How is collaboration literally the smartest move you’re NOT making yet?! Seriously, why are creators still trying to do it solo when teaming up can blow up your reach, build trust, and make your content 10x better?! And don’t even get us started on what brands think when they see creators combining audiences.

In this edition, we’re talking about Riley’s Rebuilds & The Great Race Crew who teamed up, shared skills, made epic content, and crushed the #RoadToSEMA in a 1966 Ford Fairlane. These ladies didn’t just race, they wrenched, filmed, posted, and proved that collabs = growth, new followers, and even doors to bigger partnerships.

So read on, get inspired, and figure out who you’re collaborating with next, because solo just isn’t the flex it used to be.

- Autofluencer

The Power of Collaboration: Female Content Creators Take on the Great Race and #RoadToSEMA in 1966 Ford Fairlane!

For SEMA 2025, an all-female creator team hit the road for #RoadToSEMA in a 1966 Ford Fairlane and they crushed it! These women didn’t just race, they wrenched, created content, and proved the unstoppable power of collaboration!

Highlights from their journey:

• From wrenching on cars to navigating, every skill was shared and celebrated

• Daily videos, photos, and behind-the-scenes moments captured authentic, unfiltered storytelling

• By combining unique voices, they reached new followers and strengthened existing audiences

• Their dedication and creativity opened doors to lasting partnerships and even inspired a new division

TECHNICAL AF 🧰

Find out why collaboration is one of the SMARTEST moves a creator can make, and how social media supports it:

1. It instantly expands your reach
When you collaborate, you’re accessing someone else’s audience while they access yours. Social platforms reward this with algorithmic boosts, meaning collab posts are more likely to get pushed to new viewers who already like similar content.

2. It builds trust faster than solo content
Seeing two creators work together creates built-in credibility. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube make this easy through collab tags and duets, so audiences see both creators equally and trust transfers naturally between them.

3. It creates better, more dynamic content
Different personalities, skills, and perspectives make content more entertaining and more authentic. Features like collaborative posts, stitched videos, shared Lives, and behind-the-scenes stories let creators show real teamwork instead of just polished final edits.

4. It makes brands more interested in you
Brands don’t just want reach, they want communities. Social media analytics now show combined audience data, engagement, and co-created content performance, making it easier for brands to see the true value of creator partnerships.

5. It turns growth into something sustainable
Solo creators often hit plateaus. Collaboration creates a repeatable growth loop: new audiences, fresh ideas, and ongoing relationships. Social platforms are built to keep that loop going through resharing, recommendations, and community discovery tools.

CREATOR/RACER/DRIVER COLLABS!

Here are just some collabs that we’ve loved seeing:

“Sung Kang Confirms Live-Action Drift Movie With Big-Name Car Guys and Audience Participation” ICYMI: Sung Kang’s upcoming movie “Drifter” will have drivers like Adam LZ, Chelsea Denofa , & more. Big win for the industry to have so many talents collaborating on a drifting movie! Read more on The Drive here. …Seeing these Top Nines from my different accounts has me feeling nothing but gratitude. Every like, comment, share, message, and conversation this year meant more than you know. Whether you’ve been here since day one or you just found the page thank you… Solomon Lunger uses collab tags to get more awareness on his multiple pages and properties. See an example from one of his posts here.

“Ice Drifting My Lamborghini Revuelto in the Italian Mountains ft: OG Schaefchen” Collabing with creators in other countries can reach new audiences. If you haven’t noticed, you can now collaborate on Youtube videos through a link share. Check out Daily Driven Exotics and OG Schaefchen’s video here. 2026, we’re coming for you! It’s time to go RACING! 😆🙌🫶 1968 @bajaforged @ford Bronco… Theresa Contreras (@designmuse) uses collab tags to get more awareness on her different pages. Here is an example of her collab tagging her company @bajaforged from her personal page.

CHECK OUT BEEHIIV 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

Subscribe to get your own beehiiv Newsletter!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

Happy Holidays from all of us at Autofluencer! 🎄✨

In this edition, we’re featuring our newest Creators & Coffee with Quentin Heidt (@99slowbruhh) for an honest conversation about the dark side of content creation and why burnout feels especially heavy this time of year. The constant pressure to post, perform, and stay “on” can overshadow being present with friends and family.

Keep scrolling to learn ways to set healthier boundaries with social media, from limiting app usage to creating tech-free routines.

Whether you’re a full-time creator or just feeling overwhelmed by your screen, this edition is a reminder that protecting your mental health isn’t optional, it’s necessary!

- Autofluencer

SETTING HEALTHY SOCIAL MEDIA BOUNDARIES WITH QUENTIN HEIDT 🔔

Quentin Heidt, @99slowbruhh, joins Erica Sietsma to talk about the dark side of being a social media content creator, especially how overwhelming, all-consuming, and emotionally heavy it can get during the holidays.

Social media tips you’ll learn from this episode:

1. Limit your notifications

2. Reduce how often you pick up your phone

3. Take intentional breaks from posting

4. Separate social media from real-life moments

5. Use focus modes or app blockers

6. Create physical boundaries with devices

7. Batch and schedule content

8. Hire editors, managers, etc.

9. Be intentional with your time online

CREATORS TO FOLLOW FOR FINDING BALANCE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA 🔔

So many creators are speaking honestly about the impact social media has on their mental health, here are just a few worth checking out:

The start of a new chapter. Learn more about Rob Dyrdek and his new platform, Existence. “Turn Time Into Transformation Existence is a Time Intelligence platform that allows you to fully account for all dimensions of your time and turn that data into actionable insights, helping you identify trends and optimize overall quality of life.” And ICYMI: Check out this podcast Rob did with Roman Atwood and Cleetus McFarland. Rob Dyrdek - How To Become A Billionaire, His Wild Proposal, Ridiculousness & Cleetus McFarland.

I don't know why, but I felt compelled to share my thoughts... 🫶🏻 I hope you have a fantastic end to your week! Hear @vingiggs inspiring and heartfelt take on social media here. The DARK SIDE of being a car content creator Hear from Chrys Gaines on his perspective on social media and being a car content creator here.

TECHNICAL AF 🧰

We’re sharing a few apps and tips that help curb social media scrolling. And a reminder that leaving your phone out of the bedroom at night can seriously improve your sleep. If you want to reset without another screen, we’ve got meditation ideas too, like quick guided sessions or even asking Alexa to play a short meditation for you.

• https://freedom.to/ - “Use Freedom to block distractions so you can get your work done.”

• https://www.opal.so/ - “Opal offers several features that are not available in native screen time controls on iPhone or Android, including Focus Sessions, Deep Focus, Recurring Sessions, Focus Score, and rewards. The app also offers resources on screen time, productivity, and digital wellbeing.”

• https://bloom.inc/ - “Bloom is a stainless steel keycard that locks your distracting apps and websites.”

• https://www.flipdapps.com/ - “Three Apps, One Vision
  For Enhanced Productivity, Focus and Growth.”

• https://getbrick.app/ - “Brick helps you focus and live intentionally. One tap locks your phone so you can reclaim time for what matters most.”

• https://www.calm.com/ - “Calm is the #1 mental health app designed to help you manage stress, sleep better, and live a happier, healthier life.”

• https://monday.com/ - “Plan and execute work across projects, sales, marketing, IT, and engineering with a unified, AI-first product suite.”

• https://clickup.com/ - “100+ features to maximize human and AI productivity.”

• Do Not Disturb or Silence Notifications on your phone. Some apps have the option inside settings, like Instagram - Go under Settings, Notifications, and click Pause all, Sleep mode, or customize your notifications.

CHECK OUT BEEHIIV 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

Subscribe to get your own beehiiv Newsletter!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

In this edition we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood parts of building a social media presence in the automotive world: authenticity. In a landscape where some creators share everything, some share selectively, and others operate behind carefully constructed personas, the question isn’t whether to be authentic, it’s how to do it sustainably.

Being unapologetically yourself online can build incredible trust and community, but full transparency has its risks: loss of privacy, reputation slip-ups, and burnout from being perpetually “on.” On the other end of the spectrum, a heavily curated persona may feel safe, but it often creates distance, pressure, and long-term disengagement.

The real power lies in the middle ground. Automotive creators who thrive long-term are the ones who show up genuinely, share their values, perspectives, and experiences, while still maintaining clear boundaries around what stays personal. That might mean separating accounts, being intentional about the details you reveal, or simply embracing the imperfections that come with real, human content.

Authenticity with boundaries is a career-sustaining strategy that builds trust, an audience, protects your well-being, and attracts the right brands. Let’s get into it!

- Autofluencer

CURATING AN ONLINE PRESENCE ✨

Time to talk about curating your online presence. And thank you to everyone who voted in our poll, “How much are you yourself on social media?” Check out the results:

It’s beneficial for content creators to be authentically themselves, but with boundaries rather than being completely transparent, as it fosters genuine connections, builds credibility, and supports long-term well-being.

Full transparency can risk a loss of privacy and professional reputation, while a curated or inauthentic persona can lead to burnout and disengagement.

The key is finding a balance by being genuine in sharing values and experiences while setting professional boundaries, such as separating personal and professional accounts and being mindful of what information is shared.

Benefits of authenticity:

1. Builds trust and credibility: When a creator is genuine, their audience is more likely to trust their recommendations and connect with them on a deeper level.

2. Fosters a genuine community: Authentic content helps build a more loyal and engaged following that appreciates the creator for who they are.

3. Improves well-being: Research suggests that authentic self-expression online can lead to greater happiness and well-being for the creator.

4. Attracts aligned brands: Brands that value authenticity will seek to collaborate with influencers who are true to their values.

Risks of full transparency:

1. Loss of privacy: Sharing too much personal detail can lead to a loss of privacy and potentially expose you to unwanted attention or harassment.

2. Damage to reputation: A single misstep can be amplified and damage professional credibility, especially if it conflicts with a brand's values.

3. Burnout: The constant pressure to be "on" and share everything can be emotionally and mentally exhausting, leading to burnout.

Strategies for maintaining authenticity with boundaries:

1. Separate professional and personal accounts: This helps manage expectations and protects your personal life from your professional brand.

2. Be mindful of what you share: Consider the long-term implications of sharing certain personal information and avoid posting things like your exact location.

3. Engage with your audience professionally: Be honest and transparent in your content and interactions, but maintain a professional tone and demeanor.

4. Focus on your niche: Stay true to your content area and brand, and collaborate with brands that align with your values to maintain consistency.

5. Avoid over-editing: Authentic content often includes imperfections. Over-editing can make you appear less genuine

NEW CREATORS & COFFEE 🔔

Sonya Klaus, aka Sonya Slidez, is a racer, content creator, actor, and former nurse. She curates her online presence in an authentic and strategic way, designed to show brands and partners exactly what she’s capable of.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How she curates an online presence as her portfolio

• What really goes into landing partnerships and getting paid

• Why authenticity and being professional has led to more opportunities

• Balancing brand expansion and diversification beyond automotive

Past episodes where we touch on authenticity and how to channel focus:

6:02 — “It really hurts you in the algorithm when your subscriber audience isn't watching your content. And if 90% of your subscribers came for a different style of content, they're not going to watch your car content. Dylan Pfohl’s story is a perfect example of how mixing content niches, like food, adventure, and cars, can cripple your channel’s performance and confuse both the audience and the algorithm. He ended up making a new channel specifically for cars - The Rad Factory.

2:06 — “Main key advice is be yourself and consistency…” This episode centers on authenticity as the most valuable asset a creator can bring to brand partnerships. From “being yourself” to giving creators the freedom to do things their own way, Jacob Duhe drives home that staying true to who you are is what makes content and collaborations genuinely work.

TECHNICAL AF 🧰

Let’s get technical with NEW social media updates!

Instagram is cutting hashtag limit from 30 to 3. This is big for anyone doing sponsor bricks (hashtagging all your partners on posts)! It looks like you can still do multiple @ mentions to give your sponsors and partners credit, but hashtags are limited.

Instagram stories new features! A great way to stop those fast swipe viewers in their tracks! Generate backgrounds and use cutouts to make things pop. Something we noticed at SEMA: You can still mention people in Instagram Stories, but the option has moved for some users, and others may be running into a glitch. Instead of tapping the three dots at the bottom bar, you may now need to tap the “@” icon at the bottom of the story to tag someone after it’s posted.

CHECK OUT BEEHIIV 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

Subscribe to get your own beehiiv Newsletter!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

In less than 2 WEEKS we’ll be at SEMA! If you’ll be there, make sure to swing by and see us at the SBN Booth in Central Hall #21543. 👋 Floor plan here.

After that, it’s just 50 days until PRI, and MPMC Media Trade soon after! This edition dives into a few of the biggest trade shows in the automotive and motorsports industry and the best practices for maximizing your experience and building successful, long term partnerships.

- Autofluencer

WHAT IS SEMA, PRI & MPMC MEDIA TRADE? 💡✨

SEMA: According to the SEMA official site: “The SEMA Show is the premier trade show geared to help small businesses thrive and succeed. The trade-only event enables automotive specialty equipment manufacturers to display alongside automotive manufacturers to debut new, innovative products, and connect with industry buyers from all over the world.”

The SEMA Scoop: SEMA is THE industry trade show - it’s MASSIVE and an amazing opportunity to capture SO. MUCH. CONTENT! There are builds galore and so many interesting people and lots of other creators to collab and connect with. However, it is not necessarily the place to blindly approach brands as they are there to sell and network with buyers. So be thoughtful about your process and goals for attending. It’s not the place to go and “get brand deals,” but a great time to meet with existing partners, do some content for them, and put faces with names for brands you’ve been engaging with, but yet to partner. And of course, create content at their booths - someone is much more likely to talk with you, if you say you want to interview someone for socials about the new product launches!

PRI: According to the PRI official site: “The annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show features over 1,000 companies exhibiting in more than 3,400 booths and showcasing the latest products, services, machinery, simulation and testing technologies, and trailers for the racing industry at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. Launched in 1988, the Show encompasses all forms of racing and attracts attendees from all 50 states and across the globe, including professional race teams, retail shops, warehouse distributors, engine builders, fabricators, dealers, installers, jobbers and media.”

The PRI Pro-Tips: PRI is similar to SEMA in that it’s a huge show, though nowhere near as big as SEMA , and a lot less cars/content opportunities, but still some fun events. It’s obviously geared towards racing products, and you’ll see a lot of racers being asked to be in booths to do signings and meet & greets (offer this up to your partners if you’re a racer). Also similar to SEMA - the goal of the show is for the manufacturers to meet with their buyers, not to “build sponsorship programs.” However, many of the brands will have information about their sponsor programs available via QR code (hint: most will have already deployed budget for 2026 and their programs may be closed). PRI is a great time to meet with your existing sponsors and/or sponsors you’ve connected with recently, but have yet to finalize the partnership. And of course, create content at their booths - someone is much more likely to talk with you if you say you want to interview someone for socials about the new product launches!

MPMC Media Trade Conference: From the MPMC Media Trade site: “The SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Media Trade Conference will return to Anaheim, California, January 27-29, 2026. Set to bring together top motorsports and performance parts manufacturers with both stellar legendary and new media for one-on-one 30-minute meetings, the event will be filled with priceless networking and collaboration opportunities that you don’t want to miss. “

The Media Trade Tea: Media Trade is wholly unique, and for the right creator, it can be a game changer. We’ll probably do a Media Trade focused edition of Trendy AF as there are a lot of things to do/not do to. It’s basically like speed dating for media and brands. The brands are trying to get the word out about their new products and looking for ways media can help them in this effort and ideally “for free” (other than product). Historically, it was the magazine editors and obviously with the slow death of traditional mags, that is changing and we’re seeing more and more creators in attendance. Once the SEMA PR team opens the applications for Media, we’ll post about it (so follow us on socials or follow SEMA socials) and in order to attend - you will have to apply. If accepted - you will have the opportunity to indicate which brands you want to meet with, and get to do one on one meetings. Your role is to listen, ideate and then FOLLOW UP after the show. Don’t expect the brands to follow up. You will want to follow up to show that you’re committed, and re-share your ideas for how you can help them get the word out.

🚨HOW DOES AUTOFLUENCER HELP MAKE TRADE SHOWS EASIER FOR CREATORS, RACERS & DRIVERS?

✅ FREE Creator Reporting + Social Stats All In One Place
✅ Profile QR Codes for Current and Potential Partners to Scan
✅ Connect With Brand Partners (*Paid Sign Up Required for Brands Through Tiered Packages- If They Sign Up, You Get Paid: See Our Ambassador Program at the Bottom)
✅ Message Brand Partners, Apply to Campaigns, Build Out Future Partnership Contracts, + Measure Performance (Creators + Brands See the Same Data)

BIG SHOUTOUT TO ALL THE #RoadToSEMA 2025 BUILDS! 🚗🔥

Here are just some of the builds we’ve seen that are on their way to SEMA. We’re pumped to see them in person!

FAIRLANE FRIDAY!! To celebrate the 1966 Ford Fairlane’s run in the @greatracerally this June (and its upcoming debut at @semashow in November!) I’ll be posting Fairlane updates every Friday leading up to SEMA! We’ve got a ton of killer upgrades to share. Just a small refresh 😂… For those of you interested in more details on the front end, and how it was built, this one’s for you.  @semashow deadlines feeling really tight. Pull up to the silver lot to see Scumbug V2 in person, slap high fives with @blakewilkey357, and snag a signed poster on 11/6 at 4pm.

The “SEMA CRUNCH” is real. You need to go watch our latest Y T video of us trying to get our Pro Street C10 wrapped up. #stomponthatloudpedal #buildforthefuture SEMA 2025 is right around the corner👀👀 We've got a project that @roblegacyev has spent years waiting to see finished, being unveiled at @semashow in the Future Tech zone in Central Hall 🙌⚡️ swipe 👉 to see how far this 1965 Ford Falcon has changed since these boxes first showed up! This SEMA Young Guns Build has been reimagined from the ground up with all new front and rear suspension thanks to @heidtssuspensions along with @bilsteinus @hyperco_hypercoils

SEMA 2024 THROWBACK 🔔

At SEMA 2024, we stopped by the Tinker DIY and BOOSTane booths to chat with Kellen Pirri, Lindsay Wheelock, Kyle Welch, and Dustin Miles about why having content creators and drivers at your brand’s booth is a must!

Throwing it back to @semashow! 🙌 We had an awesome chat at the @tinkerdiyapp booth with @kellenpirri and @lindsay_wheelock about the importance of having creators in your booth! 🔥

At @semashow, we asked @boostaneofficial’s @kyle.t.welch and @formulad PROSPEC driver @milesofstyleracing why content creators/drivers should be at your booth! 🚗 💨

TECHNICAL AF 🧰

Follow these tips for approaching brands at SEMA and PRI to maximize your trade show experience!

And Remember: Don’t expect sponsorships. Many brands have already chosen their 2026 partners by trade show season, so this is the time to get your name out there, network, build relationships, and work on securing future partnerships.

PREPARE BEFORE YOU GO 🔥

Make sure to do your own industry research. Check out these videos all about networking, sponsorships, and creating content from recent PRI shows, including one hosted by our Founder, Erica Sietsma: Content Creators and the Future of Content Creation.

Erica Sietsma, founder of Autofluencer hosts this panel

HAVE YOU SENT YOUR AUTOFLUENCER REPORTING TO YOUR BRAND PARTNERS? DID THEY LOVE IT?! 💚

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN BEING AN AF AMBASSADOR:

Send an email intro with your brand partner and us (erica@autofluencer.com). If they sign up, you get paid their 3rd month’s payment! Packages start at $249/mo!

CHECK OUT BEEHIIV 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

Subscribe to get your own beehiiv Newsletter!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

In 2025, your social media presence plays a major role in proving your value to sponsors. As a sponsorship management platform, we want to give you the tips to make the best content possible on every platform! That’s why this edition is all about TikTok.

- Autofluencer

ICYMI 🚗 TIKTOK FOR CREATORS: AUTO EXPERIENCE

Back in June 2025, there was a creator event in Los Angeles where TikTok partnered with MotorTrend to host TikTok for Creators Automotive Experience.

More than 30 creators from across the country came together to network and gain first-hand insights from TikTok on how to produce more engaging automotive content.

Here are just some creator highlights from the event!

Scroll down to catch our chat with @that1320chick who joined the event and shared insider tips straight from her TikTok advisor.

Rev your engines for the ride of your life. 🔥 The MototTrend Headquarters hosted… What’s the best first mod?…

Thank you @tiktok creators for hosting the first Auto Experience! Let’s do it again!… Never thought posting content would lead to opportunities like this. It’s awesome to see TikTok investing into creators and fostering a tight-knit automotive community 🙌…

Which creators did you spot? 👀 👩‍🔧… so is worth it or overpriced? 🤔…

NEW CREATORS & COFFEE 🔔

JoAnna Iacobelli Reid, drag racer and content creator, chats with Erica Sietstma about building a personal brand on TikTok, navigating creator burnout, and insider growth strategies for automotive content creators.

Highlights from this episode:

• TikTok provides the fastest path to organic growth for automotive creators

• Videos around 1 minute help qualify for monetization

• Repurpose content from TikTok to Instagram, not the reverse

• Engaging in the comments can spark content ideas and boost reach

TECHNICAL AF 🧰

Let’s get technical on TikTok and break it down with these tips from JoAnna.

“I had the awesome opportunity to be invited by TikTok to learn directly from the source about best practices, how to grow as a creator, and ways to make better content. And because I don’t gatekeep. here’s what I learned:

1. TikTok is all in on Automotive.
They recognize the value and massive viewership car content brings to the platform every month. If you’ve ever thought about becoming a car creator—this is your moment.

2. Your content needs to offer real value.
Aesthetic edits and smooth transitions are great, but they won’t build a loyal audience on their own. Teach, entertain, inspire—give people a reason to come back.

3. Quality over everything.
From filming to editing to storytelling, invest in your content. If it looks good and sounds good, people stick around.

4. Track content is on their radar.
I brought up the frustration around videos being taken down just because they were filmed at the track. Good news! they’re actively working on it.

5. Have fun with it!
It’s not cringe to show your personality. Stop comparing your journey to others and enjoy the ride.”

You can find her Facebook post here (and yes, we acknowledge the irony this post wasn’t done on TikTok - partially because it was meant to get people off Facebook and onto TikTok!)

ALSO…New TikTok Community Guidelines were released August 14, 2025 and will go into effect on September 13, 2025. See the updates here

HAVE YOU SENT YOUR AUTOFLUENCER REPORTING TO YOUR BRAND PARTNERS? DID THEY LOVE IT?! 🔥

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN BEING AN AF AMBASSADOR:

Send an email intro with your brand partner and us (erica@autofluencer.com). If they sign up, you get paid their 3rd month’s payment! Packages start at $249/mo!

CHECK OUT BEEHIIV 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

Subscribe to get your own beehiiv Newsletter!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

After the long weekend Labor Day weekend, we're feeling extra grateful for all the creative creators out there!

So for this short & sweet edition, we’ve been inspired by creators who are authentic and creative with their content, not just hopping from trend to trend, but building something original.

One reel we loved came from @fyres.garage, where she summed it up perfectly:

“People are trying to trend hop and then it creates all these accounts that are just like, copy/paste, which isn’t a bad thing… but I got into cars and motorcycles because I thought it was cool that you could give 5 different people the exact same car and then they would all come up with like different builds.”

And make sure to scroll down to weigh in on our latest poll. We’d love your take on a new page that’s been posting drag racing AI content. Is it creative or a catastrophe?!

- Autofluencer

CREATOR HIGHLIGHTS 🏆

What are you doing to create trends while staying authentic? Are you experimenting with unique and creative ways to promote a product, brand or cause? Here are a few creators we’ve seen doing just that!

#ad Daily drivers, race builds, high mileage legends — @pennzoil protects them all. Stock up on Pennzoil at your local @walmart today! Lalafox92 keeping her Pennzoil partnership creative with high quality storytelling, relatability, and cars in action!

Always in a rush, especially to put the new @heatwavevisual arctic photochromic shades to work! SEE YA!!! 🕶️🧊 Matt Field promoting his Heatwave shades in a fun and creative way.

Let’s Keep Race Tracks Alive… My proposal for the @artlist.io 100k Fund is to document and help lesser known race tracks across all 50 States… Hyperactivity using his platform to bring awareness to keeping tracks alive.

THROWBACK: ZEE DRIVES ON CREATORS & COFFEE ✨

Zandara Kennedy, stunt driver, stunt coordinator, and the first Canadian woman in Formula Drift shares her journey from film to motorsports and how creators can stay authentic while building partnerships.

Highlights from this episode:

• Why storytelling is better than product placement in sponsorships

• Tips for creators: ask brands what message they’re trying to convey, define you’re story, and stay true to your audience

• Why creative freedom (with clear boundaries) leads to the best brand collaborations

CREATIVE OR CATASTROPHE? 🤯

Have you heard of SFMP (Skeeter Flats Motorsports Park)? Don’t worry if you haven’t. It’s an AI GENERATED drag strip and has been posting on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Aaron Robinson among many others have been loving it!

But it begs the question, is this creative or the opposite… a catastrophe?

HAVE YOU SENT YOUR AUTOFLUENCER REPORTING TO YOUR BRAND PARTNERS? DID THEY LOVE IT?! 🔥

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN BEING AN AF AMBASSADOR:

Send an email intro with your brand partner and us (erica@autofluencer.com). If they sign up, you get paid their 3rd month’s payment! Packages start at $249/mo!

CHECK OUT BEEHIIV 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

Subscribe to get your own beehiiv Newsletter!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

How are we already in the start of August?! Where did summer go?! Why are kids already going back to school?! More importantly - ARE YOU READY FOR SPONSORSHIP RENEWALS?! Have you put your best foot forward? Have you shown your brand partner how freaking awesome you are and all of the value you’ve driven for them by getting EYEBALLS and engagement around content about them?! Ensuring you’re not only a lock for the 2026 season - but maybe you’re a good candidate for a bigger partnership?!

If your response to that question is not, “HELL YEAH, I’M READY” - then this edition of Trendy AF is for you my friend!

Literally every brand call I’m having right now is about renewing partners, structuring 2026 campaigns and opening up the application process for new partners. We’re actually redesigning that process so it’s easier for both sides! And as part of this, our current brand partners are starting to go through reporting and asking us questions about the data they’re seeing. If your sponsor partners aren’t yet using AF (and like 99% of the industry isn’t since we’re still a little bebe startup) - then this is your opportunity to put some dope reporting in front of them showing them your Earned Media Value YTD and front-ending the conversation. OR, you pull the numbers and are like “oh dang, I better step it up before I send anything over…” because you still have a little bit of time before it gets serious!

So read on and if you need any help, you know how to find us! (Chat…it’s the chat on our site…OR you can also DM us on socials - we do a lot of social support as well!)

Much love,
Erica Sietsma
Autofluencer CEO & Founder

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY 🔥

Advanced Fuel Dynamics, leaders in flex-fuel and ethanol sensing tech, is looking for authentic creators who live and breathe high-performance builds!

AFD’s plug-and-play solutions like the ProFlex Commander, E‑SENSE Fuel Content Sensor, and DXI unlock real horsepower gains, E85 flexibility, and smart diagnostics. No tuning required.

They're looking for creators with hands-on build experience and real influence in the performance car community. Ideal partners are building content around:

• Late-model Mopars (Hellcat, TRX, Trackhawk)

• GM V8 trucks/SUVs running 5.3L, 6.2L, or 6.6L engines

• 2020+ Shelby GT500s

• Or other high-powered E85 builds

Content should be a mix of install walkthroughs, technical breakdowns, and track-tested performance.

In exchange, AFD offers flexible partnerships, from one-off installs to long-term ambassadorships, including free products, affiliate earnings, and paid projects depending on your fit and reach.

If this sounds like you or someone in your network:

ICYMI: MEGAN MEYER ON THE IMPORTANCE OF REPORTING FOR BRAND PARTNERSHIPS & SPONSORSHIPS ✨

Mult-time NHRA champ, Megan Meyer, joins Erica Sietsma to chat about Earned Media Value. Megan shares how she’s turned social media reporting into long-term sponsorship success. From manually tracking metrics in spreadsheets to now automating insights with Autofluencer, Megan explains how Earned Media Value (EMV) helps prove her value to sponsors.

Hear from Erica on why:

• Consistent reporting keeps sponsors coming back

• How Autofluencer saves hours with automated performance insights

• What Earned Media Value (EMV) is and how it turns engagement into dollars

• How racers and creators can use free tools to prove their worth and build sponsorships

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS 🏆

Here are some awesome social posts about racing, creating content, sponsorships, and Autofluencer’s reporting that have caught our eye lately!

Love using @autofluencerog to track media performance for our sponsors… Michaela Connor Hitting the track is only half the job. Working with our partner @autofluencerog If you are looking for a way to streamline all your channels into one easy to understand platform to help show ROI when it comes to social media check them out at Autofluencer.com… Ashcraft Motorsports Racing

Want some tips to score your next sponsorship straight by someone who looks at your applications? 🎯… NGK Spark Plugs When it comes to safety, I’m trusting Simpson Racing and RaceQuip to keep me covered and protected from head to harness…. Denise Markham

Orlando was wild. Had some solid runs, made some changes, and kept pushing all weekend. Grateful for the team, sponsors, and everyone who came out — onto the next… James Coker Huge thanks to the @nhra for welcoming creators to experience the thrill up close. My first NHRA race did not disappoint—top fuel and nitro funny cars shook me to my core -literally!… Lala Fox 92

WHY YOU SHOULD SEND REPORTING TO YOUR SPONSORS (EVEN TO THOSE WHO AREN’T PAYING YOU) 🚨

1. Shows Tangible Value

• Helps brands understand the ROI beyond vague impressions (“we posted about you” becomes “we generated $50K+ in Earned Media Value this quarter”)

2. Keeps You Top of Mind

• Brands may partner with many creators and can’t track every tag or post. Consistent updates guarantee they see your work, instead of hoping they spot it on social media

3. Strengthens Renewal Conversations

• Sending reports regularly builds a track record of value, making it way easier to lock in renewals. Even quick monthly or quarterly check-ins can go a long way in keeping the partnership strong

4. Saves the Brand Time & Effort

• Most brands don’t want to dig up performance data themselves. Sending ready-made insights makes you a more appealing, “easy to work with” partner

5. Gives You Creative Insights

• Reviewing your own performance data shows what content resonates (e.g., certain video styles) and informs future strategy so you can replicate high-performing posts

6. Educates Brands on Your True Worth

• Many brands underestimate organic creator value compared to their own posts, which often get less engagement. Earned Media Value puts a clear dollar figure on your work, factoring in reach, engagement, and ad savings

7. Opens Doors for Higher-Paid Deals

• Past reports give you solid proof of your value, so when it’s time to pitch new sponsors, you can back your rates with real results, not just “exposure.”

And if you DO send Autofluencer Reporting to your sponsors and they’re like “WHOA - THIS IS SO AWESOME - WE WANNA DO THIS,” then you can get PAID! 💰

Just do an email intro with your brand partner and us (erica@autofluencer.com) and if they sign up - you get paid their 3rd month’s payment! (Packages start at $249/mo!)

CHECK OUT BEEHIIV 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

Subscribe to get your own beehiiv Newsletter!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

Rich, Alejandra and Eric over at Advanced Clutch were the first to say “heck yes, we want to use Autofluencer” when we launched our pilot in March of 2024. Since then, I’ve gotten to know this team who are passionate and committed to the industry and provide clutches to over half of the Formula Drift drivers through their sponsorship program.

Go on a deep dive with me and Rich as he breaks down what they look for in drivers/partners (you don’t have to be a drift racer) and how partnerships are evolving in the enthusiast economy!

And then check out some highlights from their current partners who are sharing their love for ACT!

Erica Sietsma
Autofluencer CEO & Founder

CREATORS & COFFEE 🔔

Rich Barsamian, VP of Sales and Marketing for Advanced Clutch Technology, breaks down the company’s philosophy behind its sponsorship program that supports over 50 drivers across Formula Drift, drag racing, and muscle car scenes and more.

In the full episode, you’ll learn:

• What ACT looks for in a sponsor partner

• Why the best product feedback still comes from racers and drivers

• Why relatable, authentic, story-driven content beats follower count and one-off viral posts

• How ACT avoids sponsor overload

• How they use Autofluencer to track content impact and make smart decisions

Rich’s rule: Don’t measure what you’re not going to use!

If you want to understand how one of the most respected companies in motorsports runs their program, this episode is for you!

TEAM ADVANCED CLUTCH 🏆

Here are just some of Team ACT’s sponsored drivers and what we’ve seen them doing on social! Lots of race recaps, appreciation posts and product install reels.

…Huge thank you to my partners, my team, and everyone who continues to support me. 🙏 Tommy Lemaire ACT clutches are so good, we use them on both our pro car....and our practice car! Check out @advancedclutch and hit us up with any questions on how they work on both levels of cars… Josh Stuart and Fam

ACT LITERALLY COMING IN CLUTCH! Super excited to announce my partnership with ACT!… Sammit (Sam Lucas) @advancedclutch since day one in all the race cars. Best clutch in the business. If you know then you know. The Demo Supra had 2 years on the same clutch and it was time for a fresh unit… Dan Burkett

Orlando was wild. Had some solid runs, made some changes, and kept pushing all weekend. Grateful for the team, sponsors, and everyone who came out — onto the next… Nick Noback Snaps from a solid day of practice 🚗💨 Ready to turn it up during tomorrow’s competition 🤘🏼… Matt Field

ADVANCED CLUTCH TECHNOLOGY SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM  🤝

Advanced Clutch Technology’s sponsorship program accepts proposals throughout the year, but decisions are made between September 1 - October 31!

CHECK OUT BEEHIIV 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

Subscribe to get your own Beehiiv Newsletter!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

“What’s the value of a social post?” or “How can we tell the value of the partnership if we can’t link it to sales?” Are the two most common questions we get from brands and creators. So, this edition of Trendy AF is all about how you can answer that question with DATA and a dollar value to justify your value- not just anecdotes.

As we discuss in our conversation with Megan Meyer, we didn’t make up the concept of Earned Media Value, though we did make the formula customizable so it makes sense for our brand partners, creators, and industry and we don’t dictate what values should be used for CPM/CPE (watch the video or scroll down - it will make more sense) but we give guidelines and allow for those to be customized based on use case. And we eventually plan to enable the customization of them by campaign, by channel, and by post type.

And yes, while “did they sell anything” can be a measure, the reality is most sponsorship and influencer programs with industry brands are not designed to be “conversion campaigns,” e.g. would lead to someone clicking on a link and taking a sale. Here’s the reality - if the brand is not paying cash money or giving a product of significant value - the type of content being created will NOT be geared towards sales. For something to be a true sales-oriented campaign, then it needs MULTIPLE posts of multiple styles, $$$$ (either upfront or affiliate that is worth your while), and the brand to get behind the content with money to promote the post!

Hope this edition is helpful and please - feel free to reach out with any questions! As creators, you can now run these reports within our platform (yayay) and setup your brands with reports and even set them up to get them emailed to you and then you can forward them to your brand partners. You could in theory set them up to go automatically to your partners, but no technology is perfect - so we always recommend peeping the data first!

Erica Sietsma
Autofluencer CEO & Founder

EARNED MEDIA VALUE: FEATURING MEGAN MEYER ✨

Mult-time NHRA champ, Megan Meyer, joins Erica Sietsma to chat about Earned Media Value. Megan shares how she’s turned social media reporting into long-term sponsorship success. From manually tracking metrics in spreadsheets to now automating insights with Autofluencer, Megan explains how Earned Media Value (EMV) helps prove her value to sponsors.

Hear from Erica on why:

• Consistent reporting keeps sponsors coming back

• How Autofluencer saves hours with automated performance insights

• What Earned Media Value (EMV) is and how it turns engagement into dollars

• How racers and creators can use free tools to prove their worth and build sponsorships

LET’S DIVE IN: WHAT IS EARNED MEDIA VALUE? AND WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? 📊

EMV calculated for this post is $61

Earned Media Value is a dollar-based estimate of what a brand would have had to pay through traditional advertising, like billboards, promoting an ad, or paid media, to get the same reach and engagement the creators’ posts delivered. In simple terms, it’s a way to put a price tag on influence.

It accounts for:

• Views/Impressions: How many people saw the content.

• Engagements: How many people liked, commented, or shared the content.

• Industry-standard costs: Known as CPM (Cost per 1,000 Impressions) and CPE (Cost per Engagement).

Autofluencer’s formula:

EMV = (Views ÷ 1,000 × CPM) + (Engagements × CPE)

Why Should You Care?

1. It Translates Social Media into Business Value

In motorsports and the automotive aftermarket, brand awareness often comes through title sponsorships, logos on cars, and social media shoutouts. But awareness is hard to quantify, EMV changes that.

2. It Captures What Brands Might Miss

Most brands don’t have time to comb through every driver’s Instagram posts or hashtags. EMV reporting ensures brands see the value, even if they weren’t actively watching.

3. It Justifies Sponsorship Dollars

Whether a creator is paid in product or dollars, EMV gives them the ability to prove their worth and negotiate accordingly.

That becomes a clear ROI conversation: if a brand paid $10K for a campaign that generated $30K in EMV, that’s a 3:1 return, standard in marketing performance metrics.

4. It Highlights What Works

EMV tracking not only shows how much value was created, but also which types of content did the heavy lifting. That helps both the creator and the brand refine future strategies.

5. It Helps Secure Future Partnerships

EMV is not just for proving what you did, it's a factor for what comes next.

This elevates racers and creators from “cool content” to reliable marketing partners, which is a critical shift in the competitive sponsorship landscape.

Bottom Line

Earned Media Value empowers racers, teams, and creators to show what they’re worth and speak the language of brands - dollars and impact. It shows that these are not “just social posts,” but measurable assets.

THE VALUE OF AUTOFLUENCER’S REPORTING

Learn more about Creator Reporting:

1. Time-Saving Automation

Autofluencer turns what used to be hours of manual data entry and spreadsheet tracking into instant, automated reports. It connects directly to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to gather and analyze content performance in seconds. This frees up creators to do more of what they love - creating content and engaging with their audience.

2. Tangible Value with Earned Media Metrics

Autofluencer uses industry-standard formulas (CPM + CPE) to assign a real dollar value, known as Earned Media Value (EMV) to content performance. This gives both creators and brands a concrete, standardized way to measure the return on investment (ROI) of social posts.

3. Stronger Sponsor Relationships

By proactively sending sponsors customized reports that show post performance and EMV, creators stay top-of-mind and demonstrate clear value, even when sponsors aren’t monitoring social. This helps with sponsorship retention, renewals, and negotiations.

4. Insights That Drive Better Content

Autofluencer highlights top-performing posts and engagement trends, helping creators quickly see what works. This leads to data-driven content strategies and replicable success.

5. Empowerment and Monetization

For creators early in their career, or those only being offered product or affiliate deals, Autofluencer provides a way to prove content value and negotiate payment. It builds confidence and supports the transition from hobbyist to professional.

6. Built for Real-World Creators and Teams

Unlike enterprise tools that are too expensive or complex, Autofluencer was built specifically for racers, drivers and niche creators. It’s currently free to use and includes personalized support from our team and automated email reports, making it an accessible, high-impact tool.

GET YOUR OWN BEEHIIV NEWSLETTER 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

Hey-o from the hot AF mean streets of Scottsdale, AZ! Not for much longer though, in ONE week our family is headed back east to NYC where we’ll trade in a “it’s a dry heat” for “damn, why am I sweating so much” or come December, “OMG, are my fingers turning blue?! WTF - why is it so freaking cold?!” 😂😂 But we’re pumped as I’m ready to be on the East Coast time zone. Ashley and I will be on the same time - yay! And she’s super disciplined about her gym time, so I’m hoping that rubs off on me! And Gustavo and the engineering team in Brazil will only be 1 hour ahead vs. 4 so I won’t be sending them chats at 10PM their time! Ha! (And if you check out Gustavo’s Insta profile…that sport he is playing in the first picture is called “Footy-ball” - it’s legit volleyball but with your feet - whaaa?!?! How crazy is that?! And his team is like really good! Brazilians are so cool. I made him make his profile public just so you could see that pic - hahaha)

And as you can imagine, with BIG change there is a lot of risk vs. reward. I’ve had to balance packing up our lives and having to face all the bad decisions of purchases gone by (like did I really need to buy my son hundreds of Bakugans during Covid?!), all while trying to balance the demands of a software startup and the failing health of our original co-founder, Marla Moore and trying to help support her daughter Madison who is fighting against all odds to advocate for life-saving care for her mother. Come to find out - if doctors write you off as a lost cause they don’t really want to try and save you. But that’s a whole ‘nother newsletter called, “Our healthcare system is 'f’d” 😒

Anywhos, this has all got me thinking about de-risking my life while still living it to the fullest. It’s a delicate balance and it’s something I’ve been talking a lot about with our Creator Roundtable, especially after reading this article by Matt Gielen (he started a kids YT channel or something and then sold it?!) and hearing from successful creators like Jim Beaver, who is highlighted in this edition’s Creators & Coffee. While I don’t agree with everything in the article by Matt (I don’t think you have to be YouTube-first), the concept of being a media “platform” and being able to offer sponsors placements in a myriad of places AND not just on your content, but on other creator’s content, really hit. I absolutely think the future will be a “we” vs. and “I” and a “shit I gotta be in places OTHER than just social” vs. a “I’m just gonna focus on this one platform and do awesome on it.” As we’ve said before, the social networks have you by the balls (whether you got ‘em or not - but I think most women in this industry have big ass metaphorical balls - haha) and you have to OWN your audience. I think of @RileysRebuilds who lost her FB page due to hackers and had to rebuild - that f’g sucks! FB was her biggest page and without an email list of her audience - she didn’t have a great way to let her FB peeps know what had happened and where to find her new page, besides sharing on Insta and the help of other creators who shared the message on FB. Her new FB page is only at 352 followers - it used to be close to 100K. DON’T LET THAT BE YOU!

If you’ve read any of my content (especially on LinkedIn), you’d know, the reason I went all-in on Autofluencer when it was just a fledgling of an idea is because of YOU - the Creator, the Builder, the Racer, the Enthusiast. But, it hurts my heart that so many of you work not just one but multiple day jobs just to be able to afford your passions and hobbies. How can we change that?! How can you de-risk?! It ain’t easy, that’s for sure, and for a lot of you, I know you have very little spare time - which may be why hugging up with other creators may be the answer.

So this edition is all about DIVERSIFICATION of your creator strategy. Don’t be in one place. Be in many. Don’t just do social, do newsletters, press (you can do your own press-releases - did you know that?!), get on other people’s podcasts, start your own podcast and partner up with other creators - and most importantly - have a plan and strategy. And don’t try to do it all alone - this community is wicked supportive. Find other creators with whom you are complementary, but not completely the same as, and partner with them! This will expose both of you to new audiences - but can also give advertisers a wider set of eyeballs to get in front of without having to partner with “2” creators - they partner with your “studio” or “network.”

And I think there is a way Autofluencer can also “de-risk” so all of our eggs aren’t on one platform - aka the software as you know it - that offers management and measurement. Are there solutions we can bring to our creator partners to help you diversify and band together - with very little effort and a low cost - while still being authentic and true to yourself. And NO - I’m not suggesting AI avatar versions of yourself. Look, we use a shit ton of AI and will use more (but if you can’t tell - I don’t use it when I write - so enjoy the run on sentences and bad grammar!) - but I just can’t get behind creators replacing themselves with AI versions. I dunno. I may be singing a different tune in a year from now when the AI version of myself is writing this intro - haha - but for now, I think it’s f’g weird and inauthentic and for our industry at least, misses the HEART…again, the topic for a future newsletter!

If you have thoughts/ideas on diversification - reach out - let me know (you can reply to this email or ping me direct at erica@autofluencer.com or book time here on my calendar)! If you want to chat about some of the ideas we’re considering like turning your social content into newsletters for you and helping you build out your email audience or building a “network of creators” that have diverse audiences - let’s do it! Everything is in idea, light proof of concept phase, but we want to make it easier for you to get PAID to do what you love AND to not lose your audience due to things out of your control like hackers, algorithms, and douchebags (is that still a phrase people use?!). 😉 

Much love,

Erica Sietsma
Autofluencer CEO & Founder

STANDOUTS IN STRATEGY 🔥

Cleetus McFarland. Adam LZ. You’ve seen the success, they’re living proof that this strategy works. Here are just a few creators who are doing a great job diversifying their game. Know someone we should shout out? Let us know!

Megan Meyer: Drag racer and marketing coach Platforms: Multiple Instagrams, Multiple Facebooks, YouTube, LinkedIn, Website Business: Motorsports Marketing Tips Garrett Reed: Social media | Content Creator | Influencer | Aka Buyer Manipulator | Sneakerhead | Guns | Cars Platforms: Multiple Instagrams, Multiple Facebooks, LinkedIn

Lacey Blair: Netflix Resurrected Rides | YouTuber | Burnout Wars Host | Entrepreneur Platforms: Multiple Instagrams, Multiple Facebooks, YouTube, TikTok, Website Business: LB Motorsports Abigayle André: Car Journalist | Content Creator | Presenter Platforms: Multiple Instagrams, Multiple Facebooks, Multiple YouTubes, TikTok, LinkedIn

Sage Thomas: Owner of In and Out Customs. Founder of the NDRA (National Donk Racing Association) Platforms: Multiple Instagrams, Multiple Facebooks, YouTube, TikTok, Multiple Websites Business: In and Out Customs James Kirkham: Co-Founder Race Service and Donut Media & Racer Platforms: Instagram, Facebook Business: Race Service

CREATORS & COFFEE 🔔

Jim Beaver went from racer to media brand after a chat with Ken Block flipped the switch: you’re not just a driver, you’re a marketing company. Jim ran with that idea and built out a mix of podcasts, social accounts, a big newsletter, a busy website, and a crew of fellow creators. So when he talks to brands, he’s not just pitching social posts, he’s offering a full platform.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Jim started it all with a $30 headset, Twitter, and a self-made “radio show.”

• Why he hasn’t raced in 3 years and hasn’t lost a single sponsor.

• The power of diversifying across multiple channels (and not relying on any one of them).

• Why investing in great content makes you marketable and unforgettable.

• How building an email list most racers ignore became one of his biggest assets.

• The value-first approach that helped him land sponsors before asking for money.

• Why brands should support up-and-coming talent early to build loyalty.

• His YouTube strategy for fast growth and how he keeps it consistent on a budget.

IDEAS FOR DIVERSIFICATION 💡

Not saying you have to do all of these, but here are some ideas for ways you can diversify your content strategy.

• Be on all 4 of the major social networks with reels being your primary focus as this makes it easier to repurpose content across all 4. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube. Yeah - it can be tough, but there are ways to streamline this like Snaptik suggested to us by @offroadingky.

  • If you don’t have time for long form on YT, start with shorts.

  • And we’ve been watching - we do not see a penalty for sharing reels from Insta to FB - this could always change, but FB seems to have eased up on this.

• Be on LinkedIn - see our Trendy AF “Big LinkedIn Energy” for all the reasons why.

• CAPTURE emails and DO SOMETHING with them - like starting a newsletter. Read the next section about our fave platform, beehiiv, but there are lots of others like Substack, Kit, and more.

  • And tools like beehiiv can also build dope websites for you so you can get some SEO juice from all them newsletters! And to those who say SEO is dead - come at me! It is SO not. People selling bullshit FAKE SEO trying to game the search engines continues to get shot down, but adding fresh, genuine content to your website for discoverability is still a thing - and now, it’s even more important as the LLMs start to make a run for traditional search engines - they use very similar crawlers to the search engines that rely on well structured content and information! They especially love things in Q&A or FAQ format!

  • We’re working on a service here so if this feels like a lot of work, reach out - we can help!

• Start an educational course - check out this YT video from a chick we don’t know, but it’s the top 7 tools for online courses and she mentions each one in the summary with links to free trials - sweet!. You really good at something? Build the content, put it up on one of these sites and then talk about it in your newsletter and socials to get signups! It may not be a $1M biz, but it could be some steady passive income if you continue to promote it.

• Start a podcast - or better yet, get yourself on other people’s podcasts FIRST! Then start your own and invite them to be on your podcast and repay the favor!

• Collab and join forces with other creators. And then approach sponsors/partners TOGETHER - share your combined reach/eyeballs/engagement from shared content you’ve done previously. Make it easy for them to do just ONE contract with two sigs and just one point of contact (create a joint email addie).

• Do some PR for yourself - no one knows how exciting your life is better than you do! Get ChatGPT to write some press releases about you and then use a tool like EINPresswire (what we use to distribute) and make sure to put on your website!

• Become a manufacturer. It’s now easier than ever with 3D printers and other bespoke manufacturing services. Check out Baja Forged started by Theresa Contreras and Solos Mfg started by Solomon Lunger (@thefordera). Not saying this is easy - it’s A LOT - especially to get it not just up and running, but thriving like Baja Forged - but you better believe their strong social presences and creator experience helped their businesses succeed!

• Do your own events. Start a cars and coffee or a cruise! They can garner a whole new audience and income streams.

• Help others with their content creation. Become an agency for other creators.

Our Fave De-Risk Strategy: OWNING Your Email List and Doing a Newsletter.

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

We’re also looking at a service in which we would manage your newsletter for you by taking all of your old content and turning it into newsletters! And in the process, creating websites for those of you who don’t have them. It’s in “experiment” phase - so if you’re interested, let us know - while it’s not a free pilot, it will definitely be cheaper than doing it at a later phase if we do spin it up as a solution!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

Happy June y’all!

As some of you know, I “fell” for this industry thanks to the passion, dedication and hard work of YOU, the creator. While Autofluencer started as a solution to help brands manage and measure their partnerships, as we did more and more interviews within the industry to learn how we could build something valuable, it was the creator interviews that truly inspired me. I wanted to build something that would enable you to do more of what you love and in the next week, we’ll be announcing our new creator reporting which will help you show the value your bring to your partners and it’s FREE to you. But, in prep for that, we wanted to celebrate and highlight some of the awesome partnerships your hard work and content are making happen!

Huge congrats to all of you who do the work. Who never quit. Who follow your passions and make dreams come true. And while we can’t recognize e’rybody who announced partnerships these past couple of weeks, if you have one you’re proud of, tag us on socials and we’ll share there!

Also, at the bottom of this newsletter, is a LinkedIn post from the CEO of our newsletter company, beehiiv, talking about the features in their platform that can help you make PASSIVE INCOME! We know this industry ain’t easy to make money in - you need products to make your cars go faster, perform better and look cooler, so that is a main form of currency for so many of the brands, but a newsletter strategy can help you earn money and it reduces your dependency on the social networks. As we all know, the socials OWN your destiny if you don’t diversify. And a newsletter is a great first step - use your socials to get people to subscribe and then you can LEGIT just use your social to populate the newsletter so your community never misses your updates regardless of what’s happening with the algos! Use our link to sign up for your own beehiiv newsletter and we’ll help you get yours setup, We’re working on a tool/service to help creators generate newsletters even faster, but in the interim, we will share the concept for free with you for to help you get off the ground. It’s not hard, just takes time and effort!

Much love,

Erica Sietsma
Founder & CEO
Autofluencer

PARTNERSHIPS WE’RE LOVING 🏆

We’re all about shouting out the creators and brands who are announcing new partnerships and bringing creativity to their content. Here are just a few that have caught our eye.

#Sponsored The kids’ first time working on a diesel, thanks to @shellrotellat… Partnership Post: Lindsay Wheelock x Shell Rotells x Walmart SOME EXCITING NEWS!! We've teamed up with KONIG WHEELS for the 2025 Gridlife Season with my GLTC Mazda MX-5… New Partnership: Aryton Grim x Konig Wheels USA

It's Christmas in June! Thanks to @qa1motorsports!… Partnership Post: Shift Points x QA1 Motorsports We’re thrilled to have welcomed @ecumasterusa as a partner for the 2025 Formula Drift season!… New Partnership: Simen Olsen x ECUMaster USA

NEW SPONSOR @surecanusa Unboxing live for the people… New Partnership: Kyla Desrosiers x SureCan USA Excited to announce a new partnership with @radfloshocks on the two seat Pro Spec Truck… New Partnership: Chris Van Den Elzen x Radflo Shocks

CHECK OUT BEEHIIV 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

From the moment I met Mark Beatty at MPMC’s Media Trade Conference this past January, I knew he was different — in a good way! Mark is a one-man powerhouse over at Red Line Oil and he is passionately committed to building a massive enthusiast following for his brand. How does he do it?! A ton of effort and respect for his sponsored partners who are selected for #teamredlineoil. Mark attends the events and cheers on his racers not just at the track or on social media, but also in weekly emails to other team members at Red Line Oil and Philips 66 (their parent company). He’s always celebrating the performance of the drivers #teamredlineoil and as I learned in this Creators & Coffee, his own experience as a racer gives him that commitment to spend hours texting drivers before big races at all hours of the day and night!

Hope you enjoy this special brand spotlight and if you’re not on #teamredlineoil, mark your calendar for September 1st!

Much love,

Erica Sietsma
Autofluencer CEO & Founder

CREATORS & COFFEE 🔔

Mark Beatty, Brand Director at Red Line Synthetic Oil, built #TeamRedLineOil to flip the script. What started as a joke turned into close to a 500 member team of riders and racers who actually represent the brand, not just stick a decal on the bumper and disappear.

Here’s how Red Line runs sponsorships that actually work:

• Social consistency beats follower counts. If you show up online, you’re on the radar.

• Real recognition matters. Mark sends internal recaps every Monday and personal texts to racers before event weekends.

• Relationships first, deals second. If you’re already using Red Line Oil, you’re already ahead.

• Creativity wins. One standout activation? The “Baby Walker Nationals,” a Red Line Oil branded kid trike race that stole the show at NHRA events.

• Honesty over hype. If you fake it, they’ll pass. Period.

Tune in to learn more.

TEAM RED LINE OIL 🏆

Mark Beatty does a great job on shouting out racers and riders that are part of Team Red Line Oil. Here are just some posts that we’ve seen on all platforms:

…Thank you Red Line Synthetic Oil and Mark Beatty for being a believer in myself. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if it wasn’t for you. Talan Hansen Dreaming 😴 #fuelaltered #nhra #teamredlineoil #redline #sparechange #cpcarillo #jepistons #almostpro #trend #dream Brandon Seraphine

No way I can show everything that went on this weekend, but here are a few pictures. #teamredlineoil Mark Beatty GAME DAY here in Osaka, Japan!… Demi Morgan

Here it is ya’ll, the winning run!! We couldn’t have done it without the support from @redlineoil, @precisionshafttechnologies… Butner Motorsports I gave it my all this weekend despite hardly leaving the camper after waking up sick on Saturday… Steward Baylor

RED LINE OIL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM  🤝

Applications for Red Line Oil’s sponsorship program opens on September 1st. Make sure to mark your calendar!

CHECK OUT BEEHIIVE 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

Subscribe to get your own Beehiiv Newsletter!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

PARTNERSHIPS WE’RE LOVING 🏆

Here are some partnerships from creators of all sizes that we’ve seen:

New Partnership: Shift Up Now x Collision Careers x Loni Unser x Sally Mott x Michele Abbate

New Partnership: Mike Sasina x Stevie Fast Jackson / KTR Drag Racing

New Partnership: Jonathan Cash Hurst x Collision Careers

TECHNICAL AF 🧰

SHORT FORM EDITING TOOLS We’e all about helping creators do more of what they love. Part of that is by providing resources and tools that’ll help save you time. Especially when it comes to editing. Edits: Good in theory, poor in execution (for now, at least). Have you tried it? Do you like it? Luckily, we’ve been seeing constant social media updates for the Edits app. However, our Creator Roundtable mentioned issues while using it: Fails to export Glitching export: Check out Racer On Demand’s reel to see the glitch. Some people think it looks cool! We also posted a story poll “Have you tried Edits” where 58% said “Yes, but too many bugs.” So we compiled a list of some alternatives. CapCut: CapCut is an all-in-one creative platform powered by AI that enables video editing and image design on browsers/phones, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. It’s by far the favorite among creators that we’ve seen.

Videoleap: Videoleap simplifies social media video creation. Start from scratch or with a trending template and create impactful videos. From promotional and tutorial content to viral TikToks, Reels, and YouTube Shorts, engage your audience, enhance sales, promote new collections, and more. Adobe Premiere Rush: Adobe Premiere Rush is the free mobile and desktop video editing app for creativity on the go. Wherever you are, from your phone to your computer, you can shoot, edit, and share high-quality videos. Fun, intuitive, and as fast as social media, it’s the easiest way to star in your followers’ feeds.

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY 🤝

Autofluencer Ambassador Program:

• Send us referrals of any of your brand partners who aren’t using anything to track their content creator/influencer partnerships. If the referral brand subscribes to Autofluencer, you get PAID!

CHECK OUT BEEHIIVE 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.
Subscribe to get your own Beehiiv Newsletter!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

This edition of Trendy AF is near and dear to my heart because it’s ALL ABOUT what we’re all here for: building partnerships that succeed and grow. We want to see MORE partnerships in this industry. More creators getting PAID for you kick ass content. And of course, MORE PEOPLE DOING MORE OF WHAT THEY LOVE!

The Partnering Like A Pro blog post we put together (which has a different name on our website because we rewrote it for SEO value - ha) is a compilation of tips and data from hundreds of conversations with brands, hours of data review from hundreds of creator partnerships on our platform, and more time than I care to admit reading influencer-industry news/stats/research. It’s a handy guide for creators and brands and for those of you reading it who are like, “Uh, my brand partners aren’t doing most of this stuff…share it with them!!

We hope you enjoy this week’s Trendy AF! And if there is a topic you want us to talk about or better yet, YOU want to share with our audience, let us know! Trendy AF is for the industry BY the industry!

Much love,

Erica Sietsma
Autofluencer CEO & Founder

PARTNERSHIPS WE’RE LOVING 🏆

Here are some partnerships from creators of all sizes that we’ve seen:

New Partnership: Denise “Baby Girl” Markham x Edelbrock

New Partnership: Jim Beaver x Ford Electric

New Partnership: Alex Laughlin x Fun-Haver

TECHNICAL AF 🧰

PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT PLATFORMS AND SERVICES Since we’re talking about building strong partnerships, we’re naturally super biased that Autofluencer helps in this process, especially for your brand partners (for now). But….we aren’t the only player in the partnership management space - though we are the only one built for our industry! If you are curious about who the others are (and you may be asked to connect with them by your brand partners) - this is a list of some of the larger platforms. Autofluencer: Has searchable campaigns that creators can apply for and/or they can send links for applications when they get DMs or use a QR code at events Easier for them to review proposals since they’re all in same format Easier for YOU to submit proposals since AF already has your profile data (don’t need to manually add all your links every time) Clear compensation and deliverable/partnership requirements Contracts built-in and saved in the platform Reporting on partnership performance - and you see what they see! (Well, soon it will be identical…stay tuned) LEARN MORE →

CreatorIQ: The biggest and the OG in the space. They ain’t cheap and focus on larger, fortune 500 companies Tagger: Bought by Sprout Social - so this makes them an obvious choice for a lot of companise because they “integrate” with Tagger. Again, 2 -3x more expensive than AF and don’t have any focus (or care) for our industry. Hookit: The gold standard in sponsorship measurement (they don't do partnership management), but they charge for creator use (and it ain't cheap) AND they are expensive AF for brands to use. We were told they are now a minimum of $30K/year. That may have been swagger by the person telling us so they seemed "big." However, if a brand is doing event sponsorships, track sponsorships and hoping for stuff to get televised (even on streamers) and they are throwing down $1M/year in sponsorships, then Hookit is worth it. *And then there are about 40 other generic platforms - everyday we learn about a new creator/influencer management platform and we check ‘em all out and then snigger internally as they all focus on lame stuff - ok fine, we’re biased. We think anything NOT in enthusiast industries is lame.

CREATORS & COFFEE 🔔

In this episode of Creators & Coffee, sponsorship expert and founder of sponsorshipsummits.com, Alex Striler, shares powerful, lesser-known strategies on how racers and brands can build more meaningful and effective sponsorships. The conversation moves beyond traditional exposure-based deals, offering modern, tactical insights for racers, teams, and brands alike.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• It's not just about race wins, it's about acting as an extension of a brand’s marketing arm

• How to target competitors of brands already active in your space and build relationships with their partners

• Why you should align your sponsors so they complement each other and promote together

• To trust endemic experts and partners inside niche markets to authentically represent your brand

• Real world examples of strategic and successful partnerships

CHECK OUT BEEHIIVE 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.
Subscribe to get your own Beehiiv Newsletter!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

What Up Party People!!

It’s Wednesday and we’re patting ourselves on the back (well, I’m giving Ashley virtual back pats since she does most of the work for these) for getting TWO newsletters out this month! Next month, we’re going for 1/week and making them more themed like this one and for weeks when we’re busy, it will just be a roundup of hot posts and partnerships from the prior week by people we think are doing cool sh*t in our industry.

A lot of people ask me - what’s your fave social network? Honestly, I don’t love any of them and think they are all a little bit ruining the world while simultaneously keeping us connected - which is really a mind trip if you think too hard about it. Buuuut, no matter what I think, you know I’m on all of them daily for more time than I care to admit - they’ve got their hooks in me! And of all the platforms, I spend the most time on LinkedIn (runner up is Insta). My affinity for LinkedIn is thanks to the higher percentage of educational content which over the years has helped me as a human, an entrepreneur, and even a mom.

Lately, I’ve been noticing more and more industry content starting to pop up in my LI feed. Certainly, it has to do with who I’m following and engaging with but also, I think more people in our industry are starting to look to LinkedIn and test it out in an attempt to diversify channels. Thus prompting the idea to have a whole edition of Trendy AF all about LinkedIn.

We spotlight some great examples of content we’re seeing on the platform, have automotive journalist, Micah Anderson - who is definitely one to follow on LI - share his view on the platform and the opportunity it presents for creators serious about taking their brand partnerships to the next level, and a link to the ultimate LinkedIn algo guide created by LinkedIn guru, Richard van der Blom.

Hope you enjoy this edition and let us know what you want us to cover and/or if you want to be a guest contributor. Upcoming topics will include AI Tools and New Tools (Edits - anyone tried it?!), Partnership Pro-Tips, Partnership Performance Reports/Measurement, and Diversifying Your Content Strategy - so if you’re passionate about any of those - we wanna hear from you!

Much love!
Erica Sietsma
Autofluencer CEO & Founder

LINKEDIN HIGHLIGHTS 🏆

To kick us off, we wanted to highlight some of the cool content we’ve been seeing lately on LinkedIn, which can give you inspo on ways to use the platform!

Behind-The-Scenes Racing Post: Jordan DaCosta Racing

Promotion Re-Post: Micah Anderson x Billy Westbrook

Expanded Partnership Announcement: Chris Van Den Elzen x Nexen Tire America, Inc.

New Partnership: Megan Meyer/Randy Meyer Racing x GUNK

Partnership PSA: Dalton Johnson x Ford Motor Company x Ford Bronco

Partnership Post: Krista Baldwin x Revchem Composites

WHY LINKEDIN DESERVES A SPOT IN YOUR WEEKLY GAME PLAN 🔥

Contributor: Micah Anderson  If Instagram is the car show, TikTok is the burnout pit, and YouTube is the workshop, LinkedIn just might be the boardroom. Real life, showing up to shake hands, look people in the eye, and talk business, will always be the best way. But, it is not always practical, and we definitely cannot always be everywhere. Look at this way, LinkedIn is not where your fans hang out, but it is where the decision-makers are. LinkedIn will never be like the other big 3 channels, but it is not supposed to be. In fact, it was originally designed as a job board and networking hub for white collar professionals. It doesn’t have the same instant gratification as an IG story or the chaos of TikTok trends. But for creators, racers, builders, and brand ambassadors looking to level up, it’s a secret weapon that too few people in our world are using right. We all want better deals, more support, and stronger connections in the industry. LinkedIn is a platform that gives you the chance to present your value in a way that hits different, especially to brands, marketers, and managers who are looking for people like you but need to see you framed in the right light. Think about it like this: when you post about your latest win, your newest build, or a sick piece of branded content, and you do it on LinkedIn along with all the others, tagging and linking the companies involved, you’re not just sharing content. You’re planting flags that say, “This is how I bring value to partners.” People at companies like K&N, VP Racing Fuels, or even smaller regional brands see that. And when they see that you're already showing up like a pro, already speaking the language, they’ll start asking why you're not on their team yet. Is it for everyone? Definitely not required for those mega influencers. But guess what, a handful of them are posting on LinkedIN on occasion. Will it provide gainful benefits in the ways of meaningful network connections? Absolutely! My network is all primarily automotive, aftermarket, and motorsports-based. I have a little over 2,700 folks who follow me. These are likely 70% heavy hitters in this business. For me, I’ve landed gigs, collaborations, and opportunities just by being consistent and intentional with what I post on LinkedIn. And I’ve seen others do the same. So here's the pitch: add it to your rotation. It’s not about pretending to be someone you're not, it’s about taking your real value and making it legible to people who can help grow your career.

Some pro tips to get you started: ✅ Build out your profile. Add your past work, tag brands you’ve worked with, and don’t be afraid to title yourself as a Brand Ambassador, Racing Athlete, Content Creator, or Motorsport Partner. Even if it’s freelance or project-based, list it. 🙋‍♂️ Network & Connect: LinkedIn only works if you are making it work for you. You can open the setting to synch with your phone contacts. Share on your other social channels that you are pushing on LinkedIN. Activate and reach out to make new connections. 🛠️ Post consistently. Doesn’t have to be daily. Weekly is solid. Race results, a new partnership, a product you just featured, share it. 🧩 Tag brands properly. Use the “@” to tag their LinkedIn page—not just the name in plain text. Hyperlink if you're referencing them in a long post. 📸 Professional doesn’t mean boring. Keep your tone authentic, but communicate clearly. You can be blue-collar and articulate at the same time. That’s actually a superpower. 🤖 Let AI help you if needed. If writing’s not your strong suit, you don’t have to go it alone. You can use tools to polish or help frame what you want to say in a way that keeps your voice but tightens it up. 🧭 Think like a teammate. If you're representing a brand, treat it like a job. List them as an employer, and post like you're on the payroll—because you kind of are. Bottom line: LinkedIn isn’t where you build your audience. It’s where you build your future. And like any good handshake in this business, it works best when it’s real, intentional, and followed up with action. Contributor: Micah Anderson

TECHNICAL AF 💡

This week’s technical AF is all about LinkedIn and who better than the LinkedIn algorithm guru, Richard van der Blom! He’s got the best tips and advice around!

CHECK OUT BEEHIIV 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

Subscribe to get your own beehiiv Newsletter!

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet?

It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities!

Do More of What You Love!

• Morning Routine Reels: Have you seen the viral morning routine reels from former football player and fitness influencer, Ashton Hall? They entered into the automotive industry and we saw Jon Porto from DriftHQ doing his own hilarious version here.

• 

• Chat GPT Toys: This trend is blowing up on all social media platforms! If you haven’t done at least one, make sure to try it and post it! Check out this YouTube video for a walk-through of how to do it.
  
  “Create a picture of me as a child's toy character with a bit of an animated feel in a fitted black v-neck t-shirt with the autofluencer logo centered on my chest and black jeans and white sneakers showing, as if it were displayed in a transparent plastic packaging, blister vintage packaging model all under plastic. Include my name Erica Sietsma with the title Founder & CEO with the AUTOFLUENCER logo at the top of the package. Make the package edgy motorsports inspired green and black. And include supporting item accessories, like a fun stanley mug with tea bag hanging out, cell phone with autofluencer logo on case, and autofluencer logo on notebook.”
  
  Make sure to attach images along with the prompt! We used a picture of Erica and a few different Autofluencer logo styles.

In this week’s Creators & Coffee, Amanda and Chris Van Den Elzen from Racer on Demand share how they built a motorsports lifestyle brand that thrives both on the track and online. Their aim is to reshape the racing industry by building a platform that strengthens connections between racers and fans, while bringing a modern approach to motorsports marketing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to sell racer merchandise more effectively
• Where to find educational resources on sponsorships
• Why community and authentic connections will help you build your brand

Learn the trends we’re seeing in the data & cool tools that’ll help you grow your content!📱✨

-Black GoPro HERO13 Creator Edition: This was a highly recommended tool from our first Creator Roundtable. You can film in widescreen, but easily export into vertical video - great for dual purpose content! (Thanks Kyla for the tip @offroadingky) Check it out here! Do you already use it? Share you success stories with us- DM us.

-Non-Native Posts vs Native Posts:

Why Native Posting is Preferred:

• Better Engagement & Visibility: Platforms often favor native content in their algorithms, boosting reach and interaction.

• Access to Unique Features: Native posting lets you use exclusive tools like Instagram Stories

• Fewer Technical Issues: It reduces the risk of glitches that sometimes come with third-party tools.

When Third-Party Tools Help:

• Efficiency: Great for managing multiple accounts and scheduling content ahead of time.

• Insights: Many tools offer in-depth analytics and reporting.

Key Takeaways:

• Content Quality Matters Most: Whether native or scheduled, content should be engaging and platform-appropriate.

• Test and Adapt: Try both methods and track what delivers the best results for your brand.

Conclusion: Native posting often leads to better performance and platform compatibility, but third-party tools can still play a strategic role in content planning and management.

We want to celebrate YOU! 🎉 Did you land your dream partnership? Send us your big wins!

Here are some BIG WINS from creators of all sizes that we’ve seen this month so far:

1. SamyySosaa x GreenGo Tuned x Prayoonto Racing

2. JoAnna Iacobelli Reid x Circle D Specialties

3. Aurimas Bakchis “Odi” x MOZA Racing

   

   
   

Check out these brand campaigns in Autofluencer! 🔑 And Pro-Tip, make sure to READ the campaign description before submitting your proposal! If it’s an affiliate/ambassador program, it won’t be paid up front and they may not be looking for you to create content.

• AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS TO CHECK OUT: Autofluencer Ambassador Program - Send us referrals for any of your brand partners who aren’t using anything to track their content creator/influencer partnerships. This is a paid program!

  APPLY TO OPEN PARTNERSHIPS!

❗❗ Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.
Subscribe to get your own Beehiiv Newsletter! 🐝

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet? Get on it! It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities! 👇

SEMA’s MPMC MTC (Speciality Equipment Market Association’s Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council Media Trade Conference): Long name, right?!

So what is it? Why attend?

Held in Orlando, Florida, it’s different than other trade shows where you’re stuck at a booth trying to catch people. The Media Trade Conference keeps things simple with private suite meetings. There’s no crazy setups or high costs. You’ll get face time with automotive aftermarket/motorsports industry manufacturing brands and media from all over; social media, print, TV, radio, and podcasts.

From experience, it’s the perfect spot for brands and media to build relationships and partnerships!

Have you been? Or do you want to go? For more detailed info, click here!

The Mint 400: To go to contingency or not to go?

YES! Simple as that! I was hesitating to go, but I’m so glad I went. I was able to network with so many people in the industry, which included some of you amazing creators and racers, as well as some cool brands. I ran into friends and got to see some kickass off-road vehicles!

Check out our recap reel on IG!

“The Mint 400 Off-Road Festival is the premier off-road showcase event, and for over five decades it has drawn the industry’s best racers, brightest mechanical minds, and most progressive off-road product makers to fabulous Las Vegas. What started as a traditional one-day “tech and contingency” event has exploded into a full-blown off-road festival with over 150 exhibitors, 400 race vehicles and an estimated 20,000 people over the two days.”

BIG STEP FOR AUTOFLUENCER! NEW REPORTING!

• Performance Dashboard: We‘ve updated our brand reporting with a focus on Earned Media Value.
  
  The creator version of the Performance Dashboard is coming in April!
  
  Sample below.

What is Earned Media Value? It’s the value of the media received from creators based on comparing costs for CPMs/CPEs for purchasing the same views & engagements on those social media platforms (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, etc.).

How We Calculate Earned Media Value (EMV): The formula we use is total views/1000 x $7.50 Cost Per Thousand (CPM) views across all social channels + total engagement x $.75 avg Cost Per Engagement (CPE) across all social channels.

Once a month, Autofluencer sits down with badass industry leaders, brands, creators, drivers, enthusiasts, or anyone who makes this industry stronger to talk about tips on building supercharged partnerships! ⚡

In this rad episode, we sat down with Dylan Pfohl from The Rad Factory to chat about the ups and downs of creating diverse social media content!

Dylan started making videos at just 10 years old with a VHS camcorder, kept at it through high school and film school, and then worked in action sports before diving into YouTube full-time. He talks about the challenges of keeping a diverse audience engaged and dealing with the ever-changing YouTube algorithm.

Dylan also shares how his partnership with his friend Gavin led to wild projects, like building a 50-foot rainbow grind rail and testing out Temu products. He recommends working with agencies, like Algebra Media who can help with finding brand partnerships. Plus, he breaks down why pre-planning is key, how to make sponsored content feel natural, and why long-form storytelling and TikTok style hooks are what’s needed for successful YouTube content.

Check out their crazy builds on social and watch the full C&C episode on YouTube! Link below!

And if you want an even more in-depth look into algorithms from this episode, scroll on down to Technical AF!

Hey guys, Annie’s VW here! I create content around my restoration project of a VW Beetle named Helen Wheels! This is a topic I’m very familiar with, read on!

Responding to comments from your audience is a necessary part of what a content creator does. Engaging with your followers helps build community, boosts your content’s reach, and keeps the conversation going. But let’s be real, not all comments are going to be worthy of your time! And knowing how to handle negativity will be key to keeping your sanity. I have found it helpful to keep some perspective— negative comments coming from strangers on the internet can’t actually hurt you. There is no real relationship or rapport there. You’re never obligated to respond, and in many case ignoring negativity will be the best option. For myself, I have set some personal rules for engagement that have really helped me navigate my comment section way more effectively compared to when I was starting out. This has freed me from feeling obligated to respond to every single comment, especially the troll comments. You’ll also discover that a lot of comments tend to repeat over and over (there are no new comments!), which can feel mundane and boring. But engagement is essential on social media, and even a simple interaction/response can help keep your content visible. 

When it comes to trolls, I’ve found there is one magic bullet that seems to consistently shut them down— acknowledging that their repeated comments only boosts my engagement and that they are really helping my bottom line. Social media platforms THRIVE on activity, so every time a troll keeps replying they’re actually pushing my content to a wider audience. Pointing this phenomenon out to them, often with a simple “thanks for the engagement!” or “I appreciate your continued support!” can flip the script. Another fun approach? Play along. Sometimes poking fun at a negative comment or giving it a sarcastic spin can take the sting out of it, and even entertain your audience! Keep your composure and have some fun with it! And if things ever get too overwhelming, stepping away from the comments for a while is completely ok. Your mental well-being comes first, always. There’s no rule that says you have to be available 24/7, and taking a break can help you reset and come back with a clearer head. At the end of the day, your content should work for YOU, not the other way around.

Annie’s VW @annies_vw

We want to celebrate YOU! 🎉 Did you land your dream partnership? Took the leap into entrepreneurship? Send us your big wins!

The first few months of the year are always a slew of partnership announcements! Here are some of our faves from creators off all sizes:

1. Riley Rebuilds x Great Race Rally

2. Lia Block x Rockstar Energy

3. Kaitlyn Ward (KW Photography) x Circle D Specialties

4. Sherwin Pacquette (Winette Motorsports) x U-HAUL

   

   
   

Learn the trends we’re seeing in the data & cool tools that’ll help you grow your content!📱✨

- What’s Up With The Algos?!  As we all know, the platforms change the algorithms all the time and every creator we talk with agrees it’s getting harder and harder to get views, engagement, growth on all of the platforms. And getting paid by the platforms?! Fuggedaboutit. That has also drastically reduced.

Focusing on YouTube for this section as recently we did a call with one of our creator partners and went deep on their content and compared/looked at other content. They used to get 10K+ views on the bulk of their posts pretty consistently and decent growth and then in the last 6 months it’s started to tank. Late last year, all these YouTube videos/blogs got posted touting “big changes coming in 2025 to help smaller creators”- I think we have now seen how those “big changes” played out - they didn’t do anything to help smaller creators. In fact, it seems like it’s gotten worse. Check out this boring ass video from a YouTube Creator Liaison and don’t worry about watching the video - you will learn nothing. I had to bail out and read the transcript - no tips. Not helpful. BUT what is telling is this comment and the 91 replies it got. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

But, we want this to be helpful as of right now, you’re probably pretty depressed. So what CAN you do to drive growth, views, engagement on YouTube. Here are a few things we’re seeing that appear to be working (though admittedly, not as good as they used to): (And sorry, no ChatGPT was used in the creation of this section and Erica wrote it, so it’s long AF. 😂😂

• Have a “thing.” On accident, the team at @the.rad.factory stumbled into their thing and while they may not want it to define them, people wanna know about those TEMU pit bikes! They don’t have a huge subscriber count, but Rad Factory’s views are solid and have gotten them the attention of a talent agency and brand partners. In fairness, their “thing” isn’t the only reason why their content does well - they also do everything below well. (Watch the Creators & Coffee with Dylan to learn more about their strategy)
  

• Have a compelling title and cover image - this isn’t new, but “click through” rate are still a big metric for the algo. Become a student of what is working for others and your own channel (more on that below). But don’t make it click-baity because if you don’t ever get to the point, that will hurt you - see next bullet.
  

• Don’t bury the lead. If you’re doing a DIY video don’t drag that sh*t out. While longer videos seem to be doing better than they were for a bit, it does seem like YouTube is paying attention to this concept of “satisfaction” (learned that from boring video above) and listening to feedback re: people dragging out a video to optimize watch time. If you want to do a 15 - 30 minute video - it better be dang good and have a story that keeps people watching.
  

• To that point, STORYTELLING NEVER DIES. Some of the best channels have an element of storytelling - whether that’s across episodes and/or within a single episode there is an element of a “story arc.” Does it make it harder? More time planning/strategizing the piece? Heck yes it does, so it’s definitely a question of what amount of time are you willing to put in vs. the reward?! The chance you’re gonna become the next Whistlin’ Diesel, Cleetus, Adam LZ, Lacey Blair or Flying Sparks Garage is getting slimmer and slimmer - times have changed, so our advice is ENSURE you have others ways of making money and if you’re gonna do YT, you better be prepared to give it your all and then still have time left over to make money other ways.
  

• Understand your analytics and what they’re telling you about your content and your audience and lean into what is performing well. We don’t know anything about this company, so this isn’t an endorsement but they have an ok-ish writeup of how to turn analytics into action.

• And of course, e’rybody’s least favorite - is not only do you have to think about everything above, you gotta be consistent if you’re really trying to grow your channel. Post at least weekly if not more than once a week AND do shorts.
  

• Then, finally, cross-promote the SH*T out of things! You got a following on Insta? Do stories when you drop new YT videos and highlight UNIQUE things they can find in those videos they can’t find in your reels. If the reel is the good stuff, then no one is going to watch YouTube. And then create a highlight called YouTube or YT Vids if you think using YouTube hurts you on Insta (which we haven’t seen to be a thing, but you never know) and put all your stories about your videos in that collection. That way everyone who comes to your profile easily knows you have a YT page. It’s not a guessing game and they can see the kind of stuff you post on YouTube. One last thing, MAKE IT EASY TO GET TO YOUR YOUTUBE PAGE! You’d be surprised how many big YouTubers don’t say boo about their YT on other socials. It’s bonkers. While we do find YouTubers aren’t always big on other socials, it doesn’t hurt to cross-promote as there are people who will jump (but way less than you’d hope).

-FYPM = F*** You Pay Me: This site shows “What Brands Really Pay” for partnerships. Currently, there is very little data (read: none) for our industry, but you can change that! We want our creators to be informed and be paid fairly. Check it out here! Thanks @jennjocobb for turning us onto this site.

-Tag Your Brand Partners: We’ll be a broken record on this topic, since “secret tagging” may always be a trend. But, if you want to stand out to brands, make sure to @mention them in the caption or use their brand-specific hashtags (which are usually in their Instagram bio). This also makes it easier for tools like Autofluencer to pull in your posts for discovery by brands!

Check out these brand campaigns in Autofluencer! 🔑 And pro-tip, make sure to READ the campaign description before submitting your proposal! If it’s an affiliate/ambassador program, it ain’t gonna be paid up front and they may not be looking for you to create content.

• AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS TO CHECK OUT: Autofluencer Ambassador Program - we gonna toot our own horn on this one as we have our first creator payout next month! Thanks Kyle Fannin of C10 Club Maryland for bringing Auto Metal Direct into the fam! $200 coming your way!

• 2025 Content Partnership: BOOSTane is looking for product partnerships that can evolve into paid! Check out their open partnerships!

  APPLY TO OPEN PARTNERSHIPS!

REMINDER! We’re launching a quarterly “Creator Roundtable” on Google Meet—a space for creators to share what’s working, what’s not (whether it’s on Autofluencer or social networks in general), and explore how Autofluencer can better support you. While we can’t do it all, together we can brainstorm some pretty sweet solutions! Our first call is on the books for April 2nd and then the plan is to meet quarterly!

This is also your chance to preview new features and get a sneak peek at top-secret roadmap updates! If you’re interested in shaping the future of Autofluencer, we’d love to have you on board! To keep the conversations focused and productive, the roundtable will be capped at 15 participants to start. Let us know if you’d like to join! ✋Message us on social or email us at erica@autofluencer.com.

❗❗ Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be DOPE for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.
Subscribe to get your own Beehiiv Newsletter! 🐝

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet? Get on it! It's FREE and it gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities! 👇

Don’t Miss Alex Striler’s Sponsorship Summit!

Alex Striler and Megan Meyer are hosting a Motorsports Sponsorship Summit on January 11 & 12. Learn why brands sponsor, what they’re looking for, how to create a winning deck and proposal, social media tips, and more! Use code MEGAN20 for 20% off!

Hey there, it’s your girl @senditrubi—a passionate racer, content creator, who loves to build and drive all things off-road. From racing KOH to crafting game-changing content that fuels brand success, I’ve built my career at the crossroads of motorsports storytelling. Now, I’m here to share the strategies, tips, and insider knowledge that have driven my journey so you can take your own motorsports content to the next level.

So what’s Trendy AF in 2025? I'll be diving into the hottest trends, innovative tools, and actionable tips to help you elevate your motorsports content game. Whether you’re a racer, a team manager, or an aspiring creator, I’ve got insights tailored to make your content not just relevant, but unforgettable.

Real-Time Data-Driven Content:

Motorsports fans are increasingly craving real-time insights, making data-driven content essential.

Live Race Analytics:

Integrate live telemetry, lap times, and split-second updates into race-day content.

A great way to do this is live-streaming from your car using a turn key solution like Star Stream or a diy kit using Starlink, Go Pros and a Yolobox. There are many ways to do this so get creative! 

Driver POV Experiences:
Use 360-degree cameras to give fans a firsthand view from inside the vehicle. People follow you because you are taking them on a once in a lifetime experience. For a lot of people they will never go to an event like this. Take them with you!

Throw a smaller action cam on your co drivers helmet to get their perspective. There are SO many ways to bring your fans into the action, get creative and MONETIZE IT! 

Behind-the-Scenes Storytelling:

Fans want to see what goes on beyond the track.

• Driver Diaries: Follow a day in the life of a driver, from practice laps to media obligations. Make sure you switch up how you cut your content based on the platform you are posting it on. Varied content and not just reposting is where its at!

• Pit Crew Stories: Highlight the unsung heroes of racing with in-depth profiles or interviews.

• Build and Prep Content: Showcase vehicle builds, modifications, and race-day setups.

Short-Form Video Content:

Short-form content continues to dominate in 2025, especially on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

• Race Highlights in 60 Seconds: Provide fast-paced recaps of races or key moments.

• Behind-the-Scenes Clips: Showcase quick insights into team preparations, pit strategies, or driver downtime. Make it fun !

• Educational Shorts: Explain motorsports tech, race rules, or driving techniques in bite-sized, digestible videos. Keep it simple and engaging so people understand. Simpler the better! 

Multi-Platform Storytelling:

In 2025, content creators are adopting a multi-platform approach to reach diverse audiences.

• Platform-Specific Content: Tailor content to the unique strengths of each platform (e.g., long-form storytelling on YouTube, bite-sized videos on TikTok).

• Podcasting: Expand into audio formats with in-depth race analysis, interviews, and industry news.

• Live-streaming: Use Twitch, YouTube Live, or Facebook Live for real-time interaction with fans during races or events.

In 2025, motorsports content creation is all about leveraging technology, embracing innovation, and fostering meaningful connections with fans. By adopting these trends, creators can drive engagement, attract sponsors, and expand the motorsports audience worldwide. This is the year to experiment, evolve, and lead the digital racing revolution! As always tell your story in your own voice, and HAVE FUN!

Rubi @senditrubi

Racer On Demand: Amanda Van Den Elzen

When we launched, I knew this wasn't going to work... I knew we couldn't succeed unless we gave ourselves the time and the space to fail forward. In May, I launched Racer on Demand and, in an effort to create a safe place to fail, I extended access only to those racers who competed within the Champ Off-Road series. Let me tell you, I'm glad I did. It was rocky, but in the first six months, we paid out over $2,000 to the 35 racers who trusted my vision.

But now it's time for more. We've refined our platform and made key improvements. Now, we're ready to help more racers put money in their pockets..

How do we plan to do that? Racer on Demand isn’t just a merch marketplace—it’s a platform built to create meaningful connections between racers and fans, between racers and sponsors, and between racers and their own financial futures. It's a place where racers can sell their merch and earn what they deserve without upfront costs, inventory risks, or physical barriers. Fans get the opportunity to support their favorite racers, not just with their cheers, but with their dollars, knowing that 20% of each sale goes directly to the racer.

For motorsports racers and the brands that support them, Racer on Demand isn’t just about selling products. It’s about building a community where racers thrive, where fans can engage deeply, and where brands connect with passionate, loyal audiences.

Our New Year's Resolution is to pay out $10,000 in commission to racers this year - will you be on the receiving end of that? I hope so.

Happy 2025.
Amanda Van Den Elzen Founder, Racer on Demand

Learn more and sign up at https://racerondemand.us/pages/sell-with-racer-on-demand

Questions? Reach out to me at amanda@racerondemand.us

Once a month, Autofluencer sits down with badass industry leaders, brands, creators, drivers, enthusiasts, or anyone who makes this industry stronger to talk about tips on building supercharged partnerships! ⚡

We had an awesome chat during SEMA at the Tinker DIY booth with Kellen Pirri and @lindsay_wheelock.

Why do you need creators in your trade show booth?

Bringing creators to your booth offers valuable benefits for brands:

• Enhances brand awareness by leveraging the creators' audience

• Content becomes more relatable and authentic

• Creators maintain their personal brand while delivering value to both the brand and their audience

Learn the latest changes on social platforms and new tools, helping you grow your page and keep your followers engaged! 📱✨

• Instagram Insights: Insights are now updated to include more metrics across the different formats, including stories, reels, images, carousels and live content, and boosted posts. Check out @creators post for their Instagram Highlights from 2024. Do you find the new insights helpful?

• Instagram Note Replies: Instagram rolled out a fun new feature that lets users enhance their story replies by adding media from their gallery or capturing new photos directly with the camera. Have you or your followers tried this?!

Hey all you Trendy AF creators! I'm Ashley Vaughn, (@the_ashley_vaughn), and have more builds than I care to admit, and spend more time on social media than doctor's recommend, but I love it! 2025 isn't going to see me cutting back on the builds or the socials!  For this month's Technical AF, I'm guessing most of you know about and may already pay for Meta Verification (that little blue checkmark next to your name), but Erica from Autofluencer mentioned she gets questions about it pretty frequently from creators and whether or not it's worth it, so I said I'd love to share my reason for paying for it. Lord knows, I'm not made of money (my car addiction ensures that), so any dollar out is a dollar not going towards living expenses or cars, so I am very picky on what I spend my money on. For me, Meta Verified has paid for itself 10x and is well worth the investment.  

Here are the top reasons I'm gonna keep paying for Meta Verified: 

• Peace out knockoff Ashleys. My followers now know that if it doesn't have the verification label it's not me, and part of the "verification" is meta is supposedly doing more proactive monitoring of impersonators.  Though I do still have to do the occasional "If it doesn't have the checkmark it's not me" story, but the amount of "Is this really you?" DMs have gone WAY down.  

• I have a Meta bat phone! Whether I'm seeing weird shit happening on my FB/Insta, or there is a scammer that despite blocking and reporting is still at large, I can now call Meta support.  Just after PRI this really weird thing started happening in my messages and it started right after I had authenticated to Autofluener, so I wasn't sure if it was related, so I reached out to Erica and we were both troubleshooting.  She did some searching and despite this not showing up on the official Meta Developer bugs list, she found a Reddit thread where literally 24 minutes before (right when it started for me) people were getting this same issue all over the world. We were both relieved it wasn't AF related, but since I had the bat phone, I called Meta and not saying it was me... but legit, 5 minutes after I called the bug was fixed! It's the BEST!

Meta Verification also has an "enhanced profile feature" which is providing images for links in bio. I use Linktree, which already gives me that functionality and can be used across all sites, so I don't use this feature and guess most people don't really care about it, but nonetheless, it's there if you want it. 

Now, if you've not been through this process, here is the Meta official page on it.  I have to say, it can be a total pain in the ass.  Some not-so-awesome things about the process, which I kinda understand, but also feel like they're one of the largest companies in the world— this can't be an easier process? 

The sucky parts: 

• Mismatching Names Cause Issues. You have to verify your identity through your driver’s license or passport, so if your business name does not match the license provided, they will issue a refund, but there are workarounds. You are able to add a legal name to your bio and often get around needing to change the business name itself. I have also heard of people submitting business documents as proof instead of a license. In my case I was unable to get verified for a year because I use a pseudonym for protection. Therefore, I could not add my legal name to my profile bio. After months of refunds and resubmitting applications I was finally accepted. Without direct access to the support team, it is difficult to get through to the right people at Meta to get them to actually look at your documents. Persistence here is key. If your company pays for a lot of advertisements and has a rep at Meta this process also becomes much easier

• You have to do FB/Insta separate AND pay separate. Sigh.  This makes things take longer and it's annoying that I have to pay for both FB AND Insta. I don't see why this can't be a combined process, especially when they force us to link the accounts for authenticating to third-party platforms, but it is what it is, and for $30/mo for both, it's still worth it.  

• Hard to change your account Name and Profile Photo once you're verified.  Again, I get this, but still...it's annoying but at least I have the Meta bat phone when I need help.  It's just something to know and realize. 
  

Hope you all have an awesome 2025 and if you have any questions, feel free to DM me on one of my socials! @the_ashley_vaughn 

Check out these NEW brand campaigns launched in Autofluencer! 🚪🔑

• AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS TO CHECK OUT: CarLife x Freddy Media, Autofluencer Ambassador Program

• 2025 Content Partnership: BOOSTane

• 2025 Sponsored Driver Programs: Advanced Clutch, Team Driven

  APPLY TO OPEN PARTNERSHIPS!

Headed to the MPMC Media Trade Conference or upcoming events with potential partners/sponsors? Make sure to update your Autofluencer profile and use your QR Code to show your current social media stats! 💡

We want to celebrate YOU! 🎉 Did you land your dream partnership? Took the leap into entrepreneurship? Send us your big wins!

Here’s a few BIG WINS we’ve seen this month!

1. NEW PARTNERSHIP ALERT! Lala Fox X Forced Inductions

2. BIG RACE WIN! Jason Terrell of Tin Soldier Racecars Wins Cleetus Mcfarland’s 2024 Christmas Tree Drag Racing World Championship

3. PRI FEATURED PRODUCT SHOWCASE AWARD! QA1 Third Gen Kits

🚀 We’re launching a monthly “Creator Roundtable” on Google Meet—a space for creators to share what’s working, what’s not (whether it’s on Autofluencer or social networks in general), and explore how Autofluencer can better support you. While we can’t do it all, together we can brainstorm some pretty sweet solutions!

This is also your chance to preview new features and get a sneak peek at top-secret roadmap updates! If you’re interested in shaping the future of Autofluencer, we’d love to have you on board! To keep the conversations focused and productive, the roundtable will be capped at 15 participants to start. Let us know if you’d like to join! ✋

❗❗ Newsletter platforms like Beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

Got Something to Say of Your Own?! Subscribe to get your own Beehiiv Newsletter! 🐝

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet? Get on it! It's FREE and gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities! 👇

Headed to PRI? We’ll Be There! 👋

Check out our panel on Thursday at 3PM all about Content Creators & the Future of Social Media! And send us an email (erica@autofluencer.com) to get an invite to our networking reception on Friday at 9PM!

Hey! This is JoAnna, you may know me as @that1320chick on TikTok/Insta, and like you, I’m passionate about cars, racing, and content! I spend WAY too much time on social media and have mad respect for the many creators in our space thinking outside the box and taking their enthusiast car content to the next level. And when the team at AF asked me to share some of my thoughts on what’s Trendy AF right now, I was all in! If you still need some inspo for this December, check out below! And if you try any of these or do your own creative holiday post, we want to see it! Tag @autofluencerOG or hit us up with the hashtag #trendyAF

1. Advent Calendar Builds:

Transform your vehicle one part at a time! Advent calendar-inspired videos featuring car mods or accessories have been a huge favorite. Whether it’s wheels, exhausts, or detailing kits, the excitement of a daily upgrade is contagious.

2. Gift Guides for Gearheads: 

Highlight the perfect gift for the car enthusiast in your life! These videos make  shopping easier for fans and often spark a lot of engagement as viewers share their dream gifts (or wishlist hints).

-Personalized Gearhead Apparel: Custom T-shirts, hoodies, or hats with  automotive designs or inside jokes are always a hit.
-Car Photoshoots: Professional or DIY photo sessions for showcasing someone’s beloved ride are a unique and thoughtful gift idea.
-Event Tickets for 2025: Motorsport races, car shows, or even driving experiences make for unforgettable experiences that any car enthusiast would treasure.

3. Deck the Cars with Boughs of Holly: 

From securing Christmas trees on your roof to dazzling your ride with holiday  lights, these festive transformations bring the holiday spirit straight to the driveway. These videos practically scream share-worthy!

Let’s Make December Shine Together

Can’t wait to see how you put your unique spin on these ideas—or come up with entirely new ones! The Autofluencer team is here to support you, whether you need brainstorming help, guidance on trends, or resources to bring your vision to life. Want to get featured in Trendy AF with Trendy content?! #TrendyAF in your more creative posts!

Here’s to wrapping up 2024 with exciting, creative content that gets everyone in the holiday mood. 🎄✨

JoAnna Iocabelli Reid’s Focus ST Christmas Ready!

JoAnna Iocabelli Reid @that1320chick 👀

Learn the latest changes on social platforms and new tools, helping you grow your page and keep your followers engaged! 📱✨

• Instagram Broadcast Channels Getting New Features: Instagram is trying to promote the use of their Broadcast Channels with features like prompts, replies, insights, and best practices to help creators connect more with their followers. Have you tried a Broadcast Channel? Here’s a great automotive example of one: Ashley Vaughn’s “Sh!t no one knows about…” with 1.7k members! Check out her Instagram profile to see the broadcast channel!

• POV: TikTok Ban Looms. TikTok’s attempt to say the impending US ban set to take place on January 19th, 2025 is unconstitutional was dismissed last week and on 12/9, TikTok filed an emergency petition to delay the ban that is supposed to take effect on January 19, 2025 if TikTok’s parent company ByteDance doesn’t sell off the business or the US portion to a US buyer by that time. What say you?! Is TikTok a national security concern? Should it be banned? As a note, if US bans TikTok, it would be the 7th country to leverage a full ban on the platform (there is already a ban in US on all federal government devices and systems). The other 6 countries with full bans on TikTok are Afghanistan, Nepal, Iran, Kyrgzstan, Somalia, and India.

Once a month, Autofluencer sits down with badass industry leaders, brands, creators, drivers, enthusiasts, or anyone who makes this industry stronger to talk about tips on building supercharged partnerships! ⚡

Dane Trask, marketing professional, classic car restorer, and "dadager" of Riley’s Rebuilds, shares how they turned Riley’s carburetor rebuilding hobby into a booming business and social media success when she was just 16!

Dane breaks down the huge shift in marketing: it’s no longer about high production commercials with actors and scripts. These days, content creators with engaged audiences deliver way more authentic promotion, if brands give them the freedom to stay true to their style. Dane says Riley’s style is “the wholesome granddaughter,” so a bikini ad wouldn’t make sense. Both brands and creators need to make sure their partnership aligns!

We want to celebrate YOU! 🎉 Did you land your dream partnership? Took the leap into entrepreneurship? Send us your big wins!

Here’s a few BIG WINS we’ve seen this month already!

1. NEW PARTNERSHIP ALERT! Autumn X RideTech Suspension

2. NEW TRACK OPEN! Hunter Blake Fitzgerald Opens Fitzgerald Motorsports Park

3. BIG RACE WIN! Kye Kelley Wins Snowbird Outlaw Nationals in Pro Mod

Check out these NEW brand campaigns launched in Autofluencer! 🚪🔑

• AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS TO CHECK OUT: CarLife x Freddy Media, Autofluencer Ambassador Program

• 2025 Content Partnership: BOOSTane

• 2025 Sponsored Driver Programs: Advanced Clutch, Team Driven

  APPLY TO OPEN PARTNERSHIPS!

Learn about the NEW features & updates in Autofluencer! 🔥🔥🔥

• Autofluencer announces creator authentication for Instagram and Facebook! 

• How to authenticate for Instagram

• Updates to how your deliverables get attached to campaigns

❗❗ Newsletter platforms like Beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

Got Something to Say of Your Own?! Subscribe to get your own Beehiiv Newsletter! 🐝

Haven’t set up your Autofluencer profile yet? Get on it! It's FREE and gives you access to your social stats, partnership insights, and new brand opportunities! 👇