Ian Shepherd

London

Contributor at Forbes

Co-CEO and Co-Founder @electrifyvideo | Host of the Business of Creators podcast | Forbes Contributor

Articles

Steven Bartlett Becomes Co-Owner Of Stan To Back Creator Founders

1 week ago | forbes.com | Ian Shepherd

Steven Bartlett is no stranger to backing the next wave of disruptors, but his latest move is more than an investment.
How Creators Are Building 7-Figure Products, Without Millions Of Views

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Ian Shepherd

The idea that a creator’s business lives or dies by sponsorships is quickly becoming outdated. As audiences crave more authentic, purpose-driven products, creators are turning into entrepreneurs, developing tools, books, art and gear rooted in their content and expertise. Many are finding that they don’t need millions of views to make millions of dollars, they just need to solve a problem for the right audience.
Inside The Rise Of The Creator CEO Movement

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Ian Shepherd

The creator economy is growing up. What started as a movement of individuals monetizing content has rapidly evolved into something more sophisticated: creators are becoming entrepreneurs and content is becoming the top of a real business funnel. These digital-first operators are no longer just chasing brand deals. They’re launching products, managing teams and running companies. And now, a new wave of platforms is emerging to support them.
What Trading Cards Tell Us About The Future Of The Creator Economy

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Ian Shepherd

For years, creators have been chasing virality and hoping the money follows. But today, the most successful creators are flipping that script by monetizing directly through community, content and commerce. Fanatics Live, a livestream platform built for trading card enthusiasts, is a great example of what’s possible when creators are given the tools to operate like entrepreneurs.
The Webby Awards Just Gave Creators What They’ve Always Deserved

4 weeks ago | forbes.com | Ian Shepherd

For nearly two decades, creators have been the unsung architects of internet culture. From the rise of YouTube vloggers in the 2000s to today’s multi-platform content entrepreneurs, creators have consistently driven innovation, conversation and now commerce online. Yet structurally, they remained undefined, often folded into broader categories like "social" or "video" in institutional settings. That changed in 2025.
Creators Are Coming For QVC’s Crown

4 weeks ago | forbes.com | Ian Shepherd

When QVC launched in 1986, it reshaped shopping as entertainment. Hosts on live television sold everything from jewelry to juicers with charm, trust and storytelling. Fast forward to today, and the format is back, but this time, it’s powered by creators, not cable. The next QVC is already live-streaming from someone’s phone.
How Top Creators Are Outsmarting The Algorithm For Good

1 month ago | forbes.com | Ian Shepherd

In the early days of digital content creation, success was measured by exposure: the number of likes, shares, followers and views a creator could accumulate. But increasingly, creators are realizing that virality doesn’t always translate into financial sustainability. Platform algorithms change frequently, monetization models are inconsistent and dependence on a single social media channel introduces risk.
You Went Viral, Now What? How Creators Are Turning Attention Into Income

1 month ago | forbes.com | Ian Shepherd

For a creator, going viral is often seen as the finish line. But for those building sustainable businesses, it's just the starting point. What matters most is what happens after a million views. The story of Kat Norton, better known as Miss Excel, shows how creators can turn fleeting attention into scalable, evergreen income without brand deals or burnout. And she's not alone.
From MIT To Millions: The Rise Of A New Creator Economy Star

1 month ago | forbes.com | Ian Shepherd

At just 10 years old, Gohar Khan hit "record" on his first YouTube video. Like many young creators of his generation, he started with Minecraft walkthroughs, earning a modest $10,000 to 20,000 in ad revenue while still in middle school. Few could have predicted that those early uploads would ignite a journey culminating in 10 million followers across platforms and a freshly launched production studio, all before his 25th birthday.
From Plush Toys To Tariffs: How Creators Are Reinventing Merch In 2025

1 month ago | forbes.com | Ian Shepherd

It’s no longer enough for creators to sell a hoodie with a catchphrase and call it merch. Today’s top creators are building full-fledged consumer brands with storytelling, strategy and scalability at the core. At the forefront of this evolution is Warren James, the creative engine behind physical product lines for Good Mythical Morning, Brittany Broski, MoistCr1TiKaL and more. CEO Saurabh Shah recently explained to me how they’ve helped creators turn content into commerce.