Creator Economy Live

As we look ahead to what’s next in the corporate landscape, there's a sense of skepticism regarding ongoing TikTok negotiations. One perspective suggests that some players may be “milking” the situation to appear as heroes, while the rest of us are left wondering, “just make a decision, people!” The reality is that while a deal may eventually surface, it could end up being more of a facade—keeping the conversation alive without delivering real substance. This highlights a crucial point: clarity and decisive action are essential in business. As we navigate these discussions, let’s advocate for transparency and meaningful outcomes rather than getting lost in smoke and mirrors. ?? Want to hear more insights and discussions like this? Check out the latest episode here: https://lnkd.in/ecRPWq2S

Happy International Women's Day?? Today (and every day), we celebrate the strength and resilience of all women worldwide. Still, today, in particular, we want to share our appreciation for all the amazing women in the #creatoreconomy. ?? To every female influencer, marketer and content creator, You're more than just a face in the digital world. You're trailblazers, entrepreneurs, and leaders shaping the future of marketing. To celebrate the incredible women in the Creator Economy space, we want to share facts and numbers with you.?? Did you know that... ??61% of CEL speakers were female ??Out of all the female speakers, 59% had leadership roles (Founder/CEO, Director, VP, Senior Director, Head), ?? 100% of panels had female representation (yep, that's ZERO Manels!) Impressive right? Let's continue to empower each other and amplify women's voices across the creator economy. Together, we can keep pushing boundaries and creating opportunities for the next generation to thrive. #IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay #empowerwomen #celebratewomen #CEL

In the world of influencer marketing, working with athletes—especially during high-stakes events like March Madness—requires a unique approach. ?? Want to dive deeper into the world of influencer marketing and hear more insights like these? ?? Listen to the newest episode and stay ahead in the creator economy! https://bit.ly/3XxXh4n

?? New Podcast Episode Alert! In the latest episode of Creator Economy Live, hosts Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan dive into the hottest trends in influencer marketing and the creator economy! This week, they discuss: ??? March Madness NIL deals ??? TikTok’s latest updates ??? Amazon shutting down Inspire ??? Instagram's new ad format ??? YouTube’s AI Shorts integration and much more! Join them for an insightful conversation with Adam Ornelas, Influencer Lead at DoorDash. Adam shares his experiences working with major brands like Coinbase, Chipotle, and Whole Foods. He discusses his innovative approach to influencer marketing, real-time partnerships, and the rising influencer rates. Plus, get the inside scoop on his role in major brand activations like the Super Bowl! To wrap things up, Keith and Brendan highlight the Creator of the Week and Brand of the Week, showcasing the top creators and innovative brands shaping the landscape. ?? Listen now: https://lnkd.in/ecRPWq2S Don't miss out on these valuable insights! ???

THE NEWS THIS WEEK IN THE CREATOR ECONOMY: ?? Pinterest now labels AI-generated content To improve transparency, Pinterest is rolling out tags for AI-generated images. With the rise of generative tools, platforms are working to distinguish authentic creator content from machine-made visuals—important for marketers leveraging Pinterest for affiliate and product promotions. ?? E-commerce platform sees stock surge thanks to creator-driven sales A creator-focused shopping app just reported record-breaking adoption and sales, sending its stock soaring. This reinforces the growing power of influencer-driven commerce, where audiences trust creators over traditional retailers. ?? Could a shopping app be the next Amazon? New digital storefronts are challenging traditional e-commerce by prioritizing influencer-driven product discovery. As more consumers turn to social-first shopping experiences, brands and affiliates may need to rethink their marketplace strategies. ?? Brands invest in holistic video strategies to drive performance Short-form, long-form, live streams—marketers are using video across multiple platforms to optimize engagement. For creators, this shift highlights the need for multi-format content that seamlessly integrates with brand campaigns. ?? Brands are rethinking mascots—what’s next? As some companies phase out their traditional mascots, influencer partnerships may take their place. This could create more opportunities for creators to become the faces of major campaigns, replacing animated icons with human-driven storytelling. ?? Stay ahead—get these insights and more in your inbox! Sign up for the Creator Economy Live newsletter—free! https://lnkd.in/gYvw7xKn

??? New Episode Alert! ?? This week on?Creator Economy Live, we’re bringing you a powerhouse episode featuring none other than?Mrs. YouTuber herself, Kim Larson! ?? Kim is the?Global MD & Head of YouTube Creators, and her insights on the creator economy are nothing short of?incredible. With over 13 years at Google, plus past roles as the?CMO at Jamba Juice?and a?brand lead at Nike, Kim’s expertise is as diverse as it gets. Here’s what we’re diving into: ? The massive growth of?YouTube creators?and what it means for brands. ?? Why?TV has overtaken mobile?as the primary way people watch YouTube in the US. ?? How YouTube’s innovations are shaping the future of?long-form, short-form, and podcast content. ?? Predictions for creators and brands navigating the evolving digital landscape. Plus, we discuss?March Madness NIL deals,?influencer marketing as a performance channel, and even celebrate the?20th anniversary of YouTube! ?? ???Tune in now?to hear Kim’s incredible journey, her thoughts on creator-first platforms, and actionable insights for navigating today’s creator economy. ?? Listen to Episode 54 here: https://lnkd.in/gVSHcZH6 #CreatorEconomy #YouTubeCreators #InfluencerMarketing #Podcast #YouTubeInnovation

If you ask most creators what their favorite platform is, the answer is almost always?YouTube—and for good reason! According to?Kim Larson, Global MD & Head of YouTube Creators: ? YouTube has always been creator-first.?The platform was built for creators to grow meaningful businesses and foster long-term success. ? Better results.?YouTube is unmatched when it comes to delivering?real ROI—for creators?and?advertisers. In fact, it often outperforms traditional paid social ads in terms of impact and engagement. It’s no wonder YouTube remains the top choice for creators looking to build lasting careers and connect deeply with their audiences. ?? ?? Want to hear more insights from Kim? Check out episode 54 of the Creator Economy Live podcast here: https://lnkd.in/gVSHcZH6

Ever wonder how someone at the top of their game explains what they do? Enter Kim Larson, the amazing Global MD & Head of YouTube Creators. (Hint: she’s incredible. ??) With over 13 years at Google under her belt, Kim has been a driving force behind YouTube’s creator economy. Her elevator pitch sums up not just her role, but the heart of YouTube’s mission: Empowering creators, building communities, and fostering creativity at a global scale. ??? Want to hear her pitch and learn more about her fascinating journey? ?? Tune in to Creator Economy Live: https://bit.ly/4kbyixL

YouTube just dropped some jaw-dropping stats from Q4 2024, and the platform is?on fire???. Here are the highlights: ???TV has officially surpassed mobile as the #1 way people watch YouTube in the US! ???Ad revenue skyrocketed past $10.5 BILLION, thanks to U.S. election ads and podcasters bringing their shows to video. ?? A?30% YoY increase?in creators earning the majority of their revenue from TV screens. ??? YouTube is now?the most popular podcast platform?in the U.S. (edging out Spotify ??). ?? YouTube owns?11% of all TV viewing—making it the king of ad-supported streaming. Oh, and did we mention YouTube and Google Cloud hit a?$110 BILLION annual revenue run rate? ?? What does this mean for creators? How does the shift to TV screens and podcasting impact revenue opportunities? ?? ???Find out on Episode 74 of the Creator Economy Live Podcast with YouTube exec Kim Larson! ???Listen now:?https://lnkd.in/gVSHcZH6?

THE NEWS THIS WEEK IN THE CREATOR ECONOMY: ?? X (formerly Twitter) introduces AI-powered ad automation New AI-driven tools from X are designed to help advertisers and creators streamline campaign management. This move could make paid promotions more accessible, allowing creators to better optimize ad spend and engagement. ?? Spotify expands monetization for video podcasters The platform is rolling out financial incentives to attract more creators to its video podcasting program. As Spotify positions itself as a YouTube competitor, this presents a new revenue opportunity for creators looking to diversify income streams. ?? Search behavior is shifting—creators need to adapt With AI-powered search engines, voice search, and TikTok discovery growing in popularity, creators must rethink their content distribution strategies. Social search optimization and AI-driven content adaptation will be key to staying visible. ?? Follower count is no longer the top metric for brand deals Brands are moving away from using follower count as a primary indicator of influence, instead prioritizing engagement, community strength, and niche authority. For creators, this means building deeper audience relationships rather than chasing vanity metrics. ?? TikTok introduces automated ads for car brands TikTok’s latest ad update aims to simplify car marketing through AI-driven automation. While currently focused on the auto industry, this could signal broader adoption of AI-powered ad solutions, impacting how brands and creators collaborate on sponsored content. ?? Stay ahead—get these insights and more in your inbox! Sign up for the Creator Economy Live newsletter—free! https://lnkd.in/gYvw7xKn