What are the best ways to discover a good platform for creators? Four successful creators share their advice |
Each creator needs tools that prioritize their needs and help them grow -however, they don't always provide. Below are the four things successful creators look for in creator-friendly platforms.
"It was a complete nightmare" declares Em Connors of The Creative Bodega .
When Em first began the Canva course, the course's plugin she had installed on a WordPress site was not working. Students had signed up for the class, but the first day, no one could login.
"We couldn't figure out why. What a tense time! I don't think my heart rate has ever been so high. And there was absolutely no one to chat with," she remembers. Em desperately searched for help online and in forums which included forums, including a Facebook group of plugin customers But nothing.
Unfortunately, this might be something that's familiar to the majority of creators. Many platforms within the creator economy don't put the needs of creators firstand operate with unsound practices that include a absence of transparency, false charges, and a lack of providing support.
Each creator should have tools that are creator-friendly, which prioritize their needs and encourage their development. To get a sense of the concept of "creator friendliness" -- and the lack of it -- actually looks like, we spoke to four creators about their experiences:
Em Daniel Connors is a solopreneur who is a marketing and branding expert, educator, and the founder of The Creative Bodega.
Becky Mollenkamp Feminist life coach, podcaster and founder of The Gutsy Boss Club community.
Adrian Dalsus , musician, marketer educator, founder Despegue Musical. Despegue Musical.
Khe Hy , a.k.a. "Oprah for Millennials" The founder of RadReads as well as a Notion pro.
What are the characteristics of a platform that make it creator-friendly?
There are many aspects that create a platform that is user-friendly and user-friendly, but it comes down to whether creators feel like the platform is there for them.
1. Support for accessibility
Whenever you get stuck, you must have assistance. Although it sounds easy, it isn't always available. For Em Creator friendliness, it's being able to connect with an actual human being in order to discuss any concerns or concerns.
"Creator friendly is being able to ask a question to someone and get answers quickly. I just want to speak to somebody, which is rare in the present."
Em Connors The Creative Bodega
Entrepreneurs are able to create experiences by building relationships, many entrepreneurs want to work this way in their own companies. "I'm trying to assist you as best as you can." Em says. "Ask me any questions you have- I may not always know the answer but I'll do my best. It makes me think it helps people feel relaxed."
Becky agrees: "Knowing that the company will be responsive to its customers' needs ensures that you're always able to count on getting the help you need in a timely way. If the company isn't doing this at the outset, run the other way."
2. Ease of use
The tools that are created by creators must have a user-friendly interface for all backgrounds and levels of experience. Just because a product feels natural to a particular group of people isn't a guarantee that it will be easy for all users.
"Addressing the requirements of a variety of different age groups is crucial since anyone is an artist at any time!"
Becky considers herself to be an excellent yardstick
"One option for me to determine if a program is creator-friendly is whether I am able to intuitively understand what I can do with it, without screaming. Although I'm pretty tech-savvy, I am at the age of 40 and am no longer the prime demographic for companies that work in tech."
She elaborates, "Too often, tools are designed for those who were raised on the Internet, not folks like myself. If I am able to figure out how to use something, that means it was designed by a company that thinks beyond twenty-somethings, and is committed to creating a tool that is accessible to everyone makers."
3. The creator's journey is in the future.
Platforms should work for creators all along their journey, says Khe Hy whether it's making a sales page responsive or a checkout experience very smooth. This includes the use of features to manage workflows involving affiliates or upsells.
"Creator-friendly refers to a product which is aware of and anticipating the needs of the creator."
--- Khe Hy, RadReads
Creative friendliness is a way to plan for what's next for the person who created it "before they even know the steps to take to reach their goal," he explains. "A lot of times, people are starting with something very simple and then expanding their product offering."
Stress of insensitive creator platforms
It's frustrating to feel that you're not getting assistance from a platform you rely upon to manage your company.
Similar to Em, Becky has found herself receiving the silent treatment. "I began my experience of creating courses using a platform with poor customer service," she shares. "When I encountered issues and needed to contact them, I sent an email. The email didn't get a response automatically to confirm that they had got the email. There was no response to the majority of questions I submitted."
Creator friendliness isn't limited to customer support. Businesses have the chance to put creators' needs prior to all aspects of the user experience. By ignoring or not taking advantage of these opportunities leaves creators feeling like they're in the hands of platforms' decisions.
For Adrian an online platform, the disdain for creators looks like suddenly adding or dropping options that force him to learn how to operate the tool. Communicating with the supposed experts does not feel friendly even when, as Adrian says, "you can clearly see that they're trying to get that you spend more time and money inside of the platform."
The most difficult incident Adrian experienced as a designer and business owner was using a website tool. "It needed a long learning process to do very easy items, and was susceptible to an error at any time because of a plugin change, or unfortunate luck" he remembers. "Knowing that my websites as well as websites of my clients and customers could cease functioning at any time, despite the fact that it is expensive to purchase all the required tools for a professionally designed website, is a travesty."
It is easy to feel his blood pressure increasing when he says, "Just thinking of [theseplatforms makes me very angry, deceived, helpless, feeling powerless, anxious, and insecure and nervous about everything which could happen in the event that I don't have any control!"
How to find creator-friendly platforms
Similar to the majority of purchasing choices, creatives are attracted by the brands. But like Adrian adds, they're still learning from hard-won experience how to spot a platform with a focus on the creator's needs:
What's the result? The creators believe they've made the right choice, but are exhausted over and over because they have to figure it out on their own without help from their service providers."
So what should you avoid? "Tools which increase the cost of their services with the growth of your database] like the majority of companies that offer email marketing. Services that have extra payments or hidden fees within the subscriptions they have to use templates, courses, or information."
Additionally, be aware of equipment that is expensive in the beginning, particularly as you start out. Khe advises "Creators are willing to spend money on services, but if you get started too expensive -- either through your tiering or through how you design your plan -- the cost could become too high, too early." Adrian adds, "Having to pay over $100 per month upfront- just to learn how to use the platform, or to discover how to earn money there simply doesn't work for the majority of creators."
What features should you look for? Adrian recommends seeking out tools developed by the designer at the forefront from the beginning and with a reasonable price, customer support, and complete transparency from the business.
"Although it may sound cliche, ask what are the values, mission, and vision of the company? What are their plans for the future? Do they truly want to expand? Perhaps they've created something or a service they're currently trying to sell, with no interest in improving it?"
-- Adrian Dalsus, Despegue Musical
There are numerous other factors which make the platform more user-friendly. These include how the transaction fee structure is set to the ability to accept direct payment . (Learn more about how 's CEO, Spencer Fry, thinks about creator friendliness and the reason it's a founding principle for the company.)
As Becky sums up, "There are always choices. My money will always go to those who truly care about my experience, not just about making money."
The Creator Friendliness Index
The Creator Friendliness Index uses 20 rating factors to determine the degree of how accommodating a business's policies are for creators. - Check out the platforms that are on your side