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☆ PR firms are running execs' LinkedIn profiles — and turning ghostwriting into big business
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Marta Biino | Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Executives looking to boost their own profiles have for years paid freelancers to ghostwrite their LinkedIn posts. Now big PR firms are getting into the game, and LinkedIn profile management is going mainstream. Business Insider spoke to 14 PR firms that said more companies are asking for LinkedIn writing and strategy services for their leaders. Zappa said he does not offer specific rates for LinkedIn posts and instead includes LinkedIn in broader content contracts. However, he estimated that PR firms solely focused on LinkedIn ghostwriting could charge companies $5,000 a month for three to five LinkedIn posts.

Persons: Erin Ledbetter, Weber Shandwick, Ogilvy, Contessa Kellogg, Winters, resharing, There's, Lana McGilvray, Katie Burcham Glasshoff, execs, Chris Harihar, Dan Allocca, Joe Zappa, Zappa, Nicola Dodd, Laura Franklin, Franklin, Kim Metcalfe, Zeno Group's, —, upend ghostwriting, William Dobinson, Farrer Kane, Greg Swan, Lewis Goldberg, Claude Organizations: Business, Zeno, LinkedIn, Weber, Purpose, The Washington Post, BCW, Crenshaw Communications, Sharp Pen Media, Ogilvy UK, ghostwriting, London, Finn Partners, KCSA Strategic Communications Locations: Ketchum, gatekeepers, Midwest

For the fifth year, Business Insider is highlighting the leading PR pros in the creator economy. These professionals help their clients manage media appearances and image. The publicists work with top influencers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Bailey is a publicist with Align Public Relations, a firm founded by Nicole Perez-Krueger, who's built most of the business on digital-first talent. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Alex Cooper, Cooper, Cait Bailey —, Alix Earle, Remi Bader, Bailey, Nicole Perez, Krueger, who's, Perez Organizations: Business, YouTube, Vogue, Public, The New York Times Locations: TikTok, The

☆ New data reveals the top ways influencers get brand deals, how long they last, and how many are needed to make a living
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Marta Biino | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewInfluencers secure brand deals in many ways — some go right to the DMs of brands or even use Slack, while others rely heavily on talent managers or agents. AdvertisementNearly 55% of respondents listed social-media marketplaces as one of the three primary sources they use to secure brand deals. The data, however, does not account for the types of brand deals creators would require. For instance, some brand deals could be multi-channel sponsorships, while others could be affiliate links — which can vary in pay. Most creators said their partnerships with brands last a monthAbout 31% of creators reported that their brand deals typically last one month.

Persons: —, Qianna Smith Bruneteau, We're, Smith Bruneteau, that's Organizations: Service, American Influencer Council, Business, AIC, influencer, LinkedIn

☆ How a book becomes a TV series, according to the execs, showrunner, and author behind Hulu's 'We Were the Lucky Ones'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewWhen Georgia Hunter began researching her family history and writing "We Were the Lucky Ones" in 2008, she didn't expect it to become a bestselling novel, and even less a Hulu series that she'd coproduce. For books specifically, it can help when a novel or series has had great success in stores, but it's not the only consideration. He's a decades-long friend of both Hunter and Lipez, the showrunner, who he brought the book to in 2019. The audience success of the novel certainly helped in making the decision to adapt the book, too, Helman said. "The book and the true story of these characters were mothers and fathers who wanted to protect their children.

Persons: —, Georgia Hunter, Hunter, Logan Lerman, Erica Lipez, Carolyn Cassidy, Jordan Helman, Helman, Joey King, Halina, Eddy Kurc, Hunter's grandaunt, Hulu There's, — it's, Cassidy, there's, it's, Percy Jackson, Ellyn Jameson, Thomas Kail, He's, Lipez Organizations: Service, Georgia, Hulu, Business, Disney, Television, Hulu Originals, 20th Television Locations: Poland

Nine former staffers are suing the social-media management company Unruly Agency. The lawsuits contain allegations of wrongful termination and unjust imprisonment. Unruly's lawyer said the claims "have been meticulously reviewed and found to be without merit." AdvertisementA company that manages OnlyFans accounts for top influencers, including Tana Mongeau and Abby Rao, has been hit with nine lawsuits from former staffers this year. The lawsuits against Unruly Agency include allegations of wrongful termination, retaliation, and unjust imprisonment.

Persons: —, Tana Mongeau, Abby Rao Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Creators are growing increasingly concerned about AI as OpenAI's Sora looms and issues of inclusivity and crediting persist
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

"I'm worried about AI stunting creativity, replacing the need to use our brains," said travel creator Jessica Morrobel, who has about 168,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram. Lifestyle creator Joseph Arujo said he primarily uses ChatGPT to format his emails, since he gets a lot of brand partnership requests. AdvertisementCherie Luo, who publishes educational content, said she uses AI to transcribe and summarize her podcast episodes. And UGC creator Salha Aziz said she uses AI for a variety of tasks, including writing scripts for her videos. "It is concerning how good it's getting," said Tales, who has 2.7 million followers on TikTok and Instagram.

Persons: —, Snapchat, I'm, Jessica Morrobel, Noah Jennings, Marina Mogilko, YouTuber who's, Cassey Ho, Joseph Arujo, Cherie Luo, Salha Aziz, Sora, Tyler Perry, he'd, Martin Haerlin, Tristan, Alex Piper, Haerlin, Kahlil Greene, we'll, Nneya Richards, she'd, Richards Organizations: Service, SXSW, Business, Adobe, YouTube, Ferrari, Night Studios, it's Locations: Texas, TikTok

☆ How creators are using long-form writing to build community and combat the uncertainty of short-form video
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementBuckle is part of a group of creators that has turned to slower, longer types of content that don't live on social platforms. Turning to long-form content — in writing, but also through podcasts, community platforms like Patreon, and YouTube videos — has been a way for creators to counter this. AdvertisementFor some creators, long-form content is also a way to slow down their relationship with their audiences and build stronger connections. Alexandra Hayes Robinson recently started the newsletter Hello Hayes after finding success on TikTok. Alexandra Hayes RobinsonWritten content is a way for creators to build 'community'The idea of "community" has become central to the creator economy, and long-form content can help foster it.

Persons: —, Lesley Buckle, interning, Instagram, . Buckle, Buckle, it's, Dylan, Annie Openshaw's, Rafy Evans, Alexandra Hayes Robinson, Hayes, Emma Brooks, She's, Annie Openshaw —, Openshaw, Jessamyn Stanley, Ashley Batz, Thomas Walters, Julianne Fraser Organizations: Service, Business, Porter Magazine, Infinity Creative Agency, TikTok, Google, Buckle, Dollar, New Locations: Marie Claire, virality, Europe, New York

☆ TikTok is the No. 1 social-media app for Gen Z to shop on, but Facebook rules among millennials and boomers. Here are 4 key takeaways from a new survey on social shopping.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Almost 70% of US consumers have used a social-media platform to buy products, a new survey found. TikTok is the preferred platform for Gen Z to buy, while millennials and boomers still use Facebook. Here are 4 key takeaways from a survey of 1,000 Americans run by creator-management platform Grin. Over two thirds of Americans (68%) have bought products directly on social-media apps, and 26% buy products in-app more than once a week, a new survey from the creator-management platform Grin found. The majority were Gen Z and millennials, while about 30% were Gen Xers and boomers.

Persons: Grin, Xers, Instagram Organizations: YouTube, Business Locations: China, Southeast Asia

☆ Melon, a startup that had raised $1.5 million to build an AI 'brain twin' for users, is shutting down
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Melon, a startup that was building a "brain twin" using AI, plans to shut down on March 24. The company had raised $1.5 million, but founder Sanne Fouquet said it "faced challenges." Melon , a startup that was building a "brain twin" for users with AI, plans to shut down on March 24, Business Insider has learned. Users could make their lists public and allow others to follow them and discover the content they'd saved. Melon used AI and machine learning to resurface content that users had saved and help them write, brainstorm, and research based on the information the user had collected.

Persons: Sanne Fouquet, Melon Organizations: Consumer, Business

☆ An accountant who works with top YouTubers shares 3 money-management strategies for freelancers and influencers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

As an accountant and business advisor for creators, his day-to-day life is made of numbers, spreadsheets, and "boring," "compliance-driven" tasks. Uwins began doing taxes for creators and influencers in the early 2010s, when making money online was still relatively new. In 2021, he cofounded Arcade Media, a talent-management company that works exclusively with the YouTube group the Sidemen. He's helped develop products with the YouTubers, like fried-chicken chain Sides, vodka brand XIX, and their most recent venture, a company making breakfast products called Best Breakfasts. Build a business structure as soon as you start making moneyCreators should have a registered business regardless of how much money they're making, Uwins said.

Persons: —, Sam Uwins, Uwins, Patricia Bright, He's, Sidemen, wean, it's, Uwin Organizations: Service, Business, Arcade Media, YouTube

☆ A founding partner of VC firm 776 explains why she's still optimistic about creator-economy startups as the hype cycle ends
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewFor Katelin Holloway, the people who say creator startups are "dead" are missing the point of the creator economy entirely. "I'm not talking about the epic stars and the MrBeasts of the world," Holloway told Business Insider. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Holloway is a founding partner at Seven Seven Six, the early-stage VC firm started in 2020 by Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian. The end of the hype cycle around creator-economy startups is part of the intrinsic nature of venture capital — VC "loves hype cycles," said Holloway.

Persons: —, Holloway, Alexis Ohanian Organizations: Service, Business, Seven Seven Locations: —

☆ 4 Slack communities helping creators of color and women land paid deals and discuss obstacles they face building businesses
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

For creators and influencers, working online means it's not always easy to build community. TikTok creator Morgan Gadley started the Slack workspace OohhMG in early January because she wanted other BIPOC creators to have access to the brand deal opportunities that were constantly flooding her inbox. Here are four Slack workspaces helping women and creators of diverse backgrounds build their brands, as well as three other groups for influencers. After that, she started introducing creators of color with smaller followings into the group. Other Slack groups for influencersHere are three other Slack groups that influencers told BI have helped them make industry connections or land deals:

Persons: Slack, TikTok, Morgan Gadley, Jessy Grossman's, —, I've, Florence Howard, Shaakira Molisho, they've, Gadley, Grossman, she's, Calveiro, Ogilvy, Naimeesha Murthy, influencers Organizations: Business, Walmart, LinkedIn, Products, Women Locations: New York, India

☆ Long-form video on TikTok is surging for media publishers, a new report found. Here are the key takeaways.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Long-form video is making a comeback on social media. As early as August 2023, creators told Business Insider they were earning tens of thousands of dollars per month from it. The data also said viewership of longer videos had increased nearly 40% over the previous six months. The report defines media and entertainment creators as accounts that are not brands, influencers, or aggregators of content. Tubular LabsYouTube has long been a go-to social platform for media publishers due to its landscape format and easy adaptability from TV.

Persons: It's, TikTok, ReesaTeesa, John Cassillo Organizations: Labs, Business, Beta

When it comes to newer consumer-social startups, the environment they're entering is turbulent — investor checks have dwindled, users are facing subscription burnout, and successful advertising models require massive scale. AdvertisementSo how are the emerging, buzzy social startups approaching monetization in 2024? "There's really only two monetization business models for consumer products," said Tiffany "TZ" Zhong, founder of new social platform NoSpace and early-stage VC firm Pineapple Capital. 3 ways new social-networking startups are approaching monetizationWhile some newer social startups are already monetizing their product, many are still pre-revenue and experimenting with different models to see which will make sense for their product and audience. And Verse CEO Bobby Pinckney told BI that the social platform, centered around music, plans to add a premium subscription that will unlock advanced AI tools, analytics, and templates.

Persons: —, there's, Eric Wittman, Tiffany, Zhong, VCs, Bianca Ambrosini, Ambrosini, Marlon Nichols, Nichols, Emma Bates, Andrew Kahn, Danial Hashemi, Alexandra Debow, Bobby Pinckney Organizations: Service, Meta, Business, Pineapple, Mac Venture Capital, Twitter, Crush Ventures, Crush, BI Locations: Berlin

☆ OnlyFans creators make money selling intimacy to their subscribers. But in a lonely and hostile world, the relationships can start to feel real.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

OnlyFans creators who spoke with BI said that losing friends and even family members was something adult-content creators often had to come to terms with. AdvertisementEven beyond adult content, creators face an intrinsic element of loneliness. Like other influencers and freelancers, OnlyFans creators often shoot, edit, and post their content alone at home. AdvertisementLike with other types of sex work, navigating OnlyFans can be difficult in a traditional monogamous relationship. Courtesy of LiensueThe money is what makes OnlyFans 'just so worth it'Many creators said money was the key factor that kept them on OnlyFans despite the stigma.

Persons: —, Rae Richmond, she'd, Richmond, Pani Farvid, Keily Blair, Kaitlyn Siragusa, You'd, she's, Elaina St James, I've, St James, Isla Moon, Cherie DeVille, Elaina, James, Amber, doesn't, Farvid, Sweetheart, Marie Lippmann, Liensue, I'm, Emme Witt, OnlyFans, That's, Witt, Siragusa Organizations: Service, The New School, Workers, BI, OnlyFans, California State University, Chico Locations: Richmond, New York, OnlyFans

☆ Why 7 prominent VCs are investing millions in new social startups like Diem, Lex, and 222
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Mervana Parekh is a principal at Acrew and has invested in social startups like Diem, Afterparty, and Anything World. Best Nights VC. Nichols is a founding managing partner at MaC, which recently invested in social startups like Spill and Swsh. Boyce has backed a slew of new social startups, including Diem, Lex, Koodos Labs, and Swsh, alongside associate Rhian Horton. In 2024, Best Nights is looking to invest in companies that facilitate travel experiences after hearing people say their best nights have happened during trips or vacations, said de Silva.

Persons: —, Connie Chan, Mervana Parekh, Peter Boyce II, Marlon Nichols, Catalyst, Web3, Peter, Diem, Afterparty, Lorrain de Silva, Andrew Kahn, Miley Cyrus, Lorde, Kahn, Aaron Matusow, Dan Kruchkow, Nichols, Elizabeth Weil, Kevin Weil, John Smothers, Boyce, Lex, Rhian Horton, Lorrain, Silva, BestNights, Aaron Leithäuser, Gen Z, Peter Boyce, de Silva, Acrew Organizations: Service, Business, Acrew, Stellation, MaC Venture, VCs, Stanford University, Startup, Pudgy Penguins, Crush Ventures, VC, Crush, MaC Venture Capital, MaC, Catalyst, Koodos Labs, Big Tech Locations: 1kx, San Francisco , New York, Lisbon, Acrew, San Francisco, Berlin, Los Angeles and New York, Los Angeles, New York, Rythm

☆ How 'YouTube's resident librarian' built his business around book content, from hosting an award ceremony to a brand deal with Valentino
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. As the self-proclaimed "resident librarian" of YouTube, Edwards has amassed 1.3 million subscribers on his main channel and almost half a million on a second one with videos discussing books and reading. But while he's recently built a reputation as a BookTuber, Edwards didn't start his YouTube career with book videos. Between 2015 and 2020, he was more of a college YouTuber, publishing content about university life and studying tips. "The content people were generally making on BookTube was 'Books I want to read in April,' and then 'Books I read in April.'

Persons: —, Booker, Jack Edwards, Edwards, Edwards didn't, BookTok, BookTube, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, that's, he's, I've, Valentino, It's, AdSense, — Edwards, I'm, David Nicholls, livestream, Kate Green, Universal Pictures It's, Edwards hasn't, — he's, There's, it'll Organizations: Service, BBC's, YouTube, Business, Netflix, Universal Pictures Locations: London

"I'm thinking about marketing myself as a TikTok Shop creator," Jayy told BI in July. Outside its in-house team, TikTok also deputizes official third-party TikTok Shop agency partners to work with creators and merchants on e-commerce strategies. And the company offers advice to all affiliate creators on its website via its TikTok Shop Academy. Someone who is not popular or famous going on TikTok Shop and offering products, or someone who is very popular and famous now getting products?" "I think the shortest path to more volume through TikTok Shop is really that second group."

Persons: D'Amelio, TikTok, Remy Beaumont, it's, Joy Mangano, Beaumont, playbook, Rick Watson, Sharon Jayy, Jayy, Watson Organizations: Business, Shop, Z Media, intel, Training, RMW Commerce Consulting, TikTok Shop, Shop Academy Locations: London, China, Douyin, TikTok's Culver

☆ I'm a man who created a sexy female AI influencer to make extra money. It's been harder and weirder than I thought.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A man created a female AI influencer in order to make money after losing his job. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with the male creator behind AI influencer Kimochii. I thought an AI influencer would be the easiest and quickest way. Kimochii is an AI influencer with 43,000 Instagram followers. Even though I'm not making that much money with Kimochii, I'm too invested in her life now.

Persons: influencer, Kimochii, hasn't, haven't, she's, —, I'm

☆ Fanvue, an OnlyFans competitor, is betting big on AI-generated adult content. But some creators worry about its tactics.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

These influencers, generated using AI, have amassed thousands, or sometimes hundreds of thousands of followers — like Sika Moon and Aitana. Unlike its competitors, which largely ban adult content generated with AI, Fanvue is bullish on it and is investing heavily in its community of AI influencers. But as Fanvue continues to build its user base and business model on AI-generated explicit content, some of its practices have prompted concerns among creators. For many creators behind these AI influencers, however, the hiccups and doubts about Fanvue don't outweigh the attention the company is giving them, and they continue to nurture their relationship with it. "The way they treat us AI creators is good," a third creator said.

Persons: —, they've, Fanvue, Will Monange, Monange Organizations: Service, Business, BI

☆ Inside the rise of true-crime podcast empire MrBallen, from TikTok and Amazon to live events
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In the four years since he began creating content, MrBallen has become a fixture in the true-crime world and built an empire that spans video content, podcasts, live events, and a talent-management company. "I realized that I had first-mover advantage on TikTok," Allen told Business Insider. "This is a 50-50 partnership through and through, where he has his side of the business, and I have my side of the business," Witters said. "I'll never run out of content," Allen said. Now, Ballen Studios publishes four weekly podcasts, with more shows to be released this year, as well as weekly content across all social platforms.

Persons: Doja Cat, MrBallen, John Allen, Addison Rae, Allen, Nick Witters, Witters, John, Cadence13 Zak Levitt, Joe Rogan's, Nick, we've Organizations: YouTube, Business, Ballen Studios, Amazon Music, Spotify, Ballen

☆ Influencers are landing paid brand partnerships and UGC deals in an unexpected new way: Slack groups
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Marta Biino | Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

That Slack group? While many of the other Slack groups creators said they'd used were free, this particular one charges membership fees of $41 per month or $588 a year. Like the existing Slack group, this one will also charge users. AdvertisementCalveiro is excited about this because of the group's potential to create a safe, engaged community where all questions are welcomed. "I haven't yet seen a truly successful Slack channel just for creators, and I think it's so needed," she said.

Persons: —, Ogilvy, Slack, I've, Kristen Bousquet, Bousquet, she's, Patricia Redulla, Redulla, She's, Calveiro, they'd, Jessy Grossman Organizations: Service, Influencer, Business, Messaging, workspaces, UGC, Adolescent

☆ Why influencer-marketing firm Izea is betting big on AI campaigns with a new image-generation tool
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewIf you can't beat them, join them — that's the mantra that influencer-marketing firm Izea has adopted when it comes to AI. AdvertisementAs a first step in bringing its own AI framework to reality, Izea recently launched AI "Mixers" as part of its AI offering (which it calls "FormAI"). The concept behind "Mixers" is to offer creators and brands the ability to train their own AI models. Influencers will create digital representations of themselves, while marketers can train AI models of their products. Around the same time, another survey found that over half of creators had been asked to use AI by brands.

Persons: —, Izea, Ted Murphy, Murphy, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, Dollar

☆ How the creators of AI influencers are making money and building their audiences, from private groups on Discord to adult content
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Marta Biino | Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Aika's creator, for instance, founded an AI community on Discord, "Generative Dreamers," which counts over 100 popular AI content creators. "Currently this is the only viable way to make money from AI images," the creator of Iskira said of adult content. The server members said the mutual support they'd found had been pivotal in continuing to pursue AI content. And while monetization has been off to a slow start, AI creators said they're here to stay — and several of them hope to eventually move away from adult content. "I think 2023 was a big year for people to wrap their heads around what is AI," said the creator of AI influencer Zoe Fox.

Persons: doesn't, She's, Alexis Ivyedge, Kim Ochii, we'll, Aika, there's, influencers, they're, Iskira, it's, they'd, Kim Ochii's, monetization, Zoe Fox Organizations: Business Locations: Instagram

☆ 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

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