Top 5 Affordable Tools Every Social Media Content Creator Must Have

Social media is growing by leaps and bounds thanks to the technological revolution in the industry.

A report by Statista indicated that nearly 5 billion people in the global population were social media users as of 2023. This translates to a whopping 60% of the world’s population.

The industry is growing exponentially, with analysts predicting that more than 70% of the global population will use social media by 2027. This growth translates to money-making opportunities for content creators.

The number of content creators earning a living on social media has increased dramatically.

According to Goldman Sachs, the creator economy was worth about $250 billion in 2023 and could hit half a trillion by 2027.

How much do social media content creators earn?

Over 35% of content creators earn as much as $100,000 annually. The percentage of content creators earning more than $1 million annually is growing fast.

According to a Goldman Sachs report, only 4% of global content creators are deemed professional. It pays to create content professionally since at least 2% of experienced content creators earn over $1 million annually.

You don’t need to break the bank to become a professional content creator. The rapid growth of this industry means that there are many affordable tools out there that can help you make quality video content.

Top 5 affordable tools for video content creation

Below are the top 5 affordable tools that every professional social media video content creator must have.

Content Planning Tool

As Bill Gates once said, content is king. You need to invest in developing content that resonates with your target audience. Moreover, you should post your content regularly to keep your audience fully engaged.

Even for experienced content creators, developing quality content regularly and consistently is difficult. Maintaining a good content strategy takes great determination and a lot of discipline.

It would be best to have a content planning tool to build and execute a good content development strategy. Some popular tools to help you make an effective content strategy include CoSchedule, Loomly, Hootsuite, Trello, and Sendible.

4k Recording Smartphone/camera

The quality of your social media videos greatly determines their reception. You should invest in a good smartphone to shoot crisp, transparent social media videos.

Many professional social media content creators use the iPhone 15 or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Those who can’t afford these smartphones can use budget phones such as Google Pixel 8, Sony Xperia 1V, Oppo Find X5 Pro, and Xiaomi 13T Pro. You can explore other options if these brands are not within your budget.

A camera is also a good investment if you can afford it. Avva Ballerina, a top content creator according to the OnlyFans account finder, discloses that she uses Sony Alpha A7III. The camera is lightweight and small, allowing OnlyFans content creators to record hand-cam videos.

Shopping for a good tripod for camera stability, flexibility, and smooth movement would be best. The most popular tripods include the Magnus VT 300, Manfrotto Element MII,

Quality Recording Light

The lighting of the room also impacts the quality of your videos. You need to invest in the best lighting for video recording to get good results.

There are many options out there, but not all are good quality. Top social media content creators use the Three-Point Lighting technique for camera recording. Ring lights are a good choice if you are recording with a smartphone.

Most professional YouTube and TikTok content creators use the Spectrum Aurora 18″ Diamond Luxe II ring light. The light offers a soft and almost shadowless spread of light. This ensures clean footage by eliminating skin imperfections and wrinkles commonly seen in videos recorded on poor lighting setups.

Other popular brands include Neewer 18″ LED Ring Light and Divinity 10″ Bi-Color Ring Light.

High-Quality Microphone

The quality of your audio also dramatically impacts your social media reception. A study by TikTok shows that quality sound improves the reception of videos posted on its platform eight times.

Social media users usually have a short attention span, hence the high bounce rate on videos with poor-quality audio. Luckily, many cheap tools are out there to help you improve your audio quality.

Some microphones recommended for professional social media content creation include the Rode VideoMicro shotgun mic, the Blue Yeti Nano condenser mic, and the Sony ECMCS3 clip-on lapel mic. The price range for these microphones is between $20 and $100.

Quality Video Editing Software

It would be best to have editing software to transform your raw footage into a professional-looking video.

Many video editing software are in the market, but not all are worth their salt. Moreover, your choice of video editing software should be dictated by your needs.

Video editing software offers many features to help creators spice up their content. These features include stock images and footage, background music, and special effects,

Final Cut Pro, FlexClip, Lightworks, Capcut, inShot, Wondershare Uniconverter, and iMovie are some of the best video editors for social media content. These video editors are pretty easy to use for beginners.

Influencer Marketing Hub recommends Movavi, Capcut, InShot, and BeeCut as TikTok’s best video editing software. Some of these social media video editing software are free.

Final word

Social media content creation is growing as new and highly disruptive technologies emerge.

Any creator looking to join the growing list of the highest-paid social media content creators must invest in the best content creation tools. Join our mailing list to receive updates on the best content creation tools for social media in 2024.

FAQs:

What is a content planning tool, and why do I need it?

A content planning tool helps you organize and schedule your social media content effectively, ensuring consistency and engagement with your audience.

Do I need an expensive smartphone or camera for social media video creation?

While high-end devices like the iPhone 15 or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offer excellent quality, budget options like Google Pixel 8 or Xiaomi 13T Pro can also produce quality content.

Why is lighting essential for video recording?

Good lighting enhances video quality by reducing shadows and imperfections, making your content more visually appealing.

What is the Three-Point Lighting technique?

It’s a standard method involving key, fill, and backlighting to create balanced, professional-looking lighting for video recording.

How does audio quality affect social media video reception?

High-quality audio improves viewer engagement and reduces bounce rates, as poor audio can lead to viewer disinterest.

Are there affordable options for improving audio quality?

Yes, options like Rode VideoMicro shotgun mic or Blue Yeti Nano condenser mic offer good quality at reasonable prices.

Why do I need video editing software for social media content?

Video editing software allows you to enhance your raw footage with effects, music, and other elements to create polished content.

What features should I look for in video editing software?

Look for features like stock images/footage, background music, and ease of use, tailored to your editing needs.

Is professional video editing software expensive?

Not necessarily, there are both free and paid options available, with some free software like InShot offering robust features.

How can I stay updated on the latest content creation tools for social media?

Join mailing lists or follow reputable sources in the industry to receive regular updates and recommendations on the best tools and practices.