Close the Ring Light. Influencing Is Over.

Close the Ring Light. Influencing Is Over.

Okay, deep breath with me for a second (breathe in for 4-3-2-1… breathe out for 1-2-3-4), because I am going to say the thing everyone in this damn industry is trying to tiptoe around….

Millennial creators are officially stuck. I see it daily… they’re cracking at the seams and it’s not because they lost their talent or edge, but bc the game moved on while they keep playing by rules that used to work in 2017.

Meanwhile Gen-Z watched us, took notes, skipped our mistakes, and built with cleaner systems from day freakin’ one. They speak short form like a first language, and don’t get me started with the heart hand gestures, tongue between teeth-smily photos.

Meanwhile millennials are obsessing over the perfect shade of beige for their “IG rebrand.”

Here is the part I need you to hear before the holidays hit.

Q4 is not going to save anyone who is still waiting on any brand to say yes. We’re in October so I’m giving you ample time to understand that this holiday season budgets are gonna be tighter, approvals are gonna be slower, and even the brands that like you are being told to prove ROI before they spend.

This article is a bit longer than the rest bc I’m not here in scaring you for sport, I’m here to wake you up before the calendar does it for you. And I wanna get one thing straight, you didn’t necessarily fail, you outgrew the version of the creator economy you started in! Hello! And worse, you keep trying to make it fit out of loyalty, pride, lack of strategy, or simple exhaustion.

So no baby boo, you do NOT need a new personality, suede bag, or a new color palette for your IG highlights. What you need is an engine around your talent that catches attention, holds it, and turns it into money in more than one way. You need to own your audience and build a content on purpose.

Let me show you how.

Big thing to keep in mind is R.A.I.L.S!

Here is how it works out:

R: Reader

Take out a pen and paper and write down your avatar. As in your ideal person that would follow you. Give them a name, a job, a goal, and a few “3 a.m. worries.” Write down where they hang out online and what formats they actually consume. If you can’t picture them opening your email on a specific day, you’re still too broad.

For example, my avatar is someone within the age of 25-55. They are based in the United States. Their goal is to use social media to provide a postive message to the universe and to make a business along the way. Passion + Purpose = LIVING. Their 3am worries is them not thinking they’re worthy or good enough for their dreams.

Feel me?

Does that sound anything like you?

A: Advantage

List the unfair edges (these are positive things!) you already have…. experience, access, data, scars. Your advantage isn’t “I like to take photos” it’s the unusual angle that lets you see what others can’t. Turn each advantage into a promise: “Because I’ve done X, I can help you do Y faster.” If two creators could say the same advantage, sharpen it again.

For example my unfair edge is that I’ve been in this industry for 22years. I am the only manager right now in the United States that has represented child stars, male models (hello Lucky Blue Smith), celebrities (hello Pam Anderson), digitally native talent (hello Chriselle Lim), and up-and-coming creators (hello Rachel Triller). This isn’t me boasting or thinking I’m better than anyone. This is me saying… “Because I have 22yrs of scars in this industry, I’m going to show you the shortcuts so you don’t get burned.”

I: Impact

Literally SPELL out the transformation you can provide in plain language: “from A to B by C.” If you can’t measure it, readers can’t either. And this works in any niche.

Yoga instructor → working towards a healthier body and mind

Real estate agent → finding your perfect home

Fashionista → feeling great in what you wear

Beauty → highlighting your best facial features

So on… and so forth…

L: Limits

Choose 3–5 content pillars and explicitly say what you won’t cover. Limits make you memorable because readers know what you stand for and where to find other stuff. For example, I love love love love my niece and nephews. I pick them up from school. I love playing cards with them. But I DON’T cover them on my social media. I understand that my social media pages are a business, and while yes I can share a story or two along the way, they are NOT my content pillars.

S: Schedule

Pick the minimum sustainable cadence you can hit during a bad week. Anchor formats to days (like Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) to reduce decision fatigue. Protect the schedule with a simple buffer: two posts always in drafts! PLEASE DO NOT POST at random or when you are:

Feeling “pretty enough”

Have the perfect light, background, and outfit

Have a full blown script prepared

Feeling positive and not tired

Don't forget to subscribe to my FREE Substack for more in-depth strategy, free messaging (can't wait to connect with you), exclusive videos, online course discounts, andddddd live video sessions. 

XX Idalia