This week, we have another special guest appearance alongside Brendan and Keith: Steph Martin, an influencer marketing veteran with extensive experience in fintech, healthcare, DTC, and consumer goods industries. Steph has led influencer marketing for renowned brands such as Hims & Hers and ThirdLove and is the SF chapter ambassador for Women in Influencer Marketing.

Steph shares her journey from traditional PR to leading influencer programs on the brand side. She discusses the evolution of influencer marketing, from its early "wild west" days to a more data-driven, strategic approach. Steph also offers insights into current industry challenges, the importance of creative freedom, and the ethical considerations brands and influencers must navigate.

As always, Brendan and Keith catch up on industry news. Topics include the debate over the value of a well-designed Instagram feed, Walmart's first-ever Creator Upfronts in LA, and the latest features being tested by Meta and Instagram. They also provide a VidCon recap, highlighting the maturing ecosystem and the growing interest in LinkedIn as a platform for creators.

🐄 Creators of the Week (COW):

• Fidias Panayiotou (@ fidias0)

• Ruben Hassid (@ rubenhassid)

• Caroline Stern (@carolinemstern)

👏 Brand of the Week (BOW):

• Piece of Cake Moving & Storage
• Zyn
• Shipt

This episode is sponsored by Linqia, the #1 influencer marketing partner for the world's leading brands. Having executed over 3,000 campaigns for more than 650 brands, Linqia combines technology powered by Google Vision AI with award winning service to deliver measurable influencer results. Go to linqia.com or send a note to hello@linqia.com to speak with an influencer expert.

Sign up to our newsletter: https://creatoreconomylive.com/newsletter This podcast is brought to you by the biggest event for influencer marketers in the US Creator Economy Live! Join Keith and Brendan live and in person as well as 100s of brands in Vegas on Febuary 4-5 for lively conversation and debate about everything in the world of influencer marketing and the creator economy.