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Top stories for bloggers, newsletter writers, and content creators.
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If there is an article you think should be included in this roundup, please reply with a link. |
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No. 1: Creators Shift Focus to Advertisers
With many in the media worried about a global recession, creators are reworking how they make money. Many are dialing back on subscriptions and donations, shifting focus to ad revenue and long-term brand deals.
Advertisers, seeing creators as cost-effective and community-driven, are leaning in—even as budgets tighten. YouTube and platforms with ad-share programs offer a more stable income, making long-form content more attractive. Still, creators are getting picky, avoiding out-of-touch partnerships that might alienate cash-strapped fans. The tradeoff is clear: leaner deals in exchange for steadier paychecks, and a bet that brand dollars will stay flowing when individual wallets snap shut.
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No. 2: TikTok Launches X-style Community Fact-Checking
TikTok is rolling out "Footnotes," a test feature that lets selected users add community-sourced context to videos—similar to X's Community Notes.
Initially limited to U.S. users, Footnotes aims to clarify viral claims, controversial stats, or fast-moving news. TikTok says only notes rated "helpful" by users from opposing views will surface, an attempt to curb bias while boosting accuracy. For creators, this means more transparency—and more scrutiny. Expect the feature to evolve as TikTok fine-tunes input from users and contributors. If you post there, it's time to think about your receipts. They're about to get reviewed in public.
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No. 3: Surprisingly, Podcast Ads Surge Past $2.4B
In spite of multiple creator reports saying that podcast revenue has dropped significantly since Apple Podcasts changed its download policies, total podcast ad revenue just shot past $2.4 billion, up 26% year-over-year—its strongest growth spurt since before the slowdown.
According to the IAB, much of that lift comes from better audience targeting, deeper brand deals, and political campaigns eager to reach voters through long-form audio.
While overall digital audio grew more modestly, podcasting continues to outpace streaming music and radio. Video remains the top ad magnet, but podcasting's slice is getting larger—especially for creators adding video episodes. Big picture: advertisers want scale, speed, and automation. If you're betting on audio, AI, and long-form content, 2025 could be your biggest year yet.
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No. 4: Blog + Newsletter = Growth Engine
A blog brings in the crowd; a newsletter keeps them coming back. That's the core of the blog-newsletter hybrid model—a strategy folks like James Clear and Sahil Bloom use to build audience and revenue.
Blogs rank in Google and drive traffic. Newsletters turn that traffic into loyal subscribers and paying readers. Done right, each feeds the other. Blog posts link to subscribe forms. Newsletters tease deeper blog content. It's not about picking one—it's about leveraging both. If your newsletter sits alone, you miss discovery. If your blog stands solo, you're bleeding subscribers. The symbiosis is where the money is.
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No. 5: Mastering AI Keeps Creators Winning
AI's not replacing content creators—it's sharpening the edge for those willing to master it.
At a recent SXSW panel, industry leaders made it clear: treating AI like a threat is a losing game. Instead, creators use it to break through mental roadblocks, speed up production, and test ideas faster. The key is knowing when to let the machine do the heavy lifting—and when to step in with human creativity. Folks sticking strictly to the old way risk fading out. Those who treat AI like a studio assistant with superpowers? They're the ones pulling ahead in this crowded field.
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