out there, remember: success doesn't come overnight, and it certainly doesn't come from a few viral moments. It comes from relentless hard work, a deep understanding of your audience, and an ability to keep evolving over time.