Content creator entertains

Content creator Walter Conahan deals in humor and fashion. Photos submitted

By Tom Victoria

Walter Conahan lives to entertain.

Among the 21-year-old’s posts are skits, lip-syncing and transitions on TikTok, where he as more than 1 million followers; YouTube; and Instagram.

“I try to spread a positive message,” Walter said. “I just try to make people happy.”

The Pennsylvanian focuses much of the content on that goal.

“I love humor,” Walter said. “I try to make skits with my camera. I have to figure out a way to make it funny.”

He also lip-syncs songs and does transitions, when two separate videos are merged.

“I do transition videos now and then, but you don’t do transition videos without a song behind it,” Walter said.

He said a successful content creator can’t be bland.

“That’s a big thing,” Walter said. “You have to have a personality.”

He explained even a person with personality has to be able to show it in front of the lens.

“When I first started making videos for anything, I was a very outgoing person towards people,” Walter said. “But when I was in front of a camera, it was kind of like I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to talk. I didn’t know how to look at the camera. I didn’t know what to do in front of the camera.”

He films specific content geared for each social media platform.  

“Content for TikTik is going to be things that apply to people like something funny,” Walter said. “Skits do good sometimes, but that will go for YouTube and pictures for Instagram. Mainly pictures for Instagram. That’s what blows up on there. Usually, all of my content goes everywhere. But if it gives me a different vibe, then I’ll keep it in one spot.”

He said a series of high-quality photographs with a description is what draws a larger amount of views.

“They have to be taken with a camera and they have to have some type of catchy caption,” Walter said. “And there has to be at least five of them. If there’s one with no caption, it won’t blow up.”

He also does photo shoots.

“It all depends on my outfit,” Walter said. “I’m very big into fashion. If I wear cargo pants, I’ll go into the woods and blend in somehow with some type of top that sticks out more. If I’m at the beach, I’m shirtless trying to flex as much as possible.”

His love for fashion led to developing an apparel brand called SWAYClothing.

“It has been a lifelong dream of mine to get clothing out there into the world for people to wear,” Walter said. “The day that I get to see somebody walking down the sidewalk wearing the clothes that I designed will be the day that I am the happiest.”

He became a content creator with a long-term goal in mind.

“I wanted to be an actor. I still do,” Walter said. “I just wanted to be on TV. That was the ultimate goal of this. Ever since I started, I got better and better. I realized I could make money off this.”

He has the same goal for acting that he does with social media.

“I try to spread a positive message,” Walter said. “I just try to make people happy. If I can do that with acting, what Kevin Hart does, oh my gosh. That’s a dream come true right there and it’ll happen one day.”

Feedback from his followers keeps him motivated.

 “They tell me you made my day so much better,” Walter said.

He was particularly struck by those stating his content helped with their depression, including some expressing they had suicidal thoughts.

“I’m about to cry when I read that,” Walter said.

In turn, his persistence inspires others. He first found TikTok fame seven years ago before it was snatched away.

“I used to be known for a series called Real or Bullshit where I tested if things are real or bullshit,” Walter said.

Although other creators had similar posts, his version became popular.

“Mine for some reason blew up,” Walter said. “It took off.”

However, after amassing 75,000 followers, the account was banned for the use of the word bullshit. A new account drew 625,000 people in two weeks before it was removed for another supposed infraction.

“I really wanted to give up,” Walter said. “But I realized every time I kept doing it, I kept bouncing back so quickly.”

Third time was the charm as that account has well over 1 million followers.  Walter said the lesson was don’t give up.

“Pursue your passion and don’t let anyone tell you any differently than what you’re trying to do because at the end of the day, it is your life,” he said. “It is your goal. And it is your dream. If you want to succeed, keep doing what you’re doing.”

Walter works out. He was inspired by a friend’s quick progress in the gym to follow suit.

The aspiring actor also flies and builds drones.

“I have two drones that can go zero to 100 miles per hour in literally one second,” Walter said.

He also builds cell phones, a skill adopted upon viewing videos of people taking apart phones and putting them back together.

“I would ask friends if they had extra cell phones they didn’t use anymore and were going to throw away,” Walter said. “People didn’t even ask me to pay for them. They just gave them to me.”

He plans to continue trying to make his followers happy.

“I just want them to feel better from my content,” Walter said, “That’s the main thing. I like to smile. Why wouldn’t I want to give that to someone else?”

Walter’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walterconahan/

 Walter’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@walterconahan

 Walter’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@walter_conahan