My Content Creation Journey
- Ana Tejedor
- Jan 19
- 5 min read
You’ll read about: My story, Timeline, Lessons & Tips for Aspiring Creators
Before we dive in, if you don’t read all the way to the end, here’s the one thing you NEED to take away from this: JUST START!
Believe in yourself. Chase your dreams. Be authentic. Don’t try to imitate others, (learn the strategy, but bring your own voice). And above all, create value!!
Now, let’s get into it…
Timeline:
How It All Started (2020)
The pandemic left something good.
Like many people, my content creation journey started during the pandemic. I wasn’t trying to become a creator or go viral. I was just posting for fun. I was bored ok? We were fully quarantined in Colombia...
Anyways... I started sharing DIY crafts and gifts I made for my then-boyfriend. YES I'M CLINGY I KNOW lol. I had no strategy, no plan, nothing, I was just posting because “why not”. Then, on a random day, i got viral with this video. I kept posting all the corny gifts i made for my ex and that’s how i got my first 10k followers. You’re not going to be able to find these videos i'm talking about, (aside from the one I linked) as I deleted them. (Sorry, I didn’t feel like having gifts for my ex boyfriend posted on my feed 😂. But they performed really good I promise).
💡 Lesson #1: Find someone who inspires you to be corny enough to make DIY gifts for them, and then shamelessly post it on TikTok.
JK!!!! Although having a good partner is key to be successful in life (according to me), my actual advice is DON'T FORCE IT. I never set out to “become a creator.” I was just posting things I enjoyed, and people resonated with that.
The video that changed everything. (2021)
I came to college on 2021, and when I moved out from my dorm , I had to organize my new apartment. I wasn’t expecting much when I filmed myself giving my fridge a 360 makeover, I was just hopping on a trend. At the time, fridge restock videos were everywhere, but they all looked the same:
Overly aesthetic setups
Perfectly color-coordinated snacks
Processed junk food, no real meals
Mine? The OPPOSITE. I restocked my fridge with leftovers, salads, and actual meals, things people actually eat. I have to confess I was EMBARRASSED to post such a “poor” quality video. My fridge looked "nice" but nothing compared to other creators. I even doubted if I should post it, but my mom convinced me otherwise. Gracias mami :)
FUNNY ENOUGH that’s what made my video go viral. People loved the realness. Most comments highlighted “oh finally something real” “I always wondered were leftovers went”, “someone with real food”… 10 MILLION+ VIEWS LATER… my account blew up overnight. (and I still get notifications from that video lol)
💡 Lesson #2: Listen to your mom. They are always right….
No but now being serious, Authenticity always wins. Trends are great, but adding your own twist is what makes content stand out. People crave relatable content over “perfect” content.
Expanding My Content (2023)
As an international student who loves to be busy and has 50.000 hobbies and plans. I stopped creating content for a while. After my fridge restock video, I leaned into organization & ASMR-style content, but it took me forever to record, edit, post and I didn’t had time. I focused on school and my stuff until someone made me realize I would never “have” time, I need to create it. Sooooo, I went back and started posting (but inconsistently). I wanted to switch paths and create content beyond fridge organization, I wanted to post my passions:
✔ Tennis & Padel
✔ Life at the University of Miami
✔ Tips for international students
✔ Productivity, planning & resets
✔ Miami lifestyle & fun experiences
This shift helped me build a stronger connection with my audience. I wasn’t just making viral videos, I wanted to build a community.
💡 Lesson #3: You don’t have to niche down to one thing.
Instead of forcing myself into a single category, I focused on themes that fit my personality, I wanted my community to like me from who I am not only what I have to offer. (It’s harder tho but still possible).
Taking this more seriously (2025)
I believe reaching 100k followers has been on my New Year’s resolution and goals list for the past 3 years now, but this is the year I’m actually achieving it. You’ll see!!
I’m finally "locked in" with my content, I understood what works and what doesn’t (although this is a never-ending learning process). But at least I'm working towards my goal and taking content creation more seriously.
As my platform grew, brands started reaching out for collaborations. And up to today, I’ve had the opportunity to partner with brands I truly LOVE and believe in.
For example, 10yo Ana, who was obsessed with tennis would NEVER in her life imagined the Miami Open would reach out to her to collab together!!! WHAT?? HOW?? I still can’t believe it either. Pinch me!!
A little out of context, but I have impostor syndrome and I believe what I’ve gotten/built it’s because it was my “duty” rather than an accomplishment WHICH IS BADDDDD (don’t be like this). I’m aware and I’m in therapy trying to fix this :) but back to the topic, I’ve finally realized I am actually good at this! At creating content, videos, strategy all what comes with this. And that Content creation is more than just posting videos, it’s a business. So I started treating it like one, learning about:
✔ Engagement & community-building
✔ Storytelling & video scripting
✔ Social media management
✔ Negotiating brand deals
💡 So Lesson #4: Don’t wait for the perfect moment, create it.
And if you actually want to achieve something out of this, treat content creation like a brand, like a job, not just a hobby. Knowing how to monetize, build relationships, and stay consistent is what turns it into a real opportunity.
My (5) tips for Aspiring Content Creators
1. Don’t wait for the perfect time, create the time.
Just start. My first viral video wasn’t planned or perfect, but I took action. If you keep waiting, you’ll never begin.
2. Don’t copy others, there’s already another version of them, but only one of you.
Why would people follow you if you’re just replicating someone who’s already famous? Your uniqueness is your power.
3. Be real. People connect with emotion, not perfection.
Content that makes people feel something is way more likely to go viral than overly polished, surface-level posts.
4. We all start somewhere.
I still cringe a little before posting sometimes, I still overthink, but here’s the truth, people will judge you regardless. It’s better to regret something you did than to regret never taking the risk. And remember, content creators, influencers, and even big celebrities all started at zero. No one at the top will judge you for trying.
5. Build a community, not just numbers.
Memes and trends may go viral easier, but views and likes don’t equal success.If you want lasting growth, focus on building an audience that actually cares about you and your content.
(La ñapa, as we say in Colombia) 6. Stay consistent. It’s frustrating when you spend hours on a video and the only likes are from your family. But that’s part of the process. Some videos will perform well, some won’t, that’s how you learn, improve, and grow. Keep going!!
Ahora si, hasta lueguito. Thanks for reading! If you don’t follow me yet, what are you waiting for?
My DMs are always open! I love supporting small creators, students, and anyone chasing their goals, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
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