Josh Anglo: Growing to 770K Followers by Being Authentically Himself
Josh Anglo, a TikTok content creator from Winnipeg, shares his story of perseverance, commitment, and how unwavering belief in himself grew an audience of 770K and counting…
Creator Brand: Josh Anglo
TikTok: 770K followers, 52.1 million likes
Instagram: 8,600 followers, 16 posts
YouTube: 100 subscribers
Full time creator: Yes!
Hey Josh! Who are you and what is your creator brand?
Hi everyone, I'm Josh Anglo, a content creator based in Winnipeg, Canada. You can find me mainly on TikTok, where my niche is focused on skits, making people laugh, and creating humorous content. I do this by creating videos where I just mess around and be authentically myself. I take inspiration from ordinary things in daily life and find ways to add a comedic touch to them.
I started my journey as a full time content creator after I decided to put a pause on becoming a teacher, taking what was once a hobby of making fun videos for friends and turning it into entertainment for others.
Initially my content wasn't the best, but like with anything in life, I knew I had to push through, keep experimenting, keep learning, and use each experience to improve my craft. The result? I found my style, my niche, and now I get to connect with hundreds of thousands of people every day with my content.
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How did you come up with your creator & content idea?
I originally started out just making Josh Anglo skits on TikTok, then I began to explore more types and formats of videos and started creating vlogs. Over time, my content transformed from just pure skits to something that felt more genuinely 'me'.
I think that's what makes my brand unique - it's not about being the best, but more about being true to who I am and creating content that makes me laugh. It's not about following what others do or trying to fit into a certain comedy style. It's about doing what I think is funny and keeping it organic.
I guess you can say the actual content idea sparked from one of the very first videos I created. It was my standard skit content, but I edited it in a way that was different from what I usually do, chopping up the takes in different ways, and I remember thinking, 'this is genuinely good'.
That video did relatively well, so I started applying that consistent style to my other videos, which included different themes and series. I continued to hone my comedic timing and eventually, it clicked with the audience.
Along the way though, it wasn't easy to keep going. I posted countless videos, and many didn't do well. There were tough moments when I felt like giving up. But a part of me always believed that it would work eventually.
And that belief had me creating and posting about 5 - 6 videos a day for nearly two years. And sure enough, it started to pay off eventually. People get discouraged way too early in the process. They only post 10 or 20 videos and give up. If you’re learning, evolving, and continually getting better, you’re going to succeed.
What is your content creation process?
Oh man, where do I begin? Every time I create a video, my mind just scatters everywhere. But for my daily vlogs, I usually try to have a solid idea of what I'm going to do the day before I shoot.
The night before shooting a blog, I brainstorm what I'm going to do and think of jokes related to that activity. I write all these jokes down in my notes, and then during filming I write and come up with more jokes on the spot.
By the end of the day, I've got around five to six minutes of footage of me cracking jokes and just doing stuff. After that, it's all about trimming the fat, cutting out any awkward silences and parts where nothing much is happening. I ensure every second of the video is engaging.
“People get discouraged way too early in the process. They only post 10 or 20 videos and give up. If you’re learning, evolving, and continually getting better, you’re going to succeed.”
Different from most people, but I also talk to myself quite a bit. Sometimes, just from the random things I say or funny movie quotes I remember, I come up with a line that makes me think, "where can this fit into my video today?" From there, I brainstorm more jokes around that line and incorporate it into my video. So that's the gist of it.
Nowadays, I'm more about quality over quantity for my Josh Anglo brand, compared to when I first started out. If I'm making a vlog, it takes me a whole day to film. But from every activity, I only use about 20 to 30 seconds of footage.
On average, filming and editing take about two to three hours total. Luckily, I've got a lot of free time during the day because I work at a restaurant at night. So, all my days are dedicated solely to video creation.
What is your marketing & promotion strategy? How are you growing your brand?
I don't honestly do much marketing & promotion for my Josh Anglo account beyond posting content. But whenever I meet other creators, I love making videos together. I guess you could say that’s a strategy that not enough people take advantage of - collaborating with other creators.
Collaborations expose me to an entire new audience. For example, I've worked with a group called Winnipeg Wildin, which lets me show a more organic side of myself in long-form videos. But beyond those videos, I don't go out of my way too much to push my content. I just stay in my lane, do what I do, and hope that people enjoy it. If they see it, great. If they don't, they're kind of missing out.
Specifically related to growth on TikTok, what works for me is really understanding the short attention span of viewers. I try to grab their attention within the first 5 seconds with a solid joke or something really catchy.
I think about my content in three parts: the first part has the really good stuff, the middle is okay, but good enough to keep you watching, and then I end with the best content. I put it together this way to keep you engaged throughout the video - essentially storytelling.
I also try to narrate my daily experiences in a way that keeps you informed, but at the same time, I leave a bit of mystery so you don't exactly know what's coming next. It's a bit random and that's what makes it engaging, you know?
How do you engage with your audience?
Engaging with my audience is something I find really rewarding. A big part of that engagement happens in the comments section of my videos or posts. I enjoy reading what people have to say and, more importantly, responding as best as I can. I really try to make my responses more than just a bland 'thank you' – adding a touch of humor or a cheeky reply is more my style.
There's also a kind of niche audience that's really into the 'Josh Anglo lore'. I truly appreciate them and always look for ways to connect more with them. Something unique you can take away is that I sometimes respond to comments with a video, which is about as far as you can go in terms of engagement beyond literally having a conversation with someone.
While I do take audience suggestions as light inspiration, I am a bit guarded about letting it dictate my content. If someone suggests I should do something, I won't necessarily do it just because it was suggested. That might be my quirk, but I believe my content needs to be authentically 'me'. So, I usually avoid trends and focus on creating content that comes organically from me.
I would say that it’s been difficult to sometimes deal with the unsolicited attention I occasionally get when I am recognized in public. Don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate all the love and support from followers, but it often takes me by surprise and can be a little uncomfortable.
It's a bit counterintuitive, wanting everyone to know your name and then feeling overwhelmed when they actually do. But I've learned to accept that it comes with the territory. I’m sure other creators love getting recognized, but when I’m at Walmart, I just want to go unrecognized and do my thing, you know?
How have you monetized your business model?
Monetization of my brand really happened when I decided it was the right time to start making money off of it. Issy Dahl, who became my brand manager, approached me just as I started looking around at monetization models, and from there is really when the opportunities started to come in. I won't disclose all my earnings per video, but let's just say it made me realize that this could be more than a hobby.
If anyone's considering getting into the content creation world, I would definitely recommend finding a good manager or agent. Their importance hit me like a ton of bricks once I got one. You don't have to be the next big thing, as long as you have a loyal audience engaging with your content, you can make this a full-time gig. It's crazy to think that all I need to do is spend 2-3 hours a day making videos that are fun for me, and voila, I have a job that doesn't even feel like one.
“Once you’re rooted in your ways, it becomes tough to adapt, which is why starting early with collaborative skill sets can prove to be super helpful. It’s tough to teach an old dog new tricks.”
That being said, engagement is key in all this. Even if your videos don't hit the viral mark, as long as the interaction is strong, you're headed the right way. I like to aim for a 25% engagement on every video. That's my marker for success. You can have 10,000 followers and make this your career - it’s pretty crazy to think about.
Not all months are easy, of course. There have been times when the income fluctuated and got me worried. But I guess the confidence I have in myself always pulls me through. Like, I'm going to be fine. Just look at where I am today - living in my own apartment, I have my own car, mostly because of my job creating content that I thoroughly enjoy doing.
Looking back at the brands I’ve worked with, you could say I've done a good bit of skincare content, with brands like The Body Shop. The cool thing about what I do though is that there isn't a rulebook. Any brand can potentially be a great fit. Although, my style is a bit sassy and I do tend to swear quite a bit, which some brands might not be cool with. But hey, that's me - it comes with the territory.
What are your biggest lessons learned & challenges faced?
Looking back on my journey as Josh Anglo the content creator, the most significant lesson I've learned is that believing in yourself can enable you to achieve your dreams. Despite starting out and feeling like this life was a pipe dream, pushing through just allowed me to see what I was really capable of.
I remember this one moment pretty vividly - I was in London. I was flown out to London to do work with the Body Shop, and I remember I was standing on a pier, looking out over the water. Super dramatic. But I thought to myself that this was all me - I did all of this with my own two hands. That was the realization that I had truly made it.
As for the challenges, there are a couple of aspects that can be tough. On the one hand, the freedom being a content creator offers is amazing; deciding my schedule and sharing my thoughts with the world can’t be beat. However, this freedom can also be a double-edged sword. When I take breaks from making videos, it's challenging to get back into the groove.
Working with brands can be a bit of a challenge as well. Each brand has specific expectations, especially the bigger the brand, and it often feels like a compromise. I don't like feeling like I'm selling out, and I feel the pressure from these brands to deliver content that might not resonate with my audience.
I would also say that turning my passion into a job has brought along creative burnout. Sometimes, the pressure to constantly come up with new content can be draining, taking the fun out of the journey.
Don't get me wrong, although it may seem like it, content creation isn't as easy as people perceive it. Creating content independently can feel isolating, especially when you're out of ideas. It's a balance between enjoying the freedom to do things my way and missing the opportunity to bounce ideas off others that you might get from a stable 9-5 job,
All in all, each experience, be it a challenge or an opportunity, has shaped me, but I wouldn't trade this journey for anything else.
What technology & tools do you use?
My approach to technology and tools is probably pretty disappointing for this question - I mainly use my phone. It's a simple setup that works for me, allowing me to focus more on the content rather than any complicated tech.
I literally use the TikTok app for editing all my videos and I also have a couple of tripods for filming. I would say having a second smartphone can be a bit of a hack that you might want to think about, just to get different angles and have more flexibility in shoots - but it isn’t 100% necessary.
For the music in my videos, I just play songs on YouTube and hold my phone up to the speaker and record the sound. There's no fancy software or specific tools, it's all quite bare bones but it gets the job done.
What future plans & goals do you have for your creator brand?
I've got some big plans in store for the Josh Anglo brand. This year, I'm set on hitting that one million follower mark. That's a biggie for me. I'm also looking to diversify, as I don't want my income to only depend on whether I'm feeling creative or not.
I've been working with the Winnipeg Wildin group on YouTube more, where I’m trying to carve out a place where I can just be me without the extra fluff - having to record, edit, and post everything. I’m excited to just show up on set and be authentically me.
I'm also keen on finding a place where I can host a show or just feature in one. I've dabbled in podcasting a bit, but I’m still to find the right chemistry with a co-host. It’s got to be super organic for me. I also like to host events - like MC big events. There's just something super fun about being the middleman, throwing around a few laughs. So yeah, that's the plan. Grow the followers, diversify the income, and maybe do a show or two.
What advice do you have for aspiring content creators?
If I could give one piece of advice to aspiring content creators, I'd tell them to do more networking and develop the skills to work with other people well, particularly in terms of creating videos.
The thing is, once you're rooted in your ways, it becomes tough to adapt, which is why starting early with these collaborative skill sets can prove to be super helpful. It’s tough to teach an old dog new tricks. Also, finding more engaging ways to interact with your audience is crucial.
I’d also say you need to believe in yourself, for sure. In the beginning, people around me, even my close friends and family, thought I was crazy. But I always believed in myself and that's what got me here. Especially when making videos, you can't show that you're nervous. You need to commit to everything you're doing.
Even if you don't fully believe in it, you have to commit if you want it to work. It might be hard, people might tell you you're wasting your time, but it's about believing in yourself. Do what feels right to you - this is the best working formula. But remember, this isn't just about being a content creator. It's about finding your confidence as a person too. Stick to what you believe in. That's the best advice I can give.
As for the future of content creation, I don't see it dying out. People always love watching others do stuff, and there's no shortage of interesting content out there. One thing I would say is that content is getting shorter because attention spans are dwindling. A few years from now, even minute-long videos might need to be highly engaging throughout.
Looking back on my progress to date, even though I got in on TikTok in 2019, it felt like I was so late to the game. TikTok had already been around for a year, and I felt like I was already behind. In actuality, the timing was perfect. So, don't be discouraged thinking you've missed your chance. There's always an opportunity to jump in and make your mark - and there’s never a better time than right now.
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