👋🏽 Doors Opening

Hey! Welcome to Creator Economy NYC — the premier place for all things creator economy in the Big Apple.

I'm writing to you from Austin (trading New York pizza for Texas bbq this week).

During my flight here, I've been thinking about a creator type that I believe will dominate the next era of the creator economy: knowledge creators.

And in a few hours, I'll be moderating a SXSW panel about one subset of these creators — B2B creators — but the principles apply much more broadly.

I thought you might find these reflections useful for your own creator journey, especially if you're looking for a more sustainable path forward.

Let's dive in.

p.s. early bird tix are now avail for our upcoming conference (see below) 👀

 📢 But first, brought to you by Teachable

Join the new wave of creators

Speaking of knowledge creators (perfect timing!)... did you know they're twice as likely to make $10K+ per month compared to creators targeting general consumers? That's straight from Teachable's recent report.

These are exactly the creators we’ve been seeing thrive in our community — the ones who transform their expertise into valuable content for professionals and businesses.

Want to join their ranks? Join Teachable’s exclusive three-part webinar series where you'll learn how to:

• Position yourself as the go-to authority in your niche (without the cringe factor)

• Create products that actually solve problems (and people happily pay for)

• Build systems that make your content work harder for you (so you can climb Commerce Mountain faster — which we’ll discuss below)

Here's the thing — that professional expertise you've built (or are hiding)?

It's exactly what other professionals are hungry for. Time to turn it into your most reliable revenue stream.

✍️ Spotlight

The silent revolution in the creator economy

When most people talk about the creator economy, the conversation typically centers around lifestyle influencers and entertainment content.

But as we've seen from our community, some of the most successful, stable creator businesses have been built by "knowledge creators" — those who educate and empower audiences through smart, insightful content (as defined by Smooth Media).

These creators tap into their expertise to put out informative, educational material and build sustainable brands from it. They're not just making content — they're solving real problems for their audiences.

This isn't just a theory or trend I'm spotting from the sidelines.

It's been my lived reality for the past five years, starting with Healthcare Huddle (a newsletter my brother and I launched during Covid) and continuing through Creator Economy NYC.

Why knowledge creators are positioned to win in 2025

Remember our Commerce Mountain framework following our event with Shopify?

Knowledge creators have a unique advantage on this climb that positions them for long-term success:

1. They build trust, not just traffic - By consistently delivering valuable insights, knowledge creators develop deep trust with their audiences. And trust is the ultimate currency when it comes to monetization — it's what turns passive consumers into paying customers.

2. They're playing a longer, more sustainable game - While many creators chase virality, knowledge creators build authority. And authority compounds over time in ways that virality simply doesn't.

3. They have natural monetization paths - The journey from content to paid offerings feels organic when you're solving real problems. The leap from "here's helpful advice" to "here's my paid solution" feels like a natural progression, not a jarring shift.

What the industry is missing

Most creator economy conversations still revolve around influencer marketing and brand deals. But there's a quiet revolution happening with:

• LinkedIn creators building six-figure consulting businesses

• Newsletter writers turning expertise into thriving communities

• YouTubers launching products for their niche

These creators aren't just making content — they're building businesses with multiple revenue streams that aren't dependent on algorithm changes.

This knowledge-first approach has become the foundation of Creator Economy NYC. What started as a general creator meetup evolved into a knowledge hub where the creator economy connects, learns, and thrives (it's literally in our tagline!).

The bet I'm making

As we move through 2025, I believe we'll see more creators shift toward knowledge-first models, focusing on depth rather than just reach.

Why? Because as the creator economy matures, sustainability will trump virality.

Few models are as sustainable as building for an audience that values expertise enough to pay for it.

Don't get me wrong — there's nothing wrong with viral trends or lifestyle content. Many creators build amazing businesses in those spaces.

I'm just stating that there's something uniquely powerful about content that educates and empowers, that helps people solve real problems and level up in their personal or professional lives.

So whether you're just starting your creator journey or looking to evolve your existing brand, consider deepening your knowledge offering.

It might not generate overnight viral success, but it might just be your steadier path up Commerce Mountain.

B2B creators: A powerful subcategory of knowledge creators

In just a few hours, I'll be moderating a SXSW panel on "B2B Creators — The Creator Economy's Dark Horse" that explores one particularly powerful type of knowledge creator.

This inspired today’s newsletter because B2B creators are a perfect example of the knowledge creator approach.

They focus on serving professionals and businesses with specialized content that solves specific problems.

The beauty of this path is that it's accessible to anyone with professional expertise or industry knowledge.

If you have experience in marketing, finance, HR, technology, or any professional field, you already have the foundation to become a B2B creator – one of the most straightforward paths to becoming a successful knowledge creator.

My path has always involved creating value through expertise and connection – and I'm betting it might be the right path for many of you too.

If you're here at SXSW, come say hi at our panel! But if not, stay tuned — I'll be sharing key insights from the conversation in an upcoming newsletter.

Till next time!

 🤝 CONNECT CONFERENCE

EARLY BIRD TIX NOW AVAILABLE!

Early bird tickets for our upcoming conference are officially live!

As part of our community, you get first access to apply for EARLY BIRD TICKETS at our special pricing of $147 ($100 off the regular price).

Here’s what to expect on May 10th:

No PowerPoints or awkward networking — just a full day of building connections and shaping the future of the creator economy with a host of other creators, entrepreneurs, and innovators.

Space is limited – and these early bird spots will go quickly.

Simply fill out the application form below, and we'll let you know soon after whether you've unlocked our special discount tier!

P.S. If you’re interested in speaking (at the conference or any CENYC event), fill out this form. And if you’re a brand that wants to get involved, email me here.

 🎪 Event Happenings

CREATORPALOOZA at SXSW! 🎉 

We're bringing the NYC creator energy back to Austin for our second year in a row!

​This Sunday, join us, Passionfruit and Teachable, and more for a full day of networking, programming, and good vibes with creative people.

​Expect insightful conversations, epic connections, and a party to cap it all off. Whether you’re there to learn, meet fellow creators, or just recharge, we got you.

If you'll be at SXSW, don't miss this. If you know someone who will be there, spread the word!

📚 Resources

2 FREE resources to accelerate your creator growth

I recently shared with you two free resources to help supercharge your creator journey in 2025. If ya missed it, you can download both right here:

The Creator Goal Setting Guide: A simple but powerful document to help you declare who you want to BECOME in 2025.

The Creator Accountability System: Your visual companion for consistent creation in 2025 (I’m using this now to send one newsletter a week!)

✌🏽 Stand Clear of the Closing Doors Please

Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what you thought by replying back to this email.

See you next week,

Brett