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☆ A YouTube Shopping exec explains its plan to beat rivals in affiliate marketing and the biggest challenges it faces
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

YouTube, which launched its YouTube Shopping affiliate program in 2021, has so far struggled to gain meaningful adoption, as Business Insider previously reported. Bridget Dolan, managing director of YouTube Shopping partnerships, told BI the platform's greatest advantage is its user experience and the resources it can offer creators. YouTube also has dedicated partner managers who communicate with shopping creators weekly to troubleshoot, share best practices, and plan in-person and virtual events, Dolan said. Her team of YouTube Shopping partner managers helps creators with everything from which products and brands to link to what products are selling well to trending product search terms. "YouTube Shopping is the idea that creators are talking about the products that they love and tagging them," Dolan said.

Persons: Bridget Dolan, Dolan, It's Organizations: YouTube, Business, YouTube's Brand

☆ 3 takeaways from new data on how much money creators are making in 2024, including why affiliate marketing is having a 'glow up'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Creators' earnings are still on the rise, but the ways in which they make money are changing. New data from market-research firm eMarketer, Business Insider's sister company, forecasts that creator revenue from social media will rise by 16.5% year over year to $13.7 billion in 2024. While brand partnerships remain the primary income source for creators, affiliate marketing is getting a "glow up" this year thanks to platforms like TikTok and YouTube, according to research-analyst Jasmine Enberg. A creator usually has several income streams, from brand partnerships to affiliate marketing to launching courses. Affiliate marketing is also popular on Instagram and YouTube, with the latter doubling down recently with its own affiliate-marketing program .

Persons: Jasmine Enberg, it's, Enberg, Janesha Moore, Moore Organizations: YouTube, Business, US

☆ YouTube wants to become the next go-to shopping platform. But can it convince creators to jump on board?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementFive talent managers working with YouTube creators told BI their clients have yet to use YouTube's affiliate program or that they weren't familiar with the program. Some creators, like Kristen McGowan, have started using YouTube's affiliate program alongside other tools. She hasn't used YouTube's affiliate tools yet because she's concerned about tying all her revenue to a single platform, she said. AdvertisementOne other creator told BI they'd love to use YouTube's affiliate program, but they weren't eligible. She said she hopes YouTube will eventually lower the requirements for the affiliate program so that smaller creators can join.

Persons: —, it's, influencer Kelly Anne Smith, Kristen McGowan, McGowan, Amanda Golka, wouldn't, Gigi Robinson Organizations: Service, YouTube, Business, Amazon, CitiBank, BI, Adidas, Samsung, Walmart, Entertainment, Partner Locations: VidIQ

☆ 36-year-old founder of $2 billion company: ‘Being a young woman with little experience was like trying to run with boulders on my back'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Amber Venz Box always knew she wanted to run her own company. But when her marketing business got intensely popular, she was still in her early 20s — and she didn't exactly know what to do. When Box co-founded Dallas-based LTK in 2011, her goal was simple: Develop affiliate marketing tech to monetize her fashion blog. Today, LTK is a $2 billion company that connects influencers and bloggers with retail brands and their advertising dollars, but it didn't exactly go smoothly at first. "Being a young woman with little experience was like trying to run with boulders on my back, honestly," Box, 36, tells CNBC Make It.

Persons: Amber Venz, —, — Baxter, She'd Organizations: Dallas, CNBC

☆ 36-year-old launched a business to help her 'move out of my dad's house'—now it's worth $2 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Amber Venz Box launched RewardStyle in 2011 with a relatively modest goal: make enough money to move out of her father's house. "I was in my early 20s, living at home, still eating my dad's cereal," Box, now 36, tells CNBC Make It. Box's Dallas-based marketing company, now called LTK, helped pioneer the modern creator economy, connecting influencers and bloggers with retail brands' advertising dollars. It was most recently valued at $2 billion, after a 2021 investment from Japanese investment holding company SoftBank. "We found a defunct business in Fort Worth and drove over in Suburbans and trucks, and loaded up some chairs and some desks," says Box.

Persons: Amber Venz, Box's, Baxter, they're, RewardStyle, LTK, — Organizations: CNBC Locations: Box's Dallas, influencers, Fort Worth, Suburbans

☆ A millennial moved to Charleston from Nashville to get away from the bachelorette party scene. She's never been happier working her new dream job and paddleboarding in her new city.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Kaelyn Dannenfelser said she's happier than ever after a job change and a move to Charleston from Nashville. AdvertisementKaelyn Dannenfelser, 28, said while she misses her friends in Nashville, Tennessee, and loved being able to live there, she's definitely not moving back. AdvertisementFor those looking to move to Charleston like her, she suggested spending time researching as there are several islands. While Dannenfelser hasn't been living in Charleston or in her new role too long, she's feeling much happier so far. Advertisement"I look forward to waking up in Charleston and waking up for my job," she said.

Persons: Kaelyn Dannenfelser, —, Kaelyn, she's, Dannenfelser, Shem, Paddleboarding, She's, I've, doesn't, didn't, I'm, Dannenfelser hasn't Organizations: Service, Census Bureau, Business, Charleston, BI Locations: Charleston, Nashville, Charleston . Charleston, Nashville , Tennessee, Charleston , South Carolina, Wando, North Charleston, South Carolina, Florida, LTK

☆ 4 ways the creator-economy startup LTK is building a remote-first workplace
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Patricia Gonzales, the chief people officer at the creator-economy startup LTK, told Business Insider about how the company has operated since pivoting mainly to remote work and how it's shifted to accommodate employees and hires. Gonzales shared four key takeaways from LTK's remote-first work culture. "And so we have made the decision to be a remote-first company." Gonzales said the idea is to make sure individual goals are clear and aligned with company goals, adding that leaders revisit their goals monthly or quarterly.

Persons: Patricia Gonzales, —, it's, LTK —, Gonzales, LTK, Slack Organizations: Service, Star Locations: Dallas, SoftBank, LTK

☆ 36-year-old's 'aha moment' helped launch the creator economy—and turned her blog into a $2 billion company
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Once she started making money, she realized she could sell the technology to other bloggers, who could benefit similarly. Since launching, LTK has helped online creators earn at least $2.7 billion in payouts from retailers, according to the company. CNBC Make It: Can you describe the process of turning your fashion blog into an online business? That's going to just be this huge hole and pit in my life." I basically asked them to pay me a commission for the online sales that I was driving, and that's when the business really took off.

Persons: Amber Venz, She's, She'd, she'd, Baxter, they're, LTK, didn't, Porter, it's, It's, — Organizations: CNBC, Dallas Morning, aha Locations: Dallas

☆ A marketer who was laid off made over $100,000 as an influencer in a year from affiliate links on Amazon and LTK. She shares how she got started and is helping BIPOC creators do the same.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

When Janesha Moore got a $540 check from Amazon in May 2023 for affiliate commissions, she was astounded. “Seeing that money really woke me up,” the Philadelphia-based creator told Business Insider. “That’s when I seriously started strategizing and started doing a lot of research into affiliate marketing.”This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Most of her income as a creator has come from affiliate marketing, though she’s also partnered with brands like Warby Parker, Walmart, and Marshalls to create paid, sponsored content. Since most of her income is through affiliate marketing, she considers brand partnerships “bonus revenue," she said.

Persons: Janesha Moore, strategizing, Moore, She’s, she’s, Warby Parker, we’re, ”, “, ” Moore, “ Brand Organizations: Amazon, Business, BI, Walmart, Strategic Influencer Academy Locations: Philadelphia, Instagram, TikTok, LTK

The pay data includes salaries ranging from a data scientist position that offers $170,000 per year at Discord to a staff engineer role that earns $250,000 or more at Patreon. AdvertisementHere are the annual salaries for a job at FaZe Clan:Legal Counsel: $142,273 median starting range; from $133,308 to $194,437FaZe Clan did not respond to BI's request for comment. At LTK, a senior software engineer would make $130,000Courtesy of LTKLTK, formerly known as RewardStyle, is an affiliate-marketing and social-commerce platform used by influencers across Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. At Teachable, a level II senior software engineer would make $190,000Teachable is a platform where creators can build and sell online courses and coaching programs. Here are annual salary ranges for several jobs at Teachable:Data Analyst : $69,826 to $85,000: $69,826 to $85,000 Senior Software Engineer : $160,000 to $180,000: $160,000 to $180,000 Senior Software Engineer - Core : $150,000 to $170,000: $150,000 to $170,000 Senior Software Engineer II : $190,000: $190,000 Software Engineer: $125,000 to $135,000Teachable did not respond to BI's request for comment.

Persons: upstarts, we're, Justin Kenna, they've, ByteDance, Teachable, Konstantin Savusia, James Nord, Brandon Brown, Ryan Brown, Brian Mechem, Warby Parker, Grin, Amanda Perelli, Anthony, Alex Zaccaria, Nick Humphreys, Linktree's, Amber Venz, Baxter, Read, Sydney Bradley, economy's, Patreon, Chris Best, Jason Henry Substack Organizations: YouTube, Business, FaZe, Safety, Software, Security, Enterprise Security, FaZe Clan, Fohr, Inc, Grin Technologies, Facebook, Keli Network Inc, Business Affairs, Jellysmack, Linktree, Ops, RewardStyle Inc, Networks, Mighty Networks, Mighty Software, Engineering, Sydney, Sydney Bradley One, BI, Staff, Social, Data Engineering, Trust, Quality Assurance, Hotmart, & $ Locations: California, New York, Texas, FaZe, Fohr, Jellysmack, Karat, Linktree, LTK, Instagram, Dallas , Texas, Teachable

☆ 13 innovative AI tools that are changing content creators' work processes, from ideation to production to editing
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Marta Biino | Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Following ChatGPT's launch in late 2022, several new AI tools have emerged for creators to use. Many tools use generative AI to create more dynamic images, transcribe text, and edit videos. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Since then, hundreds of AI tools have popped up, helping with anything from writing cover letters during job searches to translating text into different languages. "With the increasing number of AI startups, creators have numerous ways to speed up their processes and workflow.

Persons: —, ChatGPT, Nick Chen, Amber Venz, Chen, Lia Haberman, Lindsey Gamble Organizations: Service, UCLA

Insider spoke with influencer marketing experts and creators about sponsored content on Threads. Within two days of Threads' launch on July 5 , certain brands and influencers started posting paid, sponsored content. She's since posted more sponsored content to Threads. Hulu worked with creator Adam Rose on a sponsored Threads post. Some creators, like travel creator Jessica Ufuoma, are turning down sponsored content requests from brands for this reason.

Persons: influencers, Adam Rose, Kristen Bousquet, I've, Bousquet, Hulu, Krishna Subramanian, Amber Venz, Alessandro Bogliari, Ayomi Samaraweera, Meta, Rose, Brittany Mehciz, Hulu's, Thomas Walters, Ajai Guyot, Guyot, it's, Elon Musk, Ryan Detert, Matt Navarra, who's, what's, Elon, Navarra, Meta's, Instagram, Sooraj Saxena, he's, Sydney Bradley, Taryn Hicks, Jessica Ufuoma, collabs Organizations: She's, Brands, Meta, Creators, Hulu, Dollar, Amazon, Twitter, Sydney Locations: Europe

Insider spoke with influencer marketing experts and creators about sponsored content on Threads. There may not be hashtags yet on Instagram's new app Threads, but that's not stopping #ads from appearing all over the latest social-media platform. Within two days of Threads' launch on July 5 , certain brands and influencers started posting paid, sponsored content. She's since posted more sponsored content to Threads. Some creators, like travel creator Jessica Ufuoma, are turning down sponsored content requests from brands for this reason.

☆ Inside YouTube's social-shopping efforts, which are focused on affiliate links and shoppable short video
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

At VidCon, the annual conference for creators, industry professionals, and fans, YouTube Shopping made a splash. Michael Martin, YouTube Shopping general manager, and Bridget Dolan, managing director of YouTube Shopping partnerships, each spoke about the platform's new affiliate program. In 2021, YouTube began quietly testing shopping tools like product pins with a small group of creators. The feature looks similar to the in-app shopping tools on TikTok, with a "view products" button on the lower half of the video. Instagram, on the other hand, ended its native affiliate program in July 2022, and cut back on some features, like live shopping.

Persons: Michael Martin, Bridget Dolan, David Katz, who've, TikTok, Amanda Perelli YouTube's, Martin, it's, Jay Kent, Hume, Kent Organizations: YouTube, YouTube's, Coachella, Amazon Associates Locations: VidCon

☆ Read the pitch decks from these creator economy startups that helped raise millions of dollars
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Here are the pitch decks that 24 startups used in Series A, Seed, and pre-Seed rounds. The phrase "creator economy" skyrocketed as a buzzword in 2021 as creators, VCs, and entrepreneurs rushed to cash in on a booming industry. So, how do creator economy startups land those investments? They broke down the pitch decks they used to secure millions of dollars in funding. Read the pitch decks that helped 24 creator-focused startups to fundraise millions of dollars:

Persons: —, Alexis Ohanian's Seven, Tony Tran, Tran, Jessica Wolf, who've Organizations: United Talent, Intelligence Locations: Skye

☆ Influencers share how to make money with affiliate marketing and the networks they use
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Those links are often affiliate marketing links that let creators earn a commission on sales. We spoke with creators about how much money they earn from influencer affiliate marketing. What is influencer affiliate marketing? Influencers often use affiliate marketing as a way to earn income outside of sponsored posts or ad revenue on videos. Here are 9 top platforms influencers used to make money from affiliate linksThere is often no minimum follower count needed to make money from affiliate marketing.

Persons: Influencers, influencers, influencer Kara Harms, it's, Tori Dunlap Organizations: what's, Social

☆ How Do Instagram Influencers Make Money and How Much They Earn
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Influencers on Instagram earn money in many ways. Influencers on Instagram can also earn commissions on affiliate links, profits from selling merchandise, and proceeds from monetization tools Meta has introduced. Instagram is even testing an ad-revenue sharing program that would let creators earn money for high-performing reels on the app. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of Insider's cover on How much money Instagram influencers make:How much money Instagram influencers make from brand dealsMany influencers earn money on Instagram by working with brands on sponsored content. Read more:Reselling clothingResale apps like Poshmark, Depop, and Etsy have become lucrative small businesses for many Instagram creators.

Persons: influencers, Agutu, Nate White, Jour'dan Haynes, Meta, Instagram influencers, Instagram, Read, Huda Organizations: Insider, Facebook, YouTube, Meta

☆ I've racked up $1 million in jewelry sales at 19 years old. Skipping college was a risk, but social media helped me find success.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Perri Ormont Blumberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Evangelina Petrakis is a designer, a social-media influencer, and the founder of EP Jewels. She's made more than $1 million in sales in less than two years to her followers across platforms. I had loved jewelry since I was a little girl, so in 2021, I made the switch and started marketing my own designs under a new name: EP Jewels. Since starting the jewelry business, I've recorded $1 million in sales. I've stayed close to my niche by not creating TikTok videos that aren't relevant to me, such as TikTok dances.

Persons: She's, —, Evangelina Petrakis, I've, Mannino, Jordyn Mannino, Mike, I'm, Lauryn Haas Organizations: Service, Amazon, lhaas Locations: York, New York, inauthenticity

☆ How influencers make money from affiliate marketing and the networks they use
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Persons: Influencers, influencers, influencer Kara Harms, it's, Tori Dunlap Organizations: what's, Social

☆ A TikTok Shop exec breaks down the company's vision for the product and how it's wooing brands and creators
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

With Shop, TikTok wants to replicate the success of commerce on its Chinese sister app Douyin. Patrick Nommensen, TikTok GM of UK ecommerce, discussed some of the details for brands and creators. TikTok has big ambitions for shopping and has been investing heavily in it — from developing a logistics business to powering in-app purchases through TikTok Shop. Overseeing TikTok Shop has been one of Nommensen's focuses. Nommensen said TikTok has been working with some high-tier creators and celebrities on a strategic basis to spread awareness around TikTok Shop, pairing them with merchants.

Persons: TikTok, Patrick Nommensen, It's, Nommensen, Nommensen's, livestreaming, Sellers, it's Organizations: TikTok, ByteDance, Street Journal, Facebook, Insider Intelligence Locations: Asia, TikTok, Musical.ly, Spain, Brazil, Southeast Asia, China

Lisa Andrea launched a financial blog in 2021 and consistently books $8,000 in monthly revenue. Andrea outlines 9 of the easiest ways to earn passive income, including resale and blogging. She took her experience building passive income streams and teaching herself the fundamentals of financial literacy to launch the financial-advice blog The Financial Cookbook in February 2021. Andrea shared her own financial strategy, including the nine methods of passive income she encourages everyone to try. Julia CheskyAndrea said companies typically contact her about brand partnerships, but she encourages other entrepreneurs to be more proactive when looking for passive income avenues.

☆ 6 key takeaways on how Gen Z's shopping habits are changing with social media, according to a new study from social-commerce giant LTK
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Nhari Djan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It includes findings from an online survey and from LTK's work with brands, creators, and shoppers. The company also shared six trends to watch in 2023, including a surge in short-form video content. Social media is changing the way we shop, both online and in stores, according to a new study by the creator-focused shopping platform LTK. Here are six key takeaways from LTK's report to watch in 2023:Short-form video content will surge. LTK found that video content drove three times the year-over-year growth in gross merchandise value — a measure of total sales — as static content.

☆ Influencers pick their 14 favorite creator-economy startups that help them monetize, grow their audiences, and build online businesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Marta Biino | Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The number of influencers continues to climb alongside the rise of creator-economy startups. Insider spoke with 14 creators about which startups they use and why they like them. Creators, like lifestyle influencer Joseph Arujo, also look to startups to help them get paid their worth. Today, creators have many options when it comes to the startups they work with. Here are their top 14 picks, listed in alphabetical order (we excluded startups the creators had invested in or had a current paid relationship with):

☆ Influencers share their 14 favorite creator-economy startups, from design apps to platforms that help them make more money from brand deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Marta Biino | Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

☆ This 28-year-old turned her fashion blog into a clothing line that sold $3.5 million worth of products in 2022. Here's how she built her lucrative online business.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Sarah Ashcroft started her blog in 2013 after trying to land a job in fashion public relations. Since then, Ashcroft has taken her influence and turned it into a clothing line called SLA the Label, which launched in 2019. In 2022, that number jumped to $3.5 million (2.9 million pounds). "It's just amazing how something so simple has just grown so big," said Ashcroft, 28, who has more than 1.4 million followers across social media. During her job hunt, employers frequently asked her whether she had a fashion blog, Ashcroft said, because they were looking for someone with a fresh understanding of blogging.

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