So I want to become a content creator but, where do I start?
Being a content creator is an exciting self-journey, but it can be a bit overwhelming. The most important thing before producing content creation is finding out your target niche, or the people you want to attract to your platform. Once you know which content you want to create and shoot, we can move forward to the post-production. I love post-production because it’s where my idea come alive. Whether it’d be: a splash of color, a graphic design, or anything that can enhance or complement the content I shot previously.
In this post, I’ll mention the must-have apps you need as a content creator in order to get to the goals and the feed you desire.
EDITING:
Editing is the most important and exciting process as a content creator. This is a process in which you’ll find out how you like your photos to look like: colorful, muted, dark, bright, etc. Having a specific style and use the same filter (preset) can transform your platform into a visually cohesive space. If you have no idea where to start, try to come up with a color palette and try to stick with the chosen colors. Your editing style can change over the course of months so don’t be so hard on yourself to make your feed look perfect. I highly recommend the following apps.
1- lIGHTROOM
Price: Free on iPhone, Subscription 9.99 mo
Do you want to know how content creators edit their photos? One word: Lightroom. This Adobe software is my HOLY-GRAIL and my best friend forever and ever. This is where the magic happens, and where presets are made. On mobile, this app is free but there are certain settings in which you’ll need to pay a monthly subscription. I’m here to tell you that it’s worth EVERY PENNY! I acknowledge it can be intimidating but lucky for you I have an Instagram TV post explaining the basics of Lightroom.
2- VSCO
Price: Free (Basic Features), Subscription 19.99 yearly
This is the app where I first started to edit my pictures in 2013. It is an easier and simpler way to make presets on your phone. I pay a yearly subscription ($20) to have all the filters/gadgets. Like Lightroom, this is also worth every penny! I use VSCO to add a final touch to my pictures. You can easily customize and create your own presets and even save them. BONUS: this also works very well if you want to add a filter on your videos/reels/TikTok, you name it!
3. Tezza App
Price: Free (Basic Features), Subscription 39.99 yearly; 3.99 mo
I’m putting the Tezza App as part of the list because I see a lot of influencers/bloggers use this app. It’s a more simplified Lightroom because the app has presets made. You can customize your presets as well as Lightroom, however, the app tends to go over the brown tones (if that’s right up your alley, this is ideal for you!) It’s a great app to start experimenting with presets and learn to create a cohesive color palette. Personally, I prefer to create my own presets but I know it can be a headache making your own preset. P.S. This app has AH-MAZING presets to edit videos!
GRAPHIC DESIGN:
Having a blog or a platform can sometimes need an extra oomph! The following mentioned apps are user-friendly if you are not familiar with creating art designs for your thumbnails, posts, videos, etc. These tools have been life-changing for my growth as a content creator/blogger.
4. Canva
Price: Free
Canva is my best friend and it should be yours too! This is a powerful tool to create beautiful designs such as business cards, flyers, Facebook headers, YouTube thumbnails, IG stories/posts, and many more. I’d say it’s a bit time consuming if you’re designing from scratch, but it can be a fun process. A lot of people tend to engage more in posts where there’s text in them. It has a chance to get shared by your viewers and attract more people to your platform. I use this platform to design resumes, media kits, and blog thumbnails.
5. Picsart
Price: Free
Although you can edit your photos here, the best way you can make the most out of Picsart is by designing your photos. This is a more simplified way of using Photoshop and way more user-friendly. You can add fonts, lens flare, borders, stickers, another photo, make collages, etc. A lot of bloggers opt for this app instead of editing in the complex software that is Adobe Photoshop.
6. Meitu
Price: Free
Meitu can also work as a great tool to add text to your images. A lot of content creators use this app to form a custom line of text (see picture below). In order to achieve that, go to Photo Editing. On the bottom row of setting icons, you’ll click “magic brush”. From there, you press the button “custom” and then you can create the custom line of text. Something as simple as a text on a photo can elevate the purpose of your content.
VIDEO:
Want to step up your game and create videos, IGTV or tiktoks? Adding videos in your feed can add a bit more personality and let your viewers get to know you. Videos can vary depending on the subject you want to talk about. In fact, if you’re not into talking to the camera, there are multiple ways of expressing creativity and/or be educational without saying a word on the video.
7. Prequel
Price: Free
If you have TikTok, then you might have heard people talk about Prequel. This is an editing app that is mainly used for videos. You can also film within the app but I’d prefer to edit/cut my videos elsewhere. It has tons of video effects and filters that can elevate your videos. Filters can vary from retro, tv, glam, film, and many more. I use prequel to give that final touch that I need for my reels and videos. Watch this IG reels that I made with Prequel:
8. adobe Premiere pro
Price: 29.99 mo, Premiere Rush 9.99 mo
Another Adobe software that is MUST HAVE for Content Creators! I use this software to edit all my videos. I edit on my computer so it’s easier for me to be more precise in terms of cutting and adding footage. If you have a bit more knowledge in the video editing world, this is ideal for you!
If you don’t have access to a computer, download Adobe Premiere Rush for Videos. You can adjust speed, combine multiple clips, put the music you desire, stabilize shaky footage, etc. The software itself is a bit pricey, but you can play with the free features on the mobile app. If you feel like you’ll be doing more videos on your platform, this is the best investment you’ll ever make. The more you use the app, the better you’ll familiarize yourself with it. This IGTV was made solely on Premiere Pro.
sCHEDULING:
Once you’ve created the perfect preset and edited the content the way you like it, we can move to the most important part; scheduling. Having an app to schedule and visually plan your content is key in order to have successful growth as a content creator. It can be one post per day or it can even be one post per week, it all depends on the amount of content you can produce at the moment. Consistency is key, y’all!
9. Planoly
Price: Free
An app where I can schedule my posts and see how my posts are performing? Sign me up! Planoly is user-friendly and gives you many insights into your overall performance on your profile. You can use this scheduling app for Instagram and Pinterest. I like to schedule my stories as well so I can be more present in my platform. Little tip y’all: Planoly gives you information about special holidays so have that in mind while creating content.
10. UNUM
Price: Free
A simple and straightforward way to visually plan your content. Do you like to see how cohesive your feed is going to look? UNUM is the app y’all! You can lay out your upcoming pictures and organize them the way you think it’ll look beautiful on your IG. This solves the mystery of how your feed is going to look. If you’re not sure how you want your feed to look like, check your fave influencers/bloggers to see how they layout their content. By the way, this only works for Instagram only due to the grid layout this app was designed.
Now that I’ve given you the necessary tools to execute your platform, do you feel motivated to create? It’s important to develop your own voice throughout your content creating journey and be different from the rest. I hope this blogpost has answered your big questions on how to edit. If you have any doubts or questions about certain apps, feel free to DM me on Instagram.
