Shivanshu Agrawal - I Treat Content Creation As A Business And In Business Consistency Is Very Important (Content Creator From India)

Initially choose only one platform to create content and observe what successful creators on that platform are doing right. Learn from them and develop the skills they have live speaking skills, video editing, copywriting, etc. After that keep creating content with the aim to improve with every new piece of content you put out there. Eliminate what’s not working and double down on what’s working.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I belong to a small town named Katni in the state of Madhya Pradesh. I did my schooling from Katni and moved to Bengaluru for my higher studies in 2017. I was in my 1st year B.Com in Christ, Deemed to be university when I first started creating content on YouTube. I created a couple of videos on Class 12th study tips and when those videos didn’t get any views. I stopped.

Almost 4 years later, it was early 2021. I was tired of my full-time job. I had a strong desire to do something of my own. I loved reading about successful business and marketing strategies since I was in school, and I also wanted to be a content creator. So I started making YouTube videos decoding strategies of successful entrepreneurs and companies. 

In the first half of 2021, I posted 4-5 long-form videos and none of them worked. I also made a YouTube short. That didn’t work either. I had also quit my job in June and had no foresight about my career.

But then something unexpected happened. I posted the same YouTube Short on Instagram as a reel and it got 1000 views on the same day. That small win kept me going.

I started posting more reels on Instagram and 1 day one of my reels went viral. It got 3.2M views and got me, my first 30k followers. Then there was no stopping me. That’s how I joined the content space.

2. What led you to start your blog and what is it about?

On my Instagram account, I make Reels on business and marketing case studies of famous companies. My goal with my page is to explain complex strategies in a simple and engaging way.

3. Is it financially sustainable to be a digital creator these days?

The income of a digital creator varies a lot with their Niches, platforms, followers count, views, etc. 

In my niche and with the level of engagement and followers I have currently, it is financially sustainable. 

But there is always a need to venture into other platforms and reinvent yourself to be financially secure in the content space.

4. How can someone become a successful content creator?

The key to being a successful creator is ‘Focus’.

Initially choose only one platform to create content and observe what successful creators on that platform are doing right. Learn from them and develop the skills they have live speaking skills, video editing, copywriting, etc. 

After that keep creating content with the aim to improve with every new piece of content you put out there. Eliminate what’s not working and double down on what’s working. Once you grow on a platform it’s time to diversify to other platforms as well.

5. How and where do you find inspiration to churn out content?

I treat content creation as a business and in business consistency is very important. So this mindset is what inspires me to put out content regularly.

Also when you know so many people are looking for your content, you don’t need any other inspiration.

6. Who is your favourite creator and why?

My favourite creator is Johnny Harris. He is a USA-based YouTuber. 

He’s my favourite creator because he creates extremely engaging videos combined with high-quality visuals and animations. He never fails to blow my mind with his videos. I want to create a similar level of videos one day.

7. What are your ideas on marketing strategies?

Search for these business and marketing strategies always begins with Google. I keep searching for marketing/business strategies and facts of famous companies on Google.

I have also subscribed to many email newsletters and followed some Twitter accounts that post content on business and marketing strategies and that’s how I get content ideas.

But honestly presenting a complex idea in an engaging and simple way is more important than the idea itself.

8. If not this what would you like to perceive as a career option?

When I quit my full-time job I did multiple courses in Digital Marketing and I also took up a ₹5000 per month Digital Marketing internship. 

So if not content creation I would be a Digital Marketer running Google Ads and doing SEO.

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Interviewed By - Mrunalini Karale