Extra Value
Posts
Xtra Value | Follow Your Consumers NOT Your Competitors!

Xtra Value | Follow Your Consumers NOT Your Competitors!

PLUS: Kai Cenat's new streamer university, MET Gala reactions and MrBeast just signed to a country!

Creator X & JT Barnett
May 08, 2025

What’s Hot?

Little Ceasers YT channel is tapping into long form content!

Little Caesars just dropped a full-blown reality show for a pizza 😭🍕, and it’s already got more than 5M views! The move taps into a growing strategy where brands stop chasing quick trends and instead build serialized, story-driven content that keeps people hooked, even on platforms like TikTok that were built for speed.

Kai Cenat Streamer university

Kai Cenat launched Streamer University this week. A creator-packed experiment where “chaos is encouraged and content is king” 👨‍🎓📸. The play? Build a creator-first ecosystem that mixes big names with new faces, turning internet buzz into demand. What’s also cool, is it makes applying to a content house feel like getting into college. The site got 6.6M hits in the first hour (crashed it lol) and creators are already flooding TikTok and reels with their video applications!

Googles new production wing

A full-on film and TV production wing called 100 Zeros is now live 🎬 — backed by Google and partnered with Range Media to spotlight AI and spatial tech. Instead of routing everything through YouTube, they’re aiming to pitch directly to studios and streamers like Netflix… strategic shift worth watching!

TikTok 🤝🏽 New careers

TikTok is teaming up with SkillsUSA to put trades and skilled careers front and center 🔧🎓. They’ll be using the platform to push out content that actually connects users to real job opportunities, not just trends. They're also tapping into the rising wave of skilled trade creators on TikTok who are already sharing tips, behind-the-scenes looks, and making these careers feel way more accessible.

Pinterest has new updates

Pinterest just upgraded its visual search game 🔍, now when you search using an image instead of text, you’ll get way more refined results. It’s part of their bigger push to position Pinterest as the search engine for stuff you can’t describe — like a vibe, aesthetic, or that one outfit you screenshotted but don’t have the words for. 🔥

The best reactions to the Met 2025

Who had your favorite red carpet look? 🤔

The most common camera angles most influencers use

Try some of these out when you film your next video!

MrBeast just signed with Saudi Arabia!

MrBeast is teaming up with Riyadh Season to launch real-life versions of his viral challenges, including a full-on “MrBeast Park” in Saudi Arabia! This is a huge signal for creators: the lines between digital and physical entertainment are officially blurring, and there’s major opportunity in building IRL experiences around online audiences. 🔥

Founder’s Corner

Let’s be real for a sec… too many brands and creators are stuck in a loop of imitation! You see a competitor post a “day in the life,” so you do one too. They hop on a trend, and suddenly, your team is scrambling to replicate it.

But here’s the truth: your competitors aren’t your north star, your consumer is.

Let’s get into it👇

The Industry Isn’t Your Blueprint

It’s tempting to treat your industry like a playbook. You see what’s working for others and assume you need to match that energy. But that’s not strategy—that’s mimicry.

👉 Just because a competing brand is blowing up on TikTok doesn’t mean your audience even cares about TikTok.

👉 Just because someone else is posting glossy product shots or polished “get ready with me” content doesn’t mean that’s what your people want.

Start With Empathy, Not Ego

This mindset flip starts with humility. Instead of obsessing over what others are doing, ask yourself:

Who am I actually trying to reach? 🌍️
Where do they spend time online? ⌛️
What kind of content genuinely adds value to them? 📹️

The best brands and creators lead by listening, not reacting. Your content should feel like a direct conversation, not a performance for the algorithm. ❤️

Every Platform Isn’t a Must-Have

You don’t need to be everywhere. You need to be where your people are. If they’re on YouTube, go all in there. If they live in your emails, show up strong in their inbox 📥. Spreading yourself thin across platforms for optics only waters down your impact! 📉

💡 The real win isn’t reach—it’s resonance.

Reach gets you views, but resonance gets you action. It’s the difference between being seen and being remembered. When you dial into the right platform, speak your consumer’s language, and show up with intention, your message cuts deeper.

Competitors ≠ Community

You’re not here to one-up someone else's strategy. You’re here to build a relationship with the person on the other side of the screen.

The consumer is the answer. So stop obsessing over the noise. Start tuning in to your audience and make content for them. ❤️