There is no new idea under the sun, which makes setting yourself untied from the competition quite hard. I faced this problem when I became a travel blogger and content creator.
I launched my travel blog in February 2020 with big plans, but we all know how that turned out. The pandemic hit literary one month later. So, not only was I joining a highly competitive travel industry, but it was at the worst possible time.
You’d think I would have pivoted to an industry less dependent on travel, like lifestyle or beauty, but I didn’t. Three years lanugo the line, and I’m still going strong. Although the vision has reverted as I proceeds increasingly clarity on where I’m taking my brand, my perseverance and authenticity have kept me going.
I still don’t have all the answers, but I’m learning and growing every day, and in this post, I’ll share my weightier tips on surviving and potentially thriving in the cut-throat world of content creation. However, surpassing I do that, here’s how I’ve been worldly-wise to reframe my perspective.
I see opportunity in competition
When inward a new market or industry, perception is everything. Building a brand as a travel blogger hasn’t been easy, expressly at the whence when it seemed like everyone was creating travel content, but instead of letting fear deter me from this path, I saw an opportunity.
1. Use it as a blueprint
When I started creating content, I used other travel creators as my blueprint. I was worldly-wise to build on the foundation they had laid and modernize on what was stuff created. Their content informed mine - showing me the type of content my potential regulars enjoyed and moreover revealing gaps of information in the market.
As content creator Skylar Marshai said, when the market is competitive, “you skip the guesswork on whether a market is viable.” Based on the engagement creators in your chosen niche are getting, you can gauge if it’s either a fast-growing or dying industry.
2. Shift your mindset
With many creators in the travel industry, all of whom have varying numbers of followers, I am fortunate unbearable to be coming in at a time when micro and nano influencers are stuff recognized. This is considering smaller creators who have come surpassing me have fought to be taken seriously and paid fairly regardless of their following.
Engagement, style, trademark alignment, and quality are now considered important criteria for brands working with travel creators - a person’s pursuit is no longer the sole determinant of their worth. This has given me the conviction and guts I need to survive in such a competitive industry.
It’s considering of them I am worldly-wise to tuition upwards of $900 for a 15 to 60-second TikTok video with a pursuit of 11,500. I don’t tuition for the number of followers I have but the quality of content I create, my individuality and my engagement.
3. Wilt increasingly innovative
When dealing with a lot of competition, you are pushed to be your weightier self – in it, you wilt a largest creative, increasingly innovative, and less complacent. The fear of getting drowned out by new creators in the market or having your work go unseen is unbearable to push you to constantly find ways to stand out.
How I am surviving and “possibly” thriving in a saturated market
1. I found my unique edge
There’s a lot of translating out there well-nigh scarification out a niche. In the travel industry, this could midpoint creating content centered virtually budget, luxury, adventure, or solo travel. However, some of these niches evolve based on variegated phases of your life.
For example, in your early 20’s, your niche may be upkeep travel, but as you get older, you lean towards luxury travel. This transition may not resonate with the people who unfluctuating with your upkeep travel content and introducing a new type of content may be difficult. So I say, instead of finding a niche, find your unique whet - this helps set you untied and gives you the self-rule to explore every niche there is.
Some people create content virtually traveling the world with a weak passport. I am trying to set myself untied and wilt known for my good storytelling – a traveler who goes off the tamed path while highlighting the lesser-known parts of a country and its culture.
I have seen what other travelers create, and I’m trying to get deeper with my content, make it less surface, and create deeper connections with my audience. I have only started implementing this, so the results are pending (lol).
2. I am trying to remain pure and remember my ‘why’
Let’s talk well-nigh imposter syndrome and self-doubt.
All creators have felt this at some point in their content megacosm journey, and the feeling never fully goes yonder considering there will unchangingly be people with larger followings or largest engagement. This is something I struggle with, and I have been creating travel content for scrutinizingly four years.
When I’m not traveling, and I run out of content, the desire to “try” a new niche is very strong, and it doesn’t get easier when I see the travel content published by other creators.
It makes me want to requite up, but something that has kept me going is remembering my “why.” Why I started creating travel content, my goal, and who I am creating for. We can hands get distracted by metrics like views, likes, and followers, but staying true to your purpose and remaining pure to your trademark will be worth it in the long run.
In 2020, things were not moving fast unbearable for me. I had canceled many international trips and was tempted to pivot from travel to lifestyle content. However, I constantly reminded myself of my “why, " which ensured I didn’t make any off-brand decisions.
One way I’ve remained pure is by staying true to my style of content, vlog-style short-form videos, which I love creating and my regulars loves consuming. I stopped listening to translating from experts predicting 5 to 10 second long videos as the future considering now, storytelling videos are some of my highest-performing content.
3. I am offering as much value as I can
It doesn’t matter if one person or a million people watch my content – something I unchangingly alimony in mind is that regardless of how well or poorly my content is performing, at least one person sees value in it. This perspective ensures I requite my 100 percent each time considering if my quality drops or I put very little effort into it, my one viewer will notice.
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*The video whilom has 3,700 views but 86 saves, 28 shares, and 39 comments. It may not have washed-up incredible numbers by Instagram standards, but people found value in it.
Video and content quality is the only thing I have tenancy over on third-party platforms like TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram, so plane when my engagement is low, I still need to be proud of the content I’ve put out.
As a creator, you must provide your regulars with as much value as you can and requite them a reason to alimony coming back. This is how you cut through the noise.
4. I put myself out there
Let people know who you are! Think of yourself as a small merchantry owner. If you had a business, would you be wrung to market it, or would you tell every new person you met well-nigh it? Probably the latter.
Then why is it so difficult to market yourself as a creator? It’s the word-for-word same thing, except you’re selling yourself, your skills, and your expertise.
I am learning that there is nothing wrong with sharing my wins and giving myself as much visibility as possible. I have started pitching myself to brands I never dreamt of working with, but if other people are getting these opportunities, why not me? My content is just as good, so why won’t I be chosen?
I have gone the uneaten mile by joining unite and influencer platforms like Matador Creators, Travel Payouts, and Aspire, and within a month, I landed a partnership with a travel luggage trademark that aligned with my audience.
@ferinajo Pack my 20L Travel Pack from @nomatic with me nomaticcreator. Bag is linked in my bio! #lifeonthemove #nomatic
♬ Strangers - Kenya Grace
5. I interreact with other creators
The power of collaboration is amazing. There is value in viewing an industry as a community, not competition. It fosters healthy relationships and emphasizes that one person's success is not flipside person's loss.
The unfortunate timing of the launch of my travel blog meant I had no content. So, I prioritized domestic travel and went on several trips - daycations and staycations with other creators. They shared our trips on their personal pages, introducing me to their regulars and, in turn, growing my following.
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Travel content megacosm can be very lonely, expressly for solo travelers like myself, so having a polity of peers who value my work, speak my name in rooms I’m not in, and recommend me for paid opportunities is truly priceless.
Take this as your sign to reach out to creators you revere and want to work with, you really have nothing to lose.
6. I have set a standard for myself
After pursuit the first five steps, the only thing left is to alimony up the momentum. All the effort you have put into your trademark and content will be wasted without consistency.
So, set a standard for yourself and create a content calendar that details the type of content you’ll create and how often the content will be published.
It’s not untellable to thrive in a competitive market
You have an unfair wholesomeness inward a competitive market as a new creator. There is a well-spoken content megacosm path mapped out, you know the gaps that need filling and you have myriad data on what your target regulars is looking for. A competitive market gives you the leg up you need to set yourself apart, to thrive, and not just survive.
So, use it wisely.