It’s no secret, even to people who aren’t content creators. Social media is booming. There are hundreds of platforms, each with tons of brands creating content. And every day, more and more people become content creators.
And, every day, they struggle with traditional platforms. Not because their content is bad or they aren’t a good creator. But the platforms don’t value them or their content. For most of us, there’s not enough time to create perfectly curated videos. If a creator is somehow able to, they have a hard time finding their audience, they feel out of place, and they’re lost when it comes to monetization.
They’re Not Polished ✨
Most creators are balancing a lot of responsibilities on top of content creation. They don’t have time to edit every video to perfection. And even if they do, they might not want to.
But a lot of videos that get pushed by traditional algorithms are polished. It’s made by creators who are professional editors, have expensive editing software, or spend all their time on videos. The average creator doesn’t have a ton of money or time to make flawless, polished videos. So they get pushed aside.
They Don’t Follow Trends 📈
A lot of big creators on traditional platforms follow or try to set trends. For creators who want to be more authentic or create content about their hobbies and passions, this can be a little stifling. It feels like the entire platform is pushing you to conform or create content you don’t like. And when those are the only videos getting any traction, it can be really discouraging.
They Can’t Monetize 💸
One of the biggest issues for creators on traditional platforms is monetization. Larger platforms make it so hard for creators to monetize. They have to get a certain number of followers, reach a certain amount of engagement, and make videos longer than a preset, minimum time. Not to mention, there are limited monetization opportunities. And then they take a huge cut of your money on top of that!
With platforms making it impossible to monetize and actually make money, of course, creators don’t feel valued. Literally and figuratively.
They’re Not “The Norm” 😎
A lot of short-form social media platforms feel like they’re geared toward a much younger audience. Many of our creators came from platforms like TikTok or Instagram, where they felt they weren’t enough of something. They weren’t young enough, they weren’t aesthetic or their content wasn’t pretty enough, or they weren’t cool or rich enough.
If you aren’t the norm, it can be hard to find success on traditional platforms. The norm performs well; it’s what the audience likes. So it gets pushed more, and creators who don’t fit the mould feel like their content doesn’t go anywhere.
They Don’t Match the Algorithm 🧩
Traditional platforms are so full of creators and influencers. At times, it can feel like you’re hurling a drop into an ocean. That’s why we have algorithms, to make sure that your content reaches the right people. But when you don’t align with the algorithm, that’s a different story.
And there’s no way to control whether a certain platform’s algorithm likes your content. If you don’t fit “the norm,” if you aren’t following the trends that are popping off, and if you aren’t creating the perfectly produced content people want, the algorithm won’t want to push you. A lot of traditional algorithms will only promote your content if they think it’ll perform well.
Which is the problem with traditional platforms, you rely on the algorithm pushing your content to find your audience. If it doesn’t, you won’t find success. It’s a never-ending cycle, unless you bend to what the algorithm wants.
They’re Too Weird 😵💫
We’ve talked about weird content and why you should post it before. But some creators just feel like they’re too weird for other platforms. And if you’ve spent any time in the comment section on other platforms, you can see why.
Many creators who don’t fit into traditional platforms are treated differently. If their content performs, it’s not always genuine. The comments could be full of people ridiculing and bullying them. In a Livestream, their viewers might be laughing at them or making fun of their content. Not only is the content they love not performing, but they end up getting hurt whenever it does.
It’s easy to see why so many creators are scared to start creating on traditional platforms. But with all of that stacked against you, it’s hard to think of a solution. It comes down to whether you want to change or continue doing what you’ve always done.
The Solution 👀
There are, as far as we can tell, three solutions to this.
First, you continue on. You keep posting and feeling ignored by traditional platforms. You’re doing what you love, but that could eventually make you feel even more unmotivated and dejected.
Second, you change to better suit what the platform wants. But, just like Mary Shelley tried to tell us, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. You should never change yourself to better fit in. Not only will you be less motivated, but you’re way more likely to burn out if you’re pretending to be something you aren’t.
Third, you find a platform that actually cares about you. Scary, because you’re used to these big, traditional platforms. Scarier because what other platform are you supposed to go to?!
The Answer: Clapper 👍
The Clapper app was made for creators who can’t help but break the mould. We’re for content creators and influencers who have felt too weird for other platforms. Creators all over the world said why they hated traditional platforms, and we committed to being different. Here’s how.
Authenticity Over Polish 🧡
At Clapper, we value creators exploring their passions, creating what they love, and being themselves over crafting perfect videos. You don’t need to make every video perfect to find your audience or become a successful creator. Just create what you love, and the audience will find you.
No Trends, No Problem 🧡
Don’t feel pressured to follow trends on Clapper. Our community wants you to share your interests and post content you love, not content that’s only about getting views. At Clapper, trends don’t matter and don’t help you grow; it’s community engagement and authenticity.
Monetization Made Easy 🧡
Clapper creators can monetize their content from day one. You get to decide when and how you want to monetize. Choose from five (and counting) ways to monetize. Plus, we have the lowest withdrawal fees of all other platforms, so you can keep more of the money you make.
Equal Opportunity Algorithm 🧡
Our creator-centric algorithm doesn’t just care about likes and engagement. If your video has six likes or six thousand, it will get pushed on the FYP. No more fighting with huge creators to reach (or find) your audience. Clapper’s algorithm doesn’t play favorites.
No One’s Too Weird 🧡
Clapper is for creators who can’t help but break the mold. No more second-guessing our content or saving drafts because they might be weird. Even your most unhinged content has an audience on Clapper.
The State of Social Media 📸
Social media can be frustrating. If you’re brave enough to put yourself out there, you shouldn’t have to fight with a platform to get noticed. Traditional platforms are gatekeeping success and making it nearly impossible for people to become content creators.
If you’re tired of being treated like a side character on other platforms, download Clapper.
