There are platforms available for all types of people and creators. You’re probably familiar with platforms for content creators like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, but there are many others out there.
You might want to try them all, but your time is limited, so you need to find the platform in the creator economy that works best for you.
How do you do that? First, think about the type of content you want to create and start from there. For example, text, video content, streaming, audio, photos, etc.
You don’t have to limit yourself to one platform, but try to focus on one to three major platforms. Otherwise, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
When I was managing social media, one of my clients tried out 5-6 platforms and decided which ones worked best for their business, then chose 3 to focus on.
Next, let’s take a look at some of the top platforms for content creators.
1. YouTube
Even if you’re not a YouTuber, you’ve probably used it as a viewer.
According to Hootsuite, YouTube is the second most visited website in the world, with 79 billion visits per year.
Twenty years later, YouTube is still one of the top platforms for creators.
How to make money on YouTube
- YouTube Partner Program (YPP)
- affiliate marketing
- brand sponsorship
- channel membership
- short feed ads
- super chat
If you want to create short-form content, don’t forget about YouTube Shorts as an option for content creators.
2. Moderate
For long-form written content, Medium is one of the best places.
If you’re blogging and don’t feel like you’re gaining traction yet, consider giving Medium a try. Medium is a great complement to blogging because the website has high domain authority.
One of the best things about Medium is that you can find all kinds of content, from poetry to articles to short and long posts.
How to make money on Medium
To make money on Medium, you can join our partner program and get paid for reading and reading articles.
Or you can use Medium to build a tribe and drive followers to your website or email list.
If you offer coaching or consulting services, you can use Medium as a way to share useful information and find potential customers and clients.
I’ve had brands contact me about potential sponsorships and brand partnerships through my Medium posts. This is also another way to make money.
3. Substack
If you’re considering a platform for content creators, but video isn’t your thing, Substack is a popular newsletter provider option for writers.
You’re probably subscribed to at least one writer on Substack, but you may not realize it.
The platform allows you to publish both free and paid content.
You can also use other features like notes, posts, and chat to connect with readers and other writers.
How to make money with Substack
Most Substack writers earn money through paid publications. These are publications that offer additional content such as Q&As, podcasts, live meet-ups, digital products, and audio access.
You can also use Substack to acquire subscribers and drive them to other products and services you offer.
This guide contains everything you need to know to get started with Substack.
4. Spotify
Spotify is an audiobook, podcast, and music streaming service.
The largest audio streaming service with over 678 million users. If you’re interested in podcasting, humor is the most popular genre for men, and health and fitness is the most popular for women.
How to make money with Spotify
Spotify has two main ways to earn money directly through its platform.
- Spotify Partner Program
- Regular purchase
With our partner program, you can earn money through ad revenue every time someone plays your episode on both Spotify and other platforms.
Another way is through premium video revenue, where you earn money based on the time your premium subscribers spend watching your content.
Learn more about how to qualify for these programs.
Podcast subscriptions are another way to make money by creating exclusive content directly on Spotify or using platforms like Substack and Patreon that partner with Spotify.
5. Instagram
Instagram is one of today’s top platforms for sharing photos and short-form video content.
The platform has 2 billion monthly active users, with 72% of U.S. teens and 76% of 18-29 year olds using the platform. India has the highest number of users, followed by the US.
How to make money on Instagram
Instagram has offered invite-only incentive programs in the past and may do so again in the future.
6.TikTok
TikTok is a great platform for creators who want to share short-form video content.
With 1.5 billion users, it is currently one of the most popular platforms, especially among young creators between the ages of 18 and 24. The countries with the most users are the United States, India, and Brazil.
How to make money with TikTok
- Secure brand deals and partnerships
- Participate in Creator Rewards
- Receive a video gift
- Become a brand ambassador
- Create premium content using series features
- receive tips
- Place an ad
- Create your own shop or become an affiliate and promote other products
7. LinkedIn
LinkedIn has a reputation as the ultimate career social media platform.
Many people use LinkedIn to apply for jobs, connect with current and former colleagues, and post their work history and resume.
The platform currently has over 1 billion users from over 200 countries.
How to make money on LinkedIn
If you offer consulting or other services, LinkedIn integrates with Calendly to simplify scheduling calls with potential clients.
8. Snapchat
Unlike many other social platforms where users observe others from afar, Snapchat users often send snaps to close friends and family, making it a platform for people to connect with those closest to them.
Snapchat currently has 850 million monthly active users, primarily comprised of young Millennials and Gen Z.
How to make money with Snapchat
Of course, you can also use Snapchat as a way to promote the digital products and services you offer.
9. Pinterest
Pinterest is not your typical social media platform because it functions like a search engine.
If you have a website or landing page, you can use Pinterest to drive traffic, as Pinterest has 553 million monthly active users. And with 1 in 3 Pinterest users earning more than $100,000, users are happy to spend their money. If you have a product or service to sell, this is great news.
How to make money with Pinterest
The first thing to do is turn your personal Pinterest account into a business account. This will allow you to view key statistics such as saves, impressions, pin clicks, and outbound clicks.
- Create a media kit and invite brands to collaborate
- Use affiliate links
- Link back to the website containing the product or service you offer.
Pinterest is great at predicting trends, so check out current trends to get a better idea of what to post.
10. Twitch
Twitch is a live streaming platform that has become popular for streaming video games.
The majority of streamers are gamers, but you can also find other types of content, such as cooking and music.
The platform has over 240 million monthly active users.
How to make money on Twitch
The first step to monetizing on Twitch is to meet the following affiliate requirements.
- 4 hours streaming
- 25 followers
- Broadcast in 4 days
- Average of 3 viewers (on 4 separate days)
The Twitch Affiliate Program allows you to earn money through donations, ads, affiliate marketing, bits, and subscriptions.
As you gain more followers, you can move on to the partner program. If you want to live stream and are looking for an alternative to Twitch, consider checking out Kick.
Can I still make money with X (Twitter) and Facebook?
Since we are talking about a platform for content creators, you may be wondering whether it is still possible for creators to make money on X and Facebook. Great question.
The short answer is, “Yes, you can.” X offers the X Creator Program, also known as Creator Revenue Sharing. To be eligible for this program, you must have a premium subscription, have at least 5 million organic impressions in the past 3 months, have at least 500 verified followers, reside in a country supported by X, and comply with X’s User Agreement.
To make money on Facebook, you can offer paid subscriptions, open a Facebook Shop, monetize a Facebook Group or Facebook Live, sell products through Marketplace, monetize Reels with ads, or sponsored content.
Like many of the other platforms we’ve talked about, you can also use affiliate links on both Facebook and X and use these platforms to drive people to your website, newsletter, etc.
Some other suggestions and ways to make money
Sell your course or product
Another option is to sell your content and package it into courses, products, or merchandise. Platforms for this include ThriveCart, Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi, and Gumroad.
You can create videos, audio, e-books, or printables depending on your content and audience preferences.
It’s always a good idea to have multiple streams of income, as algorithms change frequently in content creation and your earnings will definitely fluctuate from month to month.
Suggest a membership or subscription
Once you have followers, you can consider offering your content through subscriptions or memberships.
The advantage of this is that it can generate a steady stream of income on a monthly or annual basis. Platforms to consider for this include Mighty Networks, Patreon, Discord, and Ko-fi.
Apply AI to your content creation ideas
One of the biggest challenges for content creators is maintaining a consistent and frequent posting schedule.
Utilizing an AI platform like Perplexity or ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for generating content ideas.
You can also use AI to conduct market research on what topics are trending and what your audience is looking for.
Conclusion of the platform for content creators
When looking for the right platform, consider considering both internal and external monetization options. For example, you can take advantage of the built-in partner program or explore external sources of income such as affiliate links or product and service offerings.
Remember, the best content creator platform is the one that works well for you. So, don’t be afraid to try another platform or change your content strategy if it doesn’t work.
Another key to success and high engagement is understanding your target audience and creating quality content tailored to them. Use polls and analytics tools, read comments, and receive feedback from your fans.
If you’re looking to get involved in content creation full-time, consider taking a job in influencer marketing or content management to gain more experience and understand what it’s like from the brand side. Alternatively, consider reaching out to other creators about potential collaboration opportunities.
And it was done. Have you tried any of these platforms for content creators? Which one interests you the most? Check out this article on 7 Easy Ways to Make Money as a Content Creator to learn more.
