Keeping It Currant: a newsletter at the intersection of the creator economy & social impact

Welcome to the latest issue of Keeping It Currant, a newsletter by Social Currant & Girl and the Gov® focused on sharing insights on how to navigate the intersection of the creator economy and the political and social impact space. Before you scroll, make sure to pop in and say hello in the Social Currant creator-dedicated Slack channel, here.

ADD TO THE CAL

Creator events to add to your cal

Coffee Connect Women in Media

About: JV Agency is hosting a networking event designed for women in media to connect, collab, and chat with one another. The event is geared towards fostering networks between journalists, content creators, producers, and movers+shakers in the media industry. 

When: Thursday, November 14, 2024; 9:30am - 11:30am PST

Where: Toastique – 6255 Sunset Blvd #170, Los Angeles, CA 90028

The Fight for Trans Rights: How to Talk About the Supreme Court Case U.S. v. Skrmetti

About: Join the ACLU for a creator briefing, where you can learn more about the case U.S. v Skrmetti, which will determine whether the government can target trans people and possibly others for discrimination – specifically for receiving hormone therapy, life saving medical care for young trans people.​Here, you’ll get the chance to hear from the ACLU on the state of the case, how it reflects the fights to come under a second Trump administration, and what you as creators can do to help bring much-needed visibility to this fight.

When: Friday, November 15, 2024; 2:30-3:15pm EST

Where: Virtual; Zoom

Creator Economy NYC’s Mixer & Panel: How to Turn Yourself Into A Brand

About: Creator Economy NYC and friends are hosting their signature mixer and panel event for creators. The event will be focused on building one’s personal brand and will include a panel with three creators who have turned their everyday lives into content careers.

When: Monday, November 18, 2024; 6:30-9:30pm EST

Where: NYC; address provided upon RSVP approval

RESOURCE ROUND-UP

Something to save, something to use

FOR A CREATOR CONSIDERING GOING LIVE → If you’ve never gone live on IG, perhaps now [or later] is the time to try it out. And before you do, tap into Instagram’s quick guide on how to create an engaging and dynamic IG Live, here.

FOR A CREATOR LOOKING TO LAUNCH A NEW ACCOUNT → Whether you’re expanding the number of accounts/profiles under your brand, or you’re looking to rebrand your Instagram account, you can use the Hootsuite Instagram Name Generator to help your brainstorm sesh. Check it out here.

FOR A CREATOR CONSIDERING WHICH PIC TO POST → It’s more than a rumor – it’s a study – that has concluded that color complexity within an image/post can impact engagement with that post. There are a few equations that it found with color complexity, timing of a post, size of the post, and whether the post leans positive or negative. For a creator thinking about what image to post or what font color combinations to use for a graphic, these deats are something to keep in mind.

FOR A CREATOR RECEIVING THREATS ONLINE → Unfortunately, we’ve seen a huge uptick post-election in threats received by creators. The FBI has a Threat and Intimidation Response Guide to utilize if needed, and to bookmark in case it becomes relevant to you or a creator friend. Give it a read and save here.

FOR A CREATOR WITH A MASS-SCALE MERCH OPERATION → ICYMI, CapCut, the content editing tool, has launched CapCut Commerce Pro. The paid subscription-based toolset is focused on helping creators and brands generate one-click shop-able video creation using a product’s URL. It’s got AI product images, and a whole lot more for those that are aiming to bring the marketing for their in-house shop-able offerings up a notch. Learn more here.

CREATOR Q’S AND A’S

POVs on Q’s in our DMs

The creator's question: What do I post without spreading fear?

Our answer: The fear is so valid, and so is not wanting to add to it. When thinking about this, zero-in on what actions followers can take to make a difference right now and for the long-run. Is there an action they can call their Senators about right now? Is there an independent newsroom they can support? Is there an awareness action that can be taken around the 2025 NJ and Virginia elections? Overall, the answer lies in the actions that can be taken and providing a way in which followers can fight back with you in ways big and small.

The creator's question: Is it okay if I take a break for a week? I feel the pressure to post, but I feel overwhelmed.

Our answer: Everyone does their best and most effective work with a clear and rested head. If you need to take a week to breathe, touch grass, and just reset in ways that make you feel good, do it. Absolutely do it. When you’re on a plane and you hear the safety instructions, and they say to put your oxygen mask on first so that you can best help others – this is that same thing. Take a moment, rest, come back ready to rock.

POST ELECTION POST CHECKLIST

Before you hit post, check-in with yourself by asking…

What type of reaction will this engender?

Will this help people?

Will this harm people or put them in danger?

What is the goal of this post? 

Who is my target audience for this post?

How does the post make you feel?

Does the post meet the moment?

WORKER SMART NOT HARDER

Two tips for using platform tools strategically

→ Instagram and the Question Box: One of the better features of Instagram Stories is the ability to share a question box – enabling a more focused feedback loop between a creator and a viewer. With a response to a question in hand, a creator can film a video response/answer. Now that answer can go on Stories, sure – but in that capacity it has a limited time window. Using the respond-with-a-video capability, and instead downloading the drafted video, and then posting it as a Reel, increases the reach, the longevity, and the sharing capabilities of the content. An example of this in action can be seen here via Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow.

→ The Threads to IG to Newsletter Pipeline: Cross-posting content is core to growing your reach. There are a range of ways to do that, including…

Threads to IG:

• Option 1: Post to Threads about a topic you wish to share details or narrative about to Threads. Use Canva or another graphic creation tool to generate square posts for Instagram. Post the round-up of your thoughts to Instagram. Think of it as a more digestible blog post.

• Option 2: Pick a topic you wish to comment on – post a Thread. Then search for other posts on that topic that align [this is where you can text a creator buddy and collab in advance]. Create 6-8 square posts via a graphic generator and post. Tag all of the participating or shared creators. 

IG to Newsletter:

• Option 1: Some newsletter platforms allow the direct integration of a post into the newsletter’s body. If that’s available [it is on beehiiv], increase the reach of the post by including it in a newsletter, which when clicked will bring readers to your Instagram, providing an easy opportunity for them to follow you there if they aren’t already.

• Option 2: For newsletter platforms that don’t have the feature above, or you wish to push readers elsewhere besides Instagram, select the “star” Thread graphic post, and include it as an image in the newsletter. Add a link to either the full post on Instagram or another resource that you want to drive attention to.

PLATFORM UPDATES

New capabilities loading…

TIKTOK → The platform that in recent years has been the launch pad for so many musical artists, has unveiled a new feature that will allow users to be able to share the music they’re listening to on Spotify or Apple, directly to TikTok. The integration provides a more seamless, aesthetic feedback loop for artists, and also offers a fresh way for creators to connect the dots between their music selection, their POVs, and their content.

YOUTUBE → The platform is providing a new way for creators to potentially monetize their content. Creators on the platform with more than 4,000 subscribers will now be able to send video linking requests to advertisers for their Shorts content. The concept essentially makes what was a one-way street process that required the brand to initiate, into a two-way street that puts more control into creator’s hands.

INSTAGRAM → The platform has stepped into the digital business card game – a concept that’s been growing in popularity the last few years. Specifically, Instagram has launched shareable profile cards, which allow creators to share their top details all in one place via QR card or simply sharing. The profile cards are also customizable. The downside is that it obviously is only for your Instagram account – so if you have profiles on other platforms that you want to share with potential business partners, collaborators, etc, you’re still going to need to have a business card or swap handles else wise. 

YOUTUBE → Another YouTube update of note is one involving hyperlinks. Now, comments added to a post can become hyperlinked to a Google Search result. There is however no control via the creators or commenters as to what gets hyperlinked versus not – that’s the lukewarm part. The positive is that it has the ability to create a more seamless connection between a piece of content and links pertaining to the topic at hand with more info. It removes a step and has the potential to enhance ROI for off-platform resources like a newsletter, a podcast, etc.

THREADS → In an update that’s giving old school AIM vibes, Threads has added an activity status feature that can be turned on and off. The online/active status marker will only be visible to others that have the feature turned on and are online at that time as well. In some respects, it’s supposed to encourage engagement between those online at the same time. However, if we’re to add a critique to that, having this feature without a DM [direct message] capability makes it kind of a wash.

HEADLINES

News at a glance from ‘round the creator sphere

• Social Media Today: Will Trump’s Victory Ensure TikTok’s Future in the US?

• CNN: ‘Your body, my choice’: Attacks on women surge on social media following

• CEO Today: The Battle For Truth: Social Media’s Role in Elections and The Struggle Against Misinformation

• Yahoo: Virginia National Guard member rises to social media stardom

CAMPAIGN CORNER

Upcoming and current paid campaigns, available now. See one that’s of interest? Fill out this form and we’ll get in touch with details. Please note, if you’re a talent agent we’ll be in touch with a talent agency specific form – just respond to this email!

Campaign Focus → Erasing the Stigma on Sexual Wellness

Date Available: Now - November 30, 2024

Campaign Goal: Raise awareness of resources surrounding sexual wellness with a focus on Gen-Z & the LGBTQ+ community

Creator Niche: Harvesting, Gardening, Cottage Core, Relationship Advice, Witchy Content – & open to all niches

Location Requirement: California but open to other US states

Campaign Focus → Guaranteed Income x Health Outcomes

Date Available: Now - January 31, 2025

Campaign Goal: Educate audiences on how guaranteed income can positively impact health outcomes 

Creator Niche: Healthcare Professionals and/or Medical Content & Advice

Location Requirement: USA 

LET’S GET SOCIAL