Is creating content the new 9-to-5? It certainly seems that way. We've gone from kids dreaming of being astronauts to aspiring YouTubers — and as much as I love life as a full-time internet professional, staying in the game means learning to operate like a business. Because here is the reality: The the creative economy it's evolving fast and keeping up means finding new ways to stay ahead and make money.

So whether you're a creator aiming to thrive, an advertiser wondering what tools creators need, or a business owner exploring an on-camera career, here's your essential guide to navigating the creative economy.

Related: 5 quick tips to find instant success in the creator economy

First thing's first: Treat it like a business

Most of all successful creator know that they are more than just a profile – they are a business. Check out MrBeast, Alex Cooper and Marques Brownlee. What started as creative expression and community building for them has evolved into a media empire.

Unlike traditional creators who risk the ephemeral nature of social media, these creators leveraged the right opportunities, teams, and strategies to turn what they do into something much bigger. So while you're thinking about those “silly little TikToks” or “another podcast,” reframe your mindset. This could be your chance to build a life you're excited about.

Next: Raise the stakes

I was part of the team that produced a reality TV show on Amazon Prime, and if there's one thing reality TV taught me, it's that you have to be consistent raise the stakes. Each episode should be a little more intense than the last. Social media is no different.

This may mean presenting long-form content to deepen links, starting a newsletter for regular knowledge or expansion beyond just one platform. It's your job to make sure your influence doesn't settle into a space.

Invest in the right tools and teams

As creators with manufacturing power right in our pockets, we're used to using and keeping 100% of our revenue, stock and IP. And while it is wise to maintain as much control as possible, COOPERATION it is essential if you want to stay competitive.

I brought my management team on board two years after I started taking my content seriously, and it's 10x my revenue, not to mention the growth it's given my brand in a crowded industry. But in addition to human resources, investing in the right tools can be transformative.

The new HubSpot Breeze agents powered by AI are specifically designed to support creators in critical areas. The Breeze prospecting agent helps simplify lead generation by analyzing intent signals and sending personalized field messages, making it easy to scale customer engagement and build your base without manual labor.

In addition, Breeze Customer Agent offers 24/7 automated customer support – perfect for creators selling products or courses, as it handles common questions and directs complex issues to the right person. This saves time and allows you to focus on creating, while maintaining a calm manner customer experience.

If your goal is to extend content reach, Breeze Content Agent makes content reuse a more efficient experience. For example, upload a single video and it can generate blog posts, social snippets, and landing pages in your brand's voice, saving you hours you'd otherwise spend reformatting. Using such tools maximizes productivity and frees you to focus on your area of ​​genius and creative work in fact promotes growth.

Related: 6 Skills You Need to Become a Successful Online Content Creator

And remember – you're always leaving money on the table

New creators often think that the only way to make money is through brand partnerships and affiliate programs, but the truth is that your possibilities are endless.

as a “creative entrepreneur“I've launched training programs, digital products—you name it. But even that barely scratches the surface. When you're planning to launch, instead of asking yourself what to sell, try to identify 'winning concepts.'” For example, a of my most popular TikTok series focused on the power of vision boards, went viral three years in a row, and that's when I realized I was sitting on an untapped opportunity.

So, I set aside an hour to outline and script a mini-course, another hour to film it, and two more to edit and create promotional pieces. Priced at $11.11 (for all you spiritual wimps out there), it has generated thousands and now lives on as a passive income stream.

I didn't need to reinvent the wheel or brainstorm for hours—the idea had been with me for years. And every time I post, I find new winning concepts to build on.

Building a sustainable career as a creator it's not just about posting content and becoming the next 'girl' – it's about realizing that this could be your next big venture and the key we need in this economy to create generational wealth.