Roy Hermann shares his insights on VidCon 2023, the state of the creator economy, and predictions for the future. He highlights the accessibility of content creation and the importance of embracing new technologies. Roy also discusses the impact of short-form and audio-based content and the role of AI and machine learning in expanding opportunities for creators. He predicts that content creation will become a dominant form of marketing and encourages aspiring creators to combine technical skills with iterative strategies for long-term success.

Can you start by introducing yourself? Tell us a bit about your background.

Roy Hermann is the CEO and co-founder of Supercreator.ai. Roy always loved content, videos, and movies, as well as technology, computer games, and video games. He grew up around that intersection of media and technology. 

Roy Hermann has been building tech products for almost 15 years and built over 50 apps with millions of downloads globally prior to starting Supercreator.ai. He utilizes his interest to creatively help people through technology. He says, “That’s what I’ve been spending all my life on, and I look forward to spending the rest.”

VidCon is just around the corner. What are you most excited about for this year’s event?

Roy Hermann is excited to meet many people and read some of their content. For Roy, the VidCon is one of the best avenues to meet individuals who are in the content and video creation space. 

As AI and advanced technology have become more mainstream, Roy expects to see more participants as these innovations make it easier for anyone to dive into the world of content and video.

You’ll be participating in VidCon as a speaker. What topics will you address in your session, and why is it important for the VidCon audience?

Supercreator.ai was selected as one of the finalists of the innovation showcase, which will be featured during this year’s VidCon. Roy Hermann and other startups will discuss how they’ve built their companies and how their companies help the creator and video economy.  

You have the opportunity to share your expertise and insights with a wide audience. What key message or takeaway do you hope attendees will gain from your session?

Through their booth and the innovation showcase, Roy Hermann hopes to show people how easy it is to get started today and become part of the content creation world and how there’s a lot more to it than most people think. He wants people to understand that content creation is an accessible place for anyone to express themselves without any limitations. 

“I think more and more people are starting to realize that, but I want to show it and have people leave with the belief that they too can create content, which others can get value from,” Roy says. He understands that many want to become content creators but are scared to get started. 

VidCon is known for bringing together creators, industry professionals, and fans. What opportunities do you see at VidCon 2023 for networking, collaboration, and building relationships within the creator community?

Roy Hermann looks at the opportunities in VidCon 2023 from different angles. On one, it can be about connecting with industry executives, like people who work for companies that are involved directly or indirectly in thinking about new partnerships and collaboration opportunities. 

Then there’s the opportunity to connect with creators, which involves agencies telling them about their products, asking for their feedback, learning what their pain points are, and what they’re looking for. Agencies can get plenty of information from that event because there are thousands of creators present at VidCon 2023.

Roy Hermann believes that the VidCon is an amazing opportunity to get a lot of value in relatively little time and also meet people physically, which is way better compared to when he’s speaking with someone on Zoom or exchanging tweets back and forth. 

How would you describe the current state of the creator economy, and what trends do you see shaping its future?

Roy Hermann finds the creator economy in a different way, more like the creative economy. “It means that we’re moving into an economy where everybody can be a producer of some sort of good or service and contribute that to the world,” he explains. 

Anyone can dive into the creative economy — they don’t have to be a creator professionally or consider content creation a hobby. Roy Hermann believes that this will eventually become the standard in the space. 

In addition, he sees everyone will know how to create content on one level or the other, just like people need to know how to use the internet today to participate in the global economy. Because of this, he expects to see more courses being created to teach people about content creation. 

And as technology advances, including the macro effect of AI, content will become more advanced with more people becoming part of it. Content will become more significant in terms of everybody’s day-to-day lives, as well. 

With the rise of platforms like TikTok and Clubhouse, we’ve seen a surge in short-form and audio-based content. How do you think these trends will influence the future of content creation and consumption?

For Roy, short-form content lowers the barrier to entry of individuals who want to enter the content creation space. The shorter the content, the easier it’ll be for anyone to come in and participate. He also believes that this type of content is here to stay. 

He admits not having enough experience or not consuming enough audio-based content but is confident that short-form content is definitely going to have more use cases and become more advanced in the future. 

What role do you believe artificial intelligence and machine learning will play in the future of content creation and the creator economy?

AI and machine learning will allow everybody to be part of the creator economy. With these innovations, people don’t need to hold a specific talent or have a certain look to be a creator. These will also give people more options. 

“And I think a world with more options is a more creative world,” Roy says. AI and machine learning gives people the opportunity to be creative as they can choose different things. He envisions everything in the real world will also be present in the digital world but with more and better versions. 

As we approach the second half of the year, what are your predictions for the future of the creator economy? Are there any emerging trends or technologies that you believe will have a significant impact?

For Roy, content creation is going to become marketing as the vast majority of marketing time and value spent is going to be on content creation. “I think video will probably be the leader in this space because it’s such a powerful medium — you’ve got audio, you’ve got video.”

More people are consuming and spending their time on short-form video platforms, which is why Roy expects that the tools and technologies in this area will continue to advance. 

In the future, people will be able to do things that were never thought of a few years ago and will look at content creation as a serious, professional business and not just for the creatives and artists. 

What advice do you have for aspiring creators who are just starting their journey? What key strategies or mindsets should they adopt to succeed in the evolving landscape of the creator economy?

One general suggestion Roy Hermann has for aspiring creators is to try to be a bit more technical. Anyone who has a technical background can do almost everything. Their journey will be easier as there’s so much information and tools to get started.

“In my opinion, content creation is like building a startup. You have to iterate, put out a product or video, learn what people want, get feedback, and understand how you can improve it and try to do it as many times as you can,” Roy shares. This is the only way that aspiring creators can outlast and perform. 

Being a successful creator is a long process, but the beauty of it is that there’s immediate feedback, which creators can get and use to improve their strategies. 

He also advises aspiring creators to combine creativity with analytical aspects. He encourages aspiring creators to experiment while ensuring that they’re measuring their attempts and looking into strategies more systematically. Otherwise, they’ll end up spending too much time and getting too less feedback.