What Is a Digital Content Creator? 2025 Career Guide

Using a variety of formats, a digital content creator produces content that entertains, informs, inspires, or persuades online audiences. In generating material that connects with and engages online users, digital content creators can help boost their own brand or the success of companies they work for. That explains why in 2024, 44 percent of advertisers planned to make greater investments in creator content, according to a report released by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) [1]. 

If you have an interest in becoming a digital content creator, learn more about this artistic and in-demand role.

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What is digital content?

Unlike other forms of content, which can be viewed in printed formats, digital content refers to materials created, distributed, viewed, and stored online. If well-received by viewers, digital content can offer a variety of benefits to individual influencers and companies, including increased visibility, greater perceived authority and trust, and higher sales.

Digital content types

The types of content you create will depend on your interests and the career direction you wish to take. Different types of digital content include:

• Audio content like audiobooks, music, and podcasts

• Interactive materials like surveys, games, polls, and quizzes

• Images like memes, illustrations, infographics, photographs, and slides

• Social media posts and updates

• Video content like live streams, movies, TV shows, and videos ( short and long)

• Written content like blog posts, ebooks, newsletters, and product descriptions

What do digital content creators do?

Digital content creators produce content for themselves or companies for distribution on various digital channels. Knowing more about the day-to-day activities of a digital content creator can help you decide if you want to follow this career path. 

Digital content creator tasks and responsibilities

As a digital content creator, you will play a role in developing a content strategy, with daily tasks and responsibilities that depend on the position you have and the expectations of your employer. Some common tasks and responsibilities of digital content creators include: 

• Creating different types of content, including audio, video, graphics, and written material

• Creating social media posts and social media account management

• Collaborating on projects with other content creators and company professionals

• Working with marketers to promote products or services

• Using editing software to improve digital content 

• Accessing online platforms for content sharing

• Using SEO to boost search ranking and increase written content’s visibility 

• Measuring content performance through analytics tools and methods

• Keeping up with the latest trends in digital content 

What is the role of a content creator vs. a digital content creator?

A content creator produces content for print channels, digital channels, or both. Examples of printed content might include newspaper or magazine articles, newsletters, brochures, or white papers. A digital content creator only produces content for online channels. 

Digital content creator skills

Certain skills can help you thrive in a digital content creator position. These include workplace skills, which can help you interact with others and transfer to many different positions, and technical skills, which can help you perform your specific duties as a digital content creator.

Workplace skills 

Examples of workplace skills that benefit digital content creators include:

• Adaptability

• Communication

• Creativity

• Critical thinking

• Problem-solving

• Teamwork

Technical skills 

Examples of technical skills that benefit digital content creators include:

• Creative writing

• Multimedia production and editing

• Graphic design 

• Photography 

• Search engine optimization (SEO)

• Social media marketing

Digital content creator salary and job outlook

To get an idea of what you might make each year as a digital content creator, consider information offered by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). According to the BLS, people in media and communication occupations earn an average salary of $66,320 per year as of May 2023. With 109,500 job openings expected each year from 2023 to 2033, job growth in this area should be about average when compared with other occupations [2]. 

Digital content creator career path 

When starting out on this career path, you might get a junior-level position or work as a freelancer offering digital content creation services. From there, you could progress to a senior content creator position, and as you gain more experience, you might advance even further. Possible positions for advancement include:

• Content manager

• Content director

• Chief content officer

• Digital strategist

• Marketing specialist

• Social media specialist

• Strategic communications specialist

How to become a digital content creator

Although you can become a digital content creator in different ways, a few key steps might help take you in the right direction. Consider building your digital portfolio, getting a degree, and/or developing your digital creator skills with certifications. 

Build your digital portfolio.

Through samples of your work, a digital portfolio engages potential employers and showcases your creativity and skills. When creating your digital portfolio, consider the following strategies:

• Know your target audience.

• Introduce yourself with a brief personal statement.

• Highlight creativity with a variety of samples (blogs, photos, videos, infographics, etc.)

• Emphasize your organizational and strategic thinking skills with a simple, cohesive design. 

Earn a bachelor’s degree.

If you wish to build content creator knowledge and skills, a bachelor’s degree might help. For instance, degrees in digital content creation or media communications cover topics like:

• Acting techniques

• Composition

• Digital audio and video production

• Entrepreneurship

• Graphic design

• Marketing strategy 

• Multimedia communication

• Social media influence

• Storytelling

Develop your digital creation skills with certifications.

In lieu of or in addition to a bachelor’s degree, certifications can show a prospective employer that you have the skills necessary to do the job. This type of training can also boost your confidence in your creative abilities, connect you with a network of other creators and mentors, and help you discover and build your own special creative niche.  

Depending on your interests, you can get certifications in a variety of topics, including:

• Brand strategy

• Content marketing

• Data analytics

• SEO fundamentals

• Social media management

• Video production

• Web design

Expand on your digital content creator skills on Coursera.

Creating engaging and informative digital content can help boost your own individual brand or that of the company you work for. 

To expand on your digital content creator skills, consider enrolling in an online professional certificate on Coursera. If you’re interested in jobs with a marketing focus or marketing your own brand, the Adobe Content Creator Professional Certificate can help you leverage AI and build the skills needed to advance your career in content creation. 

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