Extra Value
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Extra Value | It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect, It Just Has to Be You!

Extra Value | It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect, It Just Has to Be You!

PLUS: High school TikTok's are setting the bar for brands. 🍿

JT Barnett & Creator X
December 12, 2024

What’s Hot?

Buzzfeed sells ‘Hot Ones’ for $82M

The show that built a loyal fanbase and eco-system around their branding (hot sauce, merch, shows) sold for a massive deal. Hot Ones is a killer example of creators crushing engagement by keeping it authentic and keeping up culturally! And a massive W for Sean— one of the best hosts around right now!

Getting paid to use facebook?

Facebook’s rolling out micro-creator monetization. Creators can now cash in on their content—even without massive followings.

More on the TikTok ban.

ByteDance and TikTok are pushing back against demands to sell TikTok by January 19.

TikTok Academy

If you want to learn more about TikTok shop and marketing on their platform!

Linkedln’s new “boost” feature.

The company continues to pour more energy into their influencer initiatives.

Manchester city is letting fans design jerseys!

Here’s a fun idea for creators who want to bring their audience into the merch game: use AI to whip up design mockups and let your fans customize or vote on their faves. Think of it as a virtual collab with your audience. Drop it as a limited-edition fan piece. You can do this every season, and you’ve got yourself a steady stream of hype, fan loyalty, and a reason for people to keep coming back. It’s crowd-sourced creativity!

The $125M Deal

In this interview, Alex shares how her success was based on diversifying the brand, and taking bold risks. If you’re a creator, let her story be your reminder: the possibilities are when creating good content! 💥

Spotlight

CLHS Yearbook

What Clear Lake high school is doing on TikTok is a really interesting case to note for companies. They are filming episodes of their yearbook class in a similar style of the office but created specifically for short form and it's getting a ton of traction. If you think this might be crazy, go and look at their comment section... people are tuning in as if its a show on Netflix. So for those of you that are coming up with ideas and thinking about what you could do…I would love for you to take a look at this just note the level of production that is going into this and the level of thoughtfulness and real passion around creating, because that is what is needed right now to find success and these guys are doing a fantastic job at it!

Founder’s Corner

I spent 7 minutes scrolling through different “For You” pages and I saw eight completely different styles of content on 🔥🔥! That’s proof that there’s no formula for perfect. And I think the secret sauce is to unapologetically be you! Your quirks, your story, your why—that’s what people want.

To make this even easier, I broke down four content styles that are dominating right now. Think about which of these styles clicks with your personality and habits—what feels the most natural and effortless for you to create?

1. Raw Content

This is that no-filter, hit-record-and-go type of vibe. It’s super chill and relatable. Think of it as inviting people into your world exactly as it is.

What it’s like: Imagine grabbing your phone and filming your morning coffee chat in one take—no fancy editing, no mic, just you sharing a real moment.
Why it works: People love realness. It’s like a virtual FaceTime with your audience.
Example: A creator talking about their latest project while walking their dog, background noise and all. It’s raw, unpolished, and hits different.

2. Cinematic Content

If you’re more about those wow-factor visuals, cinematic content might be your jam. Turning your everyday life into a movie and adding some storytelling to make it appealing to your viewers!

What it’s like: Picture high-quality shots, smooth transitions and music that’s captivating! You’re creating a vibe people can feel.
Why it works: It screams creativity!
Example: A fitness coach shooting a slo-mo workout montage with epic lighting and a motivational track in the background. Movie trailer energy. 💯

3. Trendy Content

This one’s for the trend chasers (aka people who always know what audio is about to blow up). Trendy content is fun, fast-paced, and made for virality.

What it’s like: You’re taking what’s hot—trending sounds, memes, or challenges—and adding your unique spin.
Why it works: Trends come with built-in hype. You’re basically tapping into what people are already obsessed with.
Example: A small business owner jumping on a trending dance to showcase their top-selling product, but with a funny twist about running out of stock.

4. Faceless Content

If the idea of showing your face on camera makes you uncomfortable, don’t worry. Faceless content lets your work do the talking while you stay behind the scenes.

What it’s like: Tutorials, product close-ups, or even screen recordings. No face, only delivering good content.
Why it works: It’s perfect for creators who want to focus on the value they bring instead of being in front of the camera.
Example: A food creator filming close-ups of a chocolate cake coming together—flour, eggs, whisking, baking and that final drizzle shot.

Pro Tip: The most engaging content is the kind you love creating. People can feel that energy, they’ll show up for it. Your audience isn’t looking for “perfect”… they’re looking for real. They’re looking for you. So stop overthinking, hit that record button, and start creating!