Influencing is the fast growing small business segment in the U.S.

They are simply small business entrepreneurs. Think of them as salesmen/women. The ROI can very good for a major brand relative to developing a mass market advertising campaign with a ad firm.

The professional influencers you see spend a lot of time/money storyboarding their content, using professional crew/equipment, editing the content, picking out clothes, etc.

Someone I know who was moderately successful with influencing (around 80K followers) said that 1 minute of content was probably about 10-15 hours of her own labor. For the really big influencers, it's a lot more man hours - there's usually a small team planning & executing on content.

When you see someone influencing on IG or TT to sell a product, just envision multiple teleconference meetings between that person and the brand. It's not glamorous. It's just another corporate job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a family friend who is an extremely successful influencer. She's 31. She grew up wealthy and did some modeling type stuff. She grew up in that kind of LA, NYC, London "it" crowd and influencing just became a natural thing. She has multiple high end brands that she sponsors. She goes on fabulous trips for free and just has to make some Instragram posts and stories. She's invited to all these high end brand events.
She's funny and sweet and definitely not any of the negative stereotypes.

I think this is just the new type of modeling for that age and younger. I'm 38 so I think just missed it with people my own age, but see it with her age and younger.

That type of influencing I get. The mom influencers I don't have any interest in.

The only part of this that sounds good to me is the travel. “High end brands” and events, no thanks. But even the trips influencers go on seem boring. All I see them doing is filming their hotel suites and sitting on the beach in Dubai.

Tell me more about your fascinating job

My job isn’t fascinating. I don’t really like it.

I wouldn’t want the influencer life though. I don’t like being on my phone all the time and I find posing and taking selfies exhausting. I like my privacy.

The once nice thing about my job is that it’s remote and I work when I want. Ideally, I’d travel more and work wherever I am…but I have no interest in chronicling it for the whole world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a family friend who is an extremely successful influencer. She's 31. She grew up wealthy and did some modeling type stuff. She grew up in that kind of LA, NYC, London "it" crowd and influencing just became a natural thing. She has multiple high end brands that she sponsors. She goes on fabulous trips for free and just has to make some Instragram posts and stories. She's invited to all these high end brand events.
She's funny and sweet and definitely not any of the negative stereotypes.

I think this is just the new type of modeling for that age and younger. I'm 38 so I think just missed it with people my own age, but see it with her age and younger.

That type of influencing I get. The mom influencers I don't have any interest in.

The only part of this that sounds good to me is the travel. “High end brands” and events, no thanks. But even the trips influencers go on seem boring. All I see them doing is filming their hotel suites and sitting on the beach in Dubai.

Tell me more about your fascinating job

I follow an influencer - probably around 30 years old - she started off sharing her teaching lessons and clothes she wears teaching and it took off. She now makes three times the money influencing as she does teaching.
She's very regimented in her life and I imagine works both jobs 18 hours a day - gets up early to workout and then has to post all the social stuff while working a full time job.
She'll burn out, I'm feeling, and she's eluded to that already, but needs another niche if she's going to quit teaching.

Anonymous wrote:I have a family friend who is an extremely successful influencer. She's 31. She grew up wealthy and did some modeling type stuff. She grew up in that kind of LA, NYC, London "it" crowd and influencing just became a natural thing. She has multiple high end brands that she sponsors. She goes on fabulous trips for free and just has to make some Instragram posts and stories. She's invited to all these high end brand events.
She's funny and sweet and definitely not any of the negative stereotypes.

I think this is just the new type of modeling for that age and younger. I'm 38 so I think just missed it with people my own age, but see it with her age and younger.

That type of influencing I get. The mom influencers I don't have any interest in.

The only part of this that sounds good to me is the travel. “High end brands” and events, no thanks. But even the trips influencers go on seem boring. All I see them doing is filming their hotel suites and sitting on the beach in Dubai.

I have a family friend who is an extremely successful influencer. She's 31. She grew up wealthy and did some modeling type stuff. She grew up in that kind of LA, NYC, London "it" crowd and influencing just became a natural thing. She has multiple high end brands that she sponsors. She goes on fabulous trips for free and just has to make some Instragram posts and stories. She's invited to all these high end brand events.
She's funny and sweet and definitely not any of the negative stereotypes.

I think this is just the new type of modeling for that age and younger. I'm 38 so I think just missed it with people my own age, but see it with her age and younger.

That type of influencing I get. The mom influencers I don't have any interest in.

It's easy, you don't need a degree, and you can make a lot of money, get a lot of free stuff and get trips and experiences . What's not to love?

Anonymous wrote:I think because they think if they are influencers, then it is a shortcut to fame perhaps…..??

Kind of like a B-level reality star?

The demographic consists primarily of young people who love to dream big of course! 🙂‍↔️

+1

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it the promise of high financial rewards as in not having to do a 9-5 type of grind? How much do these influencers actually make?

It varies widely. Some are clearly making a good or great living off it while they can though. For some it is a side gig.

Isn't it the promise of high financial rewards as in not having to do a 9-5 type of grind? How much do these influencers actually make?

Anonymous wrote:Why do people want to be "influencers"? What is so appealing about it?

They get to talk about themselves and their favorite interest and get paid for it. They get freebies and cool trips. They make a lot of money if they do it well. They are in charge of their lives.

I think because they think if they are influencers, then it is a shortcut to fame perhaps…..??

Kind of like a B-level reality star?

The demographic consists primarily of young people who love to dream big of course! 🙂‍↔️

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And how exactly are these people so comfortable in front of a camera?

Why do people want to be "influencers"? What is so appealing about it?