August 7, 2023

Taming The Daily Overwhelm

Anthony Longo
Instagram Notification Overload

A warm high-FIVE to you today!

Listening is not understanding the words of the question asked. Listening is understanding why the question was asked in the first place. - Simon Sinek

What We’ve Learned So Far at FIVE…

I’m proud of our team. It has been a priority for us to spend so much time listening. It’s the best way to learn, build, grow, and serve. We've taken a deep dive into the world of expert creators over the past year and a half and have heard one clear message from them. 

The overwhelm is pervasive.

The world of expert creators produces experiences and volumes never before seen for individuals to attempt to handle. They are inundated with interactions and comments every day. 

But it's not just the volume that's challenging, it's the very nature of these interactions. Their followers and fans bring thoughtful questions, each one a weighty responsibility for creators who deeply care for their communities.

Take Amy Elohim, for instance, a renowned master herbalist, functional medicine practitioner, and one of my favorite creators.

An average day for her might see 150-200 comments, with many of them expressing some kind of purchase intent. What an amazing opportunity she has in front of her, but it’s also overwhelming. Here’s where the problem lies. Amy,  just like so many other creators, often has to tackle her notifications on the go, with whatever time she can spare. 

What are the negative outcomes then? Well, she responds to whatever's in front of her or at the top of her list and not necessarily what's most important for her business or brand.

Over here at FIVE, we asked ourselves, “What if we could create a solution to this overwhelming flood of interactions?” We're working on just that. I can’t share the full details quite yet, but I can promise that it’s designed to streamline interactions, helping you make the most of the time you have, whether it’s a spare minute or an entire hour.

What if expert creators could easily identify their highest-value response opportunities? Well, keep your eyes peeled in the weeks to come. 

A Case Study from Zach Justice

Zach is a well-known YouTuber and he shared a story with us that underscores the value of this approach and what we’re building. 

Buried in the comments on one of his YouTube videos was a comment from the Nelk Boys. He told me personally, “The Nelk Boys can alter the trajectory of my success and I almost missed the opportunity!” 

A collaborative comment that could have propelled his career went unseen for months, amidst the sea of interactions on his channel. In the fast-paced world of expert creators on YouTube, months might as well be years. 

Thankfully, they eventually connected after extensive work from both of their agents. But what if that had never happened!?!

What we are building at FIVE will ensure no such opportunities slip through the cracks. So stay tuned!

What's the action plan for the mid-term? Keep doing your amazing work, and let us handle the rest. We’ve been listening so that, together, we can transform the overwhelm you feel into an organized system that ensures no interaction goes unnoticed and every follower feels heard. 

Building For You, 

Tony