[mdszy]

>By 'influencers' we mean creators who have loyal and engaged audiences on social media that they have grown through their own content. They are usually experts in a particular skill, like cookie decorating, vegan baking, or fitness and nutrition

I feel like "influencer" is too broad of a term for this. From what I know about influencers, a lot of them are just a pretty face that brands can slap their name onto.

[reaperducer]

From what I know about influencers, a lot of them are just a pretty face that brands can slap their name onto.

I think this is the most common understanding of the term, as well.

To me "influencer" is no different than the "brand representatives" that used to be known as "booth babes" that are bussed in to conventions and trade shows to draw eyes while they stand next to products.

[hazz99]

> I think this is the most common understanding of the term, as well.

I'd be careful assuming that. My understanding is much closer to what the main post describes, as is most of the college students I know. It's definitely just a broad term for people with an online presence, typically through Instagram, who use their online popularity for advertising on behalf of companies.

Influencers often have a bit more depth than just "booth babes", like you described. Their popularity comes from a high level of expertise in something or a great online persona.

Consider your mum having a baking Instagram. She blows up in popularity, and then starts advertising, and potentially taking more care to cultivate her audience. She is definitely an influencer, but far from what you've described.

[madhuri_gb]

Influencers is a "broad" term. Right now we work with influencers who are culinary experts and have built a brand using original content in their own field of expertise. Additionally, they represent a gateway to an audience of 50K to several millions, who are interested in their type of content. Their audience has its own characteristics of age, income level, interests and preferences etc. that is relevant for us to understand, as we launch products catered just to that audience

[sebastienbarre]

For the type of influencer you are referring to I prefer to use the words "product endorser". Because that's really what it boils down to. Of course influencers are not a fan of that term.

[mdszy]

What about "sentient billboard"?

[michaelbuckbee]

Agreed. This seems pretty well targeted to people who are more "indie solo creators".