3x3: Bill Gates can't explain why the internet is useful, a booktok audience breakdown, and more

Welcome to Creator 3×3!

Here are 3 Creator facts from the past, 3 notes on the present, and 3 thoughts for the future of the content economy...

3 FACTS FROM THE PAST

I.

In 1995, Bill Gates couldn’t convince David Letterman why the internet was going to be useful¹ .

Bill Gates: “You can now listen to a baseball game whenever you want!”

David Letterman: “Do tape recorders ring a bell?”

Sometimes even incredibly smart, capable, and well-incentivized people can’t explain or predict what’s gonna happen next…

I often wonder what I’m completely wrong about in the creator economy.

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​II.

Substack invented the modern independent newsletter and it’s only 6 years old.

It’s upstart competitor Beehiiv is just 2 years old.²

We’re still in the very earliest days of the evolution of online newsletters.

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III.

In 2022, over 98% of Spotify artists make less than $36 every quarter.

Only 2% of creators on Patreon earn the equivalent of a monthly minimum wage.³

We haven’t even come close to solving Creator monetization at scale.

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3 NOTES ON THE PRESENT

I.

Today, influencer marketing spend is growing faster than social ad spend⁴

This is huge.

It means more brand deals, more partnerships, and more creative placements than ever before for Creators.

II.

Goldman Sachs estimates that the creator economy could be a $480 billion industry by 2027⁶ .

The platforms will take a huge chunk of that, but Creators can set themselves up by diversifying income streams to prepare for the influx of the fans, brands, and ecosystem changes. ​

III.

Over 70% of BookTok’s audience is women ages 13-34⁵

If that’s your ideal audience, I recommend testing some booktok content ideas - popular formats include book haul reveals, reviews, plot discussions, and, of course, character cosplays.

3 THOUGHTS FOR THE FUTURE

I.

Every major content platform is expected to grow. Period.

TikTok is projected as the fastest, but all are showing signs that the content economy is just getting started⁷

​II.

According to Insider Intelligence, influencer marketing spend will continue it's double digit growth for at least the next 3 years⁸

III.

About 70% of creators say they expect brand deals to stay their most lucrative source of income⁹

These 3 predictions are a mixed blessing for Creators.

Things look great!

Platform growth is happening. Marketers want to spend on Creators. Creators see the value in brand partnerships…

But while brands deals are often the most lucrative, they're often an inconsistent income stream - especially for Creators that are still growing their audience.

There’s a lot to reflect on for next year.

Have you thought about your brand deal strategy for 2024 yet?

Want to share this issue of Creator 3×3 via text, social media, or email? Just copy and paste this link:

https://creator3×3.com/p/bill-gates-cant-explain-the-internet

See you next week,

Cameron Armstrong
Founder of Seemore.tv

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p.s. if you love FPS gaming content and haven’t seen StoneMountain64 before you’re missing out…