The Importance of Networking With Other Creators

In addition to building a following for your content, cultivating a network of supportive creative peers is invaluable to your success as a content creator. Creative peers can provide vital guidance at different stages in your creator journey. Plus, content creation is ripe for collaboration and opportunities for cross-promotion, so growing your peer network can help increase your content output and reach. 

Learn how to broaden your professional creator network, why creative peers are so important, and what peer collaborations might look like for content creators. 

Finding support from fellow creators

Content creators are often solo practitioners. Writing tends to be a solitary endeavor, and technology has evolved to the point that video creators and photographers don't need a crew to produce high-quality work.

Many people need to work by themselves when they’re creating. However, when creators aren't busy, there are many advantages to being surrounded by a robust network of creative peers. 

Here are some of the benefits of connecting with creative peers: 

• Give and receive guidance and troubleshooting. Because content creators often work alone, they are self-sufficient and nimble, and become good at overcoming challenges on their own. These skills can come in handy when other creators run into problems, like when a platform is causing issues or a post is underperforming. Chances are good that another content creator has experienced this exact same problem and can share a solution with you.

• Share tips and best practices. Word of mouth advice or recommendations from trusted associates are often best. Perhaps you've discovered a new app or piece of equipment that's helped you work more efficiently, and you want to let others know so they can also reap the benefits. Or maybe you've discovered a technology hack that's increased your engagement. These are the kinds of things you can share (and hear about) within a peer network.

• Pass around work opportunities. Content creators are often approached for freelance or full-time job opportunities. If they don’t have the bandwidth to take on more work—or they know someone with a more suitable skillset—they can pass those opportunities onto fellow creators who have more availability.

• Open up potential collaborations. Creative people naturally gravitate toward one another and often generate ideas by brainstorming or chatting with each other. This can lead to creative collaborations or partnerships.

• Provide inspiration and support. In general, a useful source of inspiration is simply being around other creative people who are also working hard to produce high-quality content. This is especially true on days when you aren't feeling energized or need a pick-me-up to get motivated.

Increasing your creative peer network

Networking for creatives looks different than networking in other industries. Content creators might not be looking for a job or freelance work, two of the major reasons why people network. Creators might also keep non-traditional schedules, meaning an evening happy hour might not fit into their calendar. However, there are ways to grow your creative peer network on your own time, in your own ways. 

Here are a few simple tips to start building your creative peer network: 

• Reach out and say hello. One of the best ways to meet like-minded peers is to simply drop an email or private message on social media, and say hello. You don't necessarily need a specific request or agenda item when reaching out. Offer a compliment about someone's work, for example. You never know what taking initiative might lead to.

• Ask to buy someone coffee. One-to-one conversations are great ways to connect on a professional level, but many content creators are busy and may not wish to have their brains picked for free. Offering them a coffee in exchange for a discussion shows that you value their time. Asking if someone is willing to schedule a short video call in exchange for a gift card may help get your questions answered, too.

• Participate in online discussions. Connecting over shared interests is always beneficial. If you're involved in a specific niche topic area, find out where other people in this niche are talking and join those conversations. This could be on social media or in private online communities. 

• Share things you're passionate about. People are often drawn to other people who share their enthusiasm for the same interests. Don't be afraid to talk about a favorite book or artist, a great movie you've watched, or an article you found particularly interesting. You might be surprised by the kinds of connections you can form by just being your passionate self. 

• Go to offline events. When your schedule allows, offline events can be great ways to meet people. Creator meetups, art show openings, or musical events can all lead to connections.

Promoting your work through collaboration

Leveraging social media for content promotion is one way to expand your reach. However, there are plenty of ways you can promote your work via collaboration as well. 

Examples of how you can expand your reach through creator collaboration include: 

• Guest posts, either on a blog or in a newsletter

• Creating a collaborative online video course

• Co-writing an article or whitepaper

• Cocreating graphic design content

Those collaborations with your fellow creators is also a great way to grow your brand. Creator collaborations provide:

• Exposure to different audiences. Content creators each have unique followings, so when they team up, they can expose their individual audiences to each other, potentially leading to a boost in followers.

• A chance to expand your niche. Collaborating with other people might help you discover a new niche to explore or reveal a skill that you didn't know you had. For example, maybe you'll discover that you have untapped skills as an interviewer or script writer.

• More promotion with less effort. When you have two people promoting one piece of content, you're effectively getting double the promotion with the same amount of effort.

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