How rude of someone to respond with, "ugh I hate influencers, they are so dumb" when you’ve just told them that is what you do! Ugh, I hate rude people, they are so rude! You do you and be proud of all the different skills you have. I hadn’t thought about the fact that you filming ad content by yourself in your kitchen is really what whole teams at ad agencies used to do. 🤯 😘
Thank you for writing this ~ I enjoy all of your essays, insights and perceptions. I recently spoke about your column in my kitchen to my housemate. We were talking about the arts, writing, how it's changed, and what function it may serve for others. I also described you as a designer and a loving human being who shares the ups and downs of working artistically and hard, in the digital era. Thank you again. I think you are great, whatever you call yourself. I think the topics you write about are important to all writers, creators, designers and freelancers who are navigating an often highly challenging (putting it diplomatically) new environment that is fiscally designed to be unsustainable. That is one thing that needs to change. For what is a world without Beauty?
My son does social media postings 5 days a week and has the title of “social media librarian” because he works for Los Angeles Public Library. One can’t work in the public sector without a title, right? So how do you like “Social Media Interior Designer,” or “Social Media Residential Creator,” or……….. ????
Gosh that was so eye opening. Truly! When you asked us to close our eyes and visualize what the prototypical influencer looks like, I drew a blank. I finally thought back to an image in an article I recently read about a "travel influencer" couple. (Sparks Flew All Over The World NYT). I wasn't familiar with either of them, but they are exactly as you described: thin, white, attractive. The job title "influencer" is just so weird and I kind of see that as a title for someone who makes a lot of money from selling stuff they don't really know or care about. A complete judgement on my part, but if every post begins with #ad and the content is full of selfies I'm quick to unfollow. That's not you at all! I see you as a Creative Director. Creative Director of Design & (insert something of the moment here) if you're looking for a new title! Or let's forget the dumb titles. You basically run your own Design Studio. I see you as a highly creative person whose style, humor and content I enjoy no matter what the topic or product is you're mentioning, selling or making fun of.
I also struggle with this idea of telling people "what I do" in the form of a generic job title. I always used to say freelance graphic designer, but the word freelance implies to some people that you don't have a "real" job. Much like how I see "influencers". I recognize that I'm judging "influencer" the same way people judge "freelancer" and I guess that's my point. There are just some key words out there that people are stuck on and will never see beyond the negative (and sexist) connotations. We need some new words so we don't have to keep explaining/defending ourselves!! Now that I'm older, and I haven't climbed the corporate ladder to acquire a fancy title that begins with VP, I just kind of dodge the question. If I circle back to the other person they usually just end up talking about themselves and forget they ever asked me the question in the first place.
I’m a librarian which is another feminized profession (something like 80% of librarians are white women) and the pay is, predictably, mediocre compared to industry even at top research universities. And if you work at a small town public library you can expect to make a pittance even though you have a masters degree. I had never thought about influencers’ work being devalued because of it being feminized, but it seems imminently plausible. Thanks for helping me think about this topic in a new way!
"My income comes from various media projects related to interior design, plus some airbnb hosting" is what I would go with. You make some very good points. I never thought of Stewart and Child as influences, but you are so right, they were pioneers.
Also, I recently made my first rhubarb pie, using a Martha Stewart recipe. I cheated a little with a ready made crust --- and it was still terrific. She is a class act in my opinion. She went to prison and she came out with new friends and fresh ideas.
There is an influencer of sorts that I follow who I think has a big following but she is unconventional in many ways. I don't think she makes much money from it. She cuts her own hair, and her hair is strange, but also perfectly suited to her. She shops thrift stores, and she explains how she chooses clothing carefully. Occasionally she is asked to review a product and she does so honestly. I find her inspiring in many ways.
I don't like the WORD influencer, but I don't buy into negative stereotypes. There are many people doing good things, bringing to light some topics that have been in the shadows too long (like menopause, or how difficult it is to raise children, or what racism feels like, or even how little and how late tv hosts and social media influencers get paid!)
... and they deserve to be rewarded and compensated for that.
Well said, and so true. Sexism is alive and well, just more subtle. If you want to escape some guy’s disdain, you can always say (truthfully) that you’re in advertising, or marketing, albeit poorly paid. But, then again, you could consider using the word influencer as a test of character! 😊
You nailed it about showing vulnerability; it endears rather than alienates. As you mentioned Martha Stewart- she shifted her presence to more social media and online than television. The woman knows how to get herself to the masses even when the times change. It’s great learning how you execute your brand and create content. But the old adage is true- it’s easy to disparage what we don’t understand. Also, both my father and mother were nurses and I spent my childhood explaining to adults, “no, he’s not a doctor, he’s a nurse”.
Random thoughts. If you don't intend to get into the weeds about what you do just say "I own and run a marketing firm." Everything you do is around finding opportunities to market either yourself and your brand, or other company brands who pay you to create opportunities to connect to their customers. Marketing.
It's hard for me to reconcile this idea that everyone hates influencers blah blah blah, but then everyone has a few they LOVE. So maybe we only hate other people's influencers? Or we only hate one kind of influencer (say white women with big hats who travel to Europe and drink fancy coffee) while loving another (the dude who shows me how to dress for work and organize all my travel essentials.) There is some selection bias here. If we are going to continue using this word we have to first understand that it applies to everyone selling something online, even Martha, as you so astutely point out. (I've met her too and wow is she ever a worker. )
Lastly, for every successful influencer you know about there are 5,000 who tried and died on the vine. As someone who tried to turn an online presence in the food space into a regularly paying gig 'influencing' (and failing) I can tell you that it is very VERY hard work and yes, there is an element of luck to it. But also you can't only blame the mostly white women for their influencing success. We should continue demanding diversity from brands and consumers alike. Have you noticed more brands being called out in the comments for their all white casting? I have. Not a lot but I hope that continues.
How rude of someone to respond with, "ugh I hate influencers, they are so dumb" when you’ve just told them that is what you do! Ugh, I hate rude people, they are so rude! You do you and be proud of all the different skills you have. I hadn’t thought about the fact that you filming ad content by yourself in your kitchen is really what whole teams at ad agencies used to do. 🤯 😘
Thank you for writing this ~ I enjoy all of your essays, insights and perceptions. I recently spoke about your column in my kitchen to my housemate. We were talking about the arts, writing, how it's changed, and what function it may serve for others. I also described you as a designer and a loving human being who shares the ups and downs of working artistically and hard, in the digital era. Thank you again. I think you are great, whatever you call yourself. I think the topics you write about are important to all writers, creators, designers and freelancers who are navigating an often highly challenging (putting it diplomatically) new environment that is fiscally designed to be unsustainable. That is one thing that needs to change. For what is a world without Beauty?
My son does social media postings 5 days a week and has the title of “social media librarian” because he works for Los Angeles Public Library. One can’t work in the public sector without a title, right? So how do you like “Social Media Interior Designer,” or “Social Media Residential Creator,” or……….. ????
You're very right. It is the same thing. Whatever it is women do, especially of it has to do with the home, is seen as inconsequential or silly.
I say you keep saying you're an influencer, and change people's minds, but if you don't have the energy you could go with I produce commercials.
FWIW, as a long time follower, if I'm telling someone about you I always started with Interior Designer.
Gosh that was so eye opening. Truly! When you asked us to close our eyes and visualize what the prototypical influencer looks like, I drew a blank. I finally thought back to an image in an article I recently read about a "travel influencer" couple. (Sparks Flew All Over The World NYT). I wasn't familiar with either of them, but they are exactly as you described: thin, white, attractive. The job title "influencer" is just so weird and I kind of see that as a title for someone who makes a lot of money from selling stuff they don't really know or care about. A complete judgement on my part, but if every post begins with #ad and the content is full of selfies I'm quick to unfollow. That's not you at all! I see you as a Creative Director. Creative Director of Design & (insert something of the moment here) if you're looking for a new title! Or let's forget the dumb titles. You basically run your own Design Studio. I see you as a highly creative person whose style, humor and content I enjoy no matter what the topic or product is you're mentioning, selling or making fun of.
I also struggle with this idea of telling people "what I do" in the form of a generic job title. I always used to say freelance graphic designer, but the word freelance implies to some people that you don't have a "real" job. Much like how I see "influencers". I recognize that I'm judging "influencer" the same way people judge "freelancer" and I guess that's my point. There are just some key words out there that people are stuck on and will never see beyond the negative (and sexist) connotations. We need some new words so we don't have to keep explaining/defending ourselves!! Now that I'm older, and I haven't climbed the corporate ladder to acquire a fancy title that begins with VP, I just kind of dodge the question. If I circle back to the other person they usually just end up talking about themselves and forget they ever asked me the question in the first place.
I’m a librarian which is another feminized profession (something like 80% of librarians are white women) and the pay is, predictably, mediocre compared to industry even at top research universities. And if you work at a small town public library you can expect to make a pittance even though you have a masters degree. I had never thought about influencers’ work being devalued because of it being feminized, but it seems imminently plausible. Thanks for helping me think about this topic in a new way!
Yes... librarians. Few people know about the Masters degree. They should get more respect.
"My income comes from various media projects related to interior design, plus some airbnb hosting" is what I would go with. You make some very good points. I never thought of Stewart and Child as influences, but you are so right, they were pioneers.
Also, I recently made my first rhubarb pie, using a Martha Stewart recipe. I cheated a little with a ready made crust --- and it was still terrific. She is a class act in my opinion. She went to prison and she came out with new friends and fresh ideas.
There is an influencer of sorts that I follow who I think has a big following but she is unconventional in many ways. I don't think she makes much money from it. She cuts her own hair, and her hair is strange, but also perfectly suited to her. She shops thrift stores, and she explains how she chooses clothing carefully. Occasionally she is asked to review a product and she does so honestly. I find her inspiring in many ways.
I don't like the WORD influencer, but I don't buy into negative stereotypes. There are many people doing good things, bringing to light some topics that have been in the shadows too long (like menopause, or how difficult it is to raise children, or what racism feels like, or even how little and how late tv hosts and social media influencers get paid!)
... and they deserve to be rewarded and compensated for that.
Well said, and so true. Sexism is alive and well, just more subtle. If you want to escape some guy’s disdain, you can always say (truthfully) that you’re in advertising, or marketing, albeit poorly paid. But, then again, you could consider using the word influencer as a test of character! 😊
You nailed it about showing vulnerability; it endears rather than alienates. As you mentioned Martha Stewart- she shifted her presence to more social media and online than television. The woman knows how to get herself to the masses even when the times change. It’s great learning how you execute your brand and create content. But the old adage is true- it’s easy to disparage what we don’t understand. Also, both my father and mother were nurses and I spent my childhood explaining to adults, “no, he’s not a doctor, he’s a nurse”.
Random thoughts. If you don't intend to get into the weeds about what you do just say "I own and run a marketing firm." Everything you do is around finding opportunities to market either yourself and your brand, or other company brands who pay you to create opportunities to connect to their customers. Marketing.
It's hard for me to reconcile this idea that everyone hates influencers blah blah blah, but then everyone has a few they LOVE. So maybe we only hate other people's influencers? Or we only hate one kind of influencer (say white women with big hats who travel to Europe and drink fancy coffee) while loving another (the dude who shows me how to dress for work and organize all my travel essentials.) There is some selection bias here. If we are going to continue using this word we have to first understand that it applies to everyone selling something online, even Martha, as you so astutely point out. (I've met her too and wow is she ever a worker. )
Lastly, for every successful influencer you know about there are 5,000 who tried and died on the vine. As someone who tried to turn an online presence in the food space into a regularly paying gig 'influencing' (and failing) I can tell you that it is very VERY hard work and yes, there is an element of luck to it. But also you can't only blame the mostly white women for their influencing success. We should continue demanding diversity from brands and consumers alike. Have you noticed more brands being called out in the comments for their all white casting? I have. Not a lot but I hope that continues.