Quick Start Creator Action Plan (5 Steps To Begin Today)

Let’s talk about how to start as a creator from scratch.

Here’s a brief summary of how I got started (read it and come back).

Don’t know how to start a creator business?

You can’t go to school for this, but neither did I.

It was full of trial and error.

👇🏻Here’s exactly what I did🧵

— Brendan Aw (@brendanaw) May 19, 2023

I was also freelancing and ran multiple one-person businesses throughout that period.

It was far from optimal, but it was the only path I knew.

Unfortunately, most will keep reading about stories like mine and never get started.

Here’s a quick start guide you can implement today.

Step 1: Pick a Skill

You need to have a skill that can be monetized in the open market.

There’s no question about it.

You don’t need to stick with it forever, but you do need to start with one.

Here are some prompts to identify it:

1. What do you do at work?
2. What do people come to you most for?
3. What are you obsessed with?
4. What are you naturally good at?

And if you somehow have absolutely no skills (which I find hard to believe), spend a few months learning one.

Nobody is going to pay you to learn on the job or experiment.

Unless you are already in a 9-5 job.

You must get into the mindset of an autodidact polymath.

Pursue your natural curiosities, but keep monetization in mind.

You don’t want to be a starving artist.

Step 2: Create Your Unique Value Proposition (UVP)

99% of beginners won’t even think about this.

They’ll jump straight into creating content for just about anyone.

And they wonder why nobody associates them with anything.

Having a UVP allows you to clearly articulate WHO you help do WHAT by HOW to achieve some OUTCOME.

You can even add modifiers to ease OBJECTIONS and OBSTACLES.

And be specific.

Bad example: I help individuals get more clients.

Good Example: I help medical consultants get 50% more clients by sending 1 email daily in under 1 hour.

Step 3: Create a Newsletter

Anyone trying to start a personal creator brand in 2024 and beyond needs to start a newsletter.

It’s no longer an option.

Here are a few reasons why:

• Unrestricted access to your audience on social media
• Immune to algorithm updates
• Easier time selling as subscribers have a higher level of trust
• Create automated funnels using software
• Craft personalized messages

That’s the gist.

There are many newsletter platforms, but I prefer using Convertkit due to its powerful automation features and vast creator network for recommendations.

But Beehiiv comes in close second.

All your online activities serve to perform one thing.

To funnel traffic into your email list/newsletter.

Step 4: Optimize Your Social Profiles

Keep it simple and clear.

Don’t overcomplicate this part.

Most social media profiles have a few standard elements.

Here’s how to optimize each of them:

1. Profile picture: Clear headshot of yourself on a solid background. You don’t need to schedule a photoshoot. Use your phone.
2. Bio: Use the UVP you created in step 2.
3. Cover photo: This can either be a call-to-action for your newsletter or a clear benefit new visitors can expect by following you.
4. Link: This should be a link to your newsletter landing page. You can create one with ConvertKit or a simple one-page customized website with Carrd and embed the newsletter opt-in form there. It’s extremely cheap and worth the investment.

Here’s what my X and LinkedIn profiles look like.

Every other social media platform I’m on is the same.

Which brings me to my last point.

Standardize your profiles.

Also, ensure your handles are the same (if possible).

It’s a small part of personal branding, but visual consistency helps you be remembered.

Step 5: Start Creating Content

Content is the lifeblood of your entire brand.

Every piece you produce has to be aligned with your vision, values, and mission.

This plants a seed in the minds of your audience to adopt your worldview and bring them closer to a conversion.

These can include a follow, a newsletter signup, a purchase, or anything that requires an action.

I recommend picking either X or LinkedIn to start with.

And there are generally 3 types of content you should be creating:

1. Educational: To show off your expertise and authority.
2. Entertainment: To highlight your personal stories, contrarian takes, unique perspectives, and humor.
3. Inspirational: To give hope and motivation to those a few steps behind you.

Here’s an example from my own profile:

Educational:

Creating a customer avatar is less about demographics and more psychographics.

Less:

• Age
• Gender
• Income level
• Marital status
• Occupation

More:

• Personality traits
• Lifestyle choices
• Values
• Beliefs and opinions
• Motivations and goals

— Brendan Aw (@brendanaw) January 11, 2024

Entertainment:

"Teach your past self"

Doesn't work.

The digital space moves and changes too rapidly.

I'm changing it to:

"Teach your mother"

— Brendan Aw (@brendanaw) January 6, 2024

Inspirational:

Don't listen to those who tell you being stuck in a 9-5 is slavery or suicide.

And being a creator is the only way to escape the "matrix."

You're in an echo chamber.

You can still live a fulfilling life in the traditional system.

Being a creator is just more fun.

— Brendan Aw (@brendanaw) January 8, 2024

These form a web of magnetic content over the long term to pull in a loyal and engaged community.

If you’re interested, my 7 Writing Sins guide will get you better at writing than 99% of creators on social media.

Alright, that’s all for today.

See you in the next issue.