Can you stop chasing trends in 2026 and still WIN? 🤔 🎯
Jack Appleby’s story is the kind most creators don’t hear enough about.
Before millions of views, before a six‑figure newsletter business, before speaking on the future of social strategy - Jack was a longtime marketing strategist pulling graveyard shifts managing Facebook comments for brands like Electronic Arts. He wasn’t chasing virality. He was learning how attention actually works.
When he finally started creating, his third-ever video went viral — a million views on a 7,000‑follower account. Not because it was trendy. Not because it was overproduced. But because, as Jack puts it, “I knew I could rely on the message.”
He wasn’t great on camera. He didn’t love editing. He didn’t follow trends. He just told stories people could believe in.
That same mindset carried into everything that followed.
Jack built Future Social - now one of the most-read marketing newsletters in the industry - without paid ads, lead magnets, or hacks. Just clear opinions, strong writing, and the willingness to stand behind them. At the same time, he launched Hoop Forever, documenting his journey as a mid‑30s basketball player trying to keep competing — and turned it into a thriving content series that pulled 38 million views in a year.
His takeaway for creators is simple, but uncomfortable:
“You can’t just make content that gets views. You have to give people a reason to root for you.”
And that’s a reminder worth sitting with:
You don’t need better trends.
You don’t need better gear.
You need a story people want to follow - and the courage to keep telling it.
Platforms will change.
Monetization programs will fluctuate.
Algorithms will come and go.
Creators who build trust, show vulnerability, and stand for something? They last.
In other news…
X (formerly Twitter) just announced a $1 million prize for the best long‑form article, signaling that thoughtful writing still has value in a world obsessed with punchy snippets and short scrolls.
TikTok quietly released PineDrama, a new app for serialized micro‑dramas — essentially narrative storytelling built directly into vertical video.
Tech thinkers are buzzing about how ChatGPT’s AI ad plans could upend how creators monetize based on intent and audience understanding.
What ties all of this together? Platforms are experimenting with ways to give depth more room, not just dopamine hits. Audiences are starting to respond differently - and creators who understand why people pay attention now have the edge in 2026.
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💬 Kicksta POV: Story > Trends, Alwayss
If there’s a theme in this issue, it’s this: people don’t follow trends - they follow meaning.
Jack Appleby said it best on the podcast:
“You have to be worth rooting for.”
That doesn’t come from jumping on today’s trending sound or meme.
Rather from telling your story in a way that feels real, relatable, and consistent. That’s exactly what X’s long‑form prize, TikTok’s micro‑serial narratives, and even the AI monetization models are indirectly validating: audiences still crave substance, not just spectacle.
Here’s what that means for you right now:
Don’t chase every trend - build your voice instead.
Use narrative, not noise, to keep people watching.
Monetization happens when your audience trusts you, not when they’re just entertained.
The platforms may change their algorithms, features, and reward programs, but the reason people hit “follow” remains the same:
They want a reason to care.
Make the story worth caring about - that’s where real growth lives in 2026.
Have a great rest of the week! 😉
Phil
