"We live in a world where some people actually think Kanye West is a genius." -- Harry Shearer
Apparently this "qualifies" as self-employed now
- Thread starter somecyguy
- Start date
"Social Media Influencer Marketing" is most definitely a marketing budget item for a lot of companies (depending on their audience/customers) - Love em or hate em, social media influencers are a thing in today's world and quite a few of them make more money than a majority of people on this forum. I was the marketing lead for a startup company who invested in social influencer marketing back in the day and it was by far our best marketing ROI. If the owner didn't want her offer he should have just told her no, he didn't have to be an ******* about it. Her staying for "free" doesn't "not pay his employees", it would be a marketing expense. He obviously had/has an issue with the blogging/vlogging community. All this did for him his probably alienate a big community while also probably not doing much for increasing the people who want to stay there now because he was an ******* online. Meanwhile, this blogger/vlogger got a ton of exposure, increase her following, and will be the winner in the situation.
Why wouldn't it "qualify" as self-employment? I personally know multiple "social media influencers" who make more than $250k/year..
Just because you don't get it or don't like it, doesn't mean it isn't a real thing.
I'm not so much mad at her as jealous.
Making orders of magnitude more money and not having work? Sign me up
Making orders of magnitude more money and not having work? Sign me up
The owner was over the line and probably could have defused the situation, but isn't this also borderline extortion by the blogger? She was essentially saying that for a free stay she'd give a good review of his place, even without ever being there. That's not a review, that's trying to force your idea of marketing on a business.
From the owner's standpoint, I could see that as an unspoken threat that refusing her offer would generate a negative review.
From the owner's standpoint, I could see that as an unspoken threat that refusing her offer would generate a negative review.
In the case of this story, this is the modern day version of a travel writer, just using Instagram, videos etc. to talk about a hotel. Travel writers get / or got comp'ed for their stays so there is a parallel for this kind of thing. Some of these folks may simply be trying to get "free stuff" but my company has definitely worked with social media personalities for publicity.
And my daughter considers Youtube stars to be the famous ones, not Hollywood types.
And my daughter considers Youtube stars to be the famous ones, not Hollywood types.
I follow a couple of guys that do a similar thing with airlines but not nearly to that extent and they certainly wouldn't call themselves "social media influencer" even though they very much do influence and provide insight to people through social media. The main one I am thinking of ALWAYS discloses when his flights are paid for by the airline. It can be interesting to follow them live tweeting a flight discussing the amenities and what not. There are also some very...odd...ones that are much more of a personality than the ones I follow.
Her initial request doesn't seem that out of line - that's a big part of how people with blogs or followings make money or are otherwise able to do the things they blog about and a lot of companies think the marketing boost is worth the cost of giving away a flight, or hotel night, or whatever. But there's no reason for it to go beyond her asking and them saying no.
I know a woman whose family owns a couple of laundromats. Her mother is not very well so she cooks her meals for her. She tells everyone she is a private chef.
If she's making that kind of jack she doesn't need to be asking for free ****. Who is she, Steve Alford?
"Free" is probably the wrong word to use anyway. She was asking for a complimentary night in exchange for promoting the hotel. Not a free night for nothing.
If she's making that kind of jack she doesn't need to be asking for free ****. Who is she, Steve Alford?
Most influencers ask for the following in compensation:
Fee - most have packages for what all is included in promoting your product
Product - Most influencers ask to have the products (whatever it is, clothes, hotel stays, meals, etc.)
I've worked with a guy who is a major youtube influencer - he did a product review on youtube, posted it multiple times during the month on all of his social media accounts, email blast, etc. - the video stayed up on youtube and continually drove traffic and sales month over month especially as the video aged and got more views.
He even has since made a policy that the videos he makes for companies only stay up on his channel for one calendar year!..and if you want the video to stay up, you have to pay a retainer each year.. NOW THAT sounds like a self employed person to me...
This story is interesting to me. I realize the credibility and positive influence social media influencers have. I get that it's marketing that is taking the place of newspaper ads, Yellow Pages, etc. Totally fine with it.
I also agree that the hotel owner was a complete asshat in his response. As many have said, a simple 'no thank you' would have made much more sense.
I do question the blogger's approach to a business opportunity, however.
- She asked to stay over Valentines weekend. I would assume that would be a very popular weekend (with possibly increased prices) for the hotel industry. Approaching a business on a weekend like that asking for something for free seems a little odd.
- From a sales standpoint, she is the one soliciting a partnership with an established business. If she offered to promote the business first with payment of free accommodation at a later date, I think it would have been much better received. She was asking for the business to essentially pay her before she delivered any service to him. It would be like going into a department store and saying "I'd like you to give me $150 worth of free merchandise and then I'll promote you on my blog."
There's plenty of blame to go around on this one, IMO. How the hotel owner reacted will likely affect his business and I'm fine with that. I think the blogger should also realize that social media influencing is fairly new and is going to take some getting used to.*
*The business owner should also realize that marketing strategies are changing and should be looking for new ways to advertise as well. I wasn't trying to give him a pass.
I also agree that the hotel owner was a complete asshat in his response. As many have said, a simple 'no thank you' would have made much more sense.
I do question the blogger's approach to a business opportunity, however.
- She asked to stay over Valentines weekend. I would assume that would be a very popular weekend (with possibly increased prices) for the hotel industry. Approaching a business on a weekend like that asking for something for free seems a little odd.
- From a sales standpoint, she is the one soliciting a partnership with an established business. If she offered to promote the business first with payment of free accommodation at a later date, I think it would have been much better received. She was asking for the business to essentially pay her before she delivered any service to him. It would be like going into a department store and saying "I'd like you to give me $150 worth of free merchandise and then I'll promote you on my blog."
There's plenty of blame to go around on this one, IMO. How the hotel owner reacted will likely affect his business and I'm fine with that. I think the blogger should also realize that social media influencing is fairly new and is going to take some getting used to.*
*The business owner should also realize that marketing strategies are changing and should be looking for new ways to advertise as well. I wasn't trying to give him a pass.
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