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’