SEO
How to Become a Successful Content Creator
I am a content creator. I create content—mainly blog posts—for the Ahrefs blog, which generates around ~300,000 visits per month (from Google alone).
How did I become a content creator for such a popular blog? Well, I’ll talk about it later in the post. But before you carry on reading, I want you to know there are many paths to becoming a content creator. The path I followed is merely one of them. But since it’s the only one I know, it’s the one I’ll share.
Let’s begin with some fundamentals.
What is a content creator?
A content creator is someone who creates written, audio, video, or visual content for a digital platform like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or a blog.
They can be working in-house for a company (like me) or agency, freelancing, or doing their own thing (e.g., influencers).
What does a content creator do?
They create content. (Duh!) Besides that, they may also:
- Create a content strategy.
- Manage a content calendar.
- Research content ideas.
- Design and edit visuals.
- Record and edit videos.
- Produce podcasts.
- Do basic SEO.
- Have a deep understanding of the channels they produce content for, including the latest updates and changes.
How much do content creators make?
There is no limit to how much a content creator can make.
But how much you make depends on whether you’re working in-house, freelancing, or doing your own thing. You may also earn more if you:
- Have subject matter expertise.
- Have a sizeable following on the platform where you create content.
- Have a well-known and well-respected brand.
According to Zippia, the median content creator salary is $52,000 annually. However, some content creators have been known to earn up to six figures.
For example, Jon Morrow of SmartBlogger used to charge up to $2.50 per word when he was freelancing. That’s $5,000 for a 2,000-word post. One article per week means Jon’s making six figures a year.
Other examples include:
How to become a successful content creator
Looking back at my own career, I’ve identified some key things that led me to become a content creator.
1. Choose a niche to develop your knowledge and skills
To create content, you need to first have a topic. It can be anything: finance, football, or even Pokemon cards. In fact, I started off writing about breakdancing.
I chose breakdancing because it was something I was already familiar with. I had been doing it for almost eight years at that point and had accumulated a ton of knowledge. I just needed to figure out how to share it.
Content creation is ultimately not about just how beautiful your writing is or how magical your videos are. Of course, they play a part. But the core of content creation is about your ideas. If you don’t have something to share—or you don’t have the required knowledge—it doesn’t matter how much time you spend refining your work. People just won’t care.
As bestselling finance author Morgan Housel puts it:
Good ideas are easy to write, bad ideas are hard. Difficulty is a quality signal, and writer’s block usually indicates more about your ideas than your writing.
To become a successful content creator, you need to start with an area where you either have existing knowledge/expertise or an area where you can develop knowledge.
It’s OK if you don’t have expertise right now. On the contrary, it’s a great way to begin. Document your journey and create content around how you’re learning, practicing, and gaining knowledge. People love to follow stories of someone going from zero to one.
In fact, #buildinpublic is a popular hashtag on Twitter, and it has been a rallying point for many people who are creating content and learning in public.
Added the product demo to the landing page!
Initially added the video in 15 min…
Then decided I couldn’t live with how it looked
Spent another 2hrs on design and now very happy with it.
Final version in this tweet, but how it evolved is detailed below
1/5 pic.twitter.com/AH0mS8VYD5— Marie Ng 🦙🌳 (@threehourcoffee) January 30, 2022
Finally, the niche you choose now is not something you’re limited to forever. You can always change topics as you progress. I no longer create content about breakdancing and, instead, spend most of my time writing about marketing.
But the key point is this: You have to choose something to get started—one that matches your strengths and the niche you’re developing your expertise in.
2. Choose a content creation skill you’d like to develop
Next, you have to choose a content format and then develop skills in that area. Types of content creation skills include:
- Copywriting/writing
- Graphic design
- Photography
- Video production
- Podcasting
And more.
For example, if your niche is taekwondo, then perhaps you may want to consider developing your skills in video production.
That being said, playing to your strengths is more important. Creating content is a long journey. And creating the type of content you like on a topic you’re passionate about will help you go a long way.
This is why, despite the fact that writing was (likely) a terrible medium for breakdancing, I still chose to go for copywriting in the end. The fact that I was already interested in writing—coupled with me being camera shy—made this decision a no-brainer. In hindsight, writing matched my strengths and has served me well so far.
If you’re like me and want to improve your copywriting skills, I highly recommend these resources:
3. Create a “Do 100” project
There’s no way around it. If you want to learn how to create content, you have to create content.
If you want to improve your content creation skills, the best way is to actually make something and put it out there. Yes, it is scary. Yes, it will hurt to get feedback. But you have to go through this phase to become a successful content creator.
To tackle the above, I recommend creating a “Do 100” project. This is an idea that was popularized by my friend, Visakan Veerasamy. Basically, commit to making 100 of X, where X is the content creation skill you want to improve.
Here’s the magic of Do 100 Thing: the first 20 might look like crap, and you might think you’ll never get better if you do 1000, and then number 30 turns out better than you thought possible (h/t @shrinetothevine) pic.twitter.com/Kz8cISI5Yk
— visa is sorting thru old files (@visakanv) October 11, 2021
For example, if you’re trying to excel at making short-form videos, then commit to creating 100 TikTok videos. If you’re writing, commit to crafting 100 tweets or writing 100 blog posts. If you’re learning photography, post 100 photos on Instagram.
The reason why this works is twofold:
- Commitment – A project is a forcing hand. No more procrastination or constant deliberation. This is the reason why challenges like #tweet100 and #ship30for30 are so popular.
- Volume – A ceramics teacher split his class into two groups: One was graded solely on the quantity of work they produced, the other on the quality of work. The result: The group graded for quantity produced works of higher quality. Quantity leads to quality. The more you create, the better you become.
My story is similar too. While I didn’t call it a “Do 100” project back then, I committed to sending an email a day, five days a week, to the subscribers of my breakdance blog. I eventually wrote over a hundred emails. Looking back, I now realize this project really skyrocketed my writing skills.
4. Get a job as a content creator
After running my breakdance blog and working for an (eventually unsuccessful) startup, I was hired as a content marketing manager at ReferralCandy. At ReferralCandy, a big part of my work was to create blog posts. But it wasn’t simply any blog post. I had to create blog posts that were part of a content marketing strategy.
Because of my work at ReferralCandy, I eventually joined Ahrefs—and this is where I’ve been for the past three years.
You don’t have to get a job to become a successful content creator. But I don’t regret this path. After all, a content creator’s job today is no longer just about content creation. It involves many parts of marketing.
Working at multiple companies has introduced me to important marketing skills like content marketing and SEO. It has also helped me to learn how to plan and create content as part of a coherent marketing strategy. All of these can only serve to better your profile as a content creator.
I highly recommend picking up these skills too. Use this resource to get started or watch this course:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btwC4zmewss&list=PLvJ_dXFSpd2vk6rQ4Rta5MhDIRmakFbp6&index=1
The most direct way to get a job as a content creator is to look for open job positions. With your “Do 100” project as your portfolio, you’ll be in good standing to get one. Look through these job boards and see if you fit the jobs’ criteria. Expand your horizons a little—positions like “content marketing manager” or “content strategist” could be good matches too.
Networking is important as well. I got my jobs at ReferralCandy and Ahrefs because I had met and befriended both the heads of marketing. Don’t overcomplicate this. If you’re learning from someone right now, reach out and thank them for their content. This is how you can kickstart a relationship with someone you admire.
5. Furthering your career
As you progress along your career path and publish more, you’ll begin to gain a reputation in your niche. You may even build a decent following along the way.
If you’re interested, you can consider branching out and playing with different projects. For example, you may want to freelance for other websites. If that’s the path you’re pursuing, I recommend reading this post by Nick LeRoy. While it’s specifically about SEO freelancing, most of the principles can be applied to any form of freelancing.
There are other monetization opportunities too, besides freelancing. Ideas include:
- Product sponsorships and advertising
- Speaking engagements
- Substack or other forms of subscriptions
- Online courses
- Books
- Affiliate marketing
- Ecommerce, e.g., setting up your own shop to sell merchandise
The world’s your oyster. Play around and see which one matches your circumstance and context.
Final thoughts
As a content creator, you never stop learning.
You need to stay up to date and learn about the changes in your chosen niche, as well as the platforms you’re creating content for. You also need to stay current on what your audience wants to see.
Finally, as you learn more and more, you’ll start to develop tastes and opinions. You’ll begin to figure out what works and what doesn’t. This will be what makes you stand out from the hundreds and thousands of other content creators.
Did I miss out on anything? Let me know on Twitter.
SEO
brightonSEO Live Blog
Hello everyone. It’s April again, so I’m back in Brighton for another two days of Being the introvert I am, my idea of fun isn’t hanging around our booth all day explaining we’ve run out of t-shirts (seriously, you need to be fast if you want swag!). So I decided to do something useful and live-blog the event instead.
Follow below for talk takeaways and (very) mildly humorous commentary. sun, sea, and SEO!
SEO
Google Further Postpones Third-Party Cookie Deprecation In Chrome
Google has again delayed its plan to phase out third-party cookies in the Chrome web browser. The latest postponement comes after ongoing challenges in reconciling feedback from industry stakeholders and regulators.
The announcement was made in Google and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) joint quarterly report on the Privacy Sandbox initiative, scheduled for release on April 26.
Chrome’s Third-Party Cookie Phaseout Pushed To 2025
Google states it “will not complete third-party cookie deprecation during the second half of Q4” this year as planned.
Instead, the tech giant aims to begin deprecating third-party cookies in Chrome “starting early next year,” assuming an agreement can be reached with the CMA and the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
The statement reads:
“We recognize that there are ongoing challenges related to reconciling divergent feedback from the industry, regulators and developers, and will continue to engage closely with the entire ecosystem. It’s also critical that the CMA has sufficient time to review all evidence, including results from industry tests, which the CMA has asked market participants to provide by the end of June.”
Continued Engagement With Regulators
Google reiterated its commitment to “engaging closely with the CMA and ICO” throughout the process and hopes to conclude discussions this year.
This marks the third delay to Google’s plan to deprecate third-party cookies, initially aiming for a Q3 2023 phaseout before pushing it back to late 2024.
The postponements reflect the challenges in transitioning away from cross-site user tracking while balancing privacy and advertiser interests.
Transition Period & Impact
In January, Chrome began restricting third-party cookie access for 1% of users globally. This percentage was expected to gradually increase until 100% of users were covered by Q3 2024.
However, the latest delay gives websites and services more time to migrate away from third-party cookie dependencies through Google’s limited “deprecation trials” program.
The trials offer temporary cookie access extensions until December 27, 2024, for non-advertising use cases that can demonstrate direct user impact and functional breakage.
While easing the transition, the trials have strict eligibility rules. Advertising-related services are ineligible, and origins matching known ad-related domains are rejected.
Google states the program aims to address functional issues rather than relieve general data collection inconveniences.
Publisher & Advertiser Implications
The repeated delays highlight the potential disruption for digital publishers and advertisers relying on third-party cookie tracking.
Industry groups have raised concerns that restricting cross-site tracking could push websites toward more opaque privacy-invasive practices.
However, privacy advocates view the phaseout as crucial in preventing covert user profiling across the web.
With the latest postponement, all parties have more time to prepare for the eventual loss of third-party cookies and adopt Google’s proposed Privacy Sandbox APIs as replacements.
Featured Image: Novikov Aleksey/Shutterstock
SEO
How To Write ChatGPT Prompts To Get The Best Results
ChatGPT is a game changer in the field of SEO. This powerful language model can generate human-like content, making it an invaluable tool for SEO professionals.
However, the prompts you provide largely determine the quality of the output.
To unlock the full potential of ChatGPT and create content that resonates with your audience and search engines, writing effective prompts is crucial.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the art of writing prompts for ChatGPT, covering everything from basic techniques to advanced strategies for layering prompts and generating high-quality, SEO-friendly content.
Writing Prompts For ChatGPT
What Is A ChatGPT Prompt?
A ChatGPT prompt is an instruction or discussion topic a user provides for the ChatGPT AI model to respond to.
The prompt can be a question, statement, or any other stimulus to spark creativity, reflection, or engagement.
Users can use the prompt to generate ideas, share their thoughts, or start a conversation.
ChatGPT prompts are designed to be open-ended and can be customized based on the user’s preferences and interests.
How To Write Prompts For ChatGPT
Start by giving ChatGPT a writing prompt, such as, “Write a short story about a person who discovers they have a superpower.”
ChatGPT will then generate a response based on your prompt. Depending on the prompt’s complexity and the level of detail you requested, the answer may be a few sentences or several paragraphs long.
Use the ChatGPT-generated response as a starting point for your writing. You can take the ideas and concepts presented in the answer and expand upon them, adding your own unique spin to the story.
If you want to generate additional ideas, try asking ChatGPT follow-up questions related to your original prompt.
For example, you could ask, “What challenges might the person face in exploring their newfound superpower?” Or, “How might the person’s relationships with others be affected by their superpower?”
Remember that ChatGPT’s answers are generated by artificial intelligence and may not always be perfect or exactly what you want.
However, they can still be a great source of inspiration and help you start writing.
Must-Have GPTs Assistant
I recommend installing the WebBrowser Assistant created by the OpenAI Team. This tool allows you to add relevant Bing results to your ChatGPT prompts.
This assistant adds the first web results to your ChatGPT prompts for more accurate and up-to-date conversations.
It is very easy to install in only two clicks. (Click on Start Chat.)
For example, if I ask, “Who is Vincent Terrasi?,” ChatGPT has no answer.
With WebBrower Assistant, the assistant creates a new prompt with the first Bing results, and now ChatGPT knows who Vincent Terrasi is.
Screenshot from ChatGPT, March 2023You can test other GPT assistants available in the GPTs search engine if you want to use Google results.
Master Reverse Prompt Engineering
ChatGPT can be an excellent tool for reverse engineering prompts because it generates natural and engaging responses to any given input.
By analyzing the prompts generated by ChatGPT, it is possible to gain insight into the model’s underlying thought processes and decision-making strategies.
One key benefit of using ChatGPT to reverse engineer prompts is that the model is highly transparent in its decision-making.
This means that the reasoning and logic behind each response can be traced, making it easier to understand how the model arrives at its conclusions.
Once you’ve done this a few times for different types of content, you’ll gain insight into crafting more effective prompts.
Prepare Your ChatGPT For Generating Prompts
First, activate the reverse prompt engineering.
- Type the following prompt: “Enable Reverse Prompt Engineering? By Reverse Prompt Engineering I mean creating a prompt from a given text.”
Screenshot from ChatGPT, March 2023ChatGPT is now ready to generate your prompt. You can test the product description in a new chatbot session and evaluate the generated prompt.
- Type: “Create a very technical reverse prompt engineering template for a product description about iPhone 11.”
Screenshot from ChatGPT, March 2023The result is amazing. You can test with a full text that you want to reproduce. Here is an example of a prompt for selling a Kindle on Amazon.
- Type: “Reverse Prompt engineer the following {product), capture the writing style and the length of the text :
product =”
Screenshot from ChatGPT, March 2023I tested it on an SEJ blog post. Enjoy the analysis – it is excellent.
- Type: “Reverse Prompt engineer the following {text}, capture the tone and writing style of the {text} to include in the prompt :
text = all text coming from https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-bard-training-data/478941/”
Screenshot from ChatGPT, March 2023But be careful not to use ChatGPT to generate your texts. It is just a personal assistant.
Go Deeper
Prompts and examples for SEO:
- Keyword research and content ideas prompt: “Provide a list of 20 long-tail keyword ideas related to ‘local SEO strategies’ along with brief content topic descriptions for each keyword.”
- Optimizing content for featured snippets prompt: “Write a 40-50 word paragraph optimized for the query ‘what is the featured snippet in Google search’ that could potentially earn the featured snippet.”
- Creating meta descriptions prompt: “Draft a compelling meta description for the following blog post title: ’10 Technical SEO Factors You Can’t Ignore in 2024′.”
Important Considerations:
- Always Fact-Check: While ChatGPT can be a helpful tool, it’s crucial to remember that it may generate inaccurate or fabricated information. Always verify any facts, statistics, or quotes generated by ChatGPT before incorporating them into your content.
- Maintain Control and Creativity: Use ChatGPT as a tool to assist your writing, not replace it. Don’t rely on it to do your thinking or create content from scratch. Your unique perspective and creativity are essential for producing high-quality, engaging content.
- Iteration is Key: Refine and revise the outputs generated by ChatGPT to ensure they align with your voice, style, and intended message.
Additional Prompts for Rewording and SEO:
– Rewrite this sentence to be more concise and impactful.
– Suggest alternative phrasing for this section to improve clarity.
– Identify opportunities to incorporate relevant internal and external links.
– Analyze the keyword density and suggest improvements for better SEO.
Remember, while ChatGPT can be a valuable tool, it’s essential to use it responsibly and maintain control over your content creation process.
Experiment And Refine Your Prompting Techniques
Writing effective prompts for ChatGPT is an essential skill for any SEO professional who wants to harness the power of AI-generated content.
Hopefully, the insights and examples shared in this article can inspire you and help guide you to crafting stronger prompts that yield high-quality content.
Remember to experiment with layering prompts, iterating on the output, and continually refining your prompting techniques.
This will help you stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing world of SEO.
More resources:
Featured Image: Tapati Rinchumrus/Shutterstock
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