#27

Who Can You Trust?

April 21, 2025

🧠 Should You Trust Content Creators to Help You Start an Online Business?

Let’s be real: if you’re trying to start an online business, it can feel like a million influencers are shouting different advice at you—“Launch a course!” “Sell a digital product!” “Start a YouTube channel!” “No, wait—try drop shipping!”

So... who do you trust?

That’s what we’re diving into today: how to spot trusted content creators, why their advice can be incredibly valuable (if used the right way), and how to make sure you're not following the wrong playbook.

👀 Not All Influencers Are Equal

First things first: not every person with a ring light and a Canva template is qualified to tell you how to launch your dream business.
Some are just really good at making it look like they know what they’re doing.

Here’s how to spot a legit digital marketing creator vs. one who’s just parroting advice:

✅ They’ve built or sold something themselves
✅ They show behind-the-scenes, not just highlight reels
✅ They teach from experience, not theory
✅ They answer real audience questions and provide context
✅ Their content gives value even if you never buy from them

If someone checks those boxes? They're likely worth paying attention to.

🙌 Why Great Creators Are Gold for New Entrepreneurs

The best creators today are like the mentors we wish we had 10 years ago.

Here’s why trusting a proven content creator can actually help you start your online business faster:

💥 They shortcut your learning curve – You don’t have to Google everything or piece it all together alone. They’ve already done the trial and error.
💥 They offer proven frameworks – You get step-by-step systems that actually work in the real world.
💥 They’re current – Great creators update their advice to reflect what’s working now (because algorithms and platforms change fast).
💥 They give you the playbook, not fluff – No more vague “follow your passion” advice. Real creators give you tools, tactics, and templates.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t Fall Into the Comparison Trap

Even if a creator has great advice, it’s easy to spiral into “Why am I not there yet?” mode.
Here’s the truth: their Year 5 shouldn't be compared to your Day 1.

Use creators for inspiration and direction, not as a measuring stick. Learn from them, but walk your own path.

🧭 How to Find the Right Creator for You

You don’t need to follow every expert—just the ones who match your goals and values.

Ask yourself:

  • Are they teaching a business model you’re actually excited about?

  • Do they speak in a way that clicks for you?

  • Do they encourage action, not just consumption?

Your vibe = your tribe. Find 2–3 creators you trust, dive deep on their content, and block out the noise from everyone else.

🧑‍💻 Start Your Online Business—With the Right Guides

You don’t need to do it alone. The right influencer or content creator can be a powerful part of your journey, as long as you follow with discernment, not blind faith.

So if you’ve been binge-watching, double-tapping, and saving videos... but not starting—maybe it’s time to stop consuming and start doing.

Use what you’ve learned, take one small step, and keep learning as you go. 💥

P.S. Got a favorite content creator who helped you get started? Hit reply and tell me—I’d love to feature them in an upcoming post!

🧠 Best AI Tools for Blogging in 2025 (and What They’re Best At)

✍️ Content Creation & Writing

These help you go from blank page to polished post—faster.

1. Jasper AI

  • Best for: Long-form blog content, SEO-focused writing

  • Why it’s great: Templates for blog posts, intros, and product descriptions; integrates well with Surfer SEO

  • URL: www.jasper.ai

2. ChatGPT (using GPT-4)

  • Best for: Brainstorming, outlining, drafting with custom tone

  • Why it’s great: Super flexible, can write in your style, answer questions, and help you refine posts

  • Tip: Combine it with custom prompts + voice samples to maintain brand tone

  • Best for: Quick content generation for intros, headlines, and product copy

  • Why it’s great: Easy-to-use interface and focused on marketers

  • URL: www.copy.ai

🔍 SEO Optimization

Because what’s the point of great content if no one finds it?

4. Surfer SEO

  • Best for: Writing content that ranks on Google

  • Why it’s great: Real-time SEO recommendations, keyword clustering, integrates with Jasper and Google Docs

  • URL: www.surferseo.com

  • Best for: Creating blog posts around high-intent keywords

  • Why it’s great: Combines AI writing with SEO scoring and competitor analysis

  • URL: www.frase.io

6. NeuralText

  • Best for: Keyword research + AI copywriting in one tool

  • Why it’s great: Helps you find low-competition keywords and build content briefs

  • URL: www.neuraltext.com

🎨 Blog Visuals & Design

Make your blog look chef’s kiss with AI-designed images and layouts.

7. Canva Magic Studio (AI features)

  • Best for: Blog headers, custom thumbnails, social graphics

  • Why it’s great: Built-in AI text-to-image, Magic Write, and fast design creation

  • URL: www.canva.com

8. Midjourney or DALL·E 3

  • Best for: Generating custom, eye-catching images for blog posts

  • Why it’s great: Unique visuals that stand out in a sea of stock photos

  • Tip: Use prompts based on your blog topic to create branded illustrations

🗂️ Planning, Research & Repurposing

Work smarter, not harder—with tools that help you ideate and repurpose.

9. Notion AI

  • Best for: Brainstorming, outlining, and organizing blog content

  • Why it’s great: Combines productivity and AI writing in one place

  • URL: www.notion.so

10. Content at Scale

  • Best for: Scaling SEO blogs fast with AI-generated articles

  • Why it’s great: It analyzes SERPs, writes 2,000+ word blogs, and auto-optimizes for ranking

  • URL: www.contentatscale.ai

11. Castmagic

  • Best for: Repurposing podcast or video content into blog posts

  • Why it’s great: Transcribes, summarizes, and turns audio into long-form content

  • URL: www.castmagic.io

💥 Pro Tip: Use AI for the heavy lifting, but add your personal touch.

The best-performing blog posts still need you: your take, your stories, and your experience. Use AI to write faster, not to replace your voice.

 

🚨 Google’s Ad Tech Empire Is Under Fire — Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’re running an online business, advertising on Google, or even just thinking about getting into the game... you’ll want to pay attention to what’s going down right now with Google’s ad tech monopoly.

The DOJ vs. Google courtroom showdown? Yeah—it’s heating up. And the outcome could shake the entire online advertising industry to its core.

🧠 Wait, What’s Happening?

In short: The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Google—again.

But this time, it’s not about search. It’s about Google’s dominance in the ad tech space—the behind-the-scenes tech that powers most of the internet’s ad buying, selling, and serving.

Think of it like this:

  • Google owns the stadium (YouTube, Search, Display Network)

  • They also sell the tickets (ad sales platform)

  • AND they control the concession stands (ad exchanges + publisher tools)

That’s a one-company show. The DOJ says it’s anti-competitive, and they're not the only ones.

💣 The DOJ’s Main Accusations:

  • Google has too much control over the entire digital advertising stack

  • It’s allegedly pushed out competitors by manipulating auctions

  • And it has favored its products and partners at the expense of advertisers and publishers

Translation? If you're a business buying ads, you might’ve been paying more than you should. If you're a website showing ads, you may have earned less than you deserved.

🔍 Why This Matters for Small Businesses & Creators

Here’s why the average entrepreneur, creator, or marketer should care:

✅ Less control = fewer choices. If one company controls the whole ad process, your results—and your costs—are at their mercy.
✅ More transparency = better ROI. A more open ecosystem could mean clearer pricing and better ad performance data.
✅ Innovation could skyrocket. If Google’s grip loosens, we may see smarter, leaner tools from other companies that work better for smaller advertisers.

🧨 What Could Happen Next?

If the DOJ wins, Google could be forced to break up its ad business—maybe spinning off parts like Google Ads, Ad Manager, or AdX into separate entities.

That would be massive. Like, once-in-a-generation kind of shift.

Think about it: the last time the U.S. broke up a tech monopoly? It was AT&T in the ‘80s. The ripple effects shaped the telecom industry for decades.

💡 What Should You Do Right Now?

If you run ads—or plan to—this isn’t the time to panic. But it is time to get smarter.

👉 Start testing alternatives: Try platforms like Meta, TikTok, Reddit, or even direct buys with creators
👉 Keep your ear to the ground: The more you understand what’s happening, the better you’ll adapt
👉 Focus on first-party data: Email lists, communities, and owned audiences are more important than ever

⚡ TL;DR

  • Google is being sued (again) for monopolizing the digital ad ecosystem

  • The DOJ wants to dismantle parts of its ad tech stack

  • This could completely reshape how online advertising works

  • For marketers and business owners: this is a moment to pay attention, diversify, and prepare

📰 The TikTok Comeback: How It Bounced Back After the Ban—and Why You Should Care

Hey [First Name] 👋

This week’s big story? TikTok is back—and it's making waves.

After months of uncertainty, legal drama, and “Is TikTok getting banned?” panic... the app is not only still here, it’s thriving. And if you’re trying to start or grow an online business, this comeback is major.

Let’s break down what happened, why it matters, and how you can use it to grow your brand or side hustle👇

🚨 The Ban That Wasn’t (But Almost Was)

In early 2024, the U.S. government pushed ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or risk a full-on ban. The internet freaked out. Creators paused. Brands held back. Usage dipped.

But fast forward to now?

📱 TikTok is booming again, and here’s what we’re seeing...

🔥 The TikTok Bounce-Back (By the Numbers)

✅ +12% Ad Spend Growth in Q1 2025 – Brands came running back as soon as the legal smoke cleared.

✅ DAU Recovery – Daily Active Users dipped slightly during the chaos but have bounced back to near pre-ban levels.

✅ Creator Surge – Influencers + small biz owners are back in full swing, driving product sales, UGC, and viral brand growth.

✅ TikTok Shop Exploding – Small businesses are using TikTok Shop to move serious products. Think QVC meets Instagram, powered by Gen Z.

🤖 Why It Bounced Back So Fast

🔹 Creator Loyalty – TikTok’s creator-first vibe kept people wanting to stay. No other platform quite matched the energy.
🔹 Powerful Algorithm – Let’s be honest: TikTok’s “For You Page” still does discovery better than anyone else.
🔹 Improved Business Tools – TikTok Ads Manager, Creator Marketplace, and TikTok Shop are all maturing fast, and they’re good.
🔹 Smart Positioning – Their “freedom of speech” PR strategy during the ban paid off big time.

💡 What This Means for You

If you’re building a business or launching a digital product, here’s how to ride the wave:

🚀 Now is the time to test TikTok ads – Lower competition, high reach, and crazy-good targeting.
🎥 Post short-form video content daily – TikTok is still the best place to grow fast for free.
🛍️ Try TikTok Shop – If you’re selling physical or digital products, this is becoming the new storefront.
🤝 Partner with micro-influencers – Creators are doubling down and open to collabs. Great time to jump in.

⚡ TL;DR

  • TikTok didn’t just survive the ban drama—it bounced back stronger.

  • Creators, advertisers, and users are returning fast.

  • It’s still one of the most powerful platforms for reaching new audiences, building community, and driving sales.