“I think one of life’s great milestones is when
a person can look back and be almost as thankful for the setbacks as for the
victories.”
Bob
Dole
Welcome to A Secret Blogmas
2025!
Today is Day Thirteen and this thirteenth post is all about the beneficial impact there is if you – as a content creator – celebrate the milestones in your content creation. In this post, I’ll be looking at exactly what is meant by a ‘milestone’ for content creators, why they’re important, and how to celebrate them publicly. I’ll also be chatting about my own milestones and how and why I have celebrated them publicly too. Keep reading to find out why and how publicly celebrating your content creation milestones can impact the success and popularity of your content and/or your platform…
Growth Milestones
These are quantifiable indicators of audience
or platform growth:
- Reaching a certain number of followers, subscribers, or views
(e.g., “10,000 subscribers on YouTube”).
- Hitting a specific number of downloads or listeners for a podcast.
- Reaching monetization eligibility (e.g., YouTube Partner Program,
Twitch Affiliate).
- Achieving viral reach — a video or post that exceeds usual
engagement by a large margin.
Content Creation Milestones
These mark progress in consistency, quality,
or creative development:
- Publishing your first piece of content (video, blog, episode,
etc.).
- Releasing your 100th post/video/episode.
- Completing a content series or long-term project.
- Upgrading production quality (new branding, better audio/video
setup, etc.).
Community & Impact Milestones
These focus on relationships and influence:
- Receiving your first fan message or testimonial.
- Collaborating with another creator for the first time.
- Hosting your first live event, Q&A, or stream.
- Building a community forum, Discord, or Patreon.
- Making a positive social or cultural impact through your content.
Professional/Financial Milestones
These signal professionalization or
sustainability:
- Earning your first sponsorship, ad revenue, or paid collaboration.
- Launching and selling your own product, course, or merchandise.
- Reaching a monthly income goal from content creation.
I believe that like a lot of things in life, defining
a ‘milestone’ is an individual thought process – it’s something that can have very
different meanings to different people. So, it’s important that this it is
recognised that what one person might be incredibly proud of and feel is a huge
accomplishment, could be something that happens every day. In content creation,
a prime example of this would be with the size of your audience or following. One
person may believe that reaching over 100 people in one day is a big deal, whereas
another content creator might actually routinely receive thousands of new
followers per day.
Some of those creators might say ‘only
100?’ or ‘just 100 today?’ and appear to be belittling that other person
who might have been proud until receiving a comment like that. And, in some
situations, you may try to argue that it isn’t a competition, but actually; content
creation can be an incredibly competitive industry to work in. So, I think the
important thing there is that creators should always remember where they
started. They should always remember back when they were really proud at
receiving 100 followers or views. I’ll never forget reaching my first 100
readers on I’m NOT Disordered and jumping up and down, screaming and crying
with one of the other inpatients in the psychiatric hospital I was in when I started
blogging. I think that having this memory can really help me to stay grounded
and grateful for any sign of improvement or progress.
My definition of a ‘milestone’ in content
creation really focuses on the idea or mindset that you can be in control in
defining it – it could be whatever you deem it to be. Milestones I’ve
celebrated through content on I’m NOT Disordered and my social media (I’ll provide
specific examples later in this blog post), have varied from reaching a
particular number in my readers, to my appearances in the media, to attending
events!
1. Strengthened Community Connection
- Shared success: When followers feel they’ve contributed to a
milestone (e.g. “We hit 1M views!”), it fosters loyalty and belonging.
- Emotional engagement: Gratitude posts or milestone stories invite
followers to feel part of the journey, deepening parasocial bonds.
- Two-way recognition: Responding to supporters during
milestones (e.g., shout-outs, giveaways, thank-you videos) builds
goodwill.
2. Increased Visibility & Reach
- Algorithmic boost: Milestone content often performs well — it’s
positive, personal, and shareable.
- Repost potential: Brands, collaborators, or fans may share
milestone posts, expanding reach organically.
- Media or PR appeal: Milestones can serve as hooks for press
coverage or platform features (e.g. “Creator hits 1M followers in under a
year”).
3. Stronger Personal Brand Narrative
- Storytelling: Milestones help shape a compelling narrative — “look
how far I’ve come.”
- Authenticity: Reflecting on challenges and gratitude shows humility
and relatability.
- Authority: Demonstrating consistent growth signals credibility and
professionalism to new audiences or potential sponsors.
4. Business & Collaboration Opportunities
- Social proof: Milestones provide quantifiable proof of influence —
useful for attracting sponsors or brand deals.
- Negotiation leverage: Concrete growth data (e.g., “1M followers,”
“10K average views”) strengthens an influencer’s pitch.
- Partnership visibility: Brands love being associated with creators
at high-engagement moments — milestone posts can double as subtle
promotional content.
5. Motivation & Mindset Benefits
- Self-validation: Publicly acknowledging progress boosts motivation
and reinforces purpose.
- Goal setting: Marking one milestone helps frame the next (“On to
2M!”).
- Reflection: Looking back helps identify what strategies,
content, or collaborations worked best.
6. Content Opportunities
- Milestone celebrations can inspire:
- Behind-the-scenes videos
or photo reels
- Q&A or “Ask Me
Anything” sessions
- Giveaways or
collaborations
- Blog retrospectives (“What
I’ve learned from 5 years of content creation”)
- Announcement tie-ins (new
merch, new branding, new goals)
1. A Sense of Belonging
- Shared pride: Followers often feel they contributed to the milestone (“we did
it!”).
- Community connection: It
reinforces that they’re part of a larger, supportive group — not just
passive viewers.
- Emotional payoff: People love to see someone they support succeed; it gives them a sense of
purpose and inclusion.
2. Inspiration & Motivation
- Proof of progress: Seeing someone grow over time — from small beginnings to big achievements
— can motivate followers to chase their own goals.
- Real-life example:
Milestones humanize success; followers see that consistency, creativity,
and persistence really do pay off.
- Hope & encouragement: Particularly for mental health, lifestyle, or recovery-based creators,
milestones serve as evidence that change and growth are possible.
3. Learning Opportunities
- Behind-the-scenes insights: Many
milestone posts share lessons learned, tips, or reflections that followers
can apply themselves.
- Practical advice: Creators
often discuss what worked and what didn’t, giving followers a peek into
strategy, resilience, and growth mindset.
- Transparency: When
milestones include honest reflections on mistakes or struggles, followers
gain a more realistic understanding of success.
4. Emotional Connection & Authenticity
- Deeper trust: Celebrating milestones with gratitude and humility shows followers that
the creator values them.
- Human connection: Milestone reflections remind followers that creators are real people, not
just content machines.
- Positive energy: Success stories naturally uplift moods — they bring a celebratory tone to
the feed.
5. Interactive Perks
- Giveaways & thank-you gestures: Many creators use milestones to reward followers — through prizes,
shout-outs, or exclusive content.
- Community events: Live
Q&As, fan collabs, or celebratory streams give followers unique
engagement opportunities.
- Recognition: A
follower might get mentioned or thanked directly, deepening loyalty and
joy.
6. Narrative Continuity
- Story arc: Long-term followers enjoy seeing the “journey” unfold — it creates a
serialized, evolving experience.
- Emotional investment: Each
milestone feels like a new chapter; it keeps followers invested in what
comes next.
- Shared memory: Followers who’ve “been there since the beginning” gain pride and nostalgia
watching the creator grow.
1. My
First Media Appearance: I'm
NOT Disordered Is In The Evening Chronicle | I'm NOT Disordered
2. Reaching
my first 100,000 readers and the party I hosted to celebrate it: #100kwithimnotdisordered
| I'm NOT Disordered
3. Joining
FeedSpot’s
Top UK BPD blogs list (I’m NOT Disordered is now number 1 in the UK): ADVICE
FOR BPD BLOGGERS & EVERYTHING IT MEANS TO BE IN THE TOP FIVE OF UK
BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER BLOGS!! | PRETTY PERFECT PRODUCTS DISCOUNT CODE
INCLUDED!!! | I'm NOT Disordered
4. My
first event: Today,
I volunteered at... | I'm NOT Disordered
5. My
first speech: Story
Camp with Time To Change | 'Ad' | I'm NOT Disordered
1. Community-Focused Celebrations
These highlight gratitude and connection with followers.
- Thank-you posts or videos: Heartfelt
messages acknowledging the community’s support.
- Giveaways or contests:
Rewarding followers with gifts, merch, or shout-outs.
- Fan appreciation content:
Reposting fan art, comments, or stories from the community.
- Q&A or live stream celebration: Engaging directly with followers in real time to celebrate
together.
- Community challenges: Inviting followers to participate in themed content (e.g., “Share your favourite
moment from my channel”).
2. Reflective or Storytelling Posts
These focus on the journey — not just
the number.
- “Then vs. now” reflections:
Comparing early content to the creator’s current work.
- Behind-the-scenes stories:
Sharing honest experiences, lessons learned, and growth moments.
- Blog posts or long captions:
Writing about what the milestone means personally or professionally.
- Mini-documentaries or reels: A
creative timeline of progress, milestones, and memories.
3. Creative or Themed Content
Milestone posts can double as unique pieces of
content.
- Photo shoot or brand visuals: New photos, banners, or profile updates themed around the
milestone.
- Special edition content: A
milestone-themed vlog, podcast episode, or short film.
- Collaborations:
Partnering with another creator to mark the occasion.
- Artistic celebrations:
Creating digital art, music, or storytelling inspired by the milestone.
4. Professional & Strategic Celebrations
For creators growing a business or personal
brand.
- Press release or media feature: Announcing major achievements (e.g., “1M subscribers” or “5 years
in business”).
- Portfolio updates: Adding
milestones to websites, bios, or pitch decks.
- Brand collaborations or launches: Timing a product drop or partnership to coincide with a milestone.
- Networking events or panels:
Hosting an in-person or virtual talk about lessons from the journey.
5. Personal Celebrations
Because milestones are emotional as well as
professional.
- Private celebration: Taking time off, treating yourself, or sharing the joy with friends and
family.
- Reflective journaling:
Writing down lessons learned or intentions for the next stage.
- Charity or giving back:
Donating to a cause related to the creator’s message or community.
- Time capsule or gratitude list: Recording highlights for future reflection.