In partnership with
🎙️ Media & Creator Economy
📺 TikTok Shop Surges Past $3 Billion in US Sales
TikTok Shop has surpassed $3 billion in U.S. sales in under 12 months — a major milestone that signals social commerce is rapidly gaining ground in Western markets. By leveraging its algorithm and integrating seamless shopping with influencer content, TikTok has blurred the line between entertainment and e-commerce.
Why it matters:
TikTok Shop is now a serious threat to Amazon and Shopify.
Influencers and creators can now build entire product funnels without leaving the app.
Expect to see more platform-owned shops popping up across social media.
What to watch: Regulatory scrutiny is rising, especially with the ongoing U.S. pressure on TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance.
Get Your Free ChatGPT Productivity Bundle
Mindstream brings you 5 essential resources to master ChatGPT at work. This free bundle includes decision flowcharts, prompt templates, and our 2025 guide to AI productivity.
Our team of AI experts has packaged the most actionable ChatGPT hacks that are actually working for top marketers and founders. Save hours each week with these proven workflows.
It's completely free when you subscribe to our daily AI newsletter.
💰 How MrBeast Made $263K in 1 Week from a Brand New Channel
Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) launched a side YouTube channel in a niche category — and monetized it to $263,000 in just seven days through smart packaging, brand licensing, and high-quality storytelling.
Key takeaways for creators:
Short-form content can now lead to massive long-tail monetization.
Revenue streams beyond ads (like licensing and sponsorships) are driving creator wealth.
Brands are seeking out "authentic" channels for native integrations.
✍️ Special Features & Editorials
📬 Email 3.0: The Next Evolution in Newsletter Business Models
Newsletters have become full-blown media businesses. With Beehiiv, ConvertKit, and Substack offering monetization tools, creators are now operating like mini-publishers.
Big trends:
Paid subscriptions + free tier is the new funnel.
Referrals are driving 25–30% of list growth for successful newsletters.
Native ad platforms inside newsletter tools are enabling passive revenue.
Creator Tip:
Use milestone-based referral rewards (ex: unlock bonus content at 5 referrals) to gamify subscriber growth and increase engagement.
🌐 Friday Spotlight: Indie Journalists Are Rising
As trust in traditional media declines, more readers are turning to independent voices. Platforms like Ghost and Beehiiv are fueling this movement.
What’s new:
Former NYT and WSJ writers are launching their own niche newsletters.
Communities are forming around specific writers, not brands.
Readers want analysis + context, not just breaking news.
📢 Linked Outlook’s Take:
The future of news is niche, personal, and community-driven. Readers want transparency and curation, not clutter.
🔔 Quick Hits
🧠 Beehiiv introduces AI Subject Line Assistant for better open rates.
📉 Netflix subscriber growth slows after password-sharing crackdown in EU.
💼 Meta expands Creator Monetization Tools to more regions, including Africa and Southeast Asia.
💬 What’s Your Take?
Do you prefer independent voices over mainstream media?
Reply & let us know. Your comment could be featured next Friday!