Content creation, or the process of creating and then publishing pieces of creative work, is an increasingly popular way in which individuals can earn income. In fact, one area of content creation, video development, allows many creators to build a full-time career through content they release online through video distribution platforms like YouTube and TikTok. By building their platform and growing their follower base, creators are able to earn money simply by viewers watching their videos. Creators cultivate a brand around their personal image and how they want to be perceived, and they base their content around this brand which they tailor to a specific audience. Content creators often build profitable businesses based off of their personal brand in order to create a career that can potentially outlast fleeting fame and fortune. These businesses founded by content creators are uniquely positioned compared to a traditional business, due to the lasting relationships that creators nurture with their audiences. They create a deep-rooted connection based on authenticity and trust that the creator instills in their followers. Compared to influencer marketing, where creators are paid by a company to sell their products, products that creators personally create are able to make a larger impact on their audience since their product is rooted in the brand they have fostered and is specifically targeted toward their follower base. This paper focuses on exploring the background of YouTube, TikTok, and other methods creators can utilize to build their personal brand, and how they can leverage success on their platform to create businesses and strategically position themselves in the market. By considering individual success stories of content creators, this paper examines the factors that contributed to the growth of each of their platforms and the success of their businesses. Through these examples it becomes apparent that gaining popularity on YouTube and then converting that popularity to a successful business lacks a direct path for success and is not guaranteed for each person by following a specific formula.

This paper dives into the rising trend of content creation as a means of income, with a focus on video development for platforms like YouTube and TikTok. In addition, the individual success stories uncover the unpredictable nature of transitioning popularity on platforms into a successful business, emphasizing the absence of a guaranteed formula for success.

Content creation, or the process of creating and then publishing pieces of creative work, is an increasingly popular way in which individuals can earn income. In fact, one area of content creation, video development, allows many creators to build a full-time career through content they release online through video distribution platforms like YouTube and TikTok. By building their platform and growing their follower base, creators are able to earn money simply by viewers watching their videos. Creators cultivate a brand around their personal image and how they want to be perceived, and they base their content around this brand which they tailor to a specific audience. Content creators often build profitable businesses based off of their personal brand in order to create a career that can potentially outlast fleeting fame and fortune. These businesses founded by content creators are uniquely positioned compared to a traditional business, due to the lasting relationships that creators nurture with their audiences. They create a deep-rooted connection based on authenticity and trust that the creator instills in their followers. Compared to influencer marketing, where creators are paid by a company to sell their products, products that creators personally create are able to make a larger impact on their audience since their product is rooted in the brand they have fostered and is specifically targeted toward their follower base. This paper focuses on exploring the background of YouTube, TikTok, and other methods creators can utilize to build their personal brand, and how they can leverage success on their platform to create businesses and strategically position themselves in the market. By considering individual success stories of content creators, this paper examines the factors that contributed to the growth of each of their platforms and the success of their businesses. Through these examples it becomes apparent that gaining popularity on YouTube and then converting that popularity to a successful business lacks a direct path for success and is not guaranteed for each person by following a specific formula.