Building an audience in 2025 is projected to be a lot harder since thousands of people join the creator economy and quit their jobs to become full-time creators.
With more creators fighting with brands for attention online, is there any hope for a newbie like you?
Our short answer is YES. However, you cannot do it in the same generic way everyone else is - it'll be harder to win.
In this article, I will cover 2 tips from the startup handbook that you can use to build an audience in 2025 successfully.
Step 1: Identify a Problem for a Specific Audience
The foundation of any successful startup is solving a problem, and your creator career should be no different. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, focus on a specific group of people and uncover their unique challenges.
How to Identify a Problem:
Listen to Conversations: Join forums, social media groups, and online communities where your target audience hangs out. Pay attention to their pain points.
Conduct Surveys: Ask potential followers what challenges they face and what solutions they wish existed.
Study Trends: Look for emerging issues in your niche or industry that others haven’t addressed yet.
For example, let’s say you want to create content for university students. Instead of offering generic advice, dive deep into their most pressing needs. Do they struggle with finding internships? Are they overwhelmed by balancing academics and side hustles? Narrowing your focus allows you to create tailored content that resonates.
Step 2: Solve the Problem Better Than Anyone Else
Once you’ve identified a problem, your next step is to solve it in a way that outshines all available alternatives. This requires creativity, thorough research, and a willingness to experiment.
Example: Internship Advice for University Students
Many creators offer generic advice like “work on your resume” or “attend networking events.” While this advice is useful, it’s not groundbreaking. To stand out, take a deeper approach:
Be Practical: Share actionable steps that students can implement immediately. For instance: “Here are three email templates you can use to reach out to potential internship mentors.”
Provide Unique Insights: Interview someone who’s successfully landed multiple internships and break down their strategy. For example: “I spoke with a university student who landed three internships this year. Here’s exactly what she did.”
Experiment and Share: Document your own tests. If you try a new technique for applying to internships, share your results and explain what worked and what didn’t.
By going beyond surface-level advice, you position yourself as a trustworthy and invaluable resource in your niche.
In 2025, niche content is winning. Generalist creators often struggle to capture and retain attention because their content doesn’t address specific problems. When you focus on a narrow audience and provide the most practical and helpful content, you will grow your audience fast. But you have to show up consistently too.
Benefits of The Startup Content Approach:
Higher Engagement: Your audience feels seen and valued, leading to stronger connections.
Better Monetization Opportunities: Brands and advertisers are more likely to partner with creators who have a clear niche and an engaged audience.
Faster Growth: Word-of-mouth spreads quickly when you’re solving real problems for a specific group.
Approaching your creator career as a startup helps you solve real problems for real people and they will reward you with their engagement. By identifying a problem, solving it better than anyone else, and doubling down on niche content, you'll set yourself miles apart from other creators still creating generic content.
