Let’s stop and think about how to support a creator in a time of need.

How to Support a Creator in a Time of Need

You guys, I can’t stop thinking about what’s been happening down in Florida. Those hurricanes – Helene and Milton – they just tore through the place. And don’t even get me started on how North Carolina and Georgia got blindsided by Hurricane Helene. It’s heartbreaking!

But here’s the thing that’s really been nagging at me: all those creators we love, the ones who make our days brighter with their videos, art, or whatever… they’re hurting too. And it hit me – they don’t have that cushy safety net. No paid time off. No vacation or sick days. Nothing. If they can’t create, they can’t earn. Simple as that.

So I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to figure out how we can help creators in crisis.

Here’s what I’m thinking:

How We Can Help Creators in Crisis

First off, the easiest thing we can do? Just keep watching and engaging with their stuff. I know it sounds simple, but every view counts. It’s like, pennies add up, you know? So binge those YouTube videos, even if it’s old content. Every little bit helps with that AdSense money.

And hey, if you’ve got a few bucks to spare (I know times are tough all over), why not toss it their way? Donate via their PayPal donation buttons, Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee – whatever they’ve got. It doesn’t have to be much. Even the price of a coffee can make a difference when you’re struggling.

Oh, and Patreon! I just signed up for a couple of my faves. With many creators, they have content tiers so you can choose how much you want to give each month. Even a dollar or two adds up when enough people chip in.

Something else I’ve been doing is just… clicking around the websites of my favorite creators. Sounds weird, right? But a lot of these folks have ads on their sites, so more traffic means more ad revenue. It’s like window shopping, but it actually helps someone out.

And don’t forget about social media! I’m not talking about going crazy liking, commenting, sharing – the works. Just doing what you can with your favorite creators. It’s not just about making them feel good (though that’s important too). More engagement can lead to sponsorships and brand deals which could help them keep creating. So your thumbs-up could literally translate to dollars in their pockets.

When things get really rough, I’ve seen some people set up GoFundMe accounts for their favorite creators. I haven’t done it myself, but I’ve chipped in on a few. It’s pretty amazing to see a community come together like that.

When Life Throws Curveballs: The Many Faces of Creator Crises

You know, creators aren’t just dealing with big, headline-grabbing disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes. Life’s got a way of tossing curveballs at all of us, and for creators, those curveballs can mean their whole world gets turned upside down.

Take Whitney from Whiskey and Whit, for example. She’s this amazing crafter on YouTube, and she’s pregnant. Awesome news, right? But then it dawned on me – there’s no paid maternity leave in the creator world. She’s basically gotta choose between bonding with her newborn and keeping her channel alive. Talk about a rock and a hard place!

Or my favorite reaction channel Movie Night with Jacqui, that awesome redhead who does those killer re-watch reaction videos? She had a sudden death in the family last month. Suddenly, she’s dealing with grief, funeral arrangements, and family stuff. But her viewers? They’re still expecting videos, oblivious to the fact that she’s going through hell.

And don’t even get me started on car accidents. Suppose your favorite podcaster, got into a nasty car wreck last year. Totaled his car, broke his arm, and couldn’t record for weeks. No car, medical bills piling up, and no way to make content.

But it’s not always the big, dramatic stuff either. Sometimes it’s the slow burn of life’s everyday challenges. Mental health struggles, chronic illnesses flaring up, relationship breakdowns – all that invisible stuff that can make just getting out of bed feel like climbing Everest.

The thing is, we often don’t see these struggles. All we see is that our favorite creator hasn’t posted in a while, or their content seems “off.” It’s easy to forget that behind those polished videos or perfectly curated Instagram feeds, there’s a real person dealing with real life.

So yeah, while the big disasters are important to rally around, I think we need to remember that support might be needed at any time. You never know what’s going on behind the scenes. Maybe that’s why it’s so important to consistently support the creators we love – ’cause life’s unpredictable, and you never know when your support might be the thing that keeps them going.

When We Can, Let’s Help Creators in Their Time of Need

Look, I know we’re all dealing with our own stuff. But these creators… they’re part of our daily lives, ya know? They’re like friends we’ve never met. And friends help each other out when the going gets tough.

So yeah, that’s what’s been on my mind lately. What do you think? Have you ever noticed a creator going through a tough time? How did you show your support?

I’d love to hear what you guys think. Got any other ideas on how we can help out? Drop ’em in the comments. Let’s brainstorm together and show these creators we’ve got their backs.

‘Cause at the end of the day, we’re all in this crazy world together. Might as well make it a little bit better for each other, right?