Author: Samantha Greene
Samantha Greene
Samantha is a Chicago-based market researcher with a knack for spotting the next big shift in digital culture before it hits mainstream. She’s contributed to major marketing publications, swears by sticky notes and never writes with anything but blue ink. Believes pineapple does belong on pizza.
Rising creator-collaboration volumes are forcing brands toward fewer, deeper vendor relationships. Here’s what the consolidation wave means for buyers.
The Toy Association’s Gen Alpha webinar and Circana’s holiday data reveal how brands must retool creator strategy for youth categories.
SNSInsider’s $197B influencer platform forecast is a planning tool, not a promise—here’s how to read it before setting 2026 vendor budgets.
IZEA’s Q2 operational stumbles expose a bigger truth: the infrastructure for scaling brand-creator programs isn’t ready yet.
Leading agencies now track testing frequency as a core KPI, betting that how often you test predicts performance better than any single result.
The influencer manager role is now a formalized agency position with its own budget, KPIs, and org chart seat — here’s what to expect.
Agencies are rebuilding around conversion-first “pod” teams of creators, strategists, and analysts. Here’s how the structure actually works.
Banks and insurers are pouring AI budgets into compliance and personalization, not ad copy — a signal regulated-industry influencer programs can’t ignore.
Interactive video formats are replacing static ad tests in 2026, giving brands faster, cheaper signal on creative before scaling spend.
Influencer agencies are hiring data analysts as top talent — here’s how brands should evaluate that shift when picking a partner.