Our co-CEO and creator expert Ali Grant recently shared a TikTok highlighting some of the most common mistakes that she sees creators making. Watch the video here, and keep scrolling to learn more about the 5 biggest content creator mistakes and why these are mistakes, plus how to fix them!

@aligrnt Creator mistakes I see alllll the time. They’re all easy fixes! #influencertips #creatortips #creatoreconomy #influencer101 ♬ original sound – Ali Grant

1) Not Leaning Into Affiliate Marketing

We’re big fans of affiliate marketing. As brands grow more concerned with link click data, they are looking to partner with creators who can consistently drive sales. That gives affiliate creators a huge leg up.

Using platforms like LTK, ShopMy, and Amazon Associates allows you as a creator to build up a data set of your sales capabilities. With ROI-concerned brands, you can share that you’re already driving purchase consideration and sales. You can also leverage this data to pitch yourself to brands that you are already driving sales for.

Another bonus? Affiliate linking can also supplement your revenue opportunities in between brand deals. So if you aren’t already strategically linking to products, take some time to establish your affiliate strategy and get linking!

P.S. need a team to help supercharge your affiliate marketing? Get in touch with our Affiliate Creator Services experts.

2) Not Interacting With Brands On Social

Brands want to partner with organic fans of their products, so engaging with them, tagging them, and interacting with them organically is a great way to showcase your fandom. Brands often search through tagged content to find potential creator partners, and social media managers for smaller businesses may even work directly with the influencer casting teams. Just as you use social media to build relationships with your audience, don’t forget about building brand relationships as well.

3) Not Having Your Own Unique Angle

If you are just copying trends and not offering your own unique spin, audiences will catch on quickly and find someone else to follow. The creator landscape is incredibly saturated. You need to establish what sets you apart from the rest and why someone should follow you. That means sharing your personal point of view on topics, your expertise, your passions, and your personality. 

Brands will also take note of the creators who offer something truly one-of-a-kind. They increasingly want creator partners who are able to put their own spin on campaigns and deliver compelling branded content that’s more than just regurgitated talking points. As audiences become wary of ad oversaturation, creative takes on brand partnerships are the ones that will excel.

Bottom line: hop in on a trend every now and then, but put your personal spin on it, and keep the majority of your content uniquely you.

4) Not Knowing What To Charge For Partnerships

One of the biggest struggles of getting into the creator game is understanding what to charge for brand partnerships. This can be a complicated matter, as there’s not one set formula that decides what creators should charge. It’s also a fine balance: undercharging can devalue your work, but overcharging can keep you from securing opportunities. Do your research, talk to creator friends in the industry, and assess how you would value your own content. And remember things like exclusivity, usage rights, and content types can raise the price of a partnership.

A major benefit of working with a management company like The Digital Dept. is that our team of creator experts can help you set fees that make you competitive in the industry. Think you’re ready to take on a manager? Fill out this form to share your info with our talent team.

5) Not Being Confident In Your Own Content

If you don’t love creating content regardless of performance, first and foremost, you’re going to burn out. It’s that simple. You need to love the content you create and feel confident in your work, because the truth is that the life of a creator is full of ebbs and flows. You’ll have times where your content is popping off, brand partnerships are rolling in, followers are flocking to you, and you’re feeling on top of the world. You’ll also hit slow periods, and those are the moments where it’s most important to stay confident in your work. 

It’s also easy to start comparing yourself to other creators in the space and look at their partnerships and opportunities with envy, but that’s not super productive. Looking at other creators can help inspire your content and give you an idea of what brands are partnering with creators, what types of posts they are interested in, and so on, but don’t dwell in a negative space. The creator landscape is vast, and that means the opportunities to succeed are just as limitless. 

Have more questions about making it as a content creator? Be sure to check out Ali’s TikTok channel for more creator tips and tricks.