- Creator Toolkit
- Posts
- There's authority in authenticity
There's authority in authenticity
Do you remember that moment when it felt like the whole world was anti-Taylor Swift? You know, during the Ye and Kim K Era of 2016-17?
“I don’t think there are that many people who can actually understand what it’s like to have millions of people hate you very loudly,” she said of that time.
Swift was under a lot of public scrutiny, and many wanted to “cancel” her. Then, in 2017, her album Reputation was released, and she used this moment to reclaim the conversation and refused to do any interviews during this time.
Instead, Taylor Swift let her social media posts and music speak for themselves.
I know you may be Swifted out, but I find it fascinating how our love for pop star Taylor Swift seems never-ending despite a time when we didn't appreciate her.
Many people are perplexed by the impact of Taylor Swift's music on society, leading to various studies being conducted worldwide. An analysis is being carried out by the University of Kansas in America to explore what we can learn about human culture and popular music based on the behaviour of Taylor Swift fans.
I’m not a Swiftie, nor have I ever thought about her as much as I have now that she is finishing up her tour in Australia. However, there is a valuable lesson to be learned from her success and long-lasting popularity: her exceptional ability to connect with her audience, which has earned her the title of Queen of connecting with her fans.
I won't delve into details, but let me highlight a Swift lesson.
Choose depth over width.
There are stories about Taylor making her fans feel seen, whether authentically sharing her life through her music, popping up at weddings IRL or receiving a DM on Instagram. Critics will say it’s her team behind it all, but does that matter when it feels like it’s Taylor connecting with you?
If all of this is done right, your audience will connect over relating to whatever you have seeded. The Swifties are the ones who generate the most power and influence.
This is why I find it difficult to be convinced that AI will replace art as we know it. Swift is more than her music; her presence brings the story and energy that feeds into human connection.
So, in the spirit of sharing, last week was the first week in my new role as Executive Producer for Two Doting Dads.
I know it’s week one, but… never have I worked for such nice guys. They’re so FUNNY as well and up for giving anything a crack.
I feel really good about this role, and I’m so excited about growing 2DD.
But.
I stuffed something up that left me feeling shattered and embarrassed about my capabilities. There’s nothing I hate more than letting someone down. My way of coping with this was to work until 3 AM to prove to myself that I was not terrible at my job.
Thankfully, I can’t connect with that person from last week.
You just have to move on.
YouTube is rolling out new creator channel pages on the YouTube App for TV with a more immersive layout (it’s time to upload your 16x9 full-art channel banner art) and a subscribe button that’s easier to smash.
YouTube marked its 12th consecutive month as the top streaming service, according to Nielsen.
Access to Instagram's Creator Marketplace, which connects brands and creators, will be rolling out to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Japan, India, and Brazil next week.
TikTok wants you to pivot to photos. It’s running an in-app promo encouraging people to post photo carousels versus video and promising to “help you reach even more people.”
TikTok released an ad playbook for small to mid-sized businesses called TikTok Creative Made Simple, offering tips and advice on everything from brainstorming and creative production to ad optimisation.
What I’m listing to this week

Image Credit: Colin & Samir
Colin and Samir interview Hank Green, YouTube legend and one-half of the Vlog Brothers. (You might also be familiar with his brother, John Green, who authored books like Fault In Our Stars).'
Hank has been on YouTube for 17 years and naturally has a sophisticated approach to the platform.
This is a particularly insightful episode for Colin and Samir as Hank delves into his thoughts on the platform today and where it is headed as we find ourselves unlocking AI’s potential.
You can listen here
Or you can watch it here
Socials Updates