From End Zone to Trend Zone

Why TikTok has been so quiet lately, influencer involvement in the Big Game, and more.

The Influencer Newsletter

Happy Tuesday! Thanks for continuing to read along with us. This week we’re uncovering why TikTok has been so quiet lately, how influencers play a key role in Sunday’s Big Game, and how to increase your revenue streams with merch. Also - we continue our search for the best way to manage your socials.

From End Zone to Trend Zone

The Big Game is just around the corner and now more than ever influencers are involved. Whether it’s appearing in cameos for commercials, making game day content for their viewers, or promoting the game weeks in advance, influencers are a big part.

Creators are increasingly essential to brands' strategies around the Big Game. Smaller-scale influencers play a significant role in pregame social content and discussions leading up to the event to create buzz. While mega influencers have started to dominate Super Bowl ads, brands are turning to smaller creators for social media campaigns. The NFL is also engaging creators for pregame programming, by flying out big names like MrBeast, Ryan Trahan, and Haley Kalil to Las Vegas to make content surrounding the game.

Creators will produce diverse content for the NFL across various platforms and may even appear on the game broadcast. Brands increasingly see influencers as accessible and impactful alternatives to traditional celebrities, particularly in digital marketing efforts.

UMG Drops the Mic

All of Universal Music Group’s music has been pulled from TikTok after the two parties were unable to agree on the renewal of their contract. UMG claims that their artists were getting little compensation and not enough protection against AI. Some artists included in the purge are Taylor Swift, Drake, and Billie Eilish. Concerns extend to influencers losing a vital promotional tool, with a good portion of creators’ videos now muted and not being pushed on the For You page.

UMG, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group are the top three record labels in the industry. Sony and Warner Music Group were able to come to an agreement with TikTok and renewed their contracts this year.

Do you think UMG’s absence will make Sony and Warner Music Group second-guess their renewal?

Merch Madness

From artists to gamers to beauty gurus, selling influencer merchandise can be incredibly lucrative. While it may not mint millionaires overnight, with success stories like Dude Perfect making upwards of $2 million a month, it's no wonder countless YouTube channels and Instagrammers turn to influencer merch to bolster their earnings. T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and accessories reign as the most popular forms of merch and are a great way to get started.

Here’s a merchandising roadmap:

Step 1: Are your followers ready for merch? It's not just about follower count; engagement matters. Assess your stats and ask your audience for insights before diving into the world of influencer merch.

Step 2: Make merchandise that reflects your personal brand's essence. Specificity is key. Leverage catchphrases, and inside jokes, or collaborate with designers to ensure your merchandise resonates authentically.

Step 3: Budget wisely and partner with quality printers. Consider print-on-demand options for low investment, but prioritize quality to maximize profits.

Step 4: Explore platforms like Shopify or Square based on your audience and business needs. Each platform offers unique features tailored to independent creators and serious sellers alike.

Step 5: Harness the power of unique content, wear your merch proudly, and spotlight your followers wearing it. Engage with your community through shout-outs and competitions to drive enthusiasm.

With Instagram's scheduling feature, you can plan and schedule your content up to 75 days in advance, allowing for a maximum of 25 posts per day. It's important to note that this feature is exclusively available for professional accounts. However, the scheduling tool does not support tagging products, sponsored posts, fundraisers, collaborative posts, or cross-posting to Facebook.

TikTok's scheduling feature is convenient but limited to the web browser only. That means no in-app scheduling. However, apart from this limitation, scheduling your regular content is a breeze. You have the flexibility to schedule your posts up to 10 days in advance, at any time of the day. Plus, there are no restrictions when it comes to posting or tagging.

YouTube stands out as the premier app for scheduling, providing users with the convenience of both in-app and online scheduling options. With no limitations, creators can effortlessly schedule videos up to a year in advance, at any hour of the day. YouTube simplifies the process, making it as effortless as sharing videos in real-time.

Next week, we’ll wrap this series up by comparing all three services we’ve looked at, Hootsuite, Loomly, and in-app scheduling services to give you the clear winner.

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