10 Things Every Subject Matter Expert Must Do to Build Their Personal Brand Starting Day 1 – With no extra expense 1. Pick One Core Topic, Not 10 Start with one area you know deeply, something you can speak about confidently without research. ➡ Instead of “marketing,” go for “Instagram growth by creative storytelling” 2. Define Your Niche and Ideal Audience Clearly: Be laser-specific. You’re not speaking to “everyone who wants to grow.” You’re helping a very defined persona, know who you want to target/influence/reach ➡ Example: “First-time founders building a SaaS product without a tech co-founder.” 3. Choose One Platform to Begin — Based on Your Strengths & Audience Don’t chase all platforms. ➡ If you’re a good writer, start with LinkedIn. ➡ If you think visually, use Instagram. ➡ If you’re confident on camera, begin with YouTube Shorts or Reels. Once momentum builds, you can repurpose for others. 4. Start Simple: Use What You Already Have No need to create from scratch. Use old presentations, recorded Zoom calls, client FAQs, or handwritten notes. ➡ Turn a webinar into a blog post. A client query into a carousel. A training session into a short-form video. 5. Build Around 3–5 Evergreen Content Pillars These are your go-to themes that solve recurring problems for your audience. ➡ Examples: “Pricing Strategy for Freelancers,” “Time Management for Solo Consultants,” “Negotiation Tactics for First-Time Founders.” 6. Repurpose Ruthlessly Across Formats From one solid post, you can create: → A short LinkedIn video→ A carousel for Instagram→ A YouTube Short with voiceover→ Snippets for Twitter or Threads This multiplies your output without extra effort. 7. Use Free Tools to Stay Consistent Without a Team Use free scheduling tools like Buffer, Canva, Notion, or Metricool to plan and publish without daily stress.You don’t need a social media manager — you need a system. 8. Tell Personal Stories with Real Lessons Facts educate, but stories stick. Share your missteps, mindset shifts, and real-life case studies.It makes your expertise more human — and more memorable. 9. Build Authority First — Monetization Follows Don’t try to sell a course, webinar, or consulting service on Day 1.Use the first 3–6 months to build credibility, proof of expertise, and trust.Only then introduce paid offerings. 10. Treat This Like a 100-Post Game, Not a 100-Post Gamble You don’t become a thought leader in a month. If you stay consistent for 100 posts, you’ll learn faster, grow deeper roots, and unlock clients, speaking gigs, content deals, or investor interest Final Thought You already have the most important asset: your knowledge. What you need now is structure, consistency, and the courage to build publicly. The rest follows
Top Earners in 2024 & What’s Next in 25-26
Top Earners in 2024 & What’s Next in 25-26 2024 saw content creators in Tech Reviews, Comedy/Entertainment, and Gaming/Roasting emerge as top earners driven by massive audience engagement and high-value brand deals. But as we step into 2025, new forces are reshaping the landscape: short-form video, nano-influencer UGC, AI-led creation, and direct monetisation. Snapshot of 2024: – YouTube paid ₹21,000+ Cr to Indian creators over the past 3 years.– Brands spent ₹2,344 Cr on influencer marketing in 2024; projected to hit ₹3,375 Cr by 2026 (25% CAGR).– 90% of content creator revenue came from brand deals but the ecosystem is evolving fast. 1) Top-Earning Niches in 2024: Tech, Comedy & Gaming led by margin – Education, Fitness, Fashion/Lifestyle creators also grew, but trailed leaders by 30 to 50% 2) Evolving Revenue Streams: – Ad Revenue & Brand Sponsorships still dominate.– Direct-to-Fan Models gaining traction:* Paid subscriptions (e.g. Insta, YouTube) are helping creators earn ₹10–20L/month* Live commerce & virtual gifting are building steady parallel income– Creator-led Product Sales & merchandise are on the rise. 3) 2025 Trends to Watch: * Short-Form Video Dominance: – 70%+ of UGC brand campaigns use 15–30 sec Reels/Shorts/– They deliver high engagement at low production cost * AI in Content & Strategy: – 76% of creators use AI for ideation, editing, trend analysis– 61% of brands now use AI for influencer operations * Nano & Micro-Influencers Rising: – 2M+ nano creators (1K–10K followers) now power hyper-local campaigns– 47% of brands prefer nano/micro creators for authenticity & ROI * Content-to-Commerce Shift: – BCG projects $1T+ creator-led commerce by 2030– In-video shopping, affiliate links, live shopping—especially in Tier 2/3 cities—are driving new revenue * UGC as Brand Strategy: – UGC campaigns improve web conversions by 29%– 75% of brands now include UGC in paid and organic content strategies 4) Advice for Brands & Creators: – Diversify revenue, don’t depend solely on brand deals– Double down on short-form UGC with regional/nano creators– Use AI to streamline content creation & performance tracking– Build community-commerce loops via live sales & affiliate models 2024 rewarded reach, but 2025, 26 will reward relevance Creators who are community-first, AI-aware, and commerce-ready will lead India’s next wave Image captured by Akash Shukla
Monetisation Beyond Ads & Brand Deals
Monetisation Beyond Ads & Brand Deals: Here’s a genre-wise ideas to help you monetise sustainably beyond AdSense and brand deals: 👗 Fashion & Lifestyle: 1) Sell styling guides, digital lookbooks, or presets2) Offer personal styling consults or closet audits3) Launch mini-courses on personal branding or fashion content4) Build a paid style tribe for early access and tips5) Share affiliate links via Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa, Meesho and other fashion eCommerce platforms ✈️ Travel & Food: 1) Sell curated itineraries, food maps, or local guides2) Host regional cooking classes or travel planning webinars3) Organise food walks or themed destination meetups4) Start a travel tribe for insider hacks and early drops5) Monetise through affiliate links: gear, hotels, kitchen tools 🎭 Entertainment & Fun: 1) Sell meme templates, character-based merch, or scripts2) Offer exclusive skits, live Q&As, or fa watch parties, meet-ups3) Host virtual comedy nights or reaction livestreams4) Teach content creation or humour-writing 1:15) Collaborate on digital entertainment IPs 🚀 Motivation & Aspiration: 1) Sell productivity planners, affirmation decks, or life templates2) Host workshops on clarity, discipline, and storytelling3) Offer mentorship or accountability-based coaching4) Run community-based growth challenges5) Launch a thought-led newsletter with real tools, not fluff 🧠 Research & Journalism, News Format: 1) Sell explainer decks, fact-checking templates, or story kits2) Launch paid Substack/newsletter with deep dives3) Host sessions on media literacy, storytelling, or analysis4) Crowdfund independent reports or docu-series5) Consult brands, students, or journalists on narratives 💻 Technology: 1) Sell tech playbooks, AI prompt libraries, or cheat sheets2) Host bootcamps: automation, coding, tools, GPT workflows3) Share affiliate links to SaaS, gadgets, or tech stacks4) Build a premium Discord for tech collabs5) Partner with startups for product demos or education 👨🏫 Teaching & Competitive Exams: 1) Sell notes, mock papers, formula charts, and revision kits2) Host live bootcamps for NEET, JEE, UPSC, CBSE, etc.3) Build a private Telegram/Discord study group4) Collaborate with EdTechs or local coaching centres5) Crowdfund free content or app-based learning tools 🌐 Bonus Tips For All Content Creators: 1) Launch paid communities via Patreon, InstaMojo, or Buy Me a Coffee, TopMate.io2) Host ticketed meetups, events, or retreats3) Monetise expertise via LinkedIn-sponsored content4) Speak at colleges, corporates, creator summits5) Co-create digital products, newsletters, or virtual events Remember – Your niche is your power– Your community is your capital– Build for depth, not just scale– Monetise with meaning If you want to connect with me to discuss starting/scaling content, strategy, growth, feel free to block my time using topmate.io/join2manish, reserve your slot
YouTube’s New Collab Feature
What if YouTube made it 10 times easier to grow without posting more videos? For years, creators have been trying to reach new viewers:– Guest appearances on other channels– Shoutouts in videos– Linking channels in descriptions It worked, but it was messy and slow. Now, YouTube is testing a built-in Collab Video feature that makes all of this instant. Here’s what it lets you do:– Upload your video and invite another creator to co-own it– Once they accept, the same video shows up on both your channels– Views, likes, and comments are counted together instead of being split– Viewers can tap to subscribe to every collaborator right from the video– On mobile, YouTube neatly lists all tagged collaborators, with a “and more” option if there are many Why this is huge:– Your video gets shown to your audience AND their audience at the same time– This means instant growth without posting more content– Perfect for podcasts, interviews, brand campaigns, and co-created videos– Brands can work with multiple creators in one smooth project without messy uploads– Audiences are more likely to subscribe when they see creators together in one official post Example:If you have 5k subscribers and collab with someone who has 20k, your video now gets exposure to 25k people on day one. That’s the power of this feature. Right now, YouTube is only testing this with a small group of trusted creators. But when it rolls out to everyone, the first ones to use it will get the biggest jump in audience and reach. So, the question is not “should you use it,” the real question is who will you collab with first.
25 Things You Should Never Do as a YouTube Content Creator
25 Things You Should Never Do as a YouTube Content Creator As a YouTuber, it’s easy to focus on growth, engagement, and virality But equally important is knowing what not to do on YouTube The YouTube Community Guidelines are not just fine print, they are foundational rules that protect creators, audiences, & the entire ecosystem Violating them can lead to demonetization, content strikes, or even a permanent ban Here’s a clear checklist every creator should be aware of: 1) Avoid spam or deceptive tactics. This includes fake giveaways, misleading thumbnails or titles, and repetitive comments 2) Do not impersonate individuals, brands, or public figures. Even parody has boundaries 3) Never upload sexually explicit content or fetish-focused material 4) Do not sexualize or exploit minors. YouTube removes such content immediately. 5) Never promote self-harm, suicide, or eating disorders. YouTube actively removes this type of content 6) Avoid graphic violence or gore unless it is used in educational or documentary context 7) Do not perform or encourage dangerous stunts or pranks that could cause harm 8) Never threaten others or reveal their private data. This includes cyberbullying and doxxing 9) Hate speech is strictly forbidden. Do not target anyone based on race, gender, religion, or any protected identity 10) Avoid chronic harassment or targeting individuals with slurs or ongoing negativity 11) Do not share how-to content that teaches dangerous or illegal activities 12) Never show minors in inappropriate or risky situations, like handling fireworks or drinking alcohol 13) Refrain from promoting or linking to illegal goods such as firearms, drugs, or fake documents 14) Medical misinformation can cause real-world harm. Avoid spreading unverified health claims 15) Do not share content that misleads about elections or discourages people from voting 16) Avoid manipulating engagement metrics. This includes buying views, using bots, or misleading thumbnails 17) Repetitive, low-quality, or copied content may lead to demonetization or channel removal 18) Respect copyright. Use licensed audio, video, or media assets 19) Protect privacy. Do not expose others’ personal details like phone numbers or addresses 20) Never promote or associate with violent extremist groups or criminal organizations 21) Harmful or deceptive links, such as phishing sites or crypto scams, are not allowed 22) Animal cruelty is not entertainment. Do not upload such content, even staged ‘rescues’ 23) If content is made for children, label it accurately and follow all kid-focused policies 24) Do not mislead about age-appropriate content or encourage unsupervised usage by minors 25) Never try to bypass enforcement by creating new channels after strikes or bans If you want to connect with me to discuss starting/scaling content, strategy, growth, feel free to block my time using topmate.io/join2manish, book your slot
YouTube Shorts Viral Checklist
YouTube is not a mystery. It is a system that rewards specific viewer signals. When you know what those signals are, you stop guessing and start creating content that travels further. YouTube recently shared its Shorts Viral Checklist. It is a practical set of 5 actions that align with how the platform’s algorithm measures watch time, engagement and click-through rate. Here is the breakdown:• Create a scroll stopping title. Keep it short, clear and curiosity-driven. • Always add subtitles. They improve retention and make your content more accessible. • Nail your hook in the first 3 seconds. This is when the viewer decides to keep watching. • Adjust your publishing settings. Turn off the paid promotion tag if not running ads and set comments to basic. • Do not miss the final tip in YouTube’s pinned comment. It is often the most impactful for new creators. Apply these steps consistently and you will start building videos that not only get views but hold attention. That is when growth becomes predictable.
YT Shorts vs YT Long-Form
Shorts vs Long-Form: The Truth Every Creator Should Know Every content creator today is facing one question should you go all-in on short-form Reels/Shorts for viral reach, or focus on long-form videos & podcasts for long-term growth? Here’s the reality, based on deeper research and real numbers: 1) Short-form (Reels/Shorts) feels exciting 1 viral post, overnight reach, phone flooded with notifications. But the same viral shorts (1M views) gets you only ₹5-24 thousand.(About $10–60 in the US scenario) The same 1M views on a long-form YouTube video can get you ₹1–2 lakh (or $1200–6000+). That’s the gap. Why? Platforms reward watch time, not just views. Platforms like YouTube & Instagram want you creating short videos. Why? – 60–80% finish a 30-sec video, only 20–30% complete a 30-min one – 60 short videos mean 60 ad slots, 1 long video = 1–2 ad slots – Each swipe = 15x more data points for the platform to learn from 2) For content creators: – Short-form brings FOLLOWERS– Long-form brings TRUST—and sales– Most brand deals, product sales, and e-courses come from long-form videos, podcasts, and deep interviews – No one pays ₹50,000 for a course after watching a reel they do after binging 3 hours of your content. Even Gary Vee & BeerBiceps use both:• Use Shorts to get attention• Use long-form to build strong revenue streams Gary Vaynerchuk’s Approach: – Creates pillar long-form content, then cuts it into dozens of short clips distributed everywhere.– His philosophy: “Be where attention is, but build where trust pays.” BeerBiceps (Ranveer Allahbadia) Strategy: – 2-3 hour podcast episodes with A-list guests form the foundation.– Instagram Reels are just appetizers that drive people to the main course. But here’s what most ignore: Short-form content is TRULY rewiring our brains Research shows that heavy social media use correlates with reduced attention spans and impaired cognitive control. 5 years ago, you could watch a 3-hour movie without checking your phone. Today, 10-minute videos feel too long. – Attention spans are collapsing– But deep focus is what separates top professionals from the crowd– In 2025, your ability to focus for 30+ min is your secret weapon 3) So, how to win? Follow the 70-20-10 Rule for content:Creators: – 70% focus = long-form (foundation, money, trust)– 20% = short-form (repurpose main video, new experiments)– 10% = collabs, newsletters, livesConsumers:– 70% should be podcasts/videos/masterclasses– 20% strategic Shorts/Reels, only to discover deeper content– 10% newsletters/reading Key: – Don’t obsess over views– Focus on watchtime, retention, & monetization– Stop chasing scattered virality– Start building content assets that compound– Both formats are TOOLS – not destinations– Short-form gets you noticed– Long-form gets you PAID India: 600M+ daily viewers: 385M IG users70B Shorts views/day: 490M YT users But the creators who make a living?They play the long game.
YouTube’s 2025 Monetization Shake-Up
YouTube dropped its biggest creator economy updates in 2025 – and it’s reshaping everything we know about content monetization After deep-diving into YouTube’s revolutionary changes, here’s what every content creator, brand manager, and marketer needs to know: 1) MONETIZATION CRACKDOWN IS REAL: YouTube renamed “repetitious content” to “inauthentic content” – targeting AI-generated, mass-produced videos. Template reactions and low-effort compilations? Say goodbye to monetization. This isn’t just policy tweaking; it’s YouTube betting big on authentic storytelling. 2) THE HYPE FEATURE = DEMOCRATIZED DISCOVERY: This changes everything for smaller creators (under 500K subs). Viewers can “hype” 3 videos weekly, pushing content up ranked leaderboards. In beta testing alone: 5M+ hypes across 50K+ channels. For brands scouting emerging talent? This is your new goldmine. 3) COLLAB FEATURE FOR LONG-FORM VIDEOS: YouTube’s Instagram-inspired collaboration tool is now live. Creators can tag up to 4 collaborators per video, displaying all avatars beside the title. The game-changer? Videos get recommended to ALL collaborators’ audiences simultaneously. MrBeast was first to showcase this with Mark Rober and others. Revenue currently goes to uploader, but exposure is 4) MULTI-LANGUAGE AUDIO = GLOBAL REACH UNLOCKED: Every creator now gets AI-powered dubbing in multiple languages. Jamie Oliver tripled his viewership. Mark Rober averages 30+ languages per video. For Indian creators speaking Hindi, Tamil, Telugu? Your content can now reach global audiences effortlessly 🇮🇳 INDIA STATUS CHECK: – Hype Feature: Live since July 2025– Multi-language Dubbing: Rolled out September 2025– Collab Feature: Currently testing with select creators– Dream Screen AI (Veo 2): Coming late 2025/early 2026 THE BRAND OPPORTUNITY: 1) 491M YouTube users in India (largest globally) 2) 110K-170K Indian creators actively monetizing 3) Collaborations can 4x audience reach instantly 4) Only 8-10% of 2.5M active creators earn meaningful income STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS: → Authentic collaboration > sponsored content → Cross-audience exposure through collab tagging → Smaller creators can access larger audiences → Revenue sharing discussions needed off-platform The creator economy just shifted from individual silos to collaborative ecosystems. Those who adapt early win big.
Do Instagram Reel Covers Really Matter?
Should Content Creators Care About Instagram Reel Covers? Does it have Real Impact? If you’re investing time in making custom Reel covers, read this before your next upload What Instagram’s Head Adam Mosseri has clarified: 1) Your Reel cover/thumbnail does not impact reach or algorithmic distribution 2) Custom thumbnails (from Canva/Adobe Express) have zero negative effect on how your Reel performs in Recommendations or Explore: algorithm simply doesn’t care So, where do Reel covers actually matter? 1) Profile Grid Aesthetics: – Covers show up in your feed and profile grid, they make first impressions – A branded grid signals professionalism and intentionality – Messy grids > confused visitors 2) Profile-Level Click-Through: – A cover with clear topic text helps profile visitors instantly pick content that interests them – This boosts your views from returning and new profile visitors 3) Content Discoverability: – Creators who teach, coach, or share resources benefit most clear covers make your profile a searchable resource library for your audience 4) Brand Consistency: – Consistent covers with your brand colors/fonts build credibility and trust – Even if you skip covers sometimes, intentional design has compounding effects 5) No Impact on Algorithm, But Yes on Human Behavior: – Most Reel views come from IG’s Recommendations, where cover isn’t shown – But people do judge your expertise based on profile appearance Pro Tips for Reel Covers (if you use them): – Keep the core message in the center/top third of the cover– Limit text to 3-4 actionable words– Use template batches—update covers even after posting – Recommended dimensions: 1080 x 1920 px (safe zone in the center) Who Should Focus on Reel Covers? – Business, educational, and expert-led creators: Covers = valuable asset – Entertainment-only creators: Optional for algorithm, useful for branding Bottom Line: Covers don’t change reach, but they make your content discoverable and your brand trustworthy, especially for “profile browsers.” What’s working for you? Do custom covers drive more clicks from your profile? Drop your results & questions below
Stop Creating More, Reuse Your Best Reels.
The most overlooked Instagram growth tactic right now does not involve paid ads, trending audio, or even fresh content. It is about being smart with what has already worked for you. Recently, a viral clip featuring a digital creator known as “Saurik Girl” shared a valuable insight on using Instagram Trials, and it is one of the most practical organic strategies I’ve seen in a while. Here’s the idea:Instead of only uploading new Reels, go back to your top-performing videos from the past. The ones that brought you the most views, reach, engagement, or followers. Re-upload those videos using Instagram’s Trials feature. Instagram Trials is still being rolled out to more users, but it acts like a testbed for creators to try out their content with a wider audience. It is designed to help Instagram surface content to new viewers based on performance and interest matching. So what happens when you re-upload past hits to Trials?– You bypass the need for ads or boosting– Instagram’s algorithm does the work of distributing it to fresh audiences– You get sustained reach from content that already proved itself– You gain new followers without producing new content every time This is smart content leverage. It is about working with data you already have your own best-performing content, and letting the algorithm serve it to people who haven’t seen it yet. A few key tips if you want to try this:– Choose Reels that performed well organically– Add small updates to captions or hooks to keep them fresh– Monitor what works and refine your content strategy accordingly– Don’t over-repost too often. Keep a balance to avoid fatigue Many creators and businesses believe growth on Instagram today requires either heavy creativity or heavy spend. But thoughtful strategy often wins. By using what worked in the past, you increase your odds of future reach, without burnout or budget. Sometimes the best social media strategy is not always about “what’s next,” but “what still works.” If you’re building a personal brand, coaching business, or creative studio, remember: smart reuse is not lazy. It’s strategic. Let the algorithm work for you. Let me know if you’ve tried this tactic or plan to. If you want to connect with me to discuss starting/scaling content, strategy, growth, feel free to block my time using topmate.io/join2manish, book your slot