Creative Strategy Hot Take:
Most brands don’t care about your degree
they care if you know what’s working right now
This is why you gotta stay sharp. Take courses, read advertising books, keep practicing your craft.
The game of marketing moves too fast to sit still
nobody talks about this ad copy cheat code:
reading FB comments + reddit threads
it’s where I find the rawest, most honest insights
when I’m stuck, I go scrape comments. The internet already wrote the copy for you
How much I’ve made with Creative Strategy in 2025:
Jan - April $0/m
May - Aug: $2500/m
September - Now: $7125/m
And Its only going up from here! 🥂✨
But the hardest months were when i was making 0$/month.
Everyone acknowledges when you start making some real coin, that the hard work during the beginning stages is often forgotten.
So here’re your sign not to take these beginning stages for granted.
Your hard work WILL pay off
A winning concept should become a:
5-min VSL
2-min VSL
60-second
30-second
15-second
Static
UGC recreation
Script-based ad
Voiceover
Story version
Future-benefit version
Mechanism-first cut
Testimonial mash
Authority figure POV
Multiple language variants
Multi-archetype versions
Backstage creator batch
AI-assisted edits
B-roll-enhanced edits
One idea → an ecosystem.
This is how ads hit $1M+ in total spend.
just made a swipe file of 152 BLACK FRIDAY ADS that are printing on fb right now (7–8+ figs)
it’s packed with offer images, direct-response creatives, landing page angles, headlines, and the exact structures brands are using to scale fast
covers 12+ of the best ecommerce niches — supplements, beauty, gadgets, home, wellness, fashion, and more
rt+ comment “FRIDAY” and i’ll send you the swipe file
(follow for DMs)
Had dinner with someone who works at a major DTC brand that hires dozens of UGC creators every month.
Asked her why so many creators complain about brands ghosting them after initial conversations.
Her answer was eye-opening.
"Most creators pitch us like they're asking for favors instead of offering solutions. They want us to explain our business to them instead of showing they understand our challenges."
She pulled up some recent pitches they'd received. 90% were variations of "I'd love to work with your brand" with no indication the creator had done any research.
The pitches that get responses demonstrate understanding of their customer, their market position, their competitors. They offer specific ideas for content that would solve actual business problems.
She showed me one pitch that led to a $5k retainer. The creator had analyzed their competitor's content strategy, identified gaps in their current approach, and proposed three specific video concepts that would differentiate them.
"That creator became a strategic partner from day one. Most others are just looking for easy money."
She said they ghost creators who clearly haven't done research because responding would just lead to more questions they shouldn't have to answer. Like what their target audience is, what problems their product solves, who their competitors are.
"If someone wants to work with us, they should know more about our business than we have to tell them."
Makes sense. Brands are busy running companies, not educating creators about basic marketing concepts.
The creators who do their homework get responses. The ones who expect brands to educate them get ignored.
Research isn't optional. It's the entry fee for professional relationships.
I secured a new Creative strategy role last week & the founder wants to MENTOR ME!
So not only do i get paid to work there, but i also learn a bunch of industry insider info at the same time!
So grateful to be working here 🥹
Top 5 Out-of-the-Box Hook Ideas That’ll Stop the Scroll in 2025
1️⃣ The Post-it Note Hook
Write your hook on a sticky note and stick it to a mirror or wall on camera.
It’s low-effort, but instantly pulls attention because people are curious about what’s written and what comes next.
2️⃣ The TikTok Comment Skeptic
Use the Q&A style comment overlay to highlight a customer doubt.
Then structure the ad around disproving it. (Like: “Does this actually work on textured skin?” → cut to product demo.)
3️⃣ The Reverse Clip Effect
Drop the product, then reverse the clip so it flies back into your hand.
It’s weird. It’s cool. And it always gets a second watch.
4️⃣ The Megaphone Announcement
Start the ad with your creator shouting into a megaphone.
Perfect for announcing sales, restocks, or new drops. It’s disruptive and adds personality.
5️⃣ The Paper Zoom
Type and print a bold message, then zoom in and out on it for the first few seconds.
It gives you built-in text + motion + curiosity in one shot.
(inspired by @TheSocialSavannah’s video on ‘top 30 ad formats brands are stealing in 2025’ https://t.co/u1JVkwFJp7)
Told myself i didn’t want to enter September without securing another CS client
Tell me why i just got hired for a FULL TIME role at a marketing agency 😳
Still shocked i passed 3 rounds of interviews and was the final pick!
This is your sign that whatever is for you, will never miss you
A year ago, I was doing UGC for $200/video.
This week, a single ad strategy I built made a brand $25k.
The shift?
I stopped being just the content and became the strategy behind it.
Need a Creative Strategist? → https://t.co/YXmlD66mZ1