From brand deals to equity: the next phase of the creator economy
We’re back with another #ForYou, By Them, our monthly Q&A series…
A lot has been said about the creator economy, but not always by people who are in the trenches daily.
That’s why we recently caught up with Monica Khan, a creator economy leader with over a decade of experience building programs and partnerships for top platforms and creators. She’s one of the people actually building what she calls the “creator-entrepreneur era” and has been an incredible partner with us in developing GoFundMe for Creators.
“The creator economy has moved from proving itself to professionalizing,” she said in the Monday edition of #ForYou. “The real differentiator now isn't just reach. It's trust, community, and how brands and creators co-create for the long term.”
Today, we’re talking with Monica about her advice for new creators, how brands and creators should (and should not) work together, and what jobs are out there for non-creators who want to get in on the action.
We’ve even gotten some of her recs for keeping up with the business, and her surprising take on the platforms that are most exciting for creators right now (TikTok isn’t on her list).
P.S. Monica is also a creator in her own right, building an impressive audience over on LinkedIn. She also chatted with us about how she’s doing that, and we’ll share her tips with our subscribers soon!
MTD: What advice do you have for newer creators who are trying to grow and get brand deals?
Monica Khan: Stop chasing brand deals. Chase audience trust first.
(Trust is the new moat. This applies to individual creators just as much as brands.) I know that sounds counterintuitive, but I've seen this pattern repeatedly.
Here's what actually works:
The rest of this interview is exclusive for members. 🔒
Inside, Monica shares:
The exact playbook she gives new creators on building trust and landing brand deals
The biggest mistakes brands and creators make—and how to avoid them
Where the next wave of creator economy jobs and opportunities will come from
If you’re serious about understanding the business of creators (not just the hype), becoming a member gets you full access to Monica’s insights plus our growing library of Q&As, trend reports, and strategy guides. Come check it out on Substack here!