💡 Stay in the know with this week’s creator news 

Good morning. In an interesting new development, it appears that despite its best efforts, TikTok’s only chance of surviving a ban in the U.S. is if the Chinese tech company sells the app. Yikes. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. We’re still waiting on a decision, but hopefully Elon Musk doesn’t step up as the first bidder. 

Since we’re here, maybe the Biden administration could look at banning some other things instead? How about gender and race-based wage gaps? The 40-hour work week? The airport’s 100ml liquid limit? Just some ideas. 

– The Leap 

Crack the Code on the TikTok Algorithm

It’s the algorithm’s world, and we’re just living in it. Hailed as intelligent and intuitive, that algorithm seems to know exactly what you want to see, when you want to see it. But how do you get it to work for you as a creator? Most people are a bit perplexed when it comes to giving the algorithm what it wants, and rightfully so – it seems to be changing constantly, and that’s hard to keep up with. Though there’s no guarantee your videos will end up in a covetable place on that For You page, there are ways to boost your chances of getting noticed, and even going viral. Read our guide below to learn how to make the TikTok algorithm work for you.

Little Extras

👋 Instagram delivers 400 blows to creators after pressing pause on Reels Play bonuses. With some saying goodbye to $30k/month, should creators bid farewell to the app altogether? 

 🎲 Hey dealer: $1 billion on black, please. Spotify is placing a big bet on video podcasts, which it believes will deliver some sweet ROI this year.

🧼 Last year, YouTube was ready to wash our mouths out with soap, but now it’s easing up on rules about profane language in videos eligible for monetization. 

💄It’s a great season for #BeautyTok. TikTok and Sephora just launched their social media incubator program, designed to connect diverse creators to iconic names in the beauty biz.  

✅  You’re not the only one looking for new revenue streams. As social media apps introduce “paid verification” to boost profits, economists are wondering what the real cost to users will be. 

🤑 De-influencing: the economic stress trend. As creators shift gears to talk about “dupes” and affordable products, they prove there’s still room to grow (and monetize) during a recession.

👏 The creator economy doesn’t just offer more financial freedom, it’s also removing barriers for disabled people who have a hard time finding inclusive work spaces. 

3️⃣ IG is working on a new “Top 3” sticker where you can showcase fave accounts, audio, places, etc. It’s giving Myspace (which is also giving our age away).

What Are the Ideal Times to Post YouTube Shorts?

Timing is everything. When it comes to optimized times for posting online, we all want to figure out the secret code in order to make that algorithm happy. Should you post from 6-9 p.m.? On weekends only? It’s not always clear what the algorithm analyzes, and this has prompted many creators to try to figure out how to “hack” the algorithm. Technically, the ideal time depends on your target audience, however there are some standard practices that YouTubers can adopt in order to maximize engagement. 

Thanks for having us in your inbox ❤
Come say hey over on social!