As AI reshapes marketing, the next generation of decision-makers is placing more trust in creators than in brands. Here’s how to use creator marketing strategies to keep your business relevant. Marketing strategies evolve with the technological shifts of each era, continuously redefining how businesses connect with consumers. In the early days of the internet, outbound marketing tactics like billboards and direct mail were the go-to approach. Then came Google and social media, giving rise to inbound marketing platforms like HubSpot. Now, we’re entering a new and highly disruptive cycle, this time driven by AI. This early ‘discovery’ phase — which […]

Are you noticing your traffic from Google starting to go down? Algorithm updates in 2024 have shaken traditional SEO. Recent Google algorithm updates are disrupting search engine optimization (SEO), shifting the focus from traditional tactics and long-tail informational queries. Founders and CMOs are now turning to content and community-driven strategies to boost engagement and visibility. At HubSpot, we saw firsthand how these updates impacted previously high-performing articles and pages, leading to declining traffic, reduced visibility, and an urgent need for new, responsive marketing strategies. As Kieran and I discuss in a recent episode of Marketing Against the Grain, creator-generated content […]

Remember when being a “creator” was a laughable teen pastime? Now, consumers are largely trusting influencers over brands, creators are taking over brand marketing teams, and the industry is only growing bigger. In 2023, we’ve seen the so-called Creator Economy grow to 50 million creators globally, with a market size of $250 billion. By 2027, this number is expected to reach $480 billion. Perhaps most telling, there are now kids’ summer camps dedicated to content creation. But with great opportunity also comes drawbacks: The market is saturated, and AI makes it easier than ever for anyone to become a creator […]

As a writer for HubSpot, the most I thought I would use our product was creating marketing blog posts and measuring their performance over time. I never envisioned myself actually using a CMS to, well, you know, build a website. But, that quickly changed in the Fall of 2022 when I created a blog that cataloged my journey down the Great Divide, a mountain bike trail that stretches from Canada to Mexico. Before I knew it, I was managing Pedaling4Pups.com and producing a handful of blog posts each week all while biking the 2700-mile trail. Even as a seasoned blogger, […]

The creator economy has seen exceptional growth over the last few years and will only grow more in the future. So, what does that mean for brands, and how can marketers leverage this booming economy? To answer this question, I spoke to a couple of HubSpot’s marketing experts and researched the creator economy’s size, growth, and the changes we can expect down the line. Here’s everything marketers need to know, starting with how the creator economy has grown over time. How the Creator Economy Has Grown Over the Years The exact size of the creator economy can vary, depending on […]

Content creators and the creator economy are becoming more integral to the success of marketing campaigns. Our 2022 State of Inbound Marketing Trends Report found that 88% of brands have a dedicated budget for working with influencers and creators. We also found community will be a top priority for marketing strategy in 2023. To gain more insight into the world of content creators, HubSpot partnered with Tilt to survey more than 300 marketing and business-specific content creators. Here’s a bit of what we found that marketers need to know. To access the full report, check our Business of Creators Report. […]

The creator economy is built around influencers and their audiences. As audiences put a significant amount of trust in their favorite influencers, it makes sense that marketers would want to pay more attention to influencer marketing than before. This post will go over the data-backed benefits of using influencer marketing, along with insight from a HubSpot social media expert.   7 Benefits of Influencer Marketing 1. Influencer marketing has high ROI. 1 in 4 marketers that currently leverage influencer marketing report that it offers the second highest ROI of any marketing trend, so your investments in influencer marketing won’t go […]

The creator economy is changing marketing in various ways, and keeping up can be challenging for content marketers unfamiliar with this relatively new landscape. Fortunately, HubSpot invests in creators and keeps a pulse on the latest content creation trends. I spoke to creators in HubSpot’s Creator Program and asked for their advice on how marketing professionals can adapt to the creator economy. Lessons Content Marketers Can Learn from HubSpot’s Creators Here’s what HubSpot’s creators say about how marketers can thrive in the creator economy. Create Valuable Content “When creating content, you have to keep your ideal audience in mind,” John […]

Over the last 18 months, the creator economy has been all the rage — and it’s proven to be incredibly lucrative. In fact, as of 2022, the creator economy’s market size is estimated at $104.2 billion. The creator economy is made up of bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, newsletter writers, TikTok and Instagram influencers, and others who are trying to build real businesses by creating and distributing valuable and entertaining content. Think of these content creators as little media companies. Many of these content creators work with bigger brands rather than sell their own products or services. If you’re a marketer whose interested in […]

As the creator economy continues to expand, so do the needs of content creators. Whether it’s crowdfunding, financial guidance, or new ways to connect — there are many moving parts content creators must consider to be successful. Fortunately, new creator economy startups are providing the tools, resources, and platforms needed to make the business side of content creation easier for digital creatives. From marketplaces to website building tools to fresh opportunities to connect with followers — let’s explore several of the creator economy startups that are game-changers for content creators. 10 Startups Contributing to the Creator Economy Huddles Ko-fi Fanhouse […]