Riley Brown on AI Content Creation, Monetization Strategies, and Building Online Communities

Riley Brown's Journey into AI Content Creation

Riley Brown, a prominent AI content creator, shared his journey into the world of artificial intelligence and content creation. He began his content creation journey about 16 months ago, with a 6-month preparation period beforehand. Riley's interest in AI was sparked when he was introduced to Midjourney, an AI image generation tool, about 5-6 months before ChatGPT was released.

Riley's background in the metaverse space and his fascination with new technology led him to explore AI tools like DALL-E 2 and other language models. When ChatGPT was launched, Riley already had a deep understanding of the technology, which gave him an advantage in creating content about it.

Rapid Growth on Social Media

Riley's content strategy focused on creating daily 5-minute videos about ChatGPT on TikTok. This approach led to explosive growth:

• He went from 0 to 100,000 followers in just two weeks
• His videos consistently received around a million views each
• He expanded his content to cover other AI tools as they were released

Riley attributes his success to his prior knowledge of AI and his ability to explain complex concepts in an accessible way.

Monetization Strategies for Content Creators

Riley discussed various monetization strategies for content creators, with a focus on his own experiences and observations.

Sponsorships and Brand Deals

Currently, sponsorships make up about 98% of Riley's income. He shared some insights into his sponsorship deals:

• He recently earned $100,000 for one day's work at a conference, which included three posts and two additional posts edited by the company
• Riley emphasizes the importance of only working with companies whose products he actively uses or finds genuinely interesting
• He believes that sponsorships provide a risk-free way to make significantly more money than he's ever made before

Community Building and Membership Models

Riley has experimented with building a community and discussed the potential of membership models:

• He created a free community on Circle, a community platform
• Riley sees potential in combining community with education
• He acknowledges that building and maintaining a community requires significant effort
• The idea of a multi-creator community model was discussed, where several creators could collaborate to provide value to members

Courses and Educational Content

Riley has considered creating courses but has some reservations:

• He wants to ensure any course he creates is high-quality and genuinely useful
• There are concerns about courses becoming obsolete quickly in the fast-moving AI space
• Riley is more interested in the idea of an ongoing, live community model for education

Newsletters

Riley admitted that he missed out on the newsletter opportunity:

• He personally dislikes email and has never subscribed to newsletters himself
• In retrospect, he believes he could have made significant money by turning his notes into a newsletter
• Riley now understands the potential of newsletters and believes he could create a successful one with the right team

Building and Managing Online Communities

Riley shared his thoughts on building and managing online communities, drawing from his own experiences and observations.

The Importance of In-Person Events

Riley emphasized the significance of in-person events for online communities:

• He believes that the "lifeblood of online communities is in-person events"
• Meeting in real life helps strengthen connections between community members
• Riley sees potential in creating a business model that increases face-to-face interactions within the community

Challenges of Community Management

Riley discussed some of the challenges associated with managing an online community:

• It requires significant time and effort to keep a community active and engaged
• There's a need to balance community management with content creation and other responsibilities
• Finding the right platform and format for the community can be challenging

Innovative Community Ideas

Riley shared some innovative ideas for community building:

• Using platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram for more frictionless community interactions
• Exploring the potential of audio-based communities, such as the platform Airchat
• Considering a model where multiple creators collaborate to provide value to a shared community

Content Creation Strategies and Insights

Riley offered valuable insights into content creation strategies based on his experiences and observations.

Balancing Exploration and Operation

Riley describes himself as an "explorer" rather than an "operator":

• He enjoys discovering new tools and concepts in the AI space
• Riley recognizes the need to surround himself with skilled operators to build sustainable businesses
• He aims to find a balance between exploration and operation in his future endeavors

The Importance of Authenticity

Riley emphasized the value of authenticity in content creation:

• He believes that creators should share insights that come naturally to them, even if they seem obvious
• Riley suggests that unpackaged, authentic content can often be more engaging than highly produced videos
• He recommends experimenting with different content formats to find what resonates with the audience

Adapting to Algorithm Changes

Riley discussed the importance of adapting to changes in social media algorithms:

• He suggests having multiple "home bases" or content styles that creators can switch between
• This approach allows creators to pivot when one style stops performing well
• Riley emphasizes the need to continually test new content formats and ideas

Future Plans and Aspirations

Riley shared some of his future plans and aspirations as a content creator and entrepreneur.

Building a Team and Physical Workspace

Riley expressed a desire to create a physical workspace and build a team:

• He wants to work with people in person to improve collaboration and creativity
• Riley envisions having a small office with a core team of operators
• He believes this setup will help him scale his operations and push the limits of what he can achieve

Exploring New Business Models

Riley is interested in exploring new business models beyond content creation:

• He's considering advising and investing in companies in the AI space
• Riley is particularly interested in tools that make content creation easier for humans, rather than fully automated AI content
• He sees potential in combining his content creation skills with business development opportunities

Advice for Content Creators

Riley offered several pieces of advice for aspiring and established content creators:

1. Focus on the first 5 seconds of your content, including a strong hook and visual element
2. Don't be afraid to experiment with different content formats and styles
3. Pay attention to what resonates with your audience, even if it surprises you
4. Consider building multiple "home bases" or content styles that you can switch between
5. Don't underestimate the value of your unique perspectives and insights
6. Be cautious about over-monetizing too quickly, as it may detract from your message
7. Stay true to your passions and interests when choosing content topics
8. Consider the long-term sustainability of your content strategy
9. Be open to collaboration and learning from other creators
10. Continuously adapt and evolve your approach as the digital landscape changes

In conclusion, Riley Brown's insights offer valuable guidance for content creators navigating the ever-changing landscape of AI and digital media. By focusing on authenticity, adaptability, and strategic monetization, creators can build sustainable careers while staying true to their passions and providing value to their audiences.

Article created from: https://youtu.be/PwgrHR51D8s