Social media is not only a platform to build connections, it is also a place to earn a living by generating content. If you’re inspired to become a social media content creator, let us prep you for the challenges that lay ahead of your career path! Keep on reading to find out the struggles most Malaysian content creators encountered when they first started their careers!
1. Having an inconsistent income & kiamsiap clients who “pay” with exposure
“There was once I went all out for a project but my client refused to pay me, claiming that I have gained exposure when they use my content for marketing purposes. Without money, how can I afford new gear?” — Charles, 23
Unlike employees who are paid on a monthly basis, content creators rarely have a consistent income. Their revenue heavily depends on the traffic and reach of their content, as well as the number of clients who forge a partnership with them. Of course, there’s also a risk of not earning any money when a client proposes to “pay” with exposure.
2. Looking for creative freedom tapi tak jumpa
“When it comes to collaboration with brands, the clients set a lot of rules and we don’t have much space to create whatever content we want. It’s even worse when the clients propose mediocre ideas and expect the content to go viral.” — Stacey, 26
Partnerships with brands come with a long list of do’s and don’ts that restrict the creative freedoms of content creators. Oftentimes, content creators have to syok sendiri in front of the cameras, especially when the content executions are dull and dry.
3. Suffering from creative blocks like the traffic jams in Kuala Lumpur
“We rely heavily on creativity to pay our bills. But there are times when interesting ideas just wouldn’t emerge, no matter how much time we spent brainstorming. That can be very frustrating, especially when the deadline is approaching.” — Lee, 23
When trending content has been covered in a million different ways, it is extra challenging for content creators to produce unique and attention-grabbing content quick enough before the trend dies out.
4. Receiving more verbal attacks than sapot from friends and family
“When I started creating content on TikTok, my parents told me to stop wasting time on a useless hobby and go get a real job instead. Typical lah, Malaysian parents.” — Joey, 25
Many tend to think that anyone can easily become a content creator — it takes merely a few clicks to post a photo on Instagram, padahal, creating engaging content requires a lot of professional skill and effort. This is why some people find it challenging to consider content creation as a legitimate occupation, let alone supporting content creators.
5. Going broke because of expensive gadgets
“When we become a bit more established, we would need high-quality gadgets to shoot good visual content, but most gadgets are pretty expensive here in Malaysia. If anyone wants to become a content creator, my advice is to start saving up first.” — Adam, 27
Need a macro lens to shoot close-ups? A few thousand ringgit gone. Want a lighting kit? That costs another few hundred ringgit. While the list goes on and on, how much money is left for makan?
6. Redoing everything because of technical issues
“I once spent a whole day vlogging just to realize that all my videos turned out blurry because the settings on the camera were wrong. It looked fine on the tiny camera screen! I had to redo everything the next day, and I couldn’t feel more devastated.” — Batrisya, 21
Capturing quality content is a HUGE challenge for content creators who have minimal technical knowledge about photography or videography. While creating visual content is time-consuming, one minor mistake is more than enough for you to redo all the work!
Have these challenges knocked off your dream of becoming a content creator? Well, don’t be discouraged! Every problem has its solution, and if budgets and technical challenges are your issues, we have something that might just help:
The brand-new Xiaomi 11T, a pocket-sized filmmaking smartphone that will bring your content creation to a whole new level!
You might have heard of the Xiaomi 11T Pro, but we think that the Xiaomi 11T is an incredible deal for budding content creators! Why so? Xiaomi 11T does not only have the amazing filmmaking features of the Xiaomi 11T Pro, but it also comes with a lower price tag!
Here’s what you can achieve with Xiaomi 11T:
Create CineMagic without pricey gadgets & technical knowledge
Xiaomi 11T is equipped with THREE different rear cameras that suit all your photography needs: 108MP wide-angle, 120° ultra-wide angle, and 2x telemacro. The filmmaking smartphone also comes with a 2.1μm 9-in-1 Super Pixel that is backed by powerful image processing technology. This guarantees high-resolution videos and images, regardless of which lenses you use!
Don’t know a thing about photography? Fret not! The One-Click AI Cinema mode allows you to achieve pro-level cinematographic effects, such as Time Freeze and Magic Zoom. You’re just one click away from capturing breath-taking photographs and videos!
Indulge in cinema-level visuals AND audio experiences
The smartphone’s 120Hz 6.67” flat AMOLED Display features TrueColour technology and 1,000 nits peak brightness, promising you a clear and accurate view of all contents. With its 120Hz AdaptiveSync display, this smartphone provides up to an ultra-high 480Hz touch sampling rate. This means no more lagging, even when you spam the shutter button!
During video-shooting, don’t worry about inaudible sounds, as the Audio Zoom can capture even the faintest of sounds. What’s more, the dual speakers of Xiaomi 11T also supports Dolby Atmos®! See (and hear) your content come to life on the screen!
Enjoy the convenience of high-performing features at work
Xiaomi 11T comes with the powerful Mediatek Dimensity 1200-Ultra with a 6nm power-efficient manufacturing process. This allows you to enjoy 5G connection on two sim cards simultaneously, with no lagging at all!
Not only that, you can spend the whole day capturing content while enjoying a long battery life with Xiaomi 11T’s massive 5000mAh battery. Its 67W wired charging allows the smartphone battery to be charged from 0% to 100% in just 36 minutes!
Xiaomi 11T comes in three gorgeous colours: Moonlight White, Celestial Blue, and Meteorite Gray. Besides being extraordinarily beautiful, this smartphone is also super duper affordable:
- 8GB + 128 GB: RM1,699
- 8GB + 256GB: RM1,899
With Xiaomi 11T in your palms, you can bid goodbye to the heavy and expensive filmmaking devices, while creating equally impressive visual content! Wait, that’s not it! We have even more exciting news:
Today (4th Oct 2021) is the LAST DAY to receive a FREE Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic with every purchase of the Xiaomi 11T!
If you purchase the Xiaomi 11T from Xiaomi retail stores today (4th Oct 2021), you can also stand a chance to win a MI TV P1 43” that is worth RM1,799!
What are you waiting for? Grab your Xiaomi 11T now before the promotion ends today! You can lay your hands on a Xiaomi 11T via in-store purchases in Xiaomi retail stores, or shop online via Shopee and Lazada.
What’re your favourite features of Xiaomi 11T? Let us know in the comments below!
