GRIN

Elite creator programs aren’t built in silos. Real growth comes from connecting with people who push you to succeed. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce GRIN Community—a space for our customers to build relationships, share ideas, and grow alongside each other. At GRIN, our focus has always been to foster meaningful connections between brands and creators. Now, we’re bringing that same energy to the professionals behind the scenes. And we’re not doing it alone. We’ve gathered influencer marketing experts from brands like REVOLVE, Cozy Earth, Playboy Enterprises, Inc., Fenty (Kendo Brands, Inc.), and more to help drive the conversations and share proven strategies to help you win. We are stronger when we’re together. And when we all level up, we raise the standard for our entire industry—one that leads to stronger collaborations, better results, and lasting impact. Not a GRIN customer? You can still apply to take advantage of all these perks for free. (link in comments 👇 )

Spinning, winning, and GRINning out here at Creator Economy Live. 😎 Huge shoutout to Uber, Kosas, Summer Fridays, Liquid I.V., Topo Designs, lululemon, Cozy Earth, and touchland for keeping our swag bag stuffed to the brim.

We're here at Creator Economy Live!! Be sure to come by Booth 400 and say hi to the GRIN team. 👋 🚨 And don't miss Ryan Debenham's panel at 11:30 PT. Can't wait to see you!!

How do you build a community that actually lasts? We’re diving into this topic and more at Creator Economy Live this week on Feb. 5 from 11:30 am - 12 pm PST. Ryan Debenham will sit down with influencer marketing experts from K18 Hair, Fenty Beauty (Kendo Brands, Inc.), and Vibeology Co. to discuss: 👥 How to move beyond one-off influencer campaigns and build a dynamic, engaged community 🤝 How to build a community that actually lasts 💜 How to turn influencers into true community partners who shape narratives, drive conversations, and convert audiences into loyal brand advocates Hope to see some of you there! Let us know if you’ll be attending—we’d love to connect! #CreatorEconomyLive2025

What's up, Utah! ⛰️ Last week, cross-functional team leadership from product to engineering to marketing (even a customer!) got together in SLC for some team-building and game-planning. They even made time to get a few runs in. 🏂 Thanks for showing us your backyard, Ryan Debenham! 

Our bags are packed in anticipation of Creator Economy Live next week! ✈️ Will we see you there?! 📅 Feb. 4-5, 2025 📍 Caesars Forum, Las Vegas Here’s what’s happening: 🤝 Network with top brands on the latest trends in influencer marketing. 🎤 Ryan Debenham sits down with influencer marketing experts from K18 Hair, Fenty Beauty, and Vibeology Co. to discuss all things community (Feb. 5 from 11:30 am - 12 pm PST). 👋 Say hi to the GRIN team at Booth #400 and spin for a chance to win some really awesome prizes. Let us know if you’ll be attending—we’d love to connect! #CreatorEconomyLive2025

We're thrilled to announce that Ryan Debenham, our former President, has been named GRIN's new CEO! Ryan brings deep technical expertise, innovative vision, and a people-first mindset to the role, positioning GRIN to evolve beyond a powerful toolset and into a true strategic partner for brands. Ryan succeeds GRIN Co-Founder and outgoing CEO Brandon Brown, who will transition to chairman of the board at the end of this month. Brandon will continue to focus on long-term strategy and partnerships while supporting Ryan and the leadership team. Ryan's journey is impressive: 📈 Led AI and data analytics at Qualtrics, contributing to a $8B acquisition by SAP 💥 Served as CTO at Route, helping drive revenue to $100M in just four years 💡 In the last 1.5 years, Ryan's passion and innovation have laid the groundwork for GRIN's most exciting chapter yet (stay tuned 👀). In Ryan's words... “The creator economy is thriving but still full of challenges. As CEO, I’m excited to drive innovation — not just through cutting-edge technology but also through insights, education, and strategic partnerships. Together, we’ll push the boundaries of what’s possible and shape the future of this industry.” We couldn't be more excited about GRIN's new chapter under Ryan's leadership and grateful for the incredible foundation Brandon built over the last decade. Let's go. 🚀 

How long has "influencer marketing" been a thing? Years? Decades? Millennia?? The power of influential people has been around a LOT longer than our favorite social media platforms. Swipe for a little walk through history!

What happens in Vegas… levels up your influencer marketing! GRIN is heading to Las Vegas for Creator Economy Live 2025 ✈️ and we’re giving away a free VIP ticket ($1,099 value) to join us! When and where? 📅 Feb. 4-5, 2025 📍 Caesars Forum, Las Vegas What happens in Vegas? 🤝 Connect with brands on the latest trends and strategies in influencer marketing 🎤 Hear tactical sessions led by top industry voices (including our panel on building a strong community!) 👋 Visit the GRIN booth (#400) for a live demo and to chat with our team in person To enter, simply like this post and comment below! 👇 *** Entries must be completed by 10 pm PST Thursday (1/23). A winner will be drawn and notified via LinkedIn on Friday (1/24).

TikTok is back for at least 75 more days. 📆 Well, 74 now. On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order giving ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, a new timeline to find a U.S. buyer or face another ban. Let's say a buyer emerges. Can we trust TikTok as a viable long-term marketing platform after everything that's happened? We have our doubts... The platform's volatility has highlighted the need for marketers to diversify their social media strategies and prepare for a world without TikTok. Our prediction? 🔮 Whatever happens over the next 74 days, YouTube will emerge as the platform with the highest growth potential. Here's why: 🏃 Proven popularity and longevity YouTube turns 20 this year. Over the last two decades, it has amassed over 2.5 billion active users across all demographics. That stability and versatility make it a safe play for content investment. 🔍 SEO and discoverability benefits Gen Z and Millennials have recently turned to TikTok as their preferred source of product discovery. As a Google-owned platform, we expect YouTube to have no problem filling that search and discovery vacuum among younger audiences. 💗 High-intent audiences Many people visit YouTube with specific intentions. Those users are likely to spend more time watching and interacting with the content they deliberately seek out. ✨ Content versatility Shorts are perfect for scratching the short-form itch, while YouTube's signature long-form content is best for in-depth storytelling that builds trust and deeper connections with audiences. 🤝 Highly compatible with brand partnerships Whether it's link stacking or non-dedicated videos, YouTube is ripe with cost-effective brand partnership options. Plus, videos continue to gain views and engagement over time, meaning more long-term bang for your buck. For the last few years, Instagram and TikTok have been 1a and 1b influencer marketing platforms for most brands. Do you agree that YouTube is coming for the crown?