Busy Blooming with Tess Barclay

Tess Barclay
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Everything that needs to come across your desk this week in the world of social media and content creation! Clock-in with Tess Barclay every week to unpack everything from what's trending this week to a new Instagram feature to how to get your sh*t together (without burning out!) to start each week feeling equipped, informed, peaceful & ready in the world of social media & content creation!  Busy Blooming® is a registered trademark. All content, formats, and segments are original works. Unauthorized reproduction or translation is not permitted.

  1. 1D AGO

    She worked at YouTube: The algorithm doesn't hate you, make the Substack & it's not too late

    Welcome to WORK!! Today we're sitting down with @alexis_barber to dive into the unfiltered behind the scenes of the creator economy! 🔗 CHECK OUT ALEXIS: Substack: Too Smart For This (https://toocollective.substack.com/) Instagram: @alexisbarber TikTok: @alexisbarber_ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC7-YnRrflV9g6nLMWUkwDtA 🎧 LISTEN ON THE PODCAST Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/3OsCVEK Listen on Spotify: http://bit.ly/3CHpmPo Listen anywhere else: https://pod.link/1565886767 📥 SPONSOR Thanks to Storyblocks for sponsoring this video. Get 15% off any annual plan for a limited time, only available through this link: https://www.storyblocks.com/tessbarclay ⸻ ⏱️ CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS 0:00 Intro 4:00 Creators drive more culture than legacy media 6:20 The state of the creator economy in 2026 9:48 The best formula for a successful creator in 2026 12:21 Viewing yourself as a startup as a creator 15:07 The years you spend building the wrong thing 18:02 How to build a cohesive brand without being "niched down" 23:00 Long form content & how to grow on Substack 31:38 The biggest misconception about YouTube right now 33:44 The truth about thumbnails & titles from inside YouTube 36:38 Can you grow from vlogs on YouTube in 2026? 39:01 Should you be doing YouTube Shorts? 46:48 Does YouTube actually push small creators? 50:15 How to make social media your 9-to-5: 3 pillars 56:47 Alexis's Creator Essentials group cohort 1:03:00 Outro & Thank you!! ⸻ 🔗 LINKS Busy Blooming HQ: https://www.busyblooming.ca/hq Descript: https://get.descript.com/tess ClickUp: https://try.web.clickup.com/tess Riverside: https://riverside.fm/?via=tess-barclay Rella: https://getrella.com/?via=busyblooming My content creator essentials: https://www.amazon.com/shop/tessbarclay My ShopMy (clothes, tech, etc.): https://shopmy.us/shop/tessbarclay Some links are affiliate links — I may earn a commission if you sign up (at no extra cost to you!) 💸 📌 FOLLOW US Busy Blooming IG → https://www.instagram.com/busybloomingg/ Tess IG → https://www.instagram.com/tessbarclay/ TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@tess.barclay Busy Blooming® is a registered trademark. All content, formats, and segments are original works. Unauthorized reproduction or translation is not permitted. #creatoreconomy #socialmedia #youtubegrowth

    1h 4m

  2. MAR 11

    Content therapy: Feeling cringe, social media "success" in 2026, creating when you're struggling..

    Welcome to WORK!! Today we're clocking in for a content therapy meeting chatting about ALL things social media, content creation, growing in 2026, mental health, success, sharing your personal life & more!! Special Xero offer: Get 90% off for 6 months using this link. Terms & Conditions apply.* https://referrals.xero.com/p9bgvx98mnw2 0:00 Intro3:56 How to start from scratch on social media in 2026? 10:28 How do I stay consistent when my mental health isn't?15:49 How do I re-brand without losing followers? 18:47 When are you successful as a creator & how to stay content when you're so far away from your goals? 23:37 What do I do when I don't like the product a brand sent me? 25:03 How to post more when I want to spend less time on social media?27:33 How to deal with cringe when people I know follow me? 29:33 How to grow on social media when my life is boring? 32:44 How to grow a personal brand without sharing my personal life? 36:44 How to deal with comparison as a content creator? 39:25 How to make a series unselfish? 42:06 HQ pricing update!!

    44 min

  3. MAR 4

    Instagram is thriving & TikTok is flopping: What's working right now on social media in March 2026

    Welcome to WORK!! Today we’re so back unpacking our firstly monthly instalment of State of Social Media!! We’ll be unpacking what’s working in March 2026 on social media, Instagram new features, content inso, creator economy news & more! CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS 00:00 Intro 3:15 Polished casual content is still in 4:25 Tess’ theory: The two types of creator in 2026 5:00 Expert personal brand + examples7:09 Chaotic personal brand + examples8:07 Influencers aren’t influential anymore 9:38 Niche audiences in 2026 are essential 10:26 Instagram updates: Stickers, Carousels & Adam Mosseri corner lol 12:15 YouTube updates: Voicenote comments & quizzes14:18 Podcasting news: Apple video & Jake Shane on Netflix 16:24 Average creator income & it’s not too late 20:30 Podcasts are the new late night22:04 The future of this channel & this podcast Check out Storyblocks at https://www.storyblocks.com/tessbarclay to level-up your content! ARTICLES + LINKS MENTIONED Average creator incomeFintech created for influencersVanity Fair the new late nightSubstack articles: https://mufarodawn.substack.com/p/the-rise-of-the-expert-influencerSubstack article 2: https://curatedbyamritasingh.substack.com/p/the-difference-between-being-an-influencerReddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/influencermarketing/comments/1rg8k7d/ive_spent_millions_on_influencer_marketing_ama/

    28 min

  4. JAN 26

    Hitting 100k on YouTube in 2026: The one mindset that changed everything

    Today we're kicking off our 3-part YouTube extravaganza to celebrate hitting 100k!! Today I'm sharing the one mindset that changed everything for me a few years ago about viewing YouTube as a puzzle piece. CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS 00:00 Intro4:01 Mindset 1 - YouTube is the middle puzzle piece 6:03 Mindset 2 - Podcast & YouTube channel = the same thing7:06 How I combined the podcast & YouTube8:27 How I made YouTube the puzzle piece 13:15 Content ideas & trends for this week 16:43 After hours: How do you start from scratch on social?Check out Hostinger here: https://hostinger.com/tess and use code TESS for an additional 10% off! Their New Year Sale is on until Feb 17th where you can get started for $2.99! #youtube2026 #youtubegrowth #100kyoutube

    22 min

  5. JAN 19

    AI influencers are here in 2026. They won't replace influencers, they will co-exist with us.

    Will AI Influencers replace content creators in 2026? Welcome to WORK!! We're deep diving into AI-influencers today of everything that needs to come across your desk of how many AI influencers are there, are they getting brand deals & more! CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS 00:00 Intro3:42 When did AI influencers start & who are they? 5:33 How many AI influencers are there & what’s the market?6:00 Gary Vee: Why I disagree on his take 7:04 Tess’ take: They’ll replace UGC, not influencers 8:57 Influence is expensive, not content (Alix Earle) 9:50 Tess’ take: It won’t replace, we’ll co-exist with AI influencers 11:06 Tess’ take: AI influencers will win who we love that they’re AI 14:08 How people are making money from AI influencers 16:17 Content idea & trend of the week18:59: After hours: Should you create a new channel for a new content pillar?Check out Brevo at https://get.brevo.com/tess and use my code TESS at checkout to save 50% on their Starter and Standard Plans for your first three months!

    24 min

  6. JAN 12

    TikTok is dying in 2026: What's working right now on social media

    We're getting UNHINGED today & unpacking what's working & going on with Instagram, TikTok, YouTube & influencer marketing right now! CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS 00:00 Intro3:32 The VIBE of social media right now & what's working9:24 Examples of how to do this 12:40 Action item: Post unserious content this week 13:33 Algorithm & platform updates 14:26 Influencer marketing state of the union for 2026 17:11 Which social media platform is the biggest in 2026?18:02 Instagram algorithm & updates 23:00 YouTube algorithm & updates 14:59 TikTok algorithm & updates 19:25 Content idea & trend of the week12:15 After-hours: January is planning MONTH (You're not behind)34:13 Voice note: How to keep going when content is flopping Check out Storyblocks at https://www.storyblocks.com/tessbarclay to level-up your content!

    40 min

  7. JAN 5

    You don't need to plan your 2026 content anymore you need to POST!! 📲 💅🏻 (yes, YOU!)

    We've made it to the BEST year on social media & we have so much work to do today to get ready (even if you don't feel ready!!) Check out Rella & use code BUSYBLOOMING for for 10% off annual plans or 3 months: https://getrella.com/?via=busybloomingIn today's episode, I'm breaking down my method to get STARTED with our year at the office of consistency. A super quick 5-step planning routine, Q1 content strategy & habits that I'm taking into 2026 as a creator! CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS 00:00 Intro2:08 How I'm using Rella to plan for 2026 4:06 Time to plan!! 4:44 Step 1: Stop, start, continue walk 5:16 Step 2: Big, scary vision board vs. 2026 vision board5:51 Step 3: To-do list & wish list vs. goals 7:36 Step 4: Creator habits & schedule 8:25 Step 5: Q1 Content strategy 9:07 10 Habits I'm doing in 2026 as a creator 9:31 No social media on my phone 10:40 Monthly meetings, habit stack filming, founder hour12:08 Batching, doing less, Notion & monthly challenges14:30 How to plan your content for January 17:05 Action item for the week 17:40 Content ideas & trends for the week 19:39: Voicenote: Should I niche down in 2026? 23:54 Hitting 100k!! & feeling cringe in your hometown lolBusy Blooming HQ: https://www.busyblooming.ca/hq#contentcreation #2026planning #2026goals

    27 min

  8. 12/01/2025

    14 things to *not* post on social media in 2026 if you want to grow.. (my content icks lol)

    We're getting UNFILTERED at work today unpacking what NOT to post in 2026 to grow on social media - basically a list of my content icks lol! CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS 00:00 Intro4:23 ChatGPT content 6:26 Audio-only podcasts vs. YouTube podcasts 7:38 Podcast YouTube titles & thumbnails 8:27 Viral & views-only content 9:20 Instagram stories that don't do anything11:05 Content for pity (lol)13:17 Aesthetic-only content14:58 Break announcements 15:28 A "why" hook 16:21 Tips & hacks content (3 ways..) 17:26 Hustle fear-mongering energy 18:30 Day in my life vlogs 21:01 After-hours: How to grow on Instagram as a YouTuber? LINKS Check out Storyblocks at https://www.storyblocks.com/tessbarclay to level-up your content!Busy Blooming HQ: https://www.busyblooming.ca/hq

    29 min
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Everything that needs to come across your desk this week in the world of social media and content creation! Clock-in with Tess Barclay every week to unpack everything from what's trending this week to a new Instagram feature to how to get your sh*t together (without burning out!) to start each week feeling equipped, informed, peaceful & ready in the world of social media & content creation!  Busy Blooming® is a registered trademark. All content, formats, and segments are original works. Unauthorized reproduction or translation is not permitted.

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