The most underrated influencer strategy in 2025? Sending free stuff. Yes, influencer marketing means contracts, budgets, and carefully mapped campaigns. But sometimes the biggest wins come from something much simpler: giving the right product to the right creator at the right time. Case in point: comedian and podcast host Jake Shane. He recently posted twice about our client, UnHide… completely organically. No payment. No contract. Just genuine enthusiasm for a product that fit perfectly into his life (and content). The lesson here isn’t just “hope a creator likes your product.” It’s about: - Building authentic relationships with their teams - Being thoughtful about timing - Understanding what makes your product naturally shareable When those elements align, gifting could outperform even the most polished campaign.

The cheapest CPM you’ll ever get is from influencer gifting. The most scalable form of trust is paid influencer content. You need both.

Influencer marketing is a compounding game. The longer you play, the better it works.

Most influencer deals fail because brands ask: “What’s your rate?” That’s the fastest way to overpay. Instead: → Pick your CPM target → Back into views/deliverables → Make a reasonable offer

Whitelisting ads from influencers are dangerous. Because next thing you know you're buying random supplements at 2am because of them.

If you’re paying influencers but not tracking CPMs, you’re flying blind. $40 CPM = solid. $20 CPM = elite. $10 CPM = you’ve hacked the matrix.

Most brands plan for BFCM like it’s a sprint... It’s not. It’s a marathon that ends in a sprint. Influencers help you stay top-of-mind the whole way through.

Influencer marketing isn’t just TikTok dances (and we all say amen). It’s retail lift and lower ad costs.

A lot of brands are still chasing “viral.” Our team is chasing volume. 50+ creators posting every month >>> one viral post that fades in 48 hours.

Influencer marketing is not just “send 10 products, cross your fingers.” It’s process, volume, and consistency.

Has anyone opted out of health care coverage and signed up for a service like CrowdHealth or Medishare? We pay an insane amount every month and just seems like a waste.

Everyone wants high ROAS. Few people actually know where it comes from. Here’s the truth... high ROAS doesn’t start in Ads Manager. It starts with content. Most brands obsess over targeting, bidding, and attribution, but they’re running creative that looks like an ad. You know what doesn’t look like an ad? A real person talking about your product in their own voice. That’s why influencer marketing works so well when it’s done right. Because people trust people. Not polished brand videos. The secret formula? 1. Seed hundreds of creators (so you have volume). 2. Find the handful whose content actually moves people. 3. Negotiate usage rights. 4. Plug that content into your paid funnel. Now your ads look organic. Your ROAS climbs. Influencer content isn’t just a top-of-funnel play. It’s your biggest competitive advantage in paid social — if you build it into your system.

Very excited to share @AlignedGrowth is managing the influencer partnerships for the @DrinkUpdate rebrand and retail launch 🚀 🎉

I’m 31 Married with 2 kids I wish i’d started earlier

The real ROI of influencer marketing isn’t just sales. It’s the content engine you build while driving sales.