Creators and Influencers have the same meaning. Two words have become prominent in the digital world over the last decade: creators and influencers. They have similar meanings, but make no mistake—they also have key differences that can impact your partnership with them. So, what should you know before reaching out and working with one or the other? Let’s dive into the difference between the creators and the influencers of the digital world.
What is a Creator?
By definition, a creator is someone who creates something new or original. Therefore, a content creator is someone who makes new content. This content can be anything from blog posts to YouTube videos. Content creators can create an infinite number of pieces of content, including content related to:
- Their work
- Their hobbies
- Their daily lives
- Their families
- The products they love
A content creator doesn’t just make this content on the fly, though. A lot of planning and data analysis typically goes into creating high-quality content. Content creators combine strategy with creativity to make a piece of accurate, relevant, and engaging content for their audience.
An influencer is someone who has the power to influence an audience and affect buying behavior. Influencers typically gain a following online through platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. They post content that’s relevant and engaging to a niche audience, who, in return, follows them to get more of that relevant content.
The key thing that makes an influencer an influencer, though, is their power to persuade their audience’s buying behavior. If they endorse a product, their followers may be influenced to buy it since a person they trust is recommending it.
What is an Influencer?
Influencers hold great power, and they don’t need to have a million followers to be considered influential. Someone with 10,000 followers can be considered a micro-influencer. Don’t let those numbers fool you, though. Micro-influencers still have substantial influence within their audience, and their audience may be more tight-knit and engaging due to their size. For micro-influencers, it’s quality over quantity: they may have a smaller audience size, but the audience members may be more engaged.
Creator vs. Influencer: What’s the Difference?
While creators and influencers share similarities, they also have significant differences. Here’s what you need to know about the differences between creators and influencers.
Influencers Must-Have Influence; Creators Don’t Need Influence.
One of the most significant differences between influencers and creators is that creators don’t need to have the influence to be considered content creators. An influencer, however, does need to have the influence to be considered an influencer.
A content creator typically creates content to share with the world. That’s what they like to do, and that’s what they’re good at. This content, though, may not necessarily influence people to buy anything. It can educate people and provide value, but it may not convince someone to buy a product. Even if it doesn’t, though, a content creator achieves their goal: creating content.
An influencer, on the other hand, needs to have influence to be considered an influencer. They have to impact their audience in some way. If they were to promote a product in a video, they would influence others to buy it. Their primary focus isn’t on the content creation itself; it’s on the influence that content will have.
Another difference between influencers and creators is that, generally, their priorities for content creation are different. Content creators tend to focus on the content itself. They ensure it’s top-quality and appeals to their audience. That way, they can build trust and get more eyeballs on their content. To them, the content itself does the work.
Influencers, however, tend to focus more on the experience their audience has while consuming their content. The content is still relevant, as it’s what got people to follow them first, but the experience becomes increasingly more critical. They want people to feel a certain way while consuming the content. Focusing on the experience helps them create a more personal connection with their audience, which allows them further build the community they’ve worked to develop.
Influencers Focus on Experiences; Creators Focus on Content
Long story short: content creators (think photographers, videographers, and writers) create the content for the content itself. Influencers create content to help them connect with their audience and grow their following by creating a great content consumption experience.
Influencers May Be More Versatile with Content; Creators May Stick in Their Wheelhouse
Influencers may be more versatile with the type of content they produce. They could do videos, podcasts, blogs, and more. This allows them to increase their brand awareness on multiple fronts and gain a following faster. However, creators may stick to one type of content (again, think photographers, videographers, or writers). That’s the type of content they’re experts in; continuing to create that specific content helps them fine-tune their craft and show the world their art.
This doesn’t apply to all influencers and content creators, though. Influencers may only stick to one form of content creation, and some content creators may create multiple forms of content. Do your research on creators and influencers before you start working with them to see what type of content they make.
Is One Better Than the Other?
When it comes to working with content creators and influencers, one is not better than the other. They both have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to content creation and content promotion. If you’re deciding whether to work with one versus the other, look at your goals and be completely honest about which one will help you reach them.
Also, remember that not all influencers and content creators can neatly fit in categories. Sometimes a content creator can have a significant following, and an influencer can make great content. Instead of looking at their labels, look at their content. If it’s of good quality and aligns with what you do, consider working with them because good content converts at the end of the day.
