The UFC is a platform for those interested in being entertained by fights. YouTube is a platform for those interested in being entertained or educated. The UFC contracts fighters who they pay to fight in the hopes their biggest fighters will drive revenue. YouTube doesn’t contract anyone but owns all content you put on their platform. We discover fighters who the UFC promotes. YouTubers are discovered through each viewers homepage. Both businesses rely on presenting you with content you want to watch.
Martial artists often don’t extend themselves into multiple disciplines because of the time commitment required to reach greatness in many disciplines. Creators focusing on one discipline often feel the same way. They want to double down on their strengths and not try new things. Whilst they don’t have opponents, they have competition. And the fear of losing their audience’s attention encourages most creators in the region to play it safe. Most want a salary or fee to create as they get bigger.
What separates creators that get mass appeal in the Middle East from those that don’t is their ability to demonstrate to audiences that they are more than just one thing. Break free from gamers play games, vloggers vlog and artists paint. Fantastic global creators have already proven this works. KSI started in FIFA, but today owns a boxing promotion, an alcoholic beverage, a restaurant, a hydration drink and is a chart-topping musician.
Choose to hone in on your strength but if you want crazy growth, do everything you can to get discovered. Then reach the wider Middle East by connecting with an audience who want to get to know you beyond your mastery and comfort zone. There’s a real opportunity to blow up and sustain if you do this.