Why Most Creators Fail (And How to Fix It)

Why Most Creators Fail (And How to Fix It)

Author

Arnulfur Hakonarson
November 21, 2024

Hey everyone! đź‘‹ 

As I’m sitting here, drinking my morning brew by the fire (it’s super cold where I live right now), I had a thought I wanted to share with you.

It’s something I’ve been focusing on a lot lately, and I believe it’s vital for anyone wanting to succeed in today’s content creation world.

You ready? Let’s dive in.

đź’ˇ My Early Content Mistakes

When I started in 2016, I didn’t know who I was creating content for.

I just made whatever came to mind—magic tricks, travel vlogs, photo tips—all on the same channel.

đź“ś Lessons Learned from My First Channel

That didn’t work. I was pulling in viewers with completely different interests, making it impossible to build a consistent audience.

So, in 2017, I started a second channel: That Icelandic Guy, focused on photography.

But I still hadn’t defined my audience clearly. Who was I making content for?

I ended up doing photography tutorials, filmmaking guides, editing tips, and even travel vlogs.

Sure, it was all under the “camera” niche, but it was still too broad imo.

🕵️ The Power of Niching Down

I realized it’s not just about picking a niche: it’s about niching within that niche.

Finding the one thing that really connects with people and doubling down on it.

In today’s crowded content space, being specific is your superpower.

Trying to be everything to everyone means you end up being nothing to anyone.

People connect with content that speaks directly to them, addressing their needs, struggles, and passions.

📸 Finding My Focus

When I started to focus only on photography (specifically landscape & street), photo editing, and the specific tools I love, I started to see real growth.

I wasn’t trying to be the general “creator guy” anymore—I was speaking directly to people like me.

So, my advice: Don’t be afraid to niche down, and then niche down even further.

If you’re into wildlife photography (like my friend Olle!), maybe it’s specifically birds?

If you’re into filmmaking, maybe it’s handheld filmmaking with minimal gear. This will of course depend on how crowded your space is, but you get the idea!

Basically just get specific, and own it. You might feel like you’re shrinking your audience, but you’re making it easier for the right people to find you—and stick around.

This will also allow you to get more specific with your offers, and serve your audience much better, because you know who they truly are!

đź‘Ť Wrap-Up Thoughts

That’s it for today—I hope this gives you something to think about as you create.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. What’s your niche, and how can you narrow it down even further?

Catch you beauties in the next issue ;*

Best,
ArnĂşlfur

🤝 Let me help you create better content!