The social media landscape is constantly shifting, and as a small business expert, I’m always tracking these changes to help entrepreneurs navigate effectively. Today, I want to share some insights from my recent rundown of business news that could impact your strategy.
Meta recently unveiled what they’re calling “OG Facebook features,” and it’s about time! Over the years, Meta and other platforms have used powerful algorithms to feed us content they think we want. While seeing content aligned with my interests in small business growth and security is helpful, I’ve been missing updates from friends, family, and business partners.
This algorithm-driven approach has created a significant disconnect. We’ve all experienced that moment of surprise when we manually scroll through a friend’s profile and realize how much we’ve missed. Meta’s OG mode aims to restore some balance, potentially allowing us to see more content from people we’ve explicitly connected with rather than just algorithm-selected material.
The Evolving World of Influencer Marketing
SoftBank-backed startup Spotter is hosting a first-of-its-kind showcase to help YouTube personalities connect with advertisers. This event mirrors what traditional TV networks have done for years, but now focuses on digital creators.
Here’s what this means for small business owners: You don’t need millions of followers to benefit from influencer marketing. There’s plenty of opportunity for those of us with smaller but highly engaged audiences. Brands are increasingly recognizing the value of:
- Micro-influencers with dedicated niche followings
- Content creators who can help develop authentic brand material
- Business owners who can leverage their expertise to represent products
The influencer economy is expanding beyond just social media personalities doing product placements. As business owners who produce valuable content and have built trusted audiences, we can partner with brands in multiple ways.
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Influencer Marketing Beyond Social Media
Can influencer marketing evolve beyond social media? Absolutely. The most effective influencer strategies now incorporate:
- Event appearances and speaking engagements
- Podcast collaborations and guest spots
- Email newsletters and subscription content
- Community building across multiple platforms
This evolution is happening because audiences crave authentic content from trusted voices. As platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have surged in popularity, they’ve created opportunities for influencers to build engaged audiences. But the real power comes when we extend that influence beyond social media into other channels.
AI Is Here to Stay
OpenAI’s Sam Altman recently reported that their “GPUs are melting” due to overwhelming demand for their latest image generation tools. This is further evidence that AI is not just a passing trend – it’s transforming how we do business.
If you’re not using AI to enhance your operations, you’re falling behind. From content creation to customer service and market analysis, these tools can dramatically improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Business Lessons from Yellowstone
The corporate drama between Paramount and NBC over Yellowstone spin-offs offers a valuable lesson for small business owners. When partnerships are successful, it’s tempting to expand without proper documentation. But even when working with friends, family, or trusted associates, always formalize your agreements.
When things go well and money starts flowing, people often have different recollections of what was agreed upon. Always dot your i’s and cross your t’s to ensure your business relationships hold up to legal scrutiny.
Work-Life Balance Is a Choice
Poppy’s co-founder Allison Ellsworth recently shared that she “loves chaos and never takes a lunch break” while building her beverage empire. Her story highlights an important truth: building a successful business often requires significant sacrifice.
As entrepreneurs, we must choose the life we want. There may be seasons where grinding for years makes sense because you believe in the potential payoff. Other times, maintaining balance might be more important. There’s no universal right answer – just the choice that aligns with your priorities and circumstances.
My goal is always to provide practical insights that help you navigate the business landscape more effectively. Whether it’s adapting to social media changes, exploring influencer opportunities, or making tough decisions about work-life balance, these choices shape your entrepreneurial journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can small businesses with limited followers benefit from influencer marketing?
Small businesses can partner with brands looking for micro-influencers with highly engaged niche audiences rather than massive follower counts. Focus on creating valuable content, building trust with your audience, and showcasing your expertise. Many brands now prefer working with multiple smaller influencers who have authentic connections with their followers rather than a single celebrity endorsement.
Q: What is Meta’s “OG Mode” and how might it affect business pages?
Meta’s “OG Mode” appears to be a feature that will prioritize content from connections you’ve explicitly made (friends, family, followed pages) rather than algorithm-selected content. For business pages, this could mean your content might reach more of your actual followers rather than being distributed based solely on engagement metrics. This makes building a genuine following even more important than trying to game the algorithm.
Q: How should entrepreneurs approach work-life balance when building a business?
Work-life balance is a personal decision that depends on your goals, circumstances, and season of life. Some entrepreneurs choose to sacrifice balance temporarily during growth phases, believing the future payoff will be worth it. Others prioritize maintaining balance throughout. The key is making a conscious choice rather than defaulting to constant work, and reassessing regularly to ensure your approach still aligns with your values and goals.
Q: What are some practical ways to incorporate AI into a small business?
Small businesses can use AI for content creation (blog posts, social media), customer service (chatbots), market research analysis, email marketing optimization, scheduling, transcription services, and basic graphic design. Start with one area where you’re spending significant time, research AI tools specific to that need, and experiment with how they can complement your human expertise rather than replace it entirely.
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