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Luxury hotels are being inundated with requests from self-described influencers

theatlantic.com

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Re: Luxury hotels are being inundated with requests from self-described influencers

#161

Post by groaner »

08-15 wrote: post #49
hh3k0 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I just want to know who the heck takes recommendations of 'influencers' seriously? Gullible teens with no money? That doesn't mean mom and dad got no money, though. I happen to know a kid with rich parents and they frequently have to buy him stuff he discovered on instagram -- YEEZY shoes and whatnot. I'm sure there are enough kids that'll bug their parents about planning their next vacation where some popular infl…

> kid with rich parents and they frequently have to buy him stuff You meant to say "rich parents who frequently chose to buy him stuff", didn't you?

To the extent that the parents chose to raise their children in an environment that taught them advanced emotional manipulation skills at an early age, sure.

Re: Luxury hotels are being inundated with requests from self-described influencers

#162

Post by billdybas »

intrasight wrote: post #154

I use Instagram and other social media. But I just don't get how this works. Perhaps someone can give me and others an overview. I only see the posts from my friends, so how would posts from these "influencers" influence me or other's like me? Why would I follow some random person I don't even know? Really, I'm looking for some enlightenment here. I assume that I'm not the only one.

It's the same way any other marketing material may influence you to make a purchase. A lot of online influencer marketing is recommendation-based: "I like this product, so you should buy it, too." Think of it similar to celebrity endorsements in traditional media. For many Millennials and Gen Z who follow these influencers, they are like celebrities (but usually on a smaller, niche-scale).

Re: Luxury hotels are being inundated with requests from self-described influencers

#163

Post by AndrewKemendo »

dwaltrip wrote: post #152
AndrewKemendo wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess I don't get creeped out about this because this is what happens already in life - but it's implicit and unacknowledged instead of explicit and acknowledged. This same calculus happens at all levels: trying to be part of certain groups (Stanford graduate, YCombinator graduate etc...) , join certain clubs (Founders who have raised a Series A, Forbes 30 under 30), impress certain people (Investors, Board Members…

Ehh, sure, it is a more explicit manifestation of common existing dynamics. But it is also much more exaggerated and empty than the examples you are giving. There isn't much substance/ understanding/signal/meaning in buying a ride on the coattails of a superficial instagram "influencer".

Certainty exaggerated, however using the nosedive episode as the example, each of the "ratings" are given by people based on social interactions.

Their emptiness in the case of the show is based on the emptiness of the people themselves. I wouldn't be surprised if such a system did wind up being fairly "empty" as you say (see: twitter, IG etc...), but that's a reflection on the users, not the structure of the system.

Re: Luxury hotels are being inundated with requests from self-described influencers

#164

Post by obelix_ »

dwaltrip wrote: post #152
AndrewKemendo wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess I don't get creeped out about this because this is what happens already in life - but it's implicit and unacknowledged instead of explicit and acknowledged. This same calculus happens at all levels: trying to be part of certain groups (Stanford graduate, YCombinator graduate etc...) , join certain clubs (Founders who have raised a Series A, Forbes 30 under 30), impress certain people (Investors, Board Members…

Ehh, sure, it is a more explicit manifestation of common existing dynamics. But it is also much more exaggerated and empty than the examples you are giving. There isn't much substance/ understanding/signal/meaning in buying a ride on the coattails of a superficial instagram "influencer".

Well that's if you assume this can't be gamed to prop up the non superficial. Bill Gates or Obama constantly used influencers on social media to get interesting messages out to the masses.

What I don't like is that the most hyper, overenthusiastic, over the top characters send a signal to kids that it's the only route up the ladder. It is not.

Re: Luxury hotels are being inundated with requests from self-described influencers

#165

Post by prawn »

pmorici wrote: post #12
CamTin wrote: post #5

I wonder why the strategy of these "brand personalities" has to be limited to "luxury" type branding. For example, could you build a following traveling the country by interstate in a Fiesta, staying at Motel 6 and eating at Waffle House? It wouldn't cost Motel 6 and Waffle House almost anything to comp a few waffles and otherwise-unoccupied rooms as an experiment, if they aren't doing similar things already.

There are certainly people with channels that cater to camping or living out of a Jeep / Van. IAmJake for example on YouTube. [0] As evidenced by that I don't think a brand personality has to be luxury but it does have to have a point of view people can take interest in. [0] https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbjw-VrJCUb8PTGoiDI2UMw

I've collated a few of these here: https://vanspiration.com/social/

You're right - there are all types. Glamorous, selectively documenting lifestyle types, and others focusing on the craft of it, and others on living that way full time. And there are dozens more trying the same thing all the time, motivated by the earlier batches. I find it all a bit fascinating.

Re: Luxury hotels are being inundated with requests from self-described influencers

#166

Post by cavisne »

I really think theres an opportunity for a startup here, some intermediary between the influencers and the clients (hotels, brands etc).

I think this will be another huge market for facebook when they eventually solve this. Proper tracking of influencer posts, verification of audience demographics, filtering out of time wasters would solve a lot of these issues.

Re: Luxury hotels are being inundated with requests from self-described influencers

#168

Post by prawn »

staticautomatic wrote: post #88
rhino369 wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gullible teens with money, which is why their influence can be worth money. Which is why this stuff works for premium mediocre products. Stuff that is more expensive, but still within the reach of the middle class. But their followers cannot afford 1000 dollar a night hotels. So if I was a luxury hotel, I'd tell them to fuck off. But if I was a cupcake shop, I'd let each of these influencers eat whatever they wanted…

That's not really how it works. The hotel puts up the influencer in the ludicrously expensive over-water bungalow or deluxe suite or whatever. Followers book the cheaper rooms hoping for the same experience.

Or alternatively, the influencer has the grand holiday experience for no real occasion while the follower springs for it as a treat for their honeymoon or milestone or something.

Re: Luxury hotels are being inundated with requests from self-described influencers

#169

Post by rorykoehler »

cavisne wrote: post #166

I really think theres an opportunity for a startup here, some intermediary between the influencers and the clients (hotels, brands etc). I think this will be another huge market for facebook when they eventually solve this. Proper tracking of influencer posts, verification of audience demographics, filtering out of time wasters would solve a lot of these issues.

I've seen multiple successful (ish) startups doing this already

Re: Luxury hotels are being inundated with requests from self-described influencers

#170

Post by 0x38B »

intrasight wrote: post #154

I use Instagram and other social media. But I just don't get how this works. Perhaps someone can give me and others an overview. I only see the posts from my friends, so how would posts from these "influencers" influence me or other's like me? Why would I follow some random person I don't even know? Really, I'm looking for some enlightenment here. I assume that I'm not the only one.

I'm in the same boat, but what I've found from talking with many people is that they use Instagram to discover places and get an inside look, with what they see on Instagram determining whether they go or not. This leads to reviews on Google like "they run a really good Instagram, but things don't measure up in-person" (I saw this exact review the other day).
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