What type of creator are you?

The most successful creators aren't trying to be anyone else - they've found their lane and owned it.

After working with hundreds of creators, I've identified 7 distinct creator archetypes.

And trust me, you already have the DNA of at least one of them.

Let's find yours. 👇

1. The Moguls

These are the huge creators who've done so well on social that they've been able to build their own businesses.

These are the architects of empires.

Take Mark Rober - he transformed from NASA engineer to YouTube sensation, not just through viral videos but by building a comprehensive educational brand.

His content often involves large-scale experiments and builds, turning complex scientific principles into accessible entertainment.

Similarly, Grace Beverley took her fitness influence and built TALA and Shreddy, raising £4.2 million in funding by age 23!

2. New Traditionalist

Basically your standard influencer but better.

While their predecessors might have just shown products, New Traditionalists are master storytellers who turn everyday moments into must-watch content.

Take Alix Earle - she didn't invent the "Get Ready With Me" format, but she revolutionised it.

By mixing vulnerability with aspiration, she grew to over 10 million followers in record time.

Her secret?

Making each video feel like a FaceTime call with your most interesting friend.

What Makes Them Different:

• They blend authenticity with high production value

• Their content feels both aspirational and attainable

• They turn product recommendations into storytelling moments

• They maintain consistent posting while keeping content fresh

The data tells an interesting story: while traditional influencer engagement rates hover around 1.7%,

New Traditionalists often see rates above 5.6%.

I believe it’s because they're inviting their audience to be part of the story.

What sets them apart is their ability to take familiar formats and add layers:

• "Day in the Life" becomes a mini-documentary

• Product reviews become storytelling experiences

• Behind-the-scenes content feels like exclusive access

The New Traditionalist proves that you don't need to reinvent the wheel - you just need to make it roll better than anyone else.

3. The No Filters

They create relatable content catering around oversharing or TMI.

Emma Chamberlain pioneered this category growing her channels through raw authenticity.

Madeline Argy followed suit, building her audience through unfiltered honesty about mental health, daily struggles, and random thoughts,

Their content feels like texting with a friend - unpolished, genuine, and refreshingly real.

4. The Advocates

These creators use their platform for meaningful change.

Jack Harries has transformed from YouTuber to climate activist, viewing "climate change as the greatest storytelling challenge of our time".

Through his Earthrise platform, he's made climate activism accessible and engaging.

Venetia La Manna's #oootd campaign has generated over 83,000 posts challenging fast fashion.

5. The Collectives

These people use each others audiences to have a bigger overall chance of success.

Obviously biased but think The Sidemen.

Collectives create a unique parasocial relationship with their audience.

Fans feel like they're part of an extended friend group, making them more likely to support business ventures.

The collective model works because it combines multiple creator archetypes under one banner, allowing each member to shine in their strength while contributing to something bigger than themselves.

6. The Academics

The Academics use their platforms to teach you something.

VSauce's Michael Stevens transformed educational content by making it a journey rather than a lecture.

His approach?

Taking seemingly simple questions like "How much does a shadow weigh?" and creating fascinating explorations of science.

Ali Abdaal combines his medical background with productivity content, growing to over 2 million subscribers while maintaining his professional credibility.

7. The Entertainers

This is the most common archetype.

Their content is always fun, engaging and often always goes viral.

Think ItalianBach, Max Klymenko, Zack King, Jeremy Lynch and others.

Zach King has built an empire on "digital magic," amassing over 100 million followers through innovative visual effects.

Max Klymenko transforms complex geopolitical topics into digestible, engaging content.

Jeremy Lynch took freestyle football skills and turned them into a social media phenomenon with over 50 million combined followers.

The Entertainer's superpower is making any topic, no matter how complex, inherently watchable.

So, which type are you?

Here's what most people get wrong: they try to force themselves into the archetype they think will make them the most money or gain the most followers.

But here's the truth - the creator economy is projected to hit $480 billion by 2027, and there's space for every type to thrive.

Look at the data:

• Educational content gets 24% higher engagement than pure entertainment

• "Behind the scenes" content outperforms polished posts by 3x

• Collaborative videos get 2.8x more shares than solo content

But none of that matters if you're pretending to be someone you're not.

Your Next Move

1. Identify: Which archetype made you think "that's so me" while reading?

2. Study: Look at how your chosen creators execute (but don't copy)

3. Experiment: Start creating in that style, but add your unique twist

4. Evolve: Let yourself blend archetypes as you grow

Remember this: The Sidemen didn't become a billion-dollar brand by following someone else's blueprint.

They combined the Mogul and Collective archetypes in a way that had never been done before.

Your unique combination is your superpower.

Use it.

Now go create something only you can create,

Jordan