Hugo D. Becoming a content creator means creating the best content you possibly can, no matter which platform you’ve decided to make your home.
If you’re not at the top of your game, you can bet that other content creators, who are hungry for exactly the same kind of success you are, will swoop in to claim your audience.
That’s why you need every advantage you can get when it comes to making content like videos, Instagram shots, or even just text posts on platforms like X (or Twitter, or whatever it happens to be called when you’re reading this).
In that spirit, then, here are 10 essential gadgets that every content creator simply must have.
1. A high-spec PC
If you’re uploading content to platforms like YouTube, then a high-spec PC is essential thanks to the amount of video editing you’re going to do.
Similarly, if you’re a gaming content creator, then a high-spec PC will let you play all the latest and greatest games.
You don’t have to be a PC wizard to get yourself a powerful machine; there are plenty of sites out there that will build PCs for you, and you can even specify exactly what kind of machine you want.
2. Extensive analytics
This isn’t really a gadget so much as a prerequisite in terms of software, but we’re counting it because it’s so important.
Analytics will let you track how you’re doing on each social media platform and give you data insights so that you can tailor your approach in future.
Let’s say you’ve signed up to SocialFollowersFree and you’ve just got a ton of new followers. An analytics tool will let you see who those followers are and how you could create content that they’ll like, for instance.
3. A powerful smartphone with a great camera
Your smartphone’s camera will be the cornerstone of your content strategy if you’re going to be filming your daily life at all.
For TikTok, a great smartphone camera is essential, and for YouTube, you may wish to film vlogs or other ancillary content for your channel, so this is a solid investment.
Apple users can rest assured that the iPhone 14 Pro has a solid camera, but Android users should opt for the Google Pixel 7 Pro instead, which has an excellent camera with lots of great software.
4. A standalone camera
Of course, if you’re really serious about filming vlogs or filming yourself for any other kind of content, then a standalone camera is a great investment.
No matter how powerful smartphone cameras get, most aficionados agree that they’ll never measure up to a dedicated camera, which has more functions and often better image quality as well (depending on the model, of course).
Which camera you opt for will depend on what kind of content you’re creating, so be sure to shop around for the best option for you.
5. A power bank
This is the kind of gadget you wouldn’t necessarily think about picking up, but it could save you a lot of trouble in the long run.
A power bank will help you to charge your device while you’re out and about, meaning that if you’re going through a long day of filming and you find yourself running low on power, you won’t be out of options.
Getting a higher-capacity power bank means that you’ll have more juice in reserve when you need it, so buy the biggest capacity you can afford.
6. A dedicated microphone
Using your phone’s microphone, or your headset, will only get you so far when it comes to content creation.
These devices are fine for talking to friends or for quick videos, but if you’re going to be aiming for professionally-produced voice content, an external microphone is an absolute must.
We would recommend aiming for an XLR-based mic, as they’re usually higher quality, but that will also likely require an external audio interface, so if you’d rather opt for a budget-conscious alternative, USB condenser mics will do just fine.
7. A green screen
Okay, it might be a bit of a stretch to call a green screen a “gadget” given that it’s literally a piece of green cloth, but you’d be amazed at just how useful a green screen can be.
If you’re thinking of superimposing yourself over any kind of scene – for comedic effect in a TikTok video, for instance – then a green screen is essential.
You don’t have to be an editing wizard to know how to use one, either, since many video editing apps will come complete with a green screen function built in to help you edit after the fact.
8. A webcam
If you’re streaming and you’re going to be showing your face, then a high-quality webcam is of paramount importance.
You should opt for at least full HD quality (1080p), as well as a zippy frame rate so that your face doesn’t look like it’s lagging out next to your content.
Pairing a webcam with a great piece of streaming software like OBS is also essential, so make sure that you pick the right app for your purposes.
9. An external storage drive
You’re likely going to start filling up your PC’s drive pretty quickly if you’re a content creator.
All of the videos or content you’re editing could well take up a lot of space, and if they do, then it’s time to invest in a high-quality external storage drive.
The drive doesn’t necessarily need to be a fast one; if you’re just using it as a backup to keep files, then a standard HDD is fine, but if you’ve got money to burn, we’d recommend investing in an SSD.
10. An extra monitor
This is another one that’s essential if you’re thinking of becoming a streamer or a gaming content creator.
An additional monitor will allow you to keep track of other apps besides your primary focus, so you could have your game on the first monitor and your streaming software on the second, for instance.
Once you’ve been using a dual monitor setup for a while, you’ll wonder how you ever got by with just one display!
