Getting Started as a Content Creator: First 90 Days

Days 1-30: Foundation Building

Week 1: Self-Assessment and Vision Setting

Before diving into content creation, take time to clarify your purpose and direction. This foundational work will save you countless hours of misdirected effort later.

Define Your Creator Identity

Start by answering these essential questions:

• What unique perspectives, skills, or experiences can you share?
• What topics genuinely excite you enough to create content about them consistently?
• Who is your ideal audience and what problems can you help them solve?
• What's your unique value proposition as a creator?

Document your answers in a creator mission statement that articulates your purpose, audience, and value proposition in one or two sentences. This will serve as your north star when making content decisions.

Set Realistic Goals

Establish clear, measurable objectives for your first 90 days. Avoid vanity metrics like follower counts and instead focus on:

• Content production goals (e.g., publish 12 videos, 24 blog posts, or 30 podcast episodes)
• Skill development targets (e.g., master basic video editing, improve on-camera presence)
• Engagement milestones (e.g., get 10 meaningful comments per post)
• Consistency benchmarks (e.g., maintain a twice-weekly publishing schedule)

Remember that your first 90 days are primarily about learning, establishing habits, and refining your approach—not achieving viral success.

Week 2: Platform Selection and Setup

With your vision clarified, it's time to choose your primary content platforms and set them up professionally.

Platform Research and Selection

Different platforms serve different content types and audience preferences. Consider:

• YouTube: Ideal for in-depth tutorials, vlogs, and educational content with longer shelf-life
• TikTok/Instagram Reels: Perfect for short-form, highly engaging content that can reach new audiences quickly
• Podcast platforms: Great for interview-based or discussion-format content consumed during commutes or activities
• Blogging/Newsletter: Excellent for detailed written content and building a direct relationship with your audience
• LinkedIn/Twitter: Valuable for professional insights, networking, and thought leadership

Rather than spreading yourself thin across multiple platforms, select 1-2 primary channels that best align with your content type, strengths, and target audience. You can expand later once you've established a solid foundation.

Professional Profile Setup

For each platform you select:

• Create a consistent username across platforms when possible
• Design a professional profile photo and cover image
• Write a compelling bio that clearly communicates your value proposition
• Include relevant links to your other platforms or website
• Set up any platform-specific features (e.g., YouTube channel sections, Instagram highlights)

Use LiveSkillsHub's Profile Optimization Tool to ensure your creator profiles make a strong first impression and effectively communicate your brand.

Weeks 3-4: Content Strategy and Creation Setup

Content Pillars and Themes

Develop 3-5 content pillars—core topics that will form the foundation of your content strategy. For each pillar:

• List 5-10 specific content ideas
• Research relevant keywords using tools like Google Keyword Planner
• Identify questions your audience is asking about these topics

For example, a fitness creator might have pillars like: Beginner Workouts, Nutrition Basics, Fitness Mindset, Equipment Reviews, and Progress Tracking.

Content Calendar Creation

Develop a realistic content calendar for your first month that includes:

• Publishing dates and times
• Content topics mapped to your pillars
• Content formats (video, article, short-form, etc.)
• Production deadlines for each piece

Start with a manageable frequency—quality and consistency trump quantity, especially when you're beginning.

Essential Equipment and Tools

Invest wisely in basic equipment and tools:

• Hardware: Smartphone with good camera, basic microphone, simple lighting
• Software: Free or affordable editing tools (Canva, DaVinci Resolve, Audacity)
• Planning tools: Content calendar, note-taking app, task management system

Avoid the common beginner mistake of overspending on equipment before validating your content approach. You can upgrade as you grow.

Days 31-60: Content Production and Refinement

Weeks 5-6: Content Creation Fundamentals

Developing Your Creation Process

Establish a repeatable workflow for content creation:

1. Research and outline: Gather information and structure your content
2. Create: Record, write, or design your content
3. Edit: Refine for clarity, engagement, and quality
4. Optimize: Add titles, descriptions, tags, and calls-to-action
5. Publish and promote: Share on your platforms and initial distribution channels
6. Analyze: Review performance and gather insights for improvement

Document this process so you can refine and eventually delegate parts of it as you scale.

Finding Your Voice and Style

Experiment with different presentation styles to discover what feels authentic to you and resonates with your audience:

• Try various content formats (tutorials, stories, reviews, etc.)
• Experiment with different editing styles
• Test different content lengths and structures
• Practice your on-camera presence or writing voice

Remember that developing your unique style takes time and iteration. Give yourself permission to evolve.

Weeks 7-8: Feedback and Iteration

Gathering Audience Insights

Actively collect feedback on your early content:

• Analyze platform analytics to identify which content performs best
• Directly ask your audience what they enjoy and want to see more of
• Join creator communities to get peer feedback
• Consider creating a simple survey for more structured feedback

LiveSkillsHub's Audience Insight Tools can help you identify patterns in your content performance and audience preferences.

Content Refinement

Based on your findings:

• Double down on content types and topics that resonate
• Adjust your content pillars if necessary
• Refine your presentation style and format
• Improve technical aspects like audio quality or writing clarity

This iterative approach ensures you're building on what works rather than randomly creating content.

Community Building Foundations

Start nurturing your early audience:

• Respond to every comment during this growth phase
• Ask engaging questions in your content to encourage interaction
• Create opportunities for audience participation (polls, Q&As, challenges)
• Begin building your email list or other direct communication channel

These early supporters can become your most valuable advocates as you grow.

Days 61-90: Growth and Sustainability

Weeks 9-10: Content Distribution and Promotion

Expanding Your Reach

Develop a systematic approach to content distribution:

• Repurpose your primary content for secondary platforms
• Identify relevant communities where you can share your content (with proper etiquette)
• Explore collaboration opportunities with complementary creators
• Consider strategic use of hashtags and SEO optimization

Focus on reaching the right people rather than simply maximizing views.

Network Building

Connect with other creators in your niche:

• Engage meaningfully with their content
• Participate in creator communities and forums
• Attend virtual or in-person events in your field
• Propose mutually beneficial collaborations

These relationships can lead to cross-promotion, knowledge sharing, and moral support on your creator journey.

Weeks 11-12: Sustainability Planning

Preventing Burnout

Establish systems to maintain your creative energy:

• Create content batches to build a buffer of scheduled posts
• Designate specific creation days and rest days
• Develop templates and frameworks to streamline production
• Set boundaries around your creator work, especially if it's not yet your full-time focus

Consistency over the long term is more valuable than short bursts of intense productivity followed by burnout.

90-Day Review and Future Planning

Conduct a comprehensive review of your first 90 days:

• Assess progress against your initial goals
• Document key learnings and insights
• Identify your most successful content and why it worked
• Note skills you need to develop further

Based on this analysis, create a strategic plan for your next 90 days with adjusted goals and priorities.

Monetization Foundations

While early monetization shouldn't be your primary focus, begin laying the groundwork:

• Research platform-specific monetization requirements (e.g., YouTube Partner Program criteria)
• Explore potential revenue streams aligned with your content (affiliate marketing, digital products, services)
• Start building assets you can monetize later (email list, community, specialized knowledge)
• Consider how you might package your expertise into valuable offerings

Remember that sustainable monetization comes from providing consistent value over time.

Moving Forward: Beyond the First 90 Days

As you complete your first 90 days as a content creator, you'll have established:

• A clear creator identity and content direction
• Functional platforms and production processes
• Initial content that's been tested and refined
• The beginnings of an engaged community
• Habits and systems for sustainable creation

This foundation positions you for continued growth and evolution. The creator journey is a marathon, not a sprint—focus on consistent improvement rather than overnight success.

Remember that every successful creator started exactly where you are now. By following this structured approach to your first 90 days, you're already ahead of most who jump in without a plan. Stay consistent, keep learning, and trust the process—your creator journey has just begun.