avatarJohn Adam Ledford

Summary

The article discusses the 1% rule of Internet content creation, emphasizing the importance of consistency, learning, and competition among creators to achieve success.

Abstract

The 1% rule of the Internet suggests that a small fraction of users, specifically 1%, are responsible for creating the majority of content, while the remaining 99% primarily consume, share, and comment on this content. The article highlights the challenges and motivations for content creators, noting that success in content creation comes from persistent daily or weekly efforts, learning from experienced creators, and building a system of tasks rather than focusing solely on goals. It encourages new creators to persevere despite competition from veteran creators and to embrace a routine of writing, sharing, and engaging with their audience to improve their craft and achieve long-term success.

Opinions

  • The article implies that content creation is a highly competitive field, despite the small percentage of creators, because these individuals are constantly honing their skills and producing high-quality content.
  • It suggests that content creation is not just about posting content but also about engaging with the audience through consistent interaction, such as commenting and sharing.
  • The author advocates for finding a mentor in one's niche to guide the creation process and for focusing on a system of regular tasks rather than overwhelming goals.
  • The article posits that even though the majority of internet users do not create content, there is a significant opportunity for creators to stand out and build a following by consistently producing valuable content.
  • It acknowledges that while initial content may not be of high quality, persistence in content creation leads to improvement and eventual success as a creator.
  • The author believes in the power of reading and engaging with other creators' content as a means to generate new ideas and sustain long-term success in content creation.

The 1% Rule of the Internet: How to be a Content Creator

If you’re creating content on the Internet, you’re part of a very select group.

Photo by ConvertKit on Unsplash

According to the 1% rule, only about 1% of all Internet users are responsible for creating content. That means for every person who posts on an article, generally, 99 other people view that article but do not post. The 1% rule is often cited when discussing the distribution of online content, and it’s a valuable lesson for anyone looking to create successful content.

In this article, we’ll discuss what the 1% rule means for content creators and offer some tips on how to be successful in this highly competitive arena!

99% follow, comment and share

This is saying that the majority of people on the internet as a whole are consistently following, commenting, and sharing what the 1% is consistently creating.

Creators should use this as motivation to continue to create more content consistently. Think of it this way, we are creators in a huge feeding frenzy, and with time, plus effort. Our content will be seen, followed, and shared.

“If you create good content, consumers will come with time.” — John Ledford

1% Create most of the content

I say most because you will have some that try but fail or quit. That content will still be in our ocean and we still have to compete with it.

Continue to create daily or weekly and don’t quit, cause your time is coming when you have put in the work.

If only 1% create, How can it be “Highly Competitive?”

Cause the 1% is creating every day, they learn every day and they get better at the craft of writing every day. This makes the content really good and creates competition for you as a creator.

How do you Succeed against Veteran Creators?

This one is simple to answer — You continue to create content even if it’s “Shxt” at first, it will get better with time and you will become a veteran writer after you put in the work.

That might not be the answer some want to hear, but sometimes the truth hurts and it weeds out the true content creators from the actual followers.

Tips on Succeeding as a Content Creator

These tips are not in any order and some are things I have recently learned from veteran writers that I follow. (I’ll link those articles to help you get more motivation.)

  • Find a mentor that is a veteran in your niche
  • Create a system to follow and not goals — this one is new to me, but I like it. Goals can still be created for your follower’s sight, but they are daunting for me and can be discouraging at times.

What a system looks like and makes sure to read Tim’s post, it will help you in creating your own. It’s similar to a “list of tasks that you follow”

  • Write every day or very close to it, some write during the week and not on the weekend. I believe in writing every day, I have a lot to say though.
  • Send a newsletter every week — I haven’t made it to this point yet, but I like it and know that I write enough to be able to do this shortly.
  • Post 4 times on Twitter every day — something I’m getting better at and striving for. I believe in Twitter and LinkedIn, they are as you say “old dogs of social media but they still work”.
  • Launch new courses to help others every 3 months — if you write every day or have experience, you should be able to start this and continue to create every quarter of the year.
  • Manage and create Passive income side hustles — side hustles that are automatically generating you income while you sleep. Hard work up front, but not much after you create them.
  • Read every day — Yes you still need to read, follow, comment and share. All of this is a necessity for long-term success as a creator and this is the way you can get more ideas to create good content.

I think you get the point of a system, it’s not goals cause it’s not about putting numbers of what you need to hit. It’s more about building consistent creation of good content.

Closing thoughts

This wasn’t going to be this long until I started writing and couldn’t stop. Sorry, hope you enjoyed it and I hope it gives you the motivation to become consistent at creating good content.

“Believe you can and your halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt

Thank you for reading and please FOLLOW to get more motivation to create content. I write every day cause I like to help others become better and I do case studies on tools to help you, I also write about entrepreneurs and business-related articles.

Check out some of my other articles…

Content Marketing
Money
Writer
Content Strategy
Success
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