The influence of #hashtag "Influencers"

[AisleSeat]

Real or not is irrelevant. The question is if people eat this drivel, which is mostly yes.

Insta-famous Miquela Sousa has 1.1 million followers. But she doesn't exist

In this instance it is relevant. Here's someone wanting some freebies claiming they have 500,000 followers that will see their posts/photos of the hotel. If 80% of these followers are bots lets say, then their "influence" is trash. It's one thing to be an "influencer" and another to be a complete grifter.

 

[Happy Dude]

In this instance it is relevant. Here's someone wanting some freebies claiming they have 500,000 followers that will see their posts/photos of the hotel. If 80% of these followers are bots lets say, then their "influence" is trash. It's one thing to be an "influencer" and another to be a complete grifter.

Absolutely. I had only a basic awareness of these "influencers" (influenzas? ) until this thread so I did a bit of googling to better understand what's going on. A common hit was "list of top travel bloggers/influencers you need to follow". The amount of followers claimed by this influencer would put them in the very upper tier in terms of followers for the "luxury travel" category. Closer inspections of their "work" would indicate that they have nothing over an AFF TR and I could make a motza selling "I'm not interested in your blog" t-shirts. A fair chunk of them are simply for the voyeurs.

I'm reminded of the quote about being a lady or powerful - if you have to remind people you are either, you aren't.

 

[leadman]

With 500,000 followers, who or whatever they are, remind me of a march of the lemmings......

 

[Dr Bob]

I'm a dinosaur when it comes to social media & have nothing to do with Facebook or the likes but I do (did) have a family friend whose son called himself a "professional" blogger & boasted how he was making money & could get free concert tickets, meals, flights OS & invites to conferences etc. He did suggest I provide a professional service including products for free & he would provide good comments as he had seen "bad comments" on Facebook. He was quite indignant when I suggested that , if he was so worried about it he should just do it, & commented "I do this professionally". My wife changed the subject & the barbie ended shortly after. I lamented the 3 good reds that were empty on the table.

 

[leadman]

This is starting to become the extinct reptilian society; dinosaurs alike!

But i did take time to do a bit of search on these influencers and my findings from the photos were; 1- wear a scarf - looks trendy and more colour the better, 2 - anything with water take a picture next too - waterfall, pool, beach. 3 - in the hotel scenes, have that "in" look on the face and not to the camera. 4 - Coconuts are the "in" drink (whats it with bloody coconuts!!!), 5 - get that hairdo right, the male "flick" is important. And get that makeup right 6 - wear the sports gear if out somewhere that looked like hard exercise to get to ..............

Don't see the dungie dives that I go to, beer bottles being opened with cig lighters...... But strangely i have this hankering to go through the wardrobe, pull out a red scarf and head to the beach to drink from a coconut. That's after the hairdressers.........

 

[jb747]

Any paid review isn’t worth the paper (or web space) that it occupies.

 

[Deleted member]

Oh dear, I suppose you still have a car with a carburettor and a manual choke?

1967 MGB (no synchro in 1st) 75,000 genuine miles (twin carbs)
And in dire need of a new paint job and chrome work.

 

[Deleted member]

This is starting to become the extinct reptilian society; dinosaurs alike!

But i did take time to do a bit of search on these influencers and my findings from the photos were; 1- wear a scarf - looks trendy and more colour the better, 2 - anything with water take a picture next too - waterfall, pool, beach. 3 - in the hotel scenes, have that "in" look on the face and not to the camera. 4 - Coconuts are the "in" drink (whats it with bloody coconuts!!!), 5 - get that hairdo right, the male "flick" is important. And get that makeup right 6 - wear the sports gear if out somewhere that looked like hard exercise to get to ..............

Don't see the dungie dives that I go to, beer bottles being opened with cig lighters...... But strangely i have this hankering to go through the wardrobe, pull out a red scarf and head to the beach to drink from a coconut. That's after the hairdressers.........

I cant wait to retire to my little French village in total obscurity

 

[ALH]

I cant wait to retire to my little French village in total obscurity

"If you leave me, can I come too....."?

 

[leadman]

"If you leave me, can I come too....."?

No way, I'm first in line. I have a serious drug problem - foie gras that must be treated on a daily basis.........

 

[ALH]

.........However I think the ask from this one is a bit rich. Luxury hotel to me is over $500 a night - so they’re asking for $2,500 of accomodation plus $300 for breakfast and say $700 for dinner - so north of $3,500. That’s a high rate per post she’s asking for!

If I was the hotel owner, I’d be expecting a lot more than a good review from this little scam artist

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I 'get' it. And I can understand how 'influencers' can provide some publicity. It's potentially 500K for the cost of a night or two accommodation. The cost of the accommodation isn't a lot. By itself.

But the need for five gourmet breakfasts and dinners? That's where it turns for me. Sure, two or three nights, and possibly one breakfast and dinner. But at some stage this is asking for too much.

And the poor business owner. Undoubtedly some of them might think if they don't go ahead they could get a poor review.

The influencer can hardly do a poor review if they aren't staying at the property. They're hardly going to pony up big bucks to stay at a luxury resort if it's coming out of their own pocket.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The influencer can hardly do a poor review if they aren't staying at the property.

Unfortunately they can. Many ways to achieve this

 

[serfty]

Unfortunately they can. Many ways to achieve this

So it's effectively blackmail?

 

[AisleSeat]

So it's effectively blackmail?

If they even attempted this after ha IMG their proposal declined, it would only take that email to go up on Twitter and the "influencer" would get shamed into oblivion, much like what happened with that hotel in Ireland (link further up thread)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So it's effectively blackmail?

Not suggesting that at all! But it must put business owners in a difficult position. There's always the question that if they don't grant the product that there could be a negative review. (In reality most 'influencers' probably just move on.)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If they even attempted this after ha IMG their proposal declined, it would only take that email to go up on Twitter and the "influencer" would get shamed into oblivion, much like what happened with that hotel in Ireland (link further up thread)

How would the hotel know? It would be easy, for example, for the influencer to just go to the hotel for a drink, or lunch, and comment on the food, service, decor, crowd, whatever. You're assuming the influencer is going under their own name, using their own site, or own email. None of those are necessary to leave reviews on the myriad of sites these days.

There are lots of fake reviews out there. They can be used either way (good or bad).

 

[Quickstatus]

Not if you have their personal details, address, phone numbers before hand and they used their 522000 follower instagram account

Is blackmail a criminal activity?

 

[moa999]

Even at cost price 5 nights + food + breakfast is pretty big for an 'unknown'

 

[AisleSeat]

How would the hotel know? It would be easy, for example, for the influencer to just go to the hotel for a drink, or lunch, and comment on the food, service, decor, crowd, whatever. You're assuming the influencer is going under their own name, using their own site, or own email. None of those are necessary to leave reviews on the myriad of sites these days.

There are lots of fake reviews out there. They can be used either way (good or bad).

Yes, but this in reference to the person that's contacted the hotel for a freebie and given out their social accounts already.