THE END OF THE INFLUENCER ERA

We’re in a weird transition period where we're nearing the end of the “Influencer Era.” It had a good run, but unless you got in at the right time, it’s a hard area to break into anymore. The landscape of social media has evolved with people’s behavior. It started with Facebook, where we could see what people we hadn’t talked to in years were up to. Then curiosity kicked in, and we started following strangers who fascinated us. That led to following people who shared our interests, and suddenly, “influencers” were born. Shortly after, those influencers starting getting paid. Some were naturally good at entertaining or teaching, and they built massive followings. But the “paid” part is where things started to turn. People we once trusted for genuine recommendations began pushing products simply for profit. And when everyone started doing it, social media turned into one big infomercial.

That caused us all to start tuning out and engagement tanked. Posts that used to spark conversation now sometimes get polite likes but mostly just silence. We've all felt it, that quiet drop-off where you start wondering if you’re shouting into the void. But it’s not you- the whole system is shifting.

The reality is that we don’t trust people who are always selling. We crave honesty, now more than ever, the kind where someone says, “this is freakin’ hard, but here’s what’s working for me.” Not another highlight reel or recycled tip. Just real, useful information from someone who’s figuring it out, too.

And that’s what’s working right now: depth.

Long-form content.

Substance.

Stories that make people think or help them solve a problem.

People are tired of quick clips that say nothing. They want trustworthy, tested, human content. The kind that feels like a conversation, not a pitch. This is where us introverts shine. We can talk about things that matter all day long.

When you’re trying to build trust, depth beats polish every single time. You don’t need a curated grid, you just need to find connection. You can do that with behind-the-scenes moments, half-finished projects, honest thoughts, and small lessons learned. The messy middle is where people see themselves in your story.

Think about the people you love following. It’s not because they post perfectly. It’s because they let you in. They share their process, their quirks, their off days, their random new hobbies. The likely inspire, entertain, or teach you something. They show you progress and setbacks. The normal day-to-day stuff of what it's like when you're still working on something, not just the completed masterpieces.

“People don’t buy goods and services. They buy relationships, stories, and magic.” -Seth Godin

If you’re tired of the hamster wheel, maybe try these three things:

1. Audit your content.

Scroll your own feed like a stranger. Would you follow you? Be honest. Is your content useful, consistent, and honest or is it noise that sounds like everyone else? Simplify until what’s left actually means something.

2. Build one real offer.

Stop chasing new ideas every time you see someone else doing something cool. Make one thing amazing, price it right, and make sure people know it exists. You’ll build faster momentum when all your energy points in one direction.

3. Talk to your audience like they’re friends, not followers.

If you wouldn’t say it at coffee with a friend, don’t post it. Your tone builds your trust. Be conversational, curious, and human. We are all tired of the recycled AI speak.

Honestly, if you’re bored by your own feed, your audience probably is too. We’re all guilty of phoning it in sometimes, posting just to post, or trying to keep up. But if you stop worrying about what will “perform” and start posting what actually matters to you, you’ll notice a shift.

When I started sharing more of the unfiltered parts of my process, my engagement didn’t automatically recover, but it got deeper. People started reaching out with real questions, not just likes. I know people by name. I know what's going on in their lives, because we have conversations through direct messages or email.

And remember,

If your message isn’t clear, your content can’t convert.

If your offers aren’t useful, your marketing doesn’t matter.

And if your work isn’t consistent, no strategy in the world can save you.

You keep attention by being honest, by being helpful, by being around long after the trend-chasers burn out. So if you’re feeling invisible right now, good. That means you’re creating something real. And the creators, not the influencers, are the ones who will still be here five years from now.

. . . . .

If you’ve been feeling that pull that says, “I want to do this differently,” follow it. You don’t need to out-post, out-perform, or out-trend anyone. You just need to outlast the noise by building something that inspires you.

That’s what I teach inside my Designed Simply membership. I'll walk you through the steps to build a solid business. One that grows intentionally that makes you money and brings you peace. One step, one system, one simple focus at a time.

Because in a world obsessed with more: more posts, more products, and more followers, simple is the real power move.

Warmest regards,

P.S. In keeping with the show more behind the scenes, unfinished, unpolished work, I wanted to share some Poetry my son was working on this week. He works with me in our business and handles all of the video editing and honestly keeps me on track with our creative direction because I'm easily distracted. He doesn't usually want me to share his work, so I feel honored he was willing to let me this time. Hope you enjoy it too.

I love the quiet honesty of an unreleased song

Or an unfinished poem

There’s something so beautiful about it

Saying “this is made in love

It’s not finished yet

But I can no longer contain

All of me

That exists for you”