2022

We’ve all worked with enterprising people like Daniel Singh — a Singaporean human resources professional whose curiosity about technology made him the unofficial “tech support” for many of his coworkers. But Daniel took his interest in technology a step further, studying at night to earn a Google Career Certificate in IT Support. He’s now the technology lead for a local business, managing complex projects while volunteering at his local community centre to share his knowledge with others.

We know many more Singaporeans want to be able to develop the skills for careers in the fast-growing digital economy. Today we announced we’ll be helping meet that demand by introducing Google Career Certificates as a new pathway under Skills Ignition SG, our digital training partnership with the Singapore government and a coalition of employers.

We first launched Skills Ignition SG in 2020, to support Singaporeans in a challenging job market. At the same time, we wanted to help make sure Singapore — where Google’s Asia-Pacific headquarters is located — has the skilled workforce it needs for the long-term future. We expanded the program last year, and so far more than 3,200 people have enrolled for training. We’re on course to hit our target of helping 3,800 Singaporeans under the program’s existing pathways: Cloud Technology, Data Engineering with Machine Learning Fundamentals, and Digital Marketing. And hundreds of trainees have gone through work placements with Google and other host companies.

The addition of Google Career Certificates to Skills Ignition SG will enable us to expand the program again, and extend these benefits to thousands more Singaporeans. The training to earn a certificate is conducted online, tailored to people with no prior experience or degree, and lets learners go at their own pace.

For Skills Ignition SG, we’re offering certificates in four areas where job openings outnumber skilled candidates: IT Support, Project Management, Data Analytics and User Experience Design. We’ll also be providing scholarships to help up to 5,000 learners earn a Google Career Certificate at no cost — in partnership with all five local polytechnics, Institutes of Technical Education, social service agencies and organizations such as The Codette Project, Singapore Indian Development Association and Yayasan MENDAKI.

These steps will make digital training more accessible. But it’s equally critical that Singaporeans can find jobs which allow them to put their new skills to use — which is why we’ve formed a consortium of employers to consider hiring Skills Ignition graduates in their first roles. So far, 15 companies (in addition to Google) have joined the consortium, ranging from global multinationals to major local businesses — and we expect to welcome more employers soon.

This spirit of partnership is why Skills Ignition SG has made such an impact over the past two years. We and our government and industry partners are united in our commitment to help Singapore thrive as a technology leader for the region and the world. According to AlphaBeta research, taking full advantage of digital technologies could generate up to S$65.3 billion in economic value annually in Singapore by 2030. We look forward to playing our part in realizing that potential — working to create economic growth, jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans in the decade ahead and beyond.

Christina Galbato began her career as a public relations intern in 2015. She launched a personal blog and an Instagram profile in 2016, posting about travel and life in New York City. “Back then, it was just a passion project,” recalls Christina. Soon, she started connecting with other content creators, including those earning income as bloggers and social media influencers.

That led to a life-changing, “aha” moment.

“I realized I could actually make money and have a full-time career doing this,” Christina says. She landed her first paid gig creating content for a Caribbean tourism board. One job led to another, and another. She grew her network and built herwebsite, herblog and her following, establishing herself as a dependable and engaging influencer. Other brands came calling, and Christina’s success skyrocketed.

Within a year, she’d earned enough income as a content creator to quit her job as a marketing assistant. She built her portfolio and attracted more business deals, earning six figures from brand collaborations. She traveled the world, visiting 16 countries. As her community and success grew, things began to shift. “My followers started to ask me, ‘How can I do what you do?’” Christina says. She transitioned away from travel content to become an online educator, creatingcourses and apodcast to help other creators monetize their businesses.

By 2020, Christina’s business brought in its first $1 million in revenue. By 2021, she more than doubled that revenue stream, with enough work to hire 20 team members — most of whom are women. With an audience of over 500,000 online, she has already helped 10,000 other women become successful influencers and is expanding her courses and coaching offerings to help even more.

Christina offers her advice in the latest Creator Insights series, launching today on the Google for Creators YouTube channel. “I’m excited to encourage other creators and show them a number of different ways that they can monetize their content,” she says. Some topics Christina covers include creating a strategic content plan, making your pitches stand out to brands and calculating rates for sponsored content.

Here, she shares three tips for content creators to get on track to achieve their own success.

Network with other creators and brands

Christina’s success didn’t happen by accident. She followed and connected with other content creators, inviting them into her community and tapping into theirs. At the same time, she reached out to brands and public relations companies representing brands. “Do not underestimate the power of networking,” Christina advises. “You want to run a business that serves people, that serves your audience. So if you’re not talking to them, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity.”

Focus on your audience, not yourself

“The biggest mistake new creators make is too much focus on ‘me me me’ content, and not enough on value,” Christina observes. “The online landscape and what it means to be a successful influencer has changed a lot. Five years ago, you could post about what you were doing, selfies, pictures of what you were eating. People don’t care about that stuff anymore. People are always asking, ‘What is in it for me?’ Lead from a point of view of always providing value to your audience — whether that is entertainment, informational content or inspiration. That’s going to set you apart from people who aren’t leading with that mindset…and bring you success a lot quicker.”

Diversify your platforms and income streams

Christina’s content strategy includes a website that serves as her brand hub, which branches out onto her social media channels. She also reaches her audience through an email list and her podcasts. “It’s not just being on Instagram, but also having an email list and growing your audience on a platform that you own, like a blog,” she advises. “Creators should also explore different ways to monetize their content. In addition to brand collaborations, there’s affiliate marketing, creating online courses and other digital products. Never put all of your eggs in one basket, whether it’s a content publishing platform or an income stream.”

Want to learn more about becoming a successful content creator and social influencer? Watch Christina’s first Creator Insights video on the Google for Creators YouTube channel and stay tuned for more.