With Brand Deals On The Decline, Creators Are Diversifying Their Revenue Streams

The creator economy has entered into a strange season. While the sector is not struggling by any means (the market evaluation is expected to grow by 30 billion this year alone), many are finding themselves with fewer brand deals across their respective content verticals. 

We’ll examine why this is happening below and share an essential solution to help you diversify your revenue and protect your sustainability as an independent creator. 

A Growing Market with Diluted Ad Spend

Brands continue to invest heavily in social media, but many creators report an almost ubiquitous decline in the volume or potency of brand deals– so what exactly is happening? 

Following the unprecedented boom of content demand during the heyday of the pandemic, creator economy growth is starting to slow. The market is not taking a total downturn by any means, but brands may be becoming more selective with their ad dollars and to whom they award them. 

It’s also worth noting that the influx of creators isn’t slowing down– an abundance of new content can unsurprisingly lead to some oversaturation, which may spread the previously concentrated ad dollars a bit more thin. 

As a result, the total predictable ad revenue per creator is diluted. Changes to the dynamic state of the creator economy are nothing new, but this challenging period is a wake-up call for emerging makers to diversify their revenue streams. 

The Importance of Diversifying Your Revenue Streams as a Creator

As an independent creator, you are your own boss. That means you have to assume risk especially when the economy isn’t aligning optimally with your industry. Learning how to diversify your pool of income provides you with the following long-term benefits: 

• You can be more selective with your brand deals. One of the most important and undervalued resources within the industry is consumer trust. Taking on a brand deal that isn’t exactly authentic to your brand can be tempting during challenging times, but it’s key to consider the long-term effects on the connection with your audience. Diversifying your income means that you can retain your brand integrity. 
• You can show up for your fans even during slow periods. Fostering a community relies on consistent, quality contact. Spreading your eggs across several channels gives you the flexibility to show up for your fans across several verticals, and allows you to engage with different types of content– not just the one that’s bankrolling your ventures. More monetizable verticals = less risk assumed by your business. 
• You protect your sustainability as a creator. Most importantly, having several sources of income protects you as a creator. Padding yourself with multiple pools of income ensures that you can be sustainable in this fast-paced economy, 

How to Build Your Own Platform for Fans

The best way to earn dependable income from fans is to have your own platform where you can deliver content directly to your audience, without the intervention of an arbitrary algorithm. BrandArmy provides this space for creators, allowing you to customize your channel to your liking, and set prices on your terms. 

You can use your BrandArmy channel to offer subscriptions to several audience tiers, sell assets or paywalled chats, host monetized live streams, and earn bonuses from the referral program. There is no limit to how much you can earn through your channel and it only takes a couple of clicks to sign up. 

Your subscribers are directly notified via email whenever you post or can view content directly through their BrandArmy feeds for easy access to your content. Think of your BrandArmy channel as a hub where your community can interact, purchase new assets, and connect with their favorite creator. 

BrandArmy has enabled many creators to build a sustainable business and can certainly help you diversify your income as a professional creator. When it comes to thriving, not just surviving, in the creator ecosystem, owning your audience and platform is essential.