How I Keep A Pulse On The Creator Economy: A 3-Part Framework💡

Stay Ahead in the Creator Economy: Consume, Converse & Create

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"How do you stay up to date on everything?" That's probably the most common question I get, and honestly, I never had a good answer until recently.

The creator economy evolves at breakneck speed. Platform features drop weekly, algorithms shift overnight, and what worked yesterday could be outdated by Friday.

It's become essential to know what's going on, whether you're a creator trying to tap into new features to grow your audience, a brand trying to figure out new ways to work with creators, or agencies and tech providers having to go beyond strategy and execution and be true expert partners for their clients.

I've been keeping a pulse on the creator economy since about 2017—before it was even called that. After finally getting my first job in social at a small influencer marketing agency, I pivoted from running a hip-hop blog to writing about social media, tech, and influencer marketing on my website.

At that time, I couldn't out-experience anyone, but I thought I could out-inform them.

That process of consistently staying informed is what I owe to becoming known as someone with a good pulse on the industry. When people ask how I do it, they expect some hack or secret system. But I've never had one. It's mostly just been doing the same thing every day.

After some reflection, I've identified a framework of what has worked for me: it comes down to three C's—Consume, Converse, and Create.

Let’s dive into it.

The 3-Part Framework: Consume, Converse, Create

1. Consume: Build Your Knowledge Foundation

The goal: Stay informed by consuming content across the space and building a strong foundation.

Why this foundation matters: Building a strong knowledge foundation isn't just about staying current. It's about developing pattern recognition that separates experts from everyone else. Knowledge compounds over time, meaning today's small platform update often becomes next month's major industry trend.

When you consistently consume quality content, you start seeing connections that others miss, like how a new TikTok feature might signal broader shifts in how all platforms approach content distribution. This foundation also serves as credibility insurance. You'll (likely) never get caught off-guard when a client asks about the latest algorithm change or platform policy.

Most importantly, consistent consumption turns you into an opportunity radar, helping you spot emerging platforms, features, and tactics before they become mainstream.

Your action plan:

• Publications: Subscribe to key publications for daily platform updates and for in-depth creator interviews, industry analysis, and case studies.

• Newsletters: Find newsletters that deliver insights directly to your inbox—look for weekly roundups that save you time by curating the most important updates with often perspective.

• Videos & Podcasts: YouTube channels and podcasts are perfect for consuming while commuting or during downtime. Focus on channels that provide both news updates and strategic analysis.

• Industry Leaders: Follow platform executives, industry analysts, and thought leaders on social media for real-time insights and commentary that goes beyond basic news reporting.

• Smart Search Setup: Set up Google Alerts for valuable sources and use AI search engines like Perplexity and ChatGPT for quick information.

Pro strategy: Create a dedicated email address solely for industry newsletters. I maintain a separate inbox from my business and personal accounts that's strictly for newsletters—from individual creators to social platforms to tech providers. When I want to catch up, I dive into this dedicated inbox and can easily search through past content.

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