Create. Post. Repeat: The Mindset Behind Content Creating!
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Content creation shouldn’t be just about trends, views, or going viral… it’s about building something that reflects you. The key, says Elena M. Zepeda is to start, and then to stay
PHOTOS COURTESY OF Elena M. Zepeda & Magnific
The year 2020 marked a turning point in the world of content creation. Suddenly, you no longer needed to spend hundreds of dollars on a full YouTube setup or commit to producing 15-minute videos every week. Platforms like TikTok shifted the landscape entirely, while the pandemic gave people something they hadn’t had in a long time: time. And with that, the world began to create… constantly.
Creators started to rise quickly. Views climbed, engagement grew and, for some, the money rolled in. At least at the beginning, it seemed easy. Everyone was doing it. As ‘influencing’ became more visible, more people wanted in.
Picture it. Working from home? Earning from posting a single Instagram story? Getting invited to restaurants just to film a one-minute video? It sounded like a dream! And, in many ways, it still does. But while content creation can be glamorous, and yes, at times, it really is – the reality is slightly more complicated, especially when you’re just starting out.
Content creation is equal parts creativity, consistency and patience. It can be exciting, frustrating and often unpredictable. One video might reach 1,000 views, while the next suddenly skyrockets to 500,000 for no clear reason at all. But if you approach it with the right mindset, the journey can be incredibly rewarding.
Here’s how to get started and, more importantly, how to keep going.
The biggest mistake most people make is waiting… Waiting until they have the perfect setup, better editing skills, or a clear plan of what they want to achieve.
Some people know exactly what they want to create the moment they pick up their phone; whether it’s to focus on styling, makeup, comedy, or a hobby they genuinely enjoy. Others start by recreating content they’ve seen or by sharing more personal thoughts and experiences.
All of these are valid starting points. Whether you choose to focus on one, or explore a mix of everything, that decision is entirely yours. Over time, it will naturally shape what your niche becomes.
Your niche is simply what people will expect from your content, but if by any chance you aren’t so sure, don’t worry, it is also a niche to have a ‘little bit of everything’. So, although having direction does help, don’t feel pressured to box yourself in. Let your content reflect your interests, and allow it to evolve naturally over time.
Know that if you’re planning on starting content creating simply for fame and freebies, it will be harder to stay consistent. You need to find passion in what you create, even if it is not perfect. The good thing is, it doesn’t have to be! Posting consistently matters more than a per fectly recorded video, with perfect lighting, that took you two hours to edit. Your viewers will be able to tell if you’re trying too hard or if you’re enjoying yourself.
Consistency does not mean you have to post every single day, although it could make the process faster. You just need to show up regularly. Whether that is a few times a week or even once a week, what matters is that you maintain a certain rhythm you can sustain. Growth tends to come from repetition. Keep trying, learning and improving. You don’t need to wait until everything is flawless.
Once you step into the world of content creation, scrolling becomes part of the job. You will find yourself constantly searching for inspiration; keeping up with trends, sounds, formats and ideas you can adapt into your own content.
Over time, though, that constant exposure can start to blur the line between inspiration and comparison. It is easy to go from thinking “I like how they did that, I could do something similar,” to “Why doesn’t my content perform like theirs?” That’s where you need to be careful. Use other creators as a source of ideas, not as a measure of your worth. Pay attention to what works, but more importantly, pay attention to what works for you. Content creation is creative, yes, but it is also strategic.
While trends can bring attention, you have to think beyond going viral. A single viral video might bring in views and likes, but it doesn’t guarantee a loyal audience. Instead, focus on your brand. What do you want people to associate you with? What makes your content recognisable? Why should someone follow you and not someone else?
At the end of the day, you are the brand. You are the reason people stay. You are the star. So make yourself known! Not through one viral moment, but through a consistent presence people can return to. Engage with your audience, enjoy interacting with them and build something that feels genuine.
Here’s the part no one really talks about: growth is unpredictable. Some videos will perform well and others won’t. And most of the time, it has very little to do with you. The algorithm has a mind of its own, and it can be quite difficult trying to understand it.
Growth in content creation is rarely a straight line. It comes in waves. There will be moments where everything feels slow, and others where things suddenly take off. The key is to keep going anyway. Because often, the difference between those who succeed and those who stop is simply persistence.
Post didn’t do well? You can always delete and repost. (But don’t do this all the time because the platform might decide you’re a Bot, and it could even confuse the algorithm a little.)
As you continue creating, you will inevitably come across other creators. Some might seem to grow faster, gain followers quicker and reach milestones you haven’t yet hit. So, yes, it is easy to feel left behind. But every creator you see started somewhere. Their growth has nothing to do with yours. Everyone moves at their own pace, and comparison simply won’t get you anywhere.
When I first started, I questioned myself constantly. I watched other creators grow within weeks, while I was still sitting at 100 followers. My videos were performing well, but no one seemed interested enough in actually following me. Then one night, right before going to bed, I thought, “Oh well, let me just post this silly video.” That video became my first viral post.
It reached 45 million views and over a million likes. And all overnight! I gained 5,000 followers just like that. It felt unreal, but in that moment, I finally understood why people say, ‘one video is all it takes’. Now, I’m working even harder to gain another 5,000 to reach my second milestone, 10,000 followers.
Moments like that don’t happen every day, but as you can see, they can happen. And more importantly, they only happen if you keep going. Focus on your own progress. Bit by bit, people will begin to notice your content. They’ll start engaging more, returning to your page and recognising your style.
Be confident in what you create. Be confident in your voice, your ideas and your perspectives. Because in a space where everyone is creating and it seems like you’re all doing the same, the one thing that will always make you stand out, is yourself.
