I had watched an interview of Tanmay Bhat with Varun Mayya quite some time ago, it made a lot of sense
These are hard-earned lessons from the trenches of India’s digital ecosystem
These were lying in my notes app, putting it out here, most things beautifully put by Tanmay, he indeed is a master of words
I have modified a few things based on knowledge that I have gathered too
Reaching 1K, 10K, 100K, 500K, 1 Million followers/subscribers isn’t just luck, it’s a result of systems, storytelling, & showing up relentlessly
Whether you’re at follower 54 or 540K, this post is your playbook to build a scalable content engine from scratch
1) Find Product-Market Fit for ‘Enjoyment’:
– Before you look for an audience, find what lights you up
– Create around a topic you’d stick to for 3+ years
– Test formats: video, writing, audio to find your medium
– Use early feedback as guidance, not gospel
– The best creators blend passion with market need
2) Build the Most Overlooked Skill: ‘Writing’
– No matter your platform, writing powers every hook, script, title, & caption
– Great writing helps you:
• Structure ideas that stick
• Create emotional or intellectual payoff writing is a long-term leverage
3) Play for Asymmetric Returns:
– One video can change your life
– 1 out of 50 posts may go viral
– Growth is spiky, not linear
– Each post is a ‘lottery ticket’ with better odds through consistency
– Show up often enough to get lucky
4) Master Retention: The Secret to Growth
– Likes don’t scale, retention does
– Open with curiosity
– Add tension or mystery
– Deliver a surprise halfway “oven moment”
– Refresh visuals every 30/60 secs
– Close with insight or clarity
– Platforms reward content that keeps people watching
5) Short-form vs Long-form:
– Use Both
– Start with short-form to build confidence & audience habit
– Evolve into long-form for trust and monetisation
– Rule of thumb:
. Short-form gets you discovered
. Long-form earns you loyalty & money
6) Monetisation: Think Beyond Ads
– Top content creators don’t rely on one stream
– Courses & Coaching are high-margin, scalable impact
– D2C Products: product opportunity
– Consulting/Services: when businesses want your playbook
7) Build Your Content Team
– Solo is fine to start but scale needs leverage and tribe
– Start with freelancers: editors, writers, producers
– Hire for:
• Speed
• Storytelling
– Build small but sharp teams
8) From Creator to Company:
– Content is the entry point, business is the outcome
– Build IP, not just posts
– Step out of ‘creator only’ mode into operator/founder mode
– The best creators evolve into content entrepreneurs
9) Track What Matters:
– Ignore vanity metrics, focus on:
• Retention rate
• Watch time
• RPM
• Repeat viewership
• Engagement/impression
• Upload velocity
‘Top creators aren’t guessing, they’re optimising’
‘This Is a Marathon, Not a Meme’
‘The creator economy isn’t a trend, it’s a revolution’
‘Start today, not someday’
