Happy Saturday! 👋🏻 I’m just recovering from a bad case of the stomach bug, but excited to get into this week’s newsletter. Today, we chat about LinkedIn’s new BrandLink program, Creatorbuzz’s April performance, and I recommend some content.
LinkedIn Can Now Earn Money From BrandLink... But, It’s Not For Everyone.
This is not a drill. LinkedIn is finally letting the girlies and the fellas get their bag 💰
LinkedIn just expanded their BrandLink program to include top creators and content sponsorships. It's giving "we finally understand the creator economy" vibes.
“Brands can now connect with trusted publishers and creators to promote in-stream, pre-roll video ads alongside contextually-aligned, high-quality videos directly in targeted members' LinkedIn newsfeeds.”
Why It's Low-key Revolutionary
So one of my favorite YouTube shows, is Hot Ones.
If you live under a rock, it’s an interview show where the guest eats gradually spicier wings as the interview progresses.
Hot Ones is a master of the Pre-Roll ads.
Pringles Pre-Roll Ad to promote their new spicy Pringles before the episode with Saquon Barkely.
Pringles ran an ad before their newest episode with Saquon Barkley to promote their new Spicy Pringle collab with Hot Ones.
Why does this work?
Pringles mimicked the Hot Ones production set, which would appeal to fans.
Fans of Hot Ones probably enjoy spicy food (or at least are adventurous enough to try it)
Viewers already came to this video to watch something spicy 🔥
Now picture this, but make it B2B…
Imagine Corporate Bro makes a video titled “Sellers in Q4 Be Like…”
Salesforce can now run a 3-30 second pre-roll ad on his video about how Salesforce helps sales reps succeed in Q4.
Pretty cool right? I know.
So you might be thinking, “Vin, this sounds awesome. How do I get started!"?”
Unfortunately, the pilot program for BrandLink is only reserved for a hand-selected group of creators that are part of LinkedIn’s “Top Voices”.
AKA the rich and the famous.
Creators part of the pilot program include Gary Vaynerchuk, Steven Bartlett, Guy Raz, and Vin Matano. (ok maybe not yet. But, let’s ✨ manifest ✨ it)
Average Joes like us will have to wait our turn with the rest of the peasants.
LinkedIn has been sleeping on creator culture for years while IG, TikTok, and YouTube were letting people build whole careers.
And now it seems like LinkedIn has aggressively been building to help creators monetize and create.
Creatorbuzz’s April Performance
If you’re new here, I run a B2B Influencer Marketing agency called Creatorbuzz.
And one thing about me? I overshare every aspect of running a business in my 20’s.
Hence the name of this newsletter - “The Transparent”.
Last month, we had one of our highest months of revenue yet (2nd highest month to be exact).
We brought in $124,749.
That is spread between roughly 11 clients and one FAT brand deal for my personal brand.
We spent -$57,822.
Operating on a 53.7% profit magin.
What’s next? We’re deep into interviews for our first US-based employee and Campaign Manager.
This will allow me to spend more time on sourcing new business snd creating content.
Content Corner
Thanks so much for reading! Enjoy your weekend everybody!