Welcome to WORK!!!! 💅🏻 Today we're kicking off the month with our state of social media to unpack what's working, what's happening, platform updates, social media news & more! Thanks to Storyblocks for sponsoring this video. Get 15% off any annual plan for a limited time, only available through this link: https://www.storyblocks.com/tessbarclay
Busy Blooming HQ: https://www.busyblooming.ca/hq

It's TIME to clock-in!! We're kicking-off a new instalment at the office of monthly content strategies!

Join HQ: https://www.busyblooming.ca/hq

Time stamps

• 00:00 Intro
• 3:29 Overview of the strategy & HQ
• 5:02 Let's BEGIN!! I know the intro is long I had things to SAY lol
• 13:46 Outro & chat

Check out Rella & use code BUSYBLOOMING for for 10% off annual plans or 3 months: https://getrella.com/?via=busyblooming

Welcome to WORK!! Today we're sitting down with @alexis_barber to dive into the unfiltered behind the scenes of the creator economy!

🔗 CHECK OUT ALEXIS:

Substack: Too Smart For This (https://toocollective.substack.com/)

Instagram: @alexisbarber

TikTok: @alexisbarber_

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC7-YnRrflV9g6nLMWUkwDtA

🎧 LISTEN ON THE PODCAST

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/3OsCVEK

Listen on Spotify: http://bit.ly/3CHpmPo

Listen anywhere else: https://pod.link/1565886767

📥 SPONSOR

Thanks to Storyblocks for sponsoring this video. Get 15% off any annual plan for a limited time, only available through this link: https://www.storyblocks.com/tessbarclay

⸻

⏱️ CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS

0:00 Intro

4:00 Creators drive more culture than legacy media

6:20 The state of the creator economy in 2026

9:48 The best formula for a successful creator in 2026

12:21 Viewing yourself as a startup as a creator

15:07 The years you spend building the wrong thing

18:02 How to build a cohesive brand without being "niched down"

23:00 Long form content & how to grow on Substack

31:38 The biggest misconception about YouTube right now

33:44 The truth about thumbnails & titles from inside YouTube

36:38 Can you grow from vlogs on YouTube in 2026?

39:01 Should you be doing YouTube Shorts?

46:48 Does YouTube actually push small creators?

50:15 How to make social media your 9-to-5: 3 pillars

56:47 Alexis's Creator Essentials group cohort

1:03:00 Outro & Thank you!!

⸻

🔗 LINKS

Busy Blooming HQ: https://www.busyblooming.ca/hq

Descript: https://get.descript.com/tess

ClickUp: https://try.web.clickup.com/tess

Riverside: https://riverside.fm/?via=tess-barclay

Rella: https://getrella.com/?via=busyblooming

My content creator essentials: https://www.amazon.com/shop/tessbarclay

My ShopMy (clothes, tech, etc.): https://shopmy.us/shop/tessbarclay

Some links are affiliate links — I may earn a commission if you sign up (at no extra cost to you!) 💸

📌 FOLLOW US

Busy Blooming IG → https://www.instagram.com/busybloomingg/

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TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@tess.barclay

Busy Blooming® is a registered trademark. All content, formats, and segments are original works. Unauthorized reproduction or translation is not permitted.

#creatoreconomy #socialmedia #youtubegrowth

Welcome to WORK!! Today we're clocking in for a content therapy meeting chatting about ALL things social media, content creation, growing in 2026, mental health, success, sharing your personal life & more!! Special Xero offer: Get 90% off for 6 months using this link. Terms & Conditions apply.* https://referrals.xero.com/p9bgvx98mnw2

0:00 Intro3:56 How to start from scratch on social media in 2026? 10:28 How do I stay consistent when my mental health isn't?15:49 How do I re-brand without losing followers? 18:47 When are you successful as a creator & how to stay content when you're so far away from your goals? 23:37 What do I do when I don't like the product a brand sent me? 25:03 How to post more when I want to spend less time on social media?27:33 How to deal with cringe when people I know follow me? 29:33 How to grow on social media when my life is boring? 32:44 How to grow a personal brand without sharing my personal life? 36:44 How to deal with comparison as a content creator? 39:25 How to make a series unselfish? 42:06 HQ pricing update!!

Welcome to WORK!! Today we’re so back unpacking our firstly monthly instalment of State of Social Media!! We’ll be unpacking what’s working in March 2026 on social media, Instagram new features, content inso, creator economy news & more!

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS

• 00:00 Intro
• 3:15 Polished casual content is still in
• 4:25 Tess’ theory: The two types of creator in 2026
• 5:00 Expert personal brand + examples
• 7:09 Chaotic personal brand + examples
• 8:07 Influencers aren’t influential anymore
• 9:38 Niche audiences in 2026 are essential
• 10:26 Instagram updates: Stickers, Carousels & Adam Mosseri corner lol
• 12:15 YouTube updates: Voicenote comments & quizzes
• 14:18 Podcasting news: Apple video & Jake Shane on Netflix
• 16:24 Average creator income & it’s not too late
• 20:30 Podcasts are the new late night
• 22:04 The future of this channel & this podcast

Check out Storyblocks at https://www.storyblocks.com/tessbarclay to level-up your content!

ARTICLES + LINKS MENTIONED

• Average creator income
• Fintech created for influencers
• Vanity Fair the new late night
• Substack articles: https://mufarodawn.substack.com/p/the-rise-of-the-expert-influencer

• Substack article 2: https://curatedbyamritasingh.substack.com/p/the-difference-between-being-an-influencer
• Reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/influencermarketing/comments/1rg8k7d/ive_spent_millions_on_influencer_marketing_ama/
• 
  

It's time for an HR meeting at the Busy Blooming office because we have been under RENOVATION!! In today's episode, I'll be unpacking what's happening with this podcast, unpacking Busy Blooming HQ for the first time & have an unfiltered discussion about feeling lost, in a rut & starting 2026 slow with content!

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS

• 00:00 Intro

Part 1: What's new with Busy Blooming

• 3:16 The Monday episodes of the podcast
• 8:02 The New Wednesday episodes of the podcast (I need your thoughts!)
• 11:18 The changes to Busy Blooming HQ

Part 2: Unfiltered discussion about creating on social media

• 17:11 Having a slow start to posting in 2026 (you're not alone!)
• 19:24 The pressure to always know what you're doing
• 23:33 I moved!! & why I wanted to make some changes

Check out Storyblocks at https://www.storyblocks.com/tessbarclay to level-up your content!

Today we're kicking off our 3-part YouTube extravaganza to celebrate hitting 100k!! Today I'm sharing the one mindset that changed everything for me a few years ago about viewing YouTube as a puzzle piece.

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS

• 00:00 Intro
• 4:01 Mindset 1 - YouTube is the middle puzzle piece
• 6:03 Mindset 2 - Podcast & YouTube channel = the same thing
• 7:06 How I combined the podcast & YouTube
• 8:27 How I made YouTube the puzzle piece
• 13:15 Content ideas & trends for this week
• 16:43 After hours: How do you start from scratch on social?

Check out Hostinger here: https://hostinger.com/tess and use code TESS for an additional 10% off! Their New Year Sale is on until Feb 17th where you can get started for $2.99!

#youtube2026 #youtubegrowth #100kyoutube

Will AI Influencers replace content creators in 2026? Welcome to WORK!! We're deep diving into AI-influencers today of everything that needs to come across your desk of how many AI influencers are there, are they getting brand deals & more!

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS

• 00:00 Intro
• 3:42 When did AI influencers start & who are they?
• 5:33 How many AI influencers are there & what’s the market?
• 6:00 Gary Vee: Why I disagree on his take
• 7:04 Tess’ take: They’ll replace UGC, not influencers
• 8:57 Influence is expensive, not content (Alix Earle)
• 9:50 Tess’ take: It won’t replace, we’ll co-exist with AI influencers
• 11:06 Tess’ take: AI influencers will win who we love that they’re AI
• 14:08 How people are making money from AI influencers
• 16:17 Content idea & trend of the week
• 18:59: After hours: Should you create a new channel for a new content pillar?

Check out Brevo at https://get.brevo.com/tess and use my code TESS at checkout to save 50% on their Starter and Standard Plans for your first three months!

We're getting UNHINGED today & unpacking what's working & going on with Instagram, TikTok, YouTube & influencer marketing right now!

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS

• 00:00 Intro
• 3:32 The VIBE of social media right now & what's working
• 9:24 Examples of how to do this
• 12:40 Action item: Post unserious content this week
• 13:33 Algorithm & platform updates
• 14:26 Influencer marketing state of the union for 2026
• 17:11 Which social media platform is the biggest in 2026?
• 18:02 Instagram algorithm & updates
• 23:00 YouTube algorithm & updates
• 14:59 TikTok algorithm & updates
• 19:25 Content idea & trend of the week
• 12:15 After-hours: January is planning MONTH (You're not behind)
• 34:13 Voice note: How to keep going when content is flopping

Check out Storyblocks at https://www.storyblocks.com/tessbarclay to level-up your content!

We've made it to the BEST year on social media & we have so much work to do today to get ready (even if you don't feel ready!!) Check out Rella & use code BUSYBLOOMING for for 10% off annual plans or 3 months: https://getrella.com/?via=busybloomingIn today's episode, I'm breaking down my method to get STARTED with our year at the office of consistency. A super quick 5-step planning routine, Q1 content strategy & habits that I'm taking into 2026 as a creator!

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS

• 00:00 Intro
• 2:08 How I'm using Rella to plan for 2026
• 4:06 Time to plan!!
• 4:44 Step 1: Stop, start, continue walk
• 5:16 Step 2: Big, scary vision board vs. 2026 vision board
• 5:51 Step 3: To-do list & wish list vs. goals
• 7:36 Step 4: Creator habits & schedule
• 8:25 Step 5: Q1 Content strategy
• 9:07 10 Habits I'm doing in 2026 as a creator
• 9:31 No social media on my phone
• 10:40 Monthly meetings, habit stack filming, founder hour
• 12:08 Batching, doing less, Notion & monthly challenges
• 14:30 How to plan your content for January
• 17:05 Action item for the week
• 17:40 Content ideas & trends for the week
• 19:39: Voicenote: Should I niche down in 2026?
• 23:54 Hitting 100k!! & feeling cringe in your hometown lol

Busy Blooming HQ: https://www.busyblooming.ca/hq
#contentcreation #2026planning #2026goals