Digital Content Creation 101: From Scroller to Creator

Don't try to be everywhere at once. Pick one platform and dominate it.

1. TikTok (The Viral Engine):
- Best for: Fast growth, comedy, quick tips, trends.
- Algorithm: It doesn't care if you have 0 followers. If your video is good, it goes viral.
- Nigerian Context: Very data-intensive for viewers, so keep hooks sharp (first 3 seconds).

2. YouTube (The Search Engine):
- Best for: Educational content, tutorials, vlogs, long-term value.
- Algorithm: Slow growth, but videos you post today can make money for years.
- Strategy: Focus on "Searchable" titles (e.g., "How to cook Jollof Rice" vs. "My lunch").

3. Instagram (The Portfolio):
- Best for: Aesthetics, lifestyle, businesses selling products.
- Strategy: Use Reels for reach, Stories for nurturing your existing followers.

4. LinkedIn (The Professional):
- Best for: B2B, career advice, tech bros/sis.
- Strategy: Text posts and carousels (PDFs) work better than video here.

"I'll start when I get an iPhone 15." No, you won't.

The Smartphone Rule:
If you have a phone made after 2020, your camera is good enough.
- Tip: Always wipe your lens before shooting. That "blurry" look is usually just finger grease.
- Settings: Shoot in 4K at 30fps or 60fps if your storage allows.

Storage:
Video files are huge. Get a Google Photos subscription (cheap) or an OTG Flash Drive to offload files from your phone.

Viewers will forgive bad video quality, but they will click off instantly if the audio is bad.

1. Audio (Critical):
- Budget: Use your wired earphones microphone. Hold it close to your mouth.
- Pro: Buy a Boya BY-M1 lapel mic (Approx ₦10k-₦15k). It connects to phones and cameras and sounds professional.
- Wireless: Cheap wireless mics (K9/K8 type) often sound robotic. Be careful.

2. Lighting:
- Free: Face a window. Natural light is the best light. Never have the window behind you (you'll be a silhouette).
- Cheap: A 10-inch Ring Light. Don't put it straight in your face (reflects in glasses). Put it slightly to the side and above.

3. Stability:
- Shaky footage makes people dizzy. Buy a cheap tripod (₦5k) or prop your phone against a stack of books.

You don't need Adobe Premiere Pro to start.

CapCut (Mobile/PC):
It's free, powerful, and has auto-captions.
- Auto Captions: Essential because 40% of people watch videos on mute.
- Cut the Fluff: Delete every breath, "um," and pause. This is called "Jump Cutting." It keeps the energy high.
- B-Roll: Overlay relevant images or videos while you talk to keep it visually interesting.

Canva:
Use this for your YouTube Thumbnails and Instagram Carousel designs.

Don't wait for YouTube AdSense (it takes time). Start earning earlier.

1. Digital Products (Selar):
Package your knowledge.
- "How to bake cake" E-book.
- "Crypto for Beginners" Video Course.
- Use Selar.co to host and sell. They accept payments from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and even international cards.

2. Affiliate Marketing:
Review a product you use. Put a link in your bio. If people buy, you get a commission. (e.g., Jumia Affiliate, Amazon Associates).

3. UGC (User Generated Content):
Brands pay creators to make videos for their page, not yours. You don't even need to post it.

The algorithm loves consistency.

- Batch Creation: Don't wake up and ask "What do I post today?" Spend Sunday shooting 5 videos. Edit them during the week.
- The 1% Rule: Try to make every video 1% better than the last one. Better lighting, better hook, better editing.
- Ignore the Views: Your first 50 videos are for practice. Don't get discouraged if they get 10 views.