https://creatoreconomy.so/p/creator-hierarchy-of-needs

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Dear subscribers,

Creators have a hierarchy of needs as they grow. Understanding these needs helps you build products that creators love:

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  1. Publish: To get started, creators need to find a niche and publish frequently. Most creators give up before finding an audience, so staying motivated and avoiding burnout is key.
  2. Grow: To grow an audience, creators need to understand what's working, interact with fans, and collaborate with other creators.
  3. Monetize: To make money, creators need to add multiple revenue streams and learn how to run a business.

These needs form a hierarchy because creators typically need to tackle a lower-level need before moving to a higher level one.

Let's explore each need from the perspective of a creator who's starting from scratch.

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When you're just getting started, find a niche at the intersection of:

  1. What interests you
  2. What you're good at
  3. What people want

Start with what interests you because curiosity drives competence. Once you find a topic that you want to explore further, look for people who are passionate about it on social media and follow their conversations.

To really stand out, you need to find a niche within a niche. For example, instead of doing video reviews for new movies on YouTube, you might start by reviewing Korean movie thrillers with twist endings. I just made that up, but the point is - the more specific your niche is, the more unique your content will be, and the more you'll separate yourself from everyone else.

Here are a few creators who successfully found a niche: