Creator Economy Live

Dive into Episode 45 of Creator Economy Live, featuring Michelle Miller, CMO of K18 Hair—the powerhouse behind today’s most talked-about haircare brand! ✨ Michelle chats with Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan about her career journey, from UCSC and journalism to leading top beauty brands like Too Faced Cosmetics and Kosas Cosmetics. Plus, Keith and Brendan dive into the surprising role of long-form content, like podcasts and YouTube, in this year's U.S. election impact. Ready to get inspired by industry insight and the rise of K18? Listen in to hear more! 🎧 https://lnkd.in/erTmwpGt #CreatorEconomy #BeautyMarketing #InfluencerStrategy

🔊 In case you missed it, on the latest Creator Economy Live podcast episode, Esraa Elzin, Senior Influencer Marketing Manager at Instacart, dives into one of the most pressing topics in the creator industry: diversity in decision-making and fair compensation. Esraa highlights a key issue: brands often miss the mark because their internal teams don’t reflect the diverse audiences they’re trying to reach. With inclusive decision-making comes campaigns that resonate more authentically and innovatively. Esraa also calls for brands to truly empower diverse voices, not just hire them. “It’s our job as influencer marketers to advocate for fair pay and representation for all creators,” she states. Her message couldn’t come at a more crucial time—the creator economy is projected to hit $480 billion, yet creators of color are still underpaid, with an 18% pay gap. 💡 Want to learn more about Esraa’s insights? Check out the episode! #CreatorEconomyLive #InclusiveMarketing #InfluencerMarketing #DiversityInMarketing #FairPay

From early days of Instacart to the magic of human storytelling, Episode 44 of the Creator Economy Live Podcast is packed with stories of growth and creativity. Keith Bendes shares his unique journey from Unilever to witnessing Instacart’s beginnings in a house full of visionaries. His first glimpse at this "tiny company in Boston" turned out to be a front-row seat to a future game-changer. Esraa Elzin dives into how Instacart’s influencer strategy taps into relatable, everyday moments. She shares how real magic happens when creators share their own personal stories—whether it’s a forgotten dinner ingredient or snagging a sold-out mascara from Sephora. Esraa’s team empowers influencers to craft unique, genuine stories that resonate. Catch all the details and tune in to hear how authentic storytelling and bold choices drive the creator economy forward! 🎧 https://lnkd.in/gc6X6Qc5 #CreatorEconomyLive #Instacart #InfluencerMarketing #Podcast #Storytelling #CPGMarketing #KeithBendes #EsraaElzin

🎙️ ICYMI: Episode 44 of the Creator Economy Live Podcast! Esraa Elzin, Senior Influencer Marketing Manager at Instacart, drops some major behind-the-scenes insights in our latest episode. 📢 Esraa shares the story of one of her most memorable career moments—back in 2016, when she helped CoverGirl make history by introducing their first-ever CoverBoy, James Charles. In this episode, she reveals: ✨ Her experience pitching James Charles as a micro-influencer and seeing him become a household name ✨ The impact of bold influencer choices on both brands and creators ✨ Why moments like these show her how meaningful influencer marketing can be Tune in for all the details and a look into the real potential of influencer marketing magic. Full episode out now! 🎧 https://lnkd.in/gc6X6Qc5 #CreatorEconomyLive #InfluencerMarketing #PodcastEpisode #JamesCharles #BehindTheScenes #Instacart

My top 5 creator predictions for 2025 (as the manager of the Sidemen !) Main takeaways: - being a creator will *no longer* be a viable full-time career as market saturation increases & average wage decreases - 2025 is set to be the year that 100% of creators use AI tools for content creation - niching down will continue to pay off – and paid memberships will boom in a *big* way - creator burnout will rise, and hundreds of thousands will drop out of the space - creators who win big will win big on YouTube It’s set to be a crunch year for many… and I think we’ll see *monumental* changes in the space as a result. Thoughts? 👇

Earlier this year I was invited to speak at Creator Economy Live, which is crazy to me, #SocialListening at a creator/influencer conference?? 🤯 🤝 That's ironically the path my job took this year, and in the last 11 months or so I have learned A LOT. There's a lot of harmony between what's been traditionally two separate roles, and both are so complementary: 👂 Analyzing (listening to) people's (creator's) content + 📈📉 Measuring the effectiveness of their (and our) content Join me tomorrow to chat about both! And how the industry will undoubtedly benefit from advancements in both fields. Link to register: https://lnkd.in/e2R7Tthg

Thinking about shifting to affiliate or incentivized influencer marketing? It’s tempting, but here’s the catch: you’ll have zero control over the content creators produce. So, how do you navigate this new dynamic? Brands can’t say, “I’ll pay you on performance” and then try to control the content, timing, or style. It just doesn’t work. This creates a huge challenge—handing over full creative control can feel risky, but it’s essential for affiliate models. 🎧 In the latest episode of Creator Economy Live, Keith and Brendan break down why affiliate marketing means letting go of traditional brand control 🚫, and how some brands are finding a hybrid model to strike a balance. If you want to succeed in this space, you’ve got to understand the new rules of the game! 🕹️ Don’t miss these must-know insights to stay ahead! 🎙️ #AffiliateMarketing #CreatorEconomy #Podcast #InfluencerMarketing #BrandStrategy

5 THINGS IN THE CREATOR ECONOMY YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEK... 👀 1️⃣ More than two-thirds of shoppers are now choosing brands based on their values - https://lnkd.in/eWqTYwrw 2️⃣ Young Republicans trust social media almost as much as national news outlets - https://lnkd.in/e68gz-Pr 3️⃣ US brands are zeroing in on two big metrics - https://lnkd.in/eK-s6NvA 4️⃣ Ferrara is getting sweet on influencer marketing - https://lnkd.in/dx7bBVgr 5️⃣ One company is working to bring creators into TV ads - https://lnkd.in/eQ2UQcwr Sign up for the Creator Economy Live! newsletter to get the latest and best in creator economy coverage and influencer industry insights sent straight to your inbox FOR FREE 👉 https://lnkd.in/ewSS6xgq

🎉 Ready for more? Here’s the second wave of Creator Economy Live 2025 speakers, set to take the stage and share their insights with you! 👇 🎤 Keith Bendes – VP, Brand Strategy, Linqia 🎤 Brendan Gahan – CEO & Co-Founder, Creator Economy Live Authority 🎤 RJ Larese – VP, Talent & Influencer Marketing, Paramount 🎤 Jamie Altman – Director of Influencer Marketing, Fabletics 🎤 Hitakshi Shah – Director of Influencer Marketing, Duolingo 🎤 Jayde I. Powell – Founder, the em dash co. These trailblazers will tackle your biggest challenges like campaign ROI, creator collaborations, and the future of social tools. 🚀 💥 Don’t miss out – prices are rising soon and FREE passes for the first 500 brands are almost gone! 👉 Get your tickets now and join us February 4-5! https://lnkd.in/extSk9ye #CEEL25 #CreatorEconomyLive #CreatorEconomy2025 #SocialMediaMarketing #InfluencerStrategy #CreatorLeadership

🚨 Ready to meet the first wave of speakers for Creator Economy Live 2025? We’re bringing together the top minds in the creator world, and here’s the first set of game-changers hitting the stage! 👇 🎤 Diogo Felippelli – VP Social Media, Fox Entertainment 🎤 Emily Drake – Senior Manager of Partnerships, AG1 🎤 Amanda Solomon – VP, Creator & Social, Playboy Enterprises, Inc. 🎤 Emma Jennings – Group Content Director, Creative Works at Google 🎤 Angelo Cartas 🎨 – Director, Global Social Media & Community, Ouro 🎤 Kahlea Nicole Wade – Founder, Alora Society From managing creator partnerships to scaling your brand’s social impact, these experts will help you stay ahead of the game. 🔥 💥 Get in fast – ticket prices are increasing soon and FREE brand passes are going fast! First 500 brands get in FREE! 👉 Grab your ticket now and join us February 4-5! https://lnkd.in/empNDKsh SECOND WAVE ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW! #CEL25 #CreatorEconomyLive #CreatorEconomy2025 #InfluencerMarketing #SocialMedia #BrandStrategy