Happy Wednesday, everyone!

I’m pumped to be back and not feeling like death, this is how I felt trying to string my thoughts together for last week’s newsletter 😅 

Welcome to the first issue of September, I know half of you are pumped that fall is rearing its head (fall weather gang wassup), and the other half of you are dreading the incoming crispy air. Well let me tell you, if you don’t like fall… you’re wrong. Well maybe not wrong, but you’re not right (I will die on this hill). 

Regardless, the fall almost always spells killer content, new concepts, and for me, travel season. I’ll see you next week, Paris ❤️ 

ps - If you’re a Parisian creator or just happen to be located in Paris, I will be there starting September 13, so hit me up, and let’s create some content!!

Now, onto this week in creator economy news!

Trend Report Time 📊 

As always, I like to take reports and simplify them for you with the biggest takeaways and insights. This report by Tubular breaks down some of the recent trends on video platforms, focusing on how to optimize, the effect of ChatGPT on algorithms, as well as the roles of music, news, ecomm, and beyond. Let’s jump into the details below!

• First, we’ll first dive into the role of optimizing when and how you post. While short-form content is currently king, data shows that viewers generally enjoy a bit longer short forms (did I just have a stroke?).

• What do I mean by that? It was found that the best short-form length tended to be between 61-180 seconds. Videos in this range tend to drive higher growth rates compared to their shorter counterparts.

• Gaming content is the king of Shorts as of right now, with higher average view counts across the board.

• It’s suggested by Tubular that a great space to look into creating short form content is in the food and drink space. They have super high average view counts, but not many people post in this category! If you’re a cook or baker, consider trying out this niche!

• Surprisingly, the main driver of ChatGPT-related content is tied to educational videos, with just under 40% of trending videos relating to students & learning.

• Continuing on the education train, many of the popular videos in the ChatGPT category are tied to learning tips and tricks about the system.

• Jumping to music, the most popular genres bringing in billions of views were HipHop/Rap/R&B surprisingly beating out pop music.

• Songs are also making a big time resurgence in new trends. Tubular states that songs released in 2010-2014 are in the “sweet spot” to be picked back up.

• This fact also suggests that older songs have a chance to get a second wind, and more “underground” songs can get noticed, leading to more recognition and money for musicians across the board.

• News is going to socials, and news orgs understand that. News organizations are optimizing their own social channels to drive more engagement as more people consumer information on socials.

• Apparently, if you’re a news creator, posting between 10PM-12 AM is a key time to get more eyes on your posts.

Those are my biggest takeaways from the report, but be sure to dive in yourself to get the full scoop. Find the full report found below and let me know what your biggest takeaways are!

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Creator Economy News 🚨

This week in the creator world, Threads is dead and Zuck wont accept it… again, Trump’s trial will be live streamed to YouTube, BBC partners with TikTok after making employees remove the app from their phones,

• Threads might have been dead on arrival, but the big Zuck isn’t giving up just yet. It’s been reported that Instagram is now pushing Threads content on your homepage to improve engagement. Zucky Boy doubling down when he should back off? Sounds familiar, something something, “metaverse is the future” something something.

• We are living on a bizarre timeline ladies and gents, YouTube might have all of the NFL streams, but now they also have…. Trump’s trial live-streamed right on YT. This feels like a Simpson’s episode. 😅 

• Less than a year after urging employees to remove TikTok from their phones, the BBC comes to a partnership with TikTok to learn the ropes of the TV industry while promoting their socials. Tell me you have a lack of young employees without telling me you have a lack of young employees.

You should see these 👀

• BeReal? Naaaahhhhh. Apparently, BeFake is more profitable. A new AI app, BeFake, does the same thing as BeReal, but integrates an AI overlay…. They’ve raised $3M…. 🥲 

• David Dobrik flirts with starting a reality TV show at his LA pizza restaurant, Doughbriks. And I have to share this quote with just the above context because it’s just classic David: “Kids growing up in LA and like maybe they're pursuing their acting dreams or whatever they're doing. But they also need a day job for the time being. I feel like a show around that would be really interesting.” Ah yes, the two LA job demographics: actor, or server trying to be an actor 😂 

• Speaking of child starts, Miley Cyrus released a web series to promote her new single, and this mini-series is racking up some serious numbers. With tens of millions of views across 19 videos, Miley and her team proved yet again that content creation is the best way to get the word across to fans and younger audiences, especially as a long-standing celeb.

Creator Spotlight 🔦

Meet GIFGAS!

I feel as though the creators that I tend to watch the most frequently, are all doing things that I wish I could do. And GIFGAS is no exception.

GIFGAS is an adventurer at his core, and he brings us along on every step of his journey. From hopping trains in Italy, Montenegro, Portugal, Morocco and way beyond, this creator uses freight trains as a means of escape, adventure, and a way to find new and often forgotten places throughout Europe.

Trekking around Europe inside freight cars, avoiding legal troubles along his treks, meeting the locals, and getting lost are all in the cards for a GIFGAS video. The beauty of the landscape that he’s traversing through is complimented by the mashing sounds of old steel train tracks and wind gusts, creating an oddly relaxing scene as he crosses borderlines.

If you like first-person adventure videos, exploration, and maybe even some sweaty palms, then GIFGAS is the creator for you. Live vicariously through this creator just as I do, and get rewarded by gorgeous backdrops, intense moments, relaxing commentary, and most importantly, adventure.

Keep exploring and stay away from those yard bulls, GIFGAS! 💪 

Want to go even further? 🚀

If you’d like to keep learning about topics like the ones shared above, stick around! But more importantly, check out the links below to further your development as a creator. 😎

1. Sign up for CreatorPad

2. Join our free creator community

3. Find a personal mentor to learn from