Busy Blooming with Tess Barclay

Discover how to genuinely grow your YouTube channel in 2025 with fresh strategies! Learn the secrets behind impactful thumbnails, engaging titles, and effective scripts. Navigate the evolving landscape of YouTube's algorithm while using innovative tools like AI for video optimization. Explore how to treat your channel like a business by analyzing analytics and employing A/B testing for better audience connection. Plus, dive into personal reflections on creativity and monetization updates that can transform your channel's journey!

📥 SPONSORGet started with Tailor Brands today → https://tailorbrands.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=62&aff_id=3305 — and get 35% off LLC plans!👀 ABOUT THIS EPISODEFeeling overwhelmed by the algorithm? Burnt out by content that used to work? Questioning if TikTok is even worth it anymore? You’re not alone.In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the entire state of social media so you know exactly what needs to come across your desk as a creator, brand, or podcaster in 2025.🎯 This episode is for you if:• You’re in a content rut and everything that used to work… doesn’t anymore• You’re trying to grow on Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok but feel like the platforms keep changing• You’re ready to treat social media like a business, but not sure where to start with all the new updatesLet’s unpack what’s actually working right now, the latest algorithm shifts, and how creators can still win in 2025.⏱️ CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS00:00 – Intro02:42 – What’s the vibe right now on social media?04:55 – ChatGPT is changing what content is working07:00 – The biggest thing that’s working right now10:00 – What’s new on YouTube right now12:30 – YouTube Partner Program monetization update13:30 – Shorts algorithm (why they flop lol)15:00 – What’s working on YouTube right now (algorithm)18:00 – Instagram updates: Edits & Trial Reels19:30 – Trial Reels — what’s going on?!21:00 – What’s working on Instagram now24:00 – How to treat Threads right now26:00 – TikTok ban update & algorithm change28:40 – Final thoughts & wrap up🎧 LISTEN ON THE PODCASTApple Podcasts → https://apple.co/3OsCVEKSpotify → http://bit.ly/3CHpmPoAnywhere else → https://pod.link/1565886767📌 FOLLOW USBusy Blooming IG → https://www.instagram.com/busybloomingg/Tess IG → https://www.instagram.com/tessbarclay/TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@tess.barclay🛍️ Shop templates, merch & more → https://www.busyblooming.ca/shop

Growing on social media can make you burnout, compare, spiral, crash-out & you need a reset!! Download the FREE 2025 State of Marketing Report for creators: https://clickhubspot.com/44af5bIt's time to CLOCK-IN!! Feeling burnt out, stuck, or like social media is slowly stealing your soul? 👀 Let’s fix it. In today’s episode, we’re getting cozy (and real) about the emotional side of content creation — burnout, comparison spirals, the ick — and walking through the exact 3-step reset routine I use when I feel totally lost. Then we’re clocking in with Alyssa from  @inspiredmedia_co  to break down the business side of being a creator — selling without the cringe, building trust, and becoming a content PART 1: The Creator Crashout Reset Routine (ft. Tess)00:00 Intro02:22 Everything you feel is SO common!!06:40 The 3-Step Reset Routine Overview07:00 Step 1: Take a real break (and why it’s productive)13:45 Step 2: Recalibrate your GPS (your big scary vision)21:20 Step 3: Set habits & priorities to stay on trackPART 2: Content CEO Era with Alyssa (@inspiredmedia_co)24:33 Alyssa’s here!! Let’s talk about the hard parts of building a content biz29:52 How to sell online without the ick30:23 Tips ≠ Trust: Why people actually buy from you30:57 “I watched one video and I booked” — building brand trust33:14 Custom strategies vs. generic advice (and why clients love it)35:30 Lifestyle Pillars 101: What to share (and what to gatekeep)40:19 Personality vs. Personal: How to show up without oversharing43:45 Ready to outsource? Here’s when to hire & how to let goCEO.👉 This episode is for you if: • You’re in a rut (or mid-spiral lol) • You’re comparing yourself to other creators/entrepreneurs • You feel like you have no idea what you're doing/lost • You sell services, products, or courses as a creator🎧 LISTEN ON THE PODCASTApple: https://apple.co/3OsCVEKSpotify: http://bit.ly/3CHpmPoOther platforms: https://pod.link/1565886767📥 SPONSOR: HUBSPOTDownload the FREE 2025 State of Marketing Report for creators: https://clickhubspot.com/44af5bEPISODES MENTIONED Weekly work routine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJpDP1WVjdg&t=38sBuilding income streams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px86V1Qop2s&t=1165s&pp=0gcJCYQJAYcqIYzvFOLLOW ALYSSAThe Inspired Media Podcast: https://pod.link/1730433175Our episode together on YouTube!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgwjaf5rEv4&t=35s&ab_channel=Alyssa%2BInspiredMediaCo.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiredmediaco/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inspiredmediaco⸻⏱️ 📌 FOLLOW US Busy Blooming on IG → https://www.instagram.com/busybloomingg/Tess on IG → https://www.instagram.com/tessbarclay/TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@tess.barclay🛍️ Shop tools, templates & merch: https://www.busyblooming.ca/shop

LIFESTYLE CREATORS - It’s time to go to WORK!! We are joined today with Alyssa, also known as InspiredMediaCo on TikTok & Instagram to dive into the lifestyle creator universe and breaking down exactly how to grow as a lifestyle creator & influencer in 2025 – even if you’re starting from scratch. If you have “lifestyle” written anywhere in your content strategy, this episode is truly for YOU. Alyssa is breaking down for us Why old-school vlogs don’t work anymoreWhat it actually means to be a lifestyle creator in 2025How to create “unselfish vlogs” and add storytelling + conflict to your contentThe concept of niching down within yourself (!!!)→ Repeating yourself on purpose, signature content series, and building your legacyPLUS how to create content faster without burning outAfter work, I dive into a little chat about the podcast trip to LA (+, going to Dear Media!!), Q2 content plan & my final "30-day Instagram Challenge" results!FOLLOW ALYSSAThe Inspired Media Podcast: https://pod.link/1730433175Our episode together!! https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FabBiPRj5M3zVMHtm1Avo?si=ZB2Mpva_QgqAsQnMEkZ7Fg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiredmediacoTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inspiredmediaco JOIN 30-DAY INSTAGRAM CHALLENGE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rASyMZpjFbc&t=1098sTIME STAMPS00:00 Intro4:40 Alyssa joins us!!6:00 What is a lifestyle creator in 2025?8:00 Why day-in-my-life vlogs aren’t enough anymore10:00 “Unselfish vlogs” – how to vlog in a way that actually performs12:45 The secret to making your vlogs more interesting14:30 Do you have to vlog to be a lifestyle creator? (Spoiler: no)17:00 Niching down within yourself – why this changes everything21:17 Signature style series – how to stand out as a lifestyle creator23:45 What makes a brand memorable on social media26:00 Why repeating yourself online is a good thing 28:00 Balancing your CEO brain vs creative heart as a creator30:00 Cutting your inspo scrolling in HALF31:30 How to implement the lifestyle method as a creator 35:55 Post-work social: LA podcast trip mini-recap 37:43 45-day challenge for Q2?? 39:11 Instagram challenge update⋒ FOLLOW BUSY BLOOMING ⋒TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@busybloominggInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/busybloomingg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/busy-blooming/Join the community: https://www.busyblooming.ca/⋒ FOLLOW TESS ⋒Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessbarclay/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tess.barclay⋒ ABOUT US ⋒Welcome to the Busy Blooming YouTube channel! Every week, we host our podcast show, Busy Blooming to give you the energy, advice & motivation you need to build your brand, content & business! You will also find vlogs from our founder, Tess Barclay, of working at Busy Blooming in Toronto, behind the scenes of our events & more!

👀 ABOUT THIS EPISODEWant to go full-time as a creator but don’t know where to start? Today we’re unpacking the exact system I would use if I had 0 followers & wanted to become a full-time influencer/content creator by the end of 2025!We’re getting ✨ rigid ✨ about building a super simple business & content strategy you can use every single week — to simplify your workflow, create a solid base, and build from there.After the content workshop, we’re having a little coffee chat about my own experience doing this, why it’s harder than you think to find your “thing” online, and wrapping it all up with an “after work social” 💅🏻 with updates on the podcast, Busy Blooming & more!🎯 This episode is for you if:• You want to grow online but have no idea where to start• You’re overwhelmed trying to balance content & business• You keep hearing “treat it like a business” but don’t know how• You feel like you still don’t know what your niche or “thing” is• You want a system that simplifies everything, weekly⏱️ CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS00:00 – Intro2:30 – Workshop to create a simple, business-coded content strategy3:16 – The function of your business5:18 – Lifestyle creators - how to define your business function8:06 – Building the person you always talk to (who loves you lol)11:19 – Building a simple brand14:02 – What content you’re going to post14:19 – The social media platform to pick17:33 – Weekly posting structure19:09 – Building out signature content templates22:45 – My biggest mistake treating social media like a business24:51 – Why I would pick ONE thing to be known for when growing26:06 – What if you don’t know what your “thing” is as a creator?28:54 – What’s going on with the podcast & how I’m feeling35:10 – Busy Blooming sweatshirts are live!!36:12 – Exciting things coming up!!37:30 – If you’re overwhelmed with content right now🎧 LISTEN ON THE PODCASTApple Podcasts → https://apple.co/3OsCVEKSpotify → http://bit.ly/3CHpmPoAnywhere else → https://pod.link/1565886767📌 FOLLOW USBusy Blooming IG → https://www.instagram.com/busybloomingg/Tess IG → https://www.instagram.com/tessbarclay/TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@tess.barclayLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/busy-bloomingJoin the community → https://www.busyblooming.ca/⸻💼 ABOUT USWelcome to the channel! Every week, we host our podcast show, Busy Blooming, to give you the energy, advice & motivation you need to build your brand, content & business! You’ll also find vlogs from our founder, Tess Barclay, behind the scenes at Busy Blooming HQ in Toronto, our events & more!

Discover how to elevate your social media game with essential content-checklists that ensure quality and uniqueness. Learn to avoid generic posts and create a captivating content ecosystem. Get insights on targeting not just current followers, but potential ones too. Fear of repetition? Embrace it with strategic theming while keeping creativity at the forefront. Tune in for transformative tips that shift your mindset and enhance your digital presence!

Get started with Tailor Brands today here: https://tailorbrands.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=62&aff_id=3305 and you’ll get 35% off LLC plans!WELCOME TO A NEW SERIES!! How to *ACTUALLY* take social media seriously!! I'm so excited to be kicking-off this 4-part series over the next 4 weeks about how to take social media seriously so it can become your business!! Today we're unpacking the internal shift you need to make & we're giving tough-love energy so you can truly start viewing social media and content creation as your business & here's the unfiltered advice you need to hear! TIME STAMPS00:00 Intro 5:58 Re-branding your mindset from a creator8:29 Making the big decision 13:05 Lifestyle influencer businesses 15:25 Stopping your emotions controlling your business17:04 Accepting the reality of your content 19:53 Pushing through resistance 22:59 Numbers vs. ego

It's time to enter your 1M era on Instagram & GROW on Instagram as a content creator in 2025!! Today Tess is breaking down a 30-day Instagram content calendar, strategy & more (based off the 3-month Winter 2025 content strategy) that we're all doing together to grow on Instagram in 30-days - and we're unpacking the Instagram algorithm & how it *actually* works in 2025!FREE CONTENT CALENDAR & CAROUSELS TEMPLATES: https://www.busyblooming.ca/free-30-day-instagram-calendar3-month winter content strategy: https://youtu.be/MqIs7mv6iKILet Clickup help you get more done than 99% of people. Go to https://tryclickup.co/tessbarclay and use my code YOUTUBE to get started for free. If you love Clickup, my code will also give you 20% off for your first year on unlimited and business plans. Offer doesn't expire if you decide to upgrade.⋒ TIME STAMPS ⋒00:00 Intro2:50 Part 1: Your foundation for 30-days5:26 Part 2: Content calendar6:33 The content pillars11:42 Mental health note12:45 How much do you need to post to grow?14:28 What is "good" content for Instagram?17:02 How to post on IG in 2025 (schedule vs. manual)18:16 How to create Instagram carousels18:31 How to create Instagram Reels19:41 The 2025 Instagram algorithm 10123:58 How to get more reach on Instagram⋒ BUILD YOUR VISION ⋒Workbook (Use code: YOUTUBE for 30% off!): https://www.busyblooming.ca/product-page/video-workbook-content-strategy-brand-business-builderVideo to set your foundation/vision: https://youtu.be/2b4OPL4Tl7M⋒ PODCAST LINKS ⋒Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/3OsCVEKListen on Spotify: http://bit.ly/3CHpmPoListen anywhere else: pod.link/1565886767⋒

VIDEOS MENTIONED Weekly theme structure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPtlHQurTXs&t=298sHow to build income streams from content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px86V1Qop2s&t=20s⋒ PODCAST LINKS ⋒Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/3OsCVEKListen on Spotify: http://bit.ly/3CHpmPoListen anywhere else: pod.link/1565886767⋒ FOLLOW BUSY BLOOMING ⋒TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@busybloominggInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/busybloomingg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/busy-blooming/Join the community: https://www.busyblooming.ca/⋒ FOLLOW TESS ⋒Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessbarclay/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tess.barclay

Today we're exposing BRAND DEALS in 2025!! How much to charge as an influencer & content creator on social media for brand deals on your media kit & rate card! We're unpacking content rates, usage rights, whitelisting, paid usage & actual rates that I've used as a creator, my friend's rates and how to determine what your rate should be - PLUS negotiation tips!