Forbes - How A Viral TikTok Gave Adam 'W' The Confidence To Quit His Job
Adam W transitioned from working as a valet and aspiring actor to becoming a successful content creator with over 55 million followers. His journey began with creating videos in hopes of being noticed by directors, but he found success when a video unexpectedly went viral. This gave him the confidence to pursue content creation full-time, despite initial financial struggles. Adam emphasizes the importance of consistency, creating a video every day to improve his skills and increase his following. He highlights the significance of engagement over follower count, noting that high engagement leads to better visibility and opportunities for brand deals. Adam's first major brand deal with T-Mobile marked a turning point, allowing him to invest in his content and build a reputation for high-quality branded content. He continues to expand his career into stand-up comedy and aims to maintain his presence on social media while exploring traditional media opportunities.
Key Points:
- Consistency is crucial; Adam made a video every day to hone his skills and grow his audience.
- Engagement is more important than follower count for visibility and brand deals.
- Adam's first major brand deal was with T-Mobile, which helped him financially and professionally.
- He emphasizes creating relatable and high-quality content for both personal and branded videos.
- Adam is expanding into stand-up comedy and exploring opportunities in traditional media.
Details:
1. 🚀 Taking the Leap: Quitting the Job for Creativity
- The speaker decided to quit their job after achieving success with a single video, which provided the confidence needed to pursue creativity full-time.
- They plan to produce a video every day, with a long-term commitment of up to 10 years to reach success.
- The speaker's motivation is rooted in the belief that replicating the success of the initial video is possible through consistent effort.
- They are determined to invest time and resources into daily video production, emphasizing the importance of persistence in creative endeavors.
2. 🎤 Meet Adam W: A Comedic Journey
2.1. Achievements and Influence
2.2. Comedic Style and Contributions
2.3. Background and Rise to Fame
3. 🎭 From Valet to Viral: Adam's Beginnings
3.1. Adam's Initial Career Aspirations and Challenges
3.2. Transition to Acting and Content Creation
4. 📈 Viral Breakthrough and Consistent Creation
4.1. Initial Content Creation
4.2. First Video Efforts
4.3. Realization of One-Man Show
4.4. Initial Disappointment and Decision to Persist
4.5. Viral Breakthrough
4.6. Commitment to Consistent Creation
5. 💡 Strategy Behind Daily Content Production
5.1. Persistence and Adaptation in Content Creation
5.2. Learning from Failure and Iteration
5.3. Daily Content Production as a Path to Improvement
6. 💼 Monetizing the Platform: First Brand Deals
6.1. Exploring Monetization Opportunities
6.2. First Brand Deal with T-Mobile
7. 🏢 Building a Brand and Team
7.1. Brand Achievements and Partnerships
7.2. Team Structure and Production Strategy
8. 🧠 Creative Process and Content Engagement
- The speaker posts content every other day, having shifted from a daily posting schedule maintained for almost five years.
- Content creation is strictly avoided on non-posting days, focusing instead on idea generation during posting days between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
- Idea generation is inspired by trends, conversations, and personal reflections, sometimes using AI like ChatGPT to identify relatable topics.
- Once an idea is formed, production is rapidly mobilized, with actors being contacted on the same day to ensure swift execution.
- Filming and editing are completed by 1:30 p.m., ensuring the content is posted by 2:30 p.m.
- The speaker thrives under the pressure of deadlines, indicating a preference for high-pressure environments to stimulate creativity.
9. 📊 The Importance of Engagement Across Platforms
- Engagement is more crucial than follower count; a highly engaged smaller audience is preferable to a larger, less engaged one.
- High engagement leads to better algorithm placement and conversion rates, even if growth is slower.
- On platforms like TikTok, 1-2% of traffic comes from profile views; most traffic is driven by the 'For You' page, necessitating engaging content for broader exposure.
- Content should appeal to both new viewers and existing followers to ensure it reaches 'For You' pages and gains traction.
- YouTube is deemed the most valuable platform for followers, as it's considered the home of creators.
- To increase engagement on Instagram, use interactive features like polls and questions in stories, and post consistently with engaging captions.
- On Facebook, leverage live videos and community groups to foster real-time interaction and build a sense of community.
- Examples of successful engagement tactics include using catchy thumbnails on YouTube and creating challenges or trends on TikTok to encourage user participation.
10. 🎥 Short vs. Long Form Content: Opportunities and Challenges
10.1. Community Engagement and Value
10.2. Metrics and Viewership
10.3. Monetization and Platform Strategy
10.4. Revenue Potential
10.5. Audience Interaction and Loyalty
11. 🎙️ Stand-Up Comedy and Mentorship
11.1. Short Form vs Long Form Content
11.2. Audience Engagement and YouTube Dynamics
11.3. Transition from Social Media to Broader Platforms
11.4. Stand-Up Comedy as a New Venture
11.5. Challenges and Mentorship in Stand-Up Comedy
12. 😂 Crafting Comedy: Style and Inspiration
- Performing in front of over 11,000 people at the Warriors Arena highlighted the scale of live audiences compared to online views, emphasizing the unique energy and connection live shows provide.
- Matt Re, a top creator, earned approximately $50 million in a year by leveraging his social media following and performing 30 sold-out shows per month, showcasing the financial potential of combining live performances with online presence.
- Standup comedy's minimal production costs allow comedians like Matt Re to maximize profits from ticket sales, illustrating the economic efficiency of the art form.
- Matt Re's success underscores the importance of social media in amplifying a comedian's reach and income potential, especially through innovative content like crowd work clips.
- The trend of crowd work clips, popularized by Matt Re, demonstrates the potential for content innovation in comedy, inspiring comedians to experiment with their styles.
- Collaborating with established comedians such as Joe Koy, Kevin Hart, and Dane Cook provides valuable learning opportunities, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and mentorship in honing one's comedic craft.