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The Ad Arena
The bests and busts of last Sunday's commercials, tax season tips for influencers, and more.
Kristin Kennihan
February 13, 2024
Happy Tuesday! Thanks for being here. This week, we’re recognizing the standout commercials from last Sunday and highlighting the ones that fell short. Then, we’re finalizing our search for social media management and announcing the deserving winner. Also - we’re giving out some tips for influencers during tax season and to top it all off, getting our burning questions answered by the YouTube stars, the Clements.
Let’s go.
The Ad Arena: Bests or Busts
The good, the bad, and the ugly commercials from the Big Game last Sunday.
BMW - Christopher Walken BMW created a masterpiece with Christopher Walken starring in their commercial this year. Following Walken on his usual day of mockery and joined by the halftime star Usher. True to his iconic style, Walken effortlessly captivates the audience with his charm and charisma, poking fun at himself along the way. |  Click above. |
 Click above. | NYX Cosmetics - Cardi B Cardi B partnered with NYX to promote their plumping lipgloss and it was underwhelming, to say the least. Only half of the commercial aired because the second half was deemed NSFW by the NFL. Instead, it was replaced with a black screen with a QR code that led viewers to watch the latter half of the commercial on YouTube. |
Poppi “It will be the soda your kids and grandkids think of when they think of soda.” Poppi is taking the soda world by storm, and its commercial from last Sunday reflected that. The multigenerational video touched on the past, present, and future to bring generations together and bring soda back in style. |  Click above. |
 Click above. | Nerds - Addison Rae Did we see that right? Addison Rae made a split-second cameo in the Nerds commercial, one of the only influencers to be in one this year. A giant gummy candy showcased an impressive dance routine and she acted as a judge to mark her debut in a Big Game spot. How much do you think she got paid for this gig? |
Cera Ve - Michael Cera Cera Ve and Michael Cera cleared up all our unanswered questions about Michael Cera’s affiliation with the brand. His odd behavior of hoarding Cera Ve bottles and signing creams in drug stores all make sense after his ad debuted Sunday night. Although the phrasing was a little off-putting, the clever name combo deserves an award. |  Click above. |
Keep an eye out for our exclusive newsletter edition coming out this Thursday. We'll take a deep dive into the inspiration behind the groundbreaking Michael Cera X Cera Ve campaign and guide you through the brilliant timeline that made it the most buzzworthy campaign of the year.
The Grand Finale
It’s the day you’ve been waiting for. We’re finally going to declare a winner in our search for the best social media management platform that makes your life easier and doesn’t break the bank.
Without further ado…
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I think it’s pretty easy to tell that the only factor that sets in-app scheduling apart is its unbeatable pricing. Other than that, in-app scheduling lacks the tools needed to compete with the big dogs.
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Hootsuite and Loomly are just about tied when it comes to accessibility, ease of use, and overall management of accounts. There are just a few things that set the winner apart.
 | Scroll to the bottom of the page to see who the winner of this showdown is. |  |
Monetize and Maximize
In a nutshell, yes, if you're in the influencer business, taxes are part of the package. Unless it's a hobby or an employer-employee setup, being an influencer constitutes running a business, even if it's on a part-time basis.
Even if your influencer venture feels informal, treat it with diligence, maintain records, and be ready to pay taxes on your earnings.
Here are expert tips to navigate influencer taxes:
 | Deducting Legitimate Expenses: Beyond income, influencers can deduct business-related expenses to reduce tax obligations. These deductions cover various operational costs, including home office, auto expenses, and travel, among others. |
Paying Quarterly Taxes: Quarterly tax payments are essential for influencers and small business owners, preventing last-minute surprises during tax season.
Allocating Funds for Taxes: Set aside a portion of monthly income to cover taxes, minimizing financial strain during tax season.
Submitting Your W-9 and Receiving 1099s: Unlike traditional W-2 forms, influencers operate with Form W-9 and receive 1099s from clients. Each client paying over $600 annually must issue a 1099 by January of the following year. |  |
Navigating the intricacies of taxes can be daunting when you're handling them on your own. Joining an influencer agency comes with a lot of perks, including professional assistance with taxes.
Hot Seat
We aim to build a sense of community in the influencer realm and learn more about our creators each day. This week, we reached out to the Clements with some burning questions. Here's what they had to say:
 | What’s your favorite trend right now? Right now we're loving the "made for me" trend - What’s your ideal date night? A fun experience like wine tasting or sip and paint followed by some fine dining!! |
Favorite platform to post on? YouTube!!
Favorite platform to watch content on? YouTube, but TikTok is growing on us!!
What are your New Year’s Resolutions? More self-care and movement and finding different new ways to be creative... we've recently been enjoying doing simple DIY projects at home!
And the Crown Goes to… Loomly!
After completing our three-week deep dive to find the best, most cost-efficient social media management app, we finally have a winner. Hootsuite and Loomly are neck and neck in the management space, but with Loomly’s significantly lower prices, and the ability to have more users and social accounts they’re the clear winner. While Hootsuite provides creators with a wide range of tools to lighten their workload, their high prices can present a challenge when it comes to joining their platform. However, with an exceptional and equally capable alternative like Loomly, you get the best of both worlds. |  |
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