People ask me all the time whether I coach business owners or creators. The answer is both. I teach creators to think like business owners, and business owners to think like creators.
That’s because most people starting out have already picked a label, and they assume the other side isn’t for them. Here’s the problem: that label is only half right. Everyone is both, or at least should be, and saying “oh, I don’t do that” is one of the fastest ways to limit your success.
Creators Need to Think Like Business Owners
If you want your channel to be really successful, you have to run it like a business. Think about MrBeast. YouTube is just one part of his picture. According to Wikipedia, he has brand sponsorships, a snack brand called Feastables, a larger company called Beast Industries, and employed more than 250 people as of 2023. You don’t need to build an empire, but you’ll grow faster and more sustainably if you understand how to run a business behind your channel.
As you grow, you’ll need to manage your finances, work with sponsors, hire a team, work with an accountant, and diversify your income streams. A creator who only makes content, with nothing of their own to sell, is at the mercy of the algorithm, because one platform change can wipe out their reach and their income.
Business Owners Need to Think Like Creators
If you own a business, creating content is one of the most effective ways to market your products or services. Social media posts and YouTube videos help you reach new people, build an audience, and earn their trust before they ever buy. A business without an audience is invisible, no matter how good the product is.
Content can also open up more income streams for a business, like ad revenue, on top of what you already sell.
What This Means for You
Whatever you call yourself today, you need to do both jobs. Ask yourself the question that fits you:
- If you think of yourself as a creator: Do I have something to sell? If not, your next job is to create or choose a product or service.
- If you think of yourself as a business owner: Am I sharing content so people can find me and trust me? If not, your next job is to build an audience by sharing helpful content.
Most beginners have been ignoring one of the two jobs, and that’s completely normal. It’s the reason you’re here.
Where to Start
If you need an audience that belongs to you, start an email list. Unlike a social media following, an email list isn’t controlled by an algorithm. Kit, the email service I’ve used since 2019, has a free plan for up to 10,000 subscribers.
If you don’t have a product yet, you don’t have to create one from scratch. A PLR membership like Secret Weapon PLR gives you ready-made digital products you can customize, give away as a free offer to grow your list, or resell.
Your Next Step
Stop picking a side. You’re a creator and a business owner, and you can build both one step at a time. Decide which job you’ve been ignoring, and start there. In our upcoming tutorials, I’ll show you how.