What is content creation?

Image created using Dall-E 3


The term “content creation” gets used all of the time in today’s digital world. Often times, it is associated with social media influencers who create content to post on their personal channels. However, the concept of content creation runs deeper than just that.

In reality, content is an incredible broad term. Everything from a photo taken on your vacation to Florida to a full-scale corporate marketing campaign can be considered content. So, if so many things can be considered content, then what does content creation truly entail?

A blog post from contenthacker.com simply describes content simply as “information.” And information by definition is “any words, pictures, or pieces of data that convey ideas.” This means that content creations, is the creation of work that conveys ideas to the people who view it.

In our modern digital world, this means content creators have to develop valuable and engaging material across diverse platforms. This encompasses a myriad of content types, including articles, videos, podcasts, infographics, social media posts, and more.

This definition seems simple, yet it gets so confused in today’s world. People who consider themselves content creators may be given a bad rap because so many people think this means that they are just a guy on YouTube who happened to make it big on accident.

In reality, content creation is complex and creative in nature. It takes strategy and professionalism to be done a large scale. Content creators are not just social media stars. They are also designers, photographers, artists, advertisers, and anyone who uses creativity to convey information with a purpose.

So, why consider yourself a content creator rather than any of the titles mentioned prior? It’s because the term is broad. Some people cannot be fit into a specific box because they have a lot of skills which make them too well-rounded for that.

Content creators need to know how to strategically target audiences and use diverse skills to do so. You can’t just know how to do one thing to be a content creator.

An article from ClearVoice used the following analogy to explain why content creation is so crucial: “Without the proper preparation and gear, mountain climbers stumble, make errors, and… go missing. Is that what you want for your business?  We know it’s not.”

Without the proper preparation and gear, mountain climbers stumble, make errors, and… go missing. Is that what you want for your business?  We know it’s not.
— ClearVoice

Take my experience for example. In high school, I found a love for creating content in my graphic design classes. However, as I grew into a professional, I gained skills in photography, advertising, motion graphics, social media strategy, user interface design, drawing and sketching, and so much more. It would be wrong to just call me one of these things because one of these titles does not encompass all my skills. 

The reality is that this is what employers want! Nobody wants to hire someone who is good at only one thing. Having a diverse set of skills makes you a better professional and makes life more enjoyable overall.

There are times where I may be working as a graphic designer, or as a photographer, or as a social media specialist. However, the best title which describes my work is content creator.

 

Hi! My name is Peyton McKenzie.

I am a professional graphic designer, photographer and content creator.

I encourage you to explore my portfolio to get a better idea of the work I create. If you are interested in working with me or have inquiries of any kind, don’t hesitate to reach out over email.

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Graduation – a reflection on my time as a content creator

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Work like a professional – an introduction to design thinking