Influencing” in 2025 Makes Me Want to Hurl
Influencing” in 2025 Makes Me Want to Hurl
Okay fam. Let’s have some fun.
Close your eyes cause we’re gonna play a game of make-believe.
I want you to imagine it’s 2017, otherwise known as the “Time before CoVid.”
You just posted your cafe latte shot with the caption “But first, coffee ☕️,” and BOOM! Five brands are in your inbox throwing money, gift cards, and a trip to Tulum because why the f* not?
Back then if your IG grid looked like a pastel sorority scrapbook and your follower count had a comma in it, you were basically anointed by the algorithmic gods. Brand deals? Flowing. PR packages? Daily and like legit GOOD ones! Engagement pods? Thriving like it was a multi-level marketing scheme with filters.
It was unhinged. It was glorious. I know. I managed all the top creators at the time making them easy seven figures for literally posting a selfie. Life was FAB.
Le sigh… that is ALL OVER.
Welcome to NOW.
Let’s fast forward to now. As we begin to wrap up 2025, what do you have to show for it? We’ve officially buried the traditional influencer in a content cemetery next to Vine stars, “Girlboss” culture (🤢), and pastel presets.
RIP to the “I’m obsesssssssssed with my new Loewe jeans 💕✨ teehee” era.
RIP to the girls who gave us nothing but captions that were just a peach emoji and vibes (not to mention the shot was them in a bikini in Bermuda 🤢)
RIP to the hot people with no POV who relied on golden hour on Melrose Avenue and a discount code.
Because here’s the harsh tea fam: Brands ain’t buying pretty anymore. They’re buying performance.
Working behind-the-scenes on creator casting for brands like Estée Lauder, Chopard, Sezane I can tell you from the war room: they don’t want “influencers” anymore. They want partners who move product, drive loyalty, and actually understand their audience. Think about it.. even the word “influencer” is passe. Now it’s “creator.”
Your follower count? She cute.
Your engagement rate? She okay.
Your conversion ability? SHE GOLD.
If you’re not making brands money, you're just decoration. Yup.
While we’re here, let’s also kill the idea that virality is the only path to success because it’s not.
You need 1,000 real ones. Die-hards. People who’d buy a salmon-sperm serum if you said it erased your pores while reading them affirmations. That’s influence.
So here is what you actually DO need to succeed as well as HOT creator trends this summer:
1. A Clear POV
If you’re just reposting trends, youre gonna be forgotten. Period. Trends come and go, people but niches and an actual perspective sticks. Seriously, ask yourself what do you actually stand for? What do you want to be known for?
Creators that have been KILLING it this year show you life filtered through their own lens. Your “thing” doesn’t need to be outrageous or shocking, but it does need to be yours. When people scroll by your content, they should know instantly: oh, that’s her voice.
2. Audience Trust
Y’all gotta learn how to relate more. It sounds simple, but so many creators miss this. People can smell desperation, and nothing breaks down trust faster than treating your audience like they’re just dollar signs for your affiliate link.
Trust is built the slow and secure way. With honesty, with showing up consistently, with creating value even when you’re not selling anything. One thoughtful story is worth more than seven affiliate links jammed into a carousel. Play the long game my friends. A trusted audience converts 10x better than a skeptical one.
3. Conversion Strategy
If you haven’t gotten it by now, vibes don’t pay the bills. If you don’t know how to monetize your influence, someone else will happily take that bag.
Having a conversion strategy doesn’t mean you have to turn into a used car salesman. It means knowing how to guide people from “I like her content” to “I bought her thing.” That’s strategy. And that’s the difference between being a hobbyist creator and being a business owner.
I need you to ask yourself now:
Am I building for longevity? Or am I just surviving off PR packages and fake urgency?
Does my content really move people? Or am I just mimicking other creators and following trends?
Am I building a business? Or is this a hobby where sometimes I get free stuff?
The bottom line here is that your POV, your trust, your strategy is what’s going to build your empire.
Not trends.
If you’re ready to finish the year off strong and prepare for 2026 with the RIGHT strategy, join in my last Private Lab of the year. It launches October 6th and you can learn more right here.
You’ll even get a free exploratory call to chat through how we can help. And I’ll make a personal promise to you that if I feel like I’m not the right fit for you, I’ll send you to who I think will be able to make a difference.
That’s how much I’m committed to your growth.
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