14+ Content Entrepreneurs Share What Motivates Them

“Never being told again what to wear.”

We chuckled at that six-word response to an open-ended question about motivation in our recent content entrepreneur research report, The Unconventionals: 2021 Benchmark Study on Content Entrepreneurs.

Out of the hundreds of answers, his was the only to mention wardrobe, but his sentiment certainly is shared. That’s not surprising, given freedom was the most frequently picked option (78%) in a question on the benefits of content entrepreneurship. Right behind freedom? Pursuing their passion, cited by 73%.

Those themes resonated in our content entrepreneur research with the open-ended answers on motivation that hundreds of content entrepreneurs took the time to share. They are inspiring, illuminating, and fun. We selected some to share from successful content entrepreneurs who are bringing in revenue to support at least one person.

Which of these resonate with your motivation to start and grow a content business?

1. Making a difference

“Serving others with the content is my prime motivation. When people tell me that my ideas have made a difference in their lives, I feel successful.” – Business; Boomer in business four to six years, earning revenue that can support one person

When people tell me my ideas made a difference in their lives, I feel successful, says a business-focused content entrepreneur. #creatoreconomy #startup #inspiration Click To Tweet

2. Going global from home

“I love being able to share my knowledge without having to travel.  I can reach a worldwide audience with my website. Educating and inspiring others is what motivates me to continue to utilize technology to fill a need for education in my niche.” – Arts, crafts, DIY; Boomer in business at least seven years, earning revenue that can support multiple people

3. Loving the process

“I love the impact that quality content has on audiences. I love the ability to choose the types of ideas I want to help perpetuate in the world. And I love the way strategy measurably drives tactics. It’s a thing of beauty.” – Marketing; Gen X in business for at least seven years; earning revenue that can support one person

4. Providing for audience and family

“The information I’m sharing wasn’t out there when I started, and I really struggled trying to figure out how to do what I do now. I’m bridging that gap in my community. My husband also lost his job. I am the sole provider for our family, which includes five kids and one on the way. Leveraging content allows me to be the stay-at-home mom and entrepreneur I need to be.”  – Arts, crafts, DIY; Millennial in business one to three years, earning revenue that can support one person

Motivation? My content business allows me to be a stay-at-home mom and entrepreneur I need to be: Millennial in business 1 to 3 years. #Unconventionals #ContentEntrepreneurs Click To Tweet

5. Earning revenue indirectly

“I enjoy creating content that sells on an evergreen basis. It is more fulfilling than providing direct services.” – Science and tech; Gen X in business for four to six years, earning revenue that can support one person

6. Being in charge

“Not suited to work for a boss. I need to BE the boss. Content helps me to create change, support people, have influence without utterly boring board meetings with annoying people.  And because I love it.” – Business; Boomer in business four to six years, earning revenue that can support multiple people

Content helps me create change, support people, have influence w/o utterly boring board meetings with annoying people, says successful #contententrepreneur. #research #creatoreconomy Click To Tweet

7. Building an original

“Building something big that has never existed before, bringing people together, and making them happy.”  – Business; Gen X in business four to six years, earning revenue that can support multiple people

8. Making smiles

“The desire to tell a story that is not being told in a way that only I know how, and to excite, entertain, and bring a smile to the faces of our community.” – Travel and events; Millennial in business four to six years, earning revenue that can support multiple people

9. Operating lean and solo

“It’s easy to do. It doesn’t cost much, and the results for the audience can be truly profound. I (enjoy) the freedom I get: I can experiment with matter and form, and I am free to do it from where I want when I want. And profiting from it is as easy as sending an email. To me, it’s ideal work.”  – Education; Millennial in business at least seven years, earning revenue that can support one person

10. Doing what I want

“I make money while doing what I want to do (and would probably do anyway). If I make mistakes or something doesn’t work, I can fix them and move on. If I see a new direction I want to explore, I can do it. I get to set my own goals, spend my time creating things, and enjoy financial success. I never get bored.” – Travel and events category; Boomer in business at least seven years, earning revenue that can support multiple people

I get to set my own goals, spend my time creating things, and enjoy financial success. I never get bored: Content entrepreneur in #travel and #events industry. #creatoreconomy Click To Tweet

11. Controlling my life

“Control of my time and destiny, opportunity to earn more than if I was working for someone else, ability to work from home and be around my family every day.” – Travel and events category; Gen X who has been in business at least seven years, earning revenue that can support multiple people

12. Winning

“I contribute my gifts to a community of over 10K, all while living a lifestyle that allows me to take care of my own health needs and be there for my family. The evergreen nature of my content allows us to continually reach folks, and we are still earning an income on content we created over 10 years ago. Win-Win-Win.”  – Lifestyle; Gen X in business at least seven years, earning revenue that can support multiple people

13. Looking at these numbers

“My bank statements and Google Analytics.” – Science and technology; Gen X in business at least seven years, earning revenue that can support multiple people

14. Leaving a legacy

“Being a woman, knowing the struggle of poverty and having nothing. Having five children and wanting to create something more, not only for me or them but a legacy. I believe that I can do so much more and help other women do the same.” – Fashion and style; Millennial in business at least seven years, earning revenue that can support multiple people

Why be a content entrepreneur? Having five children and wanting to create something more, not only for me or them but a legacy, says respondent in #Unconventionals research #creatoreconomy Click To Tweet

2 more thoughts

Finally, we also saw a new motivating theme in the content entrepreneur research for some early-stage content entrepreneurs who are bringing in revenue but not yet enough to support one person. They center around inclusivity. So while these entrepreneurs are earning money now, though not yet enough to support one person, we still wanted to share:

“I created my podcast to bring more diversity and inclusivity to the Wellness space. Black women are consistently neglected, and I want to help change the ‘face’ of wellness.” – Health and fitness; Millennial in business one to three years, earning some revenue

“I had to leave the workforce because of its lack of accessibility and inclusivity in my industry, and when I realized I wasn’t the only one, I felt called to create a community for other disabled and chronically ill workers also struggling with these things.” – Business; Millennial in business one to three years, earning some revenue

What’s your motivation? Share on Twitter using #contententrepreneur and be sure to tag us @TheTiltNews.