Content creators share expert tips on building a sustainable following

What happens on TikTok doesnrsquot stay on the platform It trickles down to Instagram IGAnd while social media sensation and influencer Alix Earlersquos IG isnrsquot as heavily populated with content as her TikTok account which has over two million followers she still has bragging rights for over one million followers In December 2022 her follower count peaked massively making Earle headlineworthy in all aspects Two content creators dissect ways to quickly nurture an audience the right way For starters follow the three Cs consistency content and creativityAlix Earle Pic courtesyInstagramConsistency winsRegularity isnrsquot a key factor itrsquos a weapon Behind a sudden peak in followers or a viral video is consistent posting No one becomes a viral sensation with their first piece of content Mumbaibased Rushikesh Phalke and Sarvednya Dudvadkar of litmemesmumbai LMM helm Telegram and Facebook groups where participants submit relevant videos they have created or come across The best get reposted on the creatorsrsquo page With fulltime jobs and content that requires timeconsuming ideation and execution itrsquos hard to stay consistent Sharing othersrsquo videos with proper credit is a winwin situation where LMM has content for a hungry audience and other creators can benefit from the pagersquos massive followingKeep it relatableBut the next question is lsquoWhat to postrsquo For beginners looking to find their niche Avanti Nagral avantinagral a singersongwriter and content creator who shuttles between Mumbai and New York highlights the personal within the brand behind every successful creator Nagral notes that an audience subscribes to your channel for what you as a creator have to offer making it important to add your personal stamp and style to whatever you do ldquoContent that works can be categorised into a triad or be an intersection of all mdash aspirational relatable and inspirational contentrdquo she asserts Earle banks on the first two Her quick makeup GRWM get ready with me meal or gym time videos are almost like a video chat with a friend making them highly relatable while her lifestyle makes it aspirational Itrsquos important to also look at Earlersquos delivery style and production which is minimal Creators will tell you that lowproduction videos shot quickly and with minimal effort attract the most views Phalke shares that natural and relatable situations are what followers want After all this isnrsquot a movie itrsquos social media Audiences donrsquot want to invest a lot of time for a quick dopamine hitCreate your nicheConsistency also extends to content People like sameness itrsquos easy to consume and they are guaranteed more of what they want At the same time Nagral warns against limiting your content ldquoYou never know what works one video could go viral but if you keep doing just one thing you put yourself in a box that might be hard to get out ofrdquo She suggests experimenting while keeping your personal brand at the core of all videos from the getgo If yoursquore looking to introduce new content to older audiences sandwich it between triedandtested crowd favourites the reach from the latter will help push new work Nagral highlights experimenting with tools and formats that platforms offer as they reward usage with engagementCut to the chaseShort video content is being promoted across platforms even YouTube and with only a minute or less to communicate every second counts Phalke reveals ldquoPeople are used to scrolling not heading to your feed to follow To get them out of that mindset a simple lsquofollow me for more or similar contentrsquo will make them realise that they can get the content they like oftenrdquoSustain those numbersNagral highlights the importance of engaging an audience over chasing numbers to ensure the follower count doesnrsquot drop She suggests focusing on creating content for and interacting with super fans while working on the same for a discoverable audience keeping your core style at the centre Phalke adds ldquoFinally itrsquos not just the numbers but a community that we have built where people want to socialise on relatable topics This is where quality content sustains the numbers in the long runrdquoQuick takesgtgt Collaborate with creatorsgtgt Beginners can start with short video contentgtgt Hacks for views wonrsquot grow an audience focus on quality content and engaging with your audienceAvanti Nagralgtgt Relatable content will come naturally Itrsquos the obvious that hasnrsquot been highlighted oftengtgt Combine content with trending audio and topicsgtgt Donrsquot add more than seven hashtagsRushikesh Phalke