Influencers… influencers everywhere!

[elanshin]

I think a lot of you guys are viewing it in a different lens.

These have always existed and for a while just in a different term. Perhaps marketing agency would be a better understood term. That travel magazine from years ago showcasing different spots - same concept.

The only difference is that in today's world the barrier to entry is so low anyone with a phone can become one. It doesn't mean they're good or successful at it though.

We even do this ourselves here in AFF. Every trip report is in some way an "influence" as well.

There are also plenty of very skilled and respectful creators out there. Right now its the "glam" job which unfortunately attracts lots of people that aren't very good at it or very inconsiderate and thats fair to point those out.

But the concept itself is hardly new. We just have a new term for it.

 

[markis10]

There are also plenty of very skilled and respectful creators out there. Right now its the "glam" job which unfortunately attracts lots of people that aren't very good at it or very inconsiderate and thats fair to point those out.

But the concept itself is hardly new. We just have a new term for it.

I digress, influencers and you tube muppets didn’t exist years ago. Conde Nest didn’t ring your local bar and offer a review for a $5000 down payment. Anthony Bordaines team didn’t seek the biggest wallets to showcase on no reservations. Lonely Planet didn’t highlight those that remunerated them the most. In fact most of the guides we used to follow had a strict no payment policy and employed real journalist’s with ethics.

Cash for comment/coverage is a modern thing, and I detest/distrust it immensely, we have lowered the bar to the point the sheep are following in ever greater numbers to the detriment of their own pleasure.

 

[VPS]

I digress, influencers and you tube muppets didn’t exist years ago. Conde Nest didn’t ring your local bar and offer a review for a $5000 down payment. Anthony Bordaines team didn’t seek the biggest wallets to showcase on no reservations. Lonely Planet didn’t highlight those that remunerated them the most. In fact most of the guides we used to follow had a strict no payment policy and employed real journalist’s with ethics.

Cash for comment/coverage is a modern thing, and I detest/distrust it immensely, we have lowered the bar to the point the sheep are following in ever greater numbers to the detriment of their own pleasure.

John Laws and others were doing cash for comment well before social media was invented

 

[elanshin]

I digress, influencers and you tube muppets didn’t exist years ago. Conde Nest didn’t ring your local bar and offer a review for a $5000 down payment. Anthony Bordaines team didn’t seek the biggest wallets to showcase on no reservations. Lonely Planet didn’t highlight those that remunerated them the most. In fact most of the guides we used to follow had a strict no payment policy and employed real journalist’s with ethics.

Cash for comment/coverage is a modern thing, and I detest/distrust it immensely, we have lowered the bar to the point the sheep are following in ever greater numbers to the detriment of their own pleasure.

Those still exist in different formats and there are modern equivalents on YouTube as well. I enjoy quite a few people that make excellent travel YouTube series whether its showcasing locations, food, experiencs and journeys. There are some very genuine content out there that are both resourceful, insightful and very considerate in how they film.

It's just that the bulk of the "influencers" these days are just out for quick clicks and ego boosts at the cost of everything which is what is driving up nuisance behaviour for it. Those are what i think most people have a problem with.