RIP to the Traditional Influencer
RIP to the Traditional Influencer
When I look back at 2025 it’s been truly incredible seeing what resonated the most with you all. And although it’s no shocker, I’m so enthused by your enthusiasm to really step up as a content creator.
So let’s rewind a bit and reflect on my most viral post this year….
Let’s play pretend.
Let’s hop in a time machine real quick back to 2014.
Ah yes, the era where having a pretty feed and a decent follower count was basically your ticket to a brand deal. Brands were tossing money at influencers like Charlie Sheen at a Vegas pool party. It was chaotic. It was (dare I say)….beautiful.
Grids were aesthetic, engagement pods were poppin’, and viral dances could launch you into a whole new tax bracket overnight.
And yeah, I helped over 15+ creators make more money than anyone in their lives ever expected… we’re talking easy seven-figures… over a decade ago.
Egos? Inflated. Bank accounts? Thriving. Shall I drop the tea?
But let’s fast-forward to now.
2025 has officially killed the “influencer.” I mean, even the word “influencer” doesn’t even exist. Now we say “creator.” And I predicted it early this year but now that we’re wrapping up the year, my prediction has turned into a blinding and unfortunately painful reality to the majority.
You know exactly the type I’m talking about. The ones who are all aesthetic, and absolutely no substance. The ones whose content sounds like:
“OMG do you like my new [insert luxury brand name here]? Teehee 💅💅💅”
RIP to the “strategy” where creators were all about aesthetic and no substance. RIP to ones who create content like “OMG do you like my new Savette bag? Teehee 💅💅💅” RIP to the influencers who don’t write captions and expect a dumb emoji to suffice. Yeah, I’m being a bit rough, but listen, if I don’t say it… who will?
Because guess what? If you want to work as a creator, you have to be smarter, because brands are smarter now.
So let’s break down exactly why this is happening, what’s replacing it, and how you can survive the new era of digital influence…
Brands don’t just want pretty (please trust me here).
They want profit.
They want creators who can move product, not just pixels.
I know this because I cast talent for some of the biggest names in the game: Sezane, Chopard, Estée Lauder… and I can tell you with my whole chest: conversion is the new king.
So if you’re out here panicking like:
“IDALIA, NOOOO! I don’t have a million followers! I don’t do dances! I’m not a Gen Z fashion witch with perfect lighting!!”
Take a deep breath my fellow social crusader. Here’s the good news:
You don’t need a million followers. You really need like 1,000 ride-or-dies who would sprint into a volcano because you said a salmon-sperm-serum took out your forehead wrinkles in 15minutes.
For example, look at my client Caitlyn Warakomski. When we launched her brand How Do You Wear That in the middle of a pandemic (!!!), she didn’t panic about her follower count (she was at about 200k). She trusted her audience. She listened to what they wanted. She delivered. And now? She’s got a full-blown business rooted in community-led creation.
Here’s what you should be asking yourself today:
What do people know me for?
Am I building something long-term… or just chasing brand scraps?
Am I showing up like a CEO… or a content intern hoping for a free mascara collab?
Because let me be brutally honest:
Virality is a one-night stand.
Community is a marriage.
And strategy is your prenup.
If this made your brain hurt… good. That means it’s time.
This is exactly why I built my Private Lab. It’s a 12-week container designed to take that pressure off your nervous system and put structure under your creator business.
We get you out of guesswork and into a steady rhythm that grows, nurtures, and sells on purpose. We sharpen your positioning so brands know exactly why you, we install simple content systems so you are not reinventing every week, and we build a clean offer path so attention turns into revenue without you burning out in 2026 and beyond.
This is war room energy, and I, your commander in chief! Okay maybe that’s a bit extreme but hear me out…
You, me, and a no-BS game plan to turn your influence into income, for real:
300+ minutes of on-demand video lessons with me and my expert team: binge-worthy, high-impact trainings on branding, content strategy, growth systems, monetization, and more taught by me and top industry pros like Reesa Lake (VP of LTK), Chriselle Lim (creator + co-founder of Phlur), Chase Leger (VP of PR for Polene, Dior, Armani) and more!
80+ minutes of on-demand audio lessons with me: streamlined audio coaching that turns complex ideas into simple, repeatable wins you can use right away.
20+ worksheets and templates: actionable tools to implement step by step! I’m talking pitching templates, media kit template, affiliate marketing (LTK & ShopMy) worksheets, catchy captions worksheet, and strategy guides so you’re never starting from scratch.
Brand & PR email contacts: my curated list of real brand and media contacts to help you land partnerships and collaborations that grow your influence and income.
Live sessions with me: get direct support, feedback, and next-level insights in real time with exclusive live group coaching and Q&A so you stay motivated and get your questions answered by me.
If you felt 2025 in your bones, let yourself feel the sting of what staying the same will cost you next year too… another quarter watching someone else land the deal you wanted, another season stuck in work that does not fit, another dream pushed to the side because it felt “safer” to wait.
If you are asking yourself all the right questions: Does Idalia have my best interest? Will her Private Lab really give me what I need? Will it be worth it? Can I justify the investment and time commitment?…. just know that my work is built to match your beliefs with a plan you can execute, and I teach exactly what I deliver so your emotions get the yes and your logic gets the proof.
If you are wondering “Am I ready?” remember that ready is not a feeling but an action, so choose now, step in with me, and let’s make the next move the one that breaks the pattern.
Let’s build your empire. Schedule a FREE exploratory call here.
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XX Idalia