Someone who can make a bunch of money endorsing a product, if they are willing to sell their soul. 

The term Influencer makes me think of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Who knew there was an entire cottage industry of people from every corner of the world making money on social media by hocking goods? (Since this is a family publication, we won’t get into what one of the Mormon Wives was selling, but I’m blushing over here and it takes a lot for ME to blush!).

Let’s decipher the word influence, shall we? From Dictionary.com: “the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc.” 🧐

I’m not gonna lie, I’ve purchased my fair share of items from Instagram, but not because I saw someone holding it up next to their freshly shaven or washed face. It’s usually the algorithm which follows me around and then advertises directly to me. Not because Crusoe the Dachshund is wearing some cute Halloween costume, so I now need to get it for my Chiweenie. I am not compelled.

And what about so-called Micro-Influencers? They’re the ones you can hire on the cheap to promote whatever you need to promote, because they have a section of the pie you need to be aimed your way (and only thousands, not millions of followers).

It actually kind of bothers me when I see someone I really respect in a “paid partnership” situation. Sometimes I even unfollow them. It’s not lost on me that some of us need to make some cash on the side. But bro, you are not influencing me to buy the thing, you are scaring me away from it and making it something I probably won’t buy. #justmytwocents