The term “creator economy” has become a buzzword in the online space, but what does it actually mean? This guide will break down exactly what the creator economy is, who is a part of it, and how big it is.
Next, learn how new creators can find success in the creator economy. In 2025, there are more ways to create content than ever. For example, you can succeed as a podcaster, blogger, social media influencer, and more.
There are several ways to make money in the creator economy, and one of the best ways is through affiliate marketing. Keep reading to learn how you can get started.
What is the creator economy?
The creator economy is an emerging sector of the economy that is made up of individuals who make money by creating and posting digital content. The content may include photos, videos, podcast episodes, articles, and more. Members of the creator economy are referred to as “influencers” or “content creators.”
Influencers post their content on a variety of digital platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, X, Facebook, and other popular online platforms. They create reliable income by engaging with their audience and generating sales through brand collaborations, sponsored posts, and affiliate programs.
Some creators use subscription platforms, such as Substack or Patreon, to build income through monthly paid content. The creator economy is rapidly expanding, and new ways to create a full-time income through digital content production are emerging all the time.
Who makes up the creator economy?
The creator economy is made up of people who create online content. This is a wide umbrella that includes several professions. The most popular type of creator in the creator economy is the social media influencer. They share about their lives or a particular niche on apps like Instagram or TikTok.
What is influencer marketing? Influencers leverage their audiences to promote products and brands, and they make a commission off of the sales. The more engaged their audience is, the better their sponsored content will perform.
Similar to social media influencers, streamers and YouTubers are becoming popular roles in the creator economy. These creators film content that they post on video platforms. For example, streamers post live streams of themselves playing video games. YouTubers film, edit, and post short or long-form videos, such as day-in-the-life vlogs and tutorials.
Next, podcasters are content creators in the audio medium. They record and release episodes of their podcast across a variety of platforms. Podcasts typically include interviews with guests or insider knowledge from a particular industry.
One of the original roles in the creator economy is bloggers. Even though the Internet has evolved to include more visual content, such as photos and videos, bloggers can still succeed in the creator economy. When they utilize search engine optimization, readers find their website by searching for popular keywords.
How much is the creator economy worth?
The creator economy is worth $250 billion as of late 2024, and it is projected to hit $525 billion by 2027. It’s a booming economy with tons of opportunity and room for advancement.
The growth of the creator economy is fueled by the digital revolution. As more online platforms become popular, there are more opportunities for creators to grow audiences that they can monetize. For example, in July 2023, social media giant Meta launched the Threads app, which is a competitor with X (formerly Twitter).
It’s also easier than ever before to create high-quality online content. You don’t have to invest in thousands of dollars worth of equipment to get started or learn complex editing programs. If you have an iPhone, you can become an online creator.
How do you succeed in the creator economy?
Wondering how to become a social media influencer? It’s not too late for new influencers to find success in the creator economy. In fact, there is more opportunity than ever.
The first step to succeeding in the creator economy is to determine what type of content you want to post about. Essentially, you need to find your “niche.” It’s easier to find an audience as a new creator when you post content in one niche instead of posting about a variety of topics.
When you have a specific niche, your audience knows what to expect from you and looks forward to your insights.
Choose a niche that you feel you can post about consistently. It should be something you know a lot about. A few examples of niches include beauty content, home improvement, fitness, pet ownership, sustainable living, and vegan cooking. The more specific you get, the more you will stand out from other creators in your niche.
Once you know what subject matter you want to post, you need to determine the type of content you want to create. For example, do you want to post still photos, videos, podcast episodes, blogs, or a combo of all of the above?
The answer to this question will help you determine what apps you want to post on. However, you can also post content across multiple apps to engage a bigger audience. For instance, your Instagram reels can also be posted on TikTok and YouTube Shorts. If you have a podcast, your show should also have a social media account where you engage with your audience.
Once you have a plan, you can start creating and posting content. It’s important to create high-quality, engaging content. Avoid blurry images or poor video quality, and you should film your videos in proper lighting so they aren’t dark. Several online programs make it easy to improve the quality of your content, including CapCut and Canva.
It’s important to stay consistent with your posting schedule. However, do not sacrifice quality for quantity. You do not have to post every day, but you should post often enough to gain traction with your audience.
As you gain an audience, it’s crucial that you engage with them through comments and direct messages. Host live streams and Q&As so your audience can get to know you. Ask for their opinion through polls and other interactive features. The more you engage with your audience, the more they will trust you.
Once you’ve built an online community, you can use monetization tools to start getting paid as a content creator. There are important influencer marketing statistics that you can share with brands to land collaborations with them. You can also make money through ad revenue, merchandise sales, and digital content.
What are the challenges of the creator economy?
There are multiple challenges that creators may face when they first enter the creator economy. First, it’s important to understand that building an audience from scratch takes time. You have to be consistent and not expect overnight results.
Another challenge is that social media algorithms change all the time, and the changes are unpredictable. The type of content that performed well last year may not succeed this year. It’s important to stay on top of changes and trends so you can create content that your audience wants to see.
Some creators have a hard time monetizing their content. Luckily, there are more ways to monetize than ever, and you need to experiment to find what works for you.
Lastly, it’s easy to experience burnout with content creation. Find ways to make the process easy for you so it doesn’t take up all your time. For example, you can batch-record your videos or use AI tools to help you with ideas for new content.
Take advantage of the creator economy with Mavely
Ready to monetize your audience? One of the best ways to take advantage of the creator economy is with affiliate marketing. You post about products you genuinely love to use, and you share custom affiliate links to those products with your audience. Every time someone makes a purchase using your link, you earn a commission.
With Mavely, getting started with affiliate marketing is simple. Mavely is an online platform that connects creators with brands. You can quickly find brands that match your niche and create trackable links to share with your audience.
Get started with Mavely today to find success in the creator economy.
