The evolution of influencer marketing from 2015 vs 2025 - Ep 81

Influencer marketing has changed a lot in the last decade—from highly curated Instagram grids and daily blog posts to short-form video, UGC, and performance-driven brand partnerships. In this episode, I’m breaking down what influencer marketing looked like in 2015 vs what it looks like in 2025, and how creators can adapt to the modern creator economy. We’ll talk about the rise of blogs and DSLR-era Instagram, why it was easier to grow online in 2015, how brand deals were handled back then, and what made content feel more authentic. Then we’ll jump to 2025 and look at the explosion of short-form video, the shift toward sales and conversion metrics, the rise of UGC creators, paid usage, whitelisting, and why follower count matters less than ever. Whether you’ve been creating for years or you’re new to the space, this episode will help you understand the biggest shifts in social media and how to navigate the creator landscape today.Mentioned in episode 81:The holiday hubFirst Time Caller bookNYC intern diaries episodeTikTok ban update episodeTime articleCreator tips YouTube playlistIncome ideas YouTube videoCampaign wrap up templateFollow Create & Consume:YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | PinterestFollow Austen:YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | BlogPodcast inquiries can be sent to [email protected] the website: https://www.createandconsumepodcast.com/Music credit: Babak Bazgosha via Pond5