The Merits and Pitfalls of Being a Christian Content Creator

A Side Hustle Story

I’m what I like to call a “side hustle Christian content creator”—I have all the hustle but no money on the side to show for it. I am one of many women who creates Christian content for a social media page I started.

My definition of a Christian content creator is someone who began a social media platform from nothing and has grown it (or is struggling to grow it) by creating, writing, curating, and posting content on social media. Many of us began platforms because, as women, opportunities to teach the bible to adults and write Christian books are challenging to come by in the “real world.”  It was out of a desire to reflect our love for Jesus and utilize the gifts he gave us that we began creating content. I have met some of the kindest and most supportive women doing this.

Social media can be a good place where friendships are formed and support is found. It is a place daily burgeoning with ideas. When used positively, these ideas inspire people to utilize their creativity in the real world, challenge people to improve, and promote learning through reading posts or watching video tutorials. For content creators like myself, it gives us an outlet for creativity and, for those who like to write, a platform to get their ideas out.

Social media is not “bad”; I have found that a content creator’s mindset, application, and discernment make a difference in how they promote their platform.

Here’s the rub: keeping that in check when growing a page is difficult.

 I don’t have to tell you that aspiring authors and speakers saturate the Christian social media market. There is a dizzying amount of content out there, and the return on the investment of the time and creativity it takes to make such content is minimal. That’s when frustration and dissatisfaction creep in.

Sarah K. Butterfield

wrote a tender piece on this topic yesterday.

When

Karen Swallow Prior

recently revisited her article published by TGC in 2017, I took another hard look at Christian social media “platforming.” She also links some other substacks in her article that I found helpful.

I read that post thinking I had already challenged myself enough on the topic, but I had not, and her post “hurt so good.” Karen communicated that our real lives are the platform, and social media reflects that platform. Please read the article; she says it better. What stung is that for a couple of years (2018-2020), I attempted to promote myself as a speaker with no established, steady, real-life experience—just a few speaking engagements.

At that time, I felt trapped in my life, constantly dissatisfied, and thirsty for more than I had. I joined a writer’s group after I wrote an article for a popular mommy blog, and they encouraged self-promotion. Because of my skewed mindset, I drank up all the advice like the men in Gideon’s army who didn’t watch for enemies while drinking water. (Judg. 7:6)

We were advised to share and like each other’s content, keep track of the Facebook algorithm (impossible now), create memes, and formulate posts for maximum impact. After two years in that all-consuming environment, I noticed the atmosphere stunted creativity, bred discontent, and tempted one-upmanship. I realized that the purpose of sharing each other’s work was so our own content would get shared—like a return for an investment. Some did better than others in this atmosphere, but overall, the feeling I got after discussing this with other women was that it was difficult for them, too.

As I write this, I just opened an email from a famous women's conference aimed at Christian women content creators and aspiring speakers. The email implies that women may face seasons of doubting their purpose, and they may ask God why other people’s callings move faster than theirs. It continues to talk about how a woman’s job is to obey God’s calling, big or small. It discusses how the conference helps with speaking, writing, social media platforms, and podcast reach and ends by saying that fear can stop women from turning their dreams into reality. Sigh.

When I clicked through, it took me to a sign-up page for a two-day event. A “general” ticket is $825.00 with upgrade options (an online ticket is $99.00). This does not feel right. Though the wording of the conference urges women not to have doubts and fears about their calling, it plays to their doubts and fears and offers women a “solution”: purchase a ticket. I’m not questioning the motives of the creators of this conference; I don’t know their hearts. I am saying that, at best, this is misguided and problematic. I am also asking, “Is this helpful?” I don’t think it is.

What this (and other conferences and popular online magazines) does is capitalize on a dream. Over the years, hundreds of Christian women will sign up for these conferences and workshops, spending thousands of dollars to improve their reach and influence, with very little return. The only ones to benefit from these endeavors are the conferences and magazines. It feels like a pyramid scheme.

Don’t get me started on my friends who have had to turn in book proposals, proving they have thousands of followers and the support of other influencers with thousands of followers who promise to promote the book on social media. This process makes me feel as “uncomfy” as Chelsea in Love is Blind.

Is the hustle worth it? I think it’s in the hustle that creativity and imagination get strangled. Pushing content for the sake of getting something out can reduce quality. It can also affect the heart behind it. For several years, even though some of my content was good and garnered followers, I knew the heart behind it was competitive and desperate.

This is why staying in tune with the Lord is so important. I like the reminder Romans 12:2 gives Christians: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God (CSB).” For those of us consistently putting content on social media, there is an element of renewing our minds that needs to occur in the belief that our worth comes from Jesus Christ alone. I have also found it helpful to listen and examine my heart when wise people point out a flaw in our “world.”

We should dream, create, write, and speak because we love to do it. It’s not “bad” to profit from our work on social media; I’m just pointing out some of the pitfalls and questioning how we do things. Additionally, all our effort and creative energy going into social media should be channeled into ways we engage in real life (this is a post for another day). Is it wrong to want a book deal or a speaking gig? Of course not. "There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven (Ec. 3:1).” Relax, create, and let it happen in the ebb and flow of life.

So, how did my tumultuous relationship with social media resolve? I put the Christian speaking dream away and decided to live in the present. God has given me other avenues to speak outside of the Christian sphere, and I am thankful I get to scratch that itch.

I love doing what I’m doing on my Facebook page. Over the years, I’ve tweaked it to push against my desire to be “known.” Recently, I made more changes, so I’m not pushing content out because I feel like I have to. I have also started writing on Substack to express myself in a way that takes time and thought and promotes creativity—my journey here has been challenging, and I’m thankful to God for his grace.

Because of my past pitfalls with social media, I navigate the world gingerly. Each time I create content or share posts, here are a few questions I ask myself:

• Why am I posting this?

• What do I hope to gain from engaging in this?

• How does this inform my audience?

• Is this something that I can support in real life?

These questions are helpful, but I won’t be perfect. Be careful out there on social media, folks! It’s slippery.