Busy Blooming with Tess Barclay

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/
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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

We're getting UNFILTERED at work today unpacking what NOT to post in 2026 to grow on social media - basically a list of my content icks lol!

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS

• 00:00 Intro
• 4:23 ChatGPT content
• 6:26 Audio-only podcasts vs. YouTube podcasts
• 7:38 Podcast YouTube titles & thumbnails
• 8:27 Viral & views-only content
• 9:20 Instagram stories that don't do anything
• 11:05 Content for pity (lol)
• 13:17 Aesthetic-only content
• 14:58 Break announcements
• 15:28 A "why" hook
• 16:21 Tips & hacks content (3 ways..)
• 17:26 Hustle fear-mongering energy
• 18:30 Day in my life vlogs
• 21:01 After-hours: How to grow on Instagram as a YouTuber?

LINKS

• Check out Storyblocks at https://www.storyblocks.com/tessbarclay to level-up your content!
• Busy Blooming HQ: https://www.busyblooming.ca/hq

Welcome to WORK!! Today we're kicking off a new series "2026 is the golden era of social media" and the future of social media is BRIGHT! Today we're unpacking the future of social media, the industry stats & why it's such a good time to grow on social media and I'm breaking down my predictions of what I think is going to work in 2026!!

Check out Rella here: https://getrella.com/?via=busyblooming (Use code “BUSYBLOOMING” for 10% off annual plans or 30% off 3 months 💙)

Chapters & Time-Stamps

• 00:00 Intro
• 5:17 Why 2026 is such a good year for social media
• 9:22 What content will work on social media in 2026?
• 9:32 2026 is the year of the niche..
• 11:43 The death of aesthetic influencers, the birth of polished, casual
• 14:45 People will have a higher bar for the vibes of content in 2026
• 16:03 Prediction: Live content & podcasting is the future
• 17:38 Prediction: Instagram & YouTube will win in 2026
• 19:05 Highly edited short-form is over
• 20:04 Updates on HQ & the show
• 22:12 After-hours Q&A What's a good content strategy for 2026?

It's time for WORK!! Today we're unpacking your new content plan for your feed and for you as a creator so you can end 2025 STRONG and start prepping for 2026!!

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS

• 00:00 Intro
• 3:42 The two things to focus on the rest of 2025
• 5:16 Your 6-week content plan: What to post
• 12:00 Your 6-week personal plan: Priming for 2026
• 17:30 Content idea & trend of the week!!
• 19:20 After hours Q: How to navigate family opinions on your content?
• 24:38 After hours Q: How to start a following for a business from scratch at 45?
• 28:38 Thoughts on the new podcast format

📥 SPONSOR: Check out the free HubSpot and SurveyMonkey AI Report: https://clickhubspot.com/3209e8

It's time for WORK!! Today is a GOOD ONE!! We're unpacking how to make social media your DREAM JOB by sharing the 5 biggest mistakes I've made in the last 5 years. Check out Storyblocks at https://www.storyblocks.com/tessbarclay to level-up your content!
⏱️ CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS

• 00:00 Intro
• 5:09 Use social media is to create you, not find you
• 8:52 The victim mindset is your biggest risk
• 14:04 Social media is about you, not for you
• 17:02 Mental health is a content strategy
• 19:48 Treat everything like it's the biggest thing ever
• 24:35 Content ideas & trends for the week
• 27:15 YouTube, TikTok & Instagram updates
• 28:35 After hours advice Q&A

🔗 LINKSDescript: https://get.descript.com/tessClickUp: https://try.web.clickup.com/tessRiverside: https://riverside.fm/?via=tess-barclayRella: https://getrella.com/?via=busybloomingMy content creator essentials: https://www.amazon.com/shop/tessbarcl...Some links are affiliate links — I may earn a commission if you sign up (at no extra cost to you!) 💸📌 FOLLOW USBusy Blooming IG →   / busybloomingg  Tess IG →   / tessbarclay  TikTok →   / tess.barclay  🛍️ Shop templates, merch & more: https://www.busyblooming.ca/shop#contentcreation #socialmediatips #contenttips