Filling You In
YouTube is dominating on short-form and streaming. The platform has reigned as the top streamer on TVs for two years.
YouTube recently reported that its Shorts receive 200 billion daily views, 3x the format’s viewership in 2024.
Instagram is bringing Reels onto the big screen
Pinterest announces their predictions for 2026
Kotn receives a nomination at this years Berlin Fashion Film Festival
What We Learned About Marketing in 2025
People Want Storytelling and Authenticity
One of the biggest shifts that happened in the space of social media and brand campaigns was that people didn’t want to be sold a product, they wanted to hear a story that resonated and didn’t feel like an ad.
These campaigns are great examples of brands sharing a story vs selling a product.
Jacquemus didn’t just launch a bag, they told a story. Inspired by the founder's’ late mother, Valérie, the campaign’s first-person, lowered angled visuals, tap into nostalgia, recreating the feeling of watching your mom go about her everyday life.
The Ordinary: People don’t want to be sold a 20 step skincare routine. They want something simple that works and The Ordinary knew how to play into that.
No One Cares About Your Following
This is true - to some extent. While having a larger following does help with some exposure, authentic engagement and content relevance are what platforms like Instagram, Tiktok, and Youtube have shifted over to now.
Mass funding towards live-shopping platforms and AI-driven tools, also demonstrate the shift that knowing your algorithm is more important than your follower count.
Juxtaposition Marketing
Creativity always presents a new way to capture attention among the noise. When thinking of your next campaign, reflect on this question: What is it about your branding or storytelling that actually makes your product interesting?
An example is Kotn’s campaign for “Tough Guys Soft Sweaters” which created s visual and emotion-driven campaign showing the duality of Danny Trejo- both tough and soft.
Image Credit: kotn
Image Credit: kotn
Check out the full campaign here.
What We’re Tuning Into
Make the Most of Your 2026 Goals!
A great episode to watch at the beginning of they new year as you figure out what you'd like to achieve in 2026.
To keep track of the questions mentioned in the video, we’ve made it easy for you and outlined them all over on Shams Club.
Turn Your Passion Into A Monetized Business
Watch this episode about how creator Sydney Graham turned her hobby of sewing into a creator business by leveraging multiple platforms and revenue streams.
Successful newsletter growth and converter, Nathan May hosted a workshop on building a $10,000 a month newsletter January 6, 2026.
Check out his LinkedIn post for further details on accessing the recording.
How Creators Are Building Online and Offline
Owner of Ahna Cafe, Ahmad, is hosting his monthly pop-up cafe out of his backyard in Los Angeles. The next one will be on January 18th 9:00 am -2:00 pm. Don’t miss out and go RSVP to link in his bio.
@a_nabahani RSVP link in my bio! #homebarista #coffeetiktok #coffee #losangeles #cafe
Open Opportunities
TWOARABMINDS is looking for a graphic designer for their upcoming projects. Check out their story post below for further details.
Image Credit: TWOARABMINDS
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