The advent of social media has brought about some wonderful advancements to society in the way we consume content, build businesses, and share creativity. A decade ago we were only just being introduced to the cultural phenomenon of memes and viral videos. But it's also created monsters who call themselves "Influencers." The most common using Instagram as their platform. What do they do?

Influencer Marketing Hub offers this definition: An influencer is someone who has:

  • the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of his or her authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with his or her audience.
  • a following in a distinct niche, with whom he or she actively engages. The size of the following depends on the size of his/her topic of the niche.
  • It is important to note that these individuals are not merely marketing tools, but rather social relationship assets with which brands can collaborate to achieve their marketing objectives.

All that fancy talk to say it's a person who makes posts and stories about brands and tells you to use/buy them. Instagram is littered with them. If their story starts with "Hey, just wanted to jump on here real quick to share with you my favorite," you know they're an influencer and the product they're hawking is likely not their favorite. They are getting paid big bucks to make that social media post.

If you live in or around Meridian, you might be following the IG account Hello Meridian, run by a local influencer. Every day she makes stories, pictures, and posts about all local brands and businesses in the Treasure Valley. But how much posting does someone like her have to do in order to make rent for the month? The results make me want to quit my job.

There are 3 types of influencers based on follower count:
Microinfluencer <10,000
Medium Influencer <100,000
Megainfluencer >100,000,000

Specific to Idaho, microinfluencers have to make about 15 sponsored posts per month to earn that rent/mortgage check. Megainfluencers on the other hand can earn rent and then some with just 2 posts. Medium influencers (Hello Meridian falls in that category) need about 7 posts to make rent, and that's what I'm interested in!

I have 19.1K followers on my Instagram. This could be my opportunity to quit my 9 to 5 (wait, 5 to whenever because morning show)! Juuuuuuuust kidding. Most of my followers live in India and Egypt and just want me to make an OnlyFans with feet videos, which is a whole other thing entirely.

So next time you're slaving away at work to make sure your landlord gets your money by the 1st, remember there are people eating at fancy restaurants, staying at cute hotels, and shopping for cute outfits so they can "jump on real quick to share" and cash out that coin...

(GetResponse)

 

READ ON: Here's how to apply for rent relief

 

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