Inner Sircle

 WHAT WAS SAID “The era of followers is dead.”Urban Outfitters’ Head of Brand Marketing and Communications, Cyntia Leo, wrote the obit for follower counts during one of the first sessions Monday morning: How Brands Are Winning With Creator-Led Strategies in 2025.“This is really a time about the algorithm,” said Cyntia. “Creators help us be in the algorithm, not just being in the platform.”The idea that follower count no longer holds the value it once did echoed throughout the week.Prop CEO Joseph Perelli drove the point home in a panel on creators and performance marketing: “Obsessing over followers is the biggest mistake marketers make.” Between fake followers, poor audience targeting, and limited organic reach, follower count is no longer a reliable metric — for creators or brands.Takeaway: If leadership still insists on hiring creators based on follower count, it’s time to let them know the game has changed. Smart marketers are prioritizing deep content alignment and leveraging creator content for paid med