10 Lessons We’ve Learned About Being Internet People

We’ve been creating Internet content since, well, since Internet content was a thing.

Were we learning personal branding with our MySpace profiles? Yes we were. Were we training for TikTok with our embarrassing 13-year-old YouTube videos? Indeed.

Along the way, we’ve picked up little nuggets of wisdom that we think all Internet People should know — here are 10 of them:

🤳 You don’t have to tell your audience everything

It’s very easy to turn every detail of your life into content once you’ve gained an audience (or in order to gain an audience), but you are very much allowed (and encouraged!) to keep parts of your life to yourself. The Internet is forever, so share yourself wisely!

💰 Don’t let people/brands talk you into working for free

We could scream from the rooftops about the creator/influencer economy being built on the backs of women doing free labor — charge for everything. Everything.

📦 Don’t let the idea of a niche mess with your head

As it relates to personal branding, this whole “to niche or not to niche” convo is starting to get annoying. To put it simply: if some kind of “label” or “box” helps you feel like you know what to post, then define a niche for yourself, stick with it for a while, and pivot when you need to. If it feels restrictive, f*ck a niche. You can succeed both ways.

✍️ If you’re uninspired, don’t scroll and wait for the algorithm to inspire you

It’s very tempting to “scroll for inspiration” for what to post, and this works maybe 20% of the time. But the true, authentic inspiration comes from inside yourself — so if you’re in a rut and wondering what to post, grab a pen and paper and start journaling about what you’d want to say if there were no self-imposed limitations.

🥴 You will cringe over your past content

If you’re not cringing at your past content, you’re probably not taking enough shots on goal. We are constantly cringing at our early stuff, but that’s also the stuff that got us where we are today — you don’t have to feel enormously proud of everything you’ve ever done, because no one does. The trick is to have gratitude for all the versions of yourself that dared to try.

🙄 You don’t have to obey the algorithm or content gurus

If we hear one more person say “The algorithm hates me,” we’re gonna scream. It’s important to have your head screwed on straight when you’re in the content game — especially if you’re sharing information that can help people. If your content positively affects one person’s perspective, can you let that be enough? Post what you feel proud of let the rest take care of itself.

⛱️ You should regularly take time off from posting

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut or find yourself making content that doesn’t even align with how you authentically want to show up on the Internet! It’s important to give yourself regular breaks to restore your creativity and make sure you’re using your creative energy appropriately. If you’re feeling in a creative rut, take some time off and hit the reset button — the algorithm isn’t a god who will punish you for your absence.

🌀 Going viral can feel overwhelming (even if you’re happy about it!)

Virality feels intense to the nervous system if you’re not prepared for it or used to it. It can make you feel all sorts of weird feelings, so if and when this happens to you (even if it’s a good thing!) take care yourself by disconnecting from the phone and doing things that ground you — taking a walk, going to a yoga class, spending time IRL with a friend.

👎 A flop isn’t a failure

As a creative, 80% of your efforts will seem like flops, but these are not failures. This is known as the 80/20 rule — you have to put in that messy 80% to get the 20% of the stuff that really works.

👀 People aren’t paying as much attention as you think

The Spotlight Effect will have you believing everyone is watching you way more than they really are — it’s freeing to know just how little people are actually thinking of you!