4 Things That Are Actually Worth the Money as a Full-Time Content Creator
I’ve been creating content for years, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you can spend a LOT of money on tools you absolutely do not need.
The fancy camera? You can probably wait.
The 17 subscriptions someone on TikTok told you were “essential”? Also probably not essential.
But there are a handful of content creator tools I happily pay for because they either make my content better, save me hours of time, or help me turn my content into actual business.
If you’re building a personal brand, creating content full-time, starting a podcast, or simply trying to make content creation easier, these are four things I think are genuinely worth the money.
1. DJI Mic: One of My Favorite Investments for Better Content
If you create Reels, TikToks, talking-head videos, interviews, podcasts, or really any type of video content, good audio matters more than you think.
That’s why one of my favorite pieces of content creation equipment is my DJI Mic.
You do NOT need an elaborate production setup to create great social media content. In fact, I’m a huge believer that your phone is enough for most creators.
But adding a quality wireless microphone instantly makes your videos feel more polished and professional.
I love the DJI Mic because it’s small, portable, easy to use, and works for the type of content I create every single week.
If you’re deciding where to spend money on your content setup, I’d prioritize better audio before buying an expensive camera.
Best for: Reels, TikToks, interviews, talking-head videos, educational content, podcast clips, and filming on the go.
2. Storyblocks: The Secret Weapon for Making Your Content More Interesting
One of the biggest challenges with creating content consistently is figuring out how to keep your videos visually interesting.
You don’t always have the perfect B-roll.
You don’t always have time to film extra footage.
And sometimes you need a visual to help tell the story you’re trying to tell.
That’s where Storyblocks comes in.
Storyblocks is a subscription-based creative library that gives creators access to stock video footage, audio, music, sound effects, images, and other creative assets that can be used to make your content more dynamic.
Instead of spending hours trying to film every single piece of B-roll yourself, you can search for the type of footage you need and incorporate it into your content.
For creators, podcasters, YouTubers, marketers, and business owners producing a lot of content, this can be a HUGE time-saver.
I especially love it for storytelling.
If I’m talking about something in a Reel or longer-form video and I want to visually reinforce what I’m saying, adding B-roll can make that content feel significantly more engaging than one continuous talking-head clip.
It also gives you more creative freedom because your content isn't limited to whatever footage happens to be sitting in your camera roll.
Best for: B-roll, Reels, YouTube videos, podcast videos, ads, storytelling content, and anyone creating content at a high volume.
Want to try it? Get Storyblocks here:
www.storyblocks.com/chc
3. Riverside: Turn One Long-Form Video Into Multiple Pieces of Content
If you have a podcast, interview guests, record YouTube videos, host virtual conversations, or create any kind of long-form content, Riverside is absolutely worth looking at.
I use Riverside for podcasting, but one of my favorite features isn't actually the recording itself.
It’s Magic Clips.
Magic Clips can take a longer video or podcast conversation and help identify moments that can be turned into short-form clips.
Think about the content math here:
You record ONE 45-minute podcast episode.
Instead of that episode living in one place and hoping people find it, you can turn that conversation into multiple short-form videos to share across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms.
That means you're not constantly starting from zero.
And this is one of the biggest things I recommend to creators who feel like they’re spending their entire lives making content:
Stop creating every piece of content from scratch.
Create something valuable once, then find multiple ways to distribute it.
Riverside makes that process significantly easier.
Best for: Podcasters, YouTubers, coaches, educators, interview-style creators, and anyone creating long-form video content.
4. ManyChat: Turn Your Social Media Engagement Into Leads
If you’ve ever seen someone on Instagram say:
“Comment GUIDE and I’ll DM it to you.”
There’s a good chance they’re using something like ManyChat behind the scenes.
And this is where content starts moving beyond just getting views.
ManyChat allows creators and businesses to automate conversations and actions based on what their audience does.
For example, I can create a Reel promoting a free resource and tell people to comment a specific word. Instead of manually responding and sending hundreds of DMs, ManyChat can automatically deliver the resource.
That means my content can continue generating leads even when I'm not sitting inside my Instagram DMs.
For creators who are building an email list, selling digital products, promoting offers, or trying to turn social media followers into customers, this is one of those tools that can make your entire content ecosystem work harder.
Because getting attention is great.
But having a system that tells people what to do next with that attention is even better.
Best for: Instagram creators, personal brands, coaches, digital product sellers, service providers, and businesses using social media to generate leads and sales.
You can check out ManyChat for creators here and use my code KATELYN for a discount:
The Best Content Creator Tools Should Save You Time or Make You Money
I don't believe you need a massive tech stack to become a successful content creator.
Actually, I think most creators need fewer tools—not more.
But when I decide whether something is worth paying for, I ask myself:
Does this make my content better?
Does this save me time?
Does this help me get more value out of content I’m already creating?
Does this help turn attention into leads or revenue?
These four tools check those boxes for me.
The DJI Mic helps me create better-quality content.
Storyblocks helps me tell better stories without having to film every piece of footage myself.
Riverside helps me turn long-form content into multiple short-form assets.
And ManyChat helps me turn the attention that content generates into actual conversations, leads, and customers.
You absolutely don't need every creator tool on the internet.
But the right ones?
They can give you back something even more valuable than money: your time.
FAQ: Best Tools for Content Creators
What tools do full-time content creators need?
The exact tools depend on the type of content you create, but a simple creator tech stack might include a quality microphone, video or podcast recording software, a source for creative assets and B-roll, and an automation tool to help convert social media engagement into leads.
Is the DJI Mic worth it for content creators?
If you regularly create video content, improving your audio can make your content feel much more professional without investing in an expensive camera setup.
What is Storyblocks used for?
Storyblocks gives creators access to stock footage and other creative assets that can be incorporated into videos, social media content, YouTube videos, podcasts, ads, and other projects.
Can Riverside create social media clips from podcasts?
Riverside's Magic Clips feature is designed to help turn longer recordings into shorter clips, making it useful for repurposing podcast and video content for social media.
What does ManyChat do for content creators?
ManyChat can automate conversations with your audience, including workflows where someone comments a keyword on social media and automatically receives a DM. This can be especially useful for lead magnets, digital products, offers, and email-list growth.
