Have you ever bought anything because an online 'influencer' posted about it?

wonderwall900

As much as the Journal.ie isn't really taken seriously in Ireland, I think they've opened up an interesting can of worms with this one.

http://www.thejournal.ie/influencer-product-plugging-3518144-Jul2017/

Only 17% so far voted Yes when asked "Have you ever bought anything because an online 'influencer' posted about it?" A further 19% voted for the "What's an Influencer?" option.

And the overwhelming leading option so far is No to the the question, with 62%.

And yet Influencing seems to work in other countries. Is it sensibility or begrudgery here?

I don't think anyone I follow on social media could sway me one way or another to buy anything.

Imallrightjack

wonderwall900 wrote: »

As much as the Journal.ie isn't really taken seriously in Ireland, .

Really?i love reading journal.ie every morning.

And no i haven't been influenced.

Barry Badrinath

Sometimes I loathe the fact that civilisation and technology is advancing.

Ever since Social Media and Apps n'**** came along it's been a fcuking big fcuking annoying tool for fcuking idiots to project their "amazing" (boring) lives in your face.

"Influencers" are the modern day, cyber version of the travelling salesman. The only difference is, the travelling salesman put the effort in.

These fcuking internet, lazy, degenerate fcuktards are irrelevent. Glorified mouthpieces who think we need to buy whatever fcukaboutery they are trying to "trend" and get us to buy.

They appear as casual nd as fun as you like while subconsciously demanding we buy some piece of bolloxology.

They are almost as annoying as kids nappy adverts....why the fcuk are there such a thing as nappy adverts?!

Anyone that has a kid, fcuking knows that if you dont have nappies, you will have fcuking ****ty drag marks all over your house. Pointless advertising.

Fidget spinners...fcuk off.

"Influencers" go fcuk yourself! It's the laziest form of fame. Pack of cnuts.

wonderwall900

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

They are almost as annoying as kids nappy adverts....why the fcuk are there such a thing as nappy adverts?!

Anyone that has a kid, fcuking knows that if you dont have nappies, you will have fcuking ****ty drag marks all over your house. Pointless advertising.

I'm presuming they advertise because they have competitors.

suicide_circus

Burn them at the stake

WHIP IT!

Very interesting thread this... "Influencers" are one of those phenomenons, that every time I see one I say to myself "I can't believe this is a thing".

I'm wracking my brains here and I'm quite certain I've never bought anything on the advice (or 'influence') of an influencer.... but, they exist, and therefore they must be effective in some way... to me, "influencers" are part of a make believe industry that, please god, will disappear as fast as it appeared.

Incidentally, I saw an article recently that pointed out that all services/products etc that these Influencer types are in receipt of are liable for tax. They're even still liable if they give them away to their 'followers'... Ye gotta think eventually we'll see one of these insufferable clowns in the press having been handed a hefty tax bill for all the stuff they've bilked out of companies on the promise of "influencing" the teenagers who follow them on social media.

It kind of reminds of the Kardashians and the like - you never hear anyone admit they watch the show, but they ain't f*cking millionaires for nothin'!

endacl

An 'influencer'? Having only recently become aware of this shyte, I'd have to honestly respond in the negative.

meeeeh

No but I think I bought stuff that became popular with help of influencers. There doesn't need to be direct connection, it's enough that buzz is created. I think Real Techniques brushes are actually blogger product and I bought them because they were recommended here. I also bought stuff or brands that I spotted in newspaper features. You don't need to follow influencers, you don't even need to know them. It's enough that people around you do and they influence your purchasing decisions.

RobbingBandit

Snake oil but just to dilute it and resell it.

endacl

endacl wrote: »

An 'influencer'? Having only recently become aware of this shyte, I'd have to honestly respond in the negative.

I'd do more than that. If it was a product I'd buy, the sight of them using an online influencer would make me think of switching to a rival brand!

Biggest lickspittle on boardz

I would be more inclined to NOT buy a product if these robot like personalities are promoting it.

scamalert

its good that i dont have so called online influencers, rather rely on peoples actual opinion who bought the item,and bothered to post its pros and cons or comparisons, amazon is good with ranking system example, thou on cheap stuff theres trend nowadays i got if for free but its my honest opinion bull, does make me look at other alternatives.

Burial.

I bought a load of supplements and that because a shredded c*nt on YouTube was advertising the brand and provided a discount code. Still use their stuff to this day.

Arghus

No.

Poor Uncle Tom

Yes

byte

Maybe

gitzy16v

Whats an influencer?

My 4 yr old likes looking at youtube vids of some spoilt child getting every fcuking toy under the sun...

I have been "influenced" to buy some of these.

Now he no longer watches any videos when he's with me.

Football and learning to ride a bike...and daddys wallet is much fuller and little man is much more tired at bedtime:P

Noveight

Nah, firstly I don't follow many so-called influencer and secondly my purchases are mostly simple and straightforward.

dense

Is there such a thing as an online "influencer"?
Never been influenced by one myself.

All seem to fail, blathering on too much obviously trying to come across as uber sincere and plausible. And it looks lame and staged.

Why believe anything these promoters say?
It'll be something "new and improved" next week!
The old one they said was brilliant must have been shįt.

wonderwall900

Poll added.

Annasopra

I might possibly have but I don't think so. I didn't think I knew any but then I googled and found I know 29 out of 100 on this list.


https://www.goss.ie/features/top-100-irish-influencers-75796

hairyslug

Up until maybe 2 weeks ago, I didn't know that they had a title.

They don't appear on my timelines so I don't really get the chance to look at what they are trying to shift.

_Kaiser_

No, but then I don't use Facebook and use YouTube for reviews of things I'm considering (usually tech or car stuff) only as part of a wider search.

It's like that ad on the telly for a Surface or Laptop recently that has some hipster young wan going on about how she's a "professional" blogger or whatever - really? Talking crap on the Internet is a career now? Jaysus!

Tom Mann Centuria

I've purchased a load of crap due to the feckin influencers over on the Bargains Alert thread.

Wibbs

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Talking crap on the Internet is a career now? Jaysus!

And why am I not being paid? As a Purveyor of finest bullshit since 1975 I damn well should be.

Ninthlife

Is Eric Cantona an influencer cause I bought that blue and white United jersey after he scored that sublime goal and stood there chest out collar up...

Chancer3001

Bought 3 or 4 things Brian Keane Fitness recommended.

Don't think he gets any kickback at all

Annasopra

Wibbs wrote: »

And why am I not being paid? As a Purveyor of finest bullshit since 1975 I damn well should be.

What products do you reccomend?

_Kaiser_

Actually, as usual, classic Simpsons has this covered..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsiuxim8vsM

donegaLroad

One of Ireland's top influencers is a poster on boards..I saw him speak at a conference and he used a slide show as part of his presentation, and some of the funny images had been taken from boards threads.. when I googled him later that evening, boards.ie came up in the first few results. Probably reading this thread now, ;-) ....(hi)

Samaris

Tried to look through the Influencers link you had there Joey (but the computer was crawling with it so I gave up). I think I vaguely recognise the name Amy Huberman, but if someone pointed a gun at me and demanded to know what she sold, I'd probably say "eek...I thought she was an actress?" (and it presumably wouldn't go well for me from there :P)

Neh. I honestly don't think I have been influenced by these influencers. Sure, advertising maybe - if I see a thing and it seems like a really awesome thing/book/film/fidget spinner (I don't actually have a fidget spinner, they look like good old (albeit motorised) spinning tops though). Don't tend to read pink* advertising gumph though.


*Advertising gumph specifically directed at women that use a lot of pink, flowers and gushiness. I presume there are male Influencers too, but all the top ones in that link were women, presumably targeting a female demographic.

robyntmorton

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

I might possibly have but I don't think so. I didn't think I knew any but then I googled and found I know 29 out of 100 on this list.


https://www.goss.ie/features/top-100-irish-influencers-75796

Unsurprisingly I know of, know, or am friends with quite a few on that list.

There's very few on it though that I would blindly trust to steer me right.

diomed

I haven't rented a hotel room since that Australian robot virago woman started dominating the airwaves.

Tom Mann Centuria

diomed wrote: »

I haven't rented a hotel room since that Australian robot virago woman started dominating the airwaves.

When you're looking for the best prize. Least that's what it sounds like she's saying to me.

...And Justice

I bought a galaxy S7 after I watched a lad sticking it into water for 16 hours and it still worked, he tried it in sea water as well but it was ruined by the salt corrosion in the usb port. I took it swimming on holidays in the hotel pool, did underwater shots loads of family pictures and it still works fine. No damage whatsoever.

dense

I'll buy whatever Barry Scott is selling.
He's so authoritative.

...And Justice

Flatheadpint wrote: »

No

But you bought a pint for a tenner.

bucketybuck

Influencers, bloggers, streamers, etc etc.

Cretins one and all, responsible for an army of lazy useless tossers who instead of actually doing some work now think they can just get money by going on the internet and talking about themselves.

I have zero respect for any of them, and even less than that for any of the deluded idiots who "follow" them. Nobody gives a **** about your 6 billion instagram pictures you vapid losers.

ScumLord

17% is actually a really high number when compared to any other form of advertising, especially when it's just a random section of people. Most other avenues like print and radio have hit rates more around 1-10%. Even people selling radio ads market their ads as "brand awareness" where the intention isn't to get people calling every time the ad plays but to put the brand name into people's heads so they're aware of the brand. Then they run a "call to action" with an offer to get people to contact the company, the brand awareness is just to prime people for that call to action.

Influencers are probably considered brand awareness, to get people aware of the product and talking about it. If they're pulling in numbers like 17% and all it costs the company is a free sample then it's a no brainer for any company.

I'd guess an influencer becomes really effective when combined with print, radio and TV and many people may not credit the influencer with their purchase, they may think the first ad they saw in a paper was more significant in their decision to buy but the youtuber probably played a part in influencing that decision.

So 17% means influencers work and work really, really well.

retro:electro

I wouldn't say I've ever bought something just because a particular influencer has it or has reccomended it, but the odd time something has been brought to my attention that I know I'd like and find useful as a result of online influence.

whoopsadoodles

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

I might possibly have but I don't think so. I didn't think I knew any but then I googled and found I know 29 out of 100 on this list.


https://www.goss.ie/features/top-100-irish-influencers-75796

I knew a few on that list as well. Wouldn't have known they were "influencers". Such bollox.

Used to follow Pat Divilly and Rob Lipsett but they both gave me a pain in my face. Actively avoid anything Marissa Carter puts her name too. Do love that girl Indy something something and use her website a lot for recipes (www.thelittlegreenspoon.com). If I was to buy something, it would be most likely be food/fitness related. Beauty/fashion.....nope.

r93kaey5p2izun

No. I only heard the term around a week ago on here. From the list linked I know a good few - mostly the ones that are on TV like Vogue Williams and Amy Huberman. I know of some of the blog people purely through the complaints about them on boards. I looked them up to see how bad they could really be and was generally a little shocked at how truly awful they are. These are supposedly beauty and fashion bloggers but they post very little real content, mostly just photoshopped selfies and whinges about the pressure to look good. Maybe the less well known ones are better and that's why they're not being criticised on here, I don't know.

I don't see the appeal in looking at someone's artificial portrayal of their contrived "life".I don't get why they're so popular. I can't see myself following any bloggers. I'm not into makeup, food, fitness or babies and that seems to be the main areas covered.

Here we go

I think Irish people are just genrealy just more untrusting not in a bad way but when an infuencer says buy x it's great we look at it for what it is a paid advertisement

stilllooking

Yes. If I see a product I like online, on TV or whatever I'll get it. Also helps that bloggers etc normally do a discount code. I'm not really understanding the hate of this particular type of advertising, is it because it's new?

Chancer3001

Generally if it's an obvious ad I'll never ever buy it

The Backwards Man

Apparently Tennent's has never been more popular.

kerwein

I think one of the famous marketing strategy nowadays by the companies or sellers is by using famous personalities to influence the decisions of other. I can say that an influencer played a big role in my purchasing decisions.

Here we go

stilllooking wrote: »

Yes. If I see a product I like online, on TV or whatever I'll get it. Also helps that bloggers etc normally do a discount code. I'm not really understanding the hate of this particular type of advertising, is it because it's new?

I think the hate as you say is the way it's presented most times they try to pass it off as honest opinion. Oh I found this new brand and used it and I think it's great you should buy it. When its a paid add the person is being paid to get you to buy something.

freshpopcorn

Our local Tesco has a Facebook page and they put up offers. Would this be considered an influencer?

dense

dense wrote: »

I'll buy whatever Barry Scott is selling.
He's so authoritative.

You only have to ask my father to wipe something up and he'll start shouting his best Barry Scott impression. He's very easily influenced.

I know snapchatters and YouTubers who plug goods and not declare their vested interests, in which case they're just advertisers rather than influencers.

There was a movie a few years ago about a family who move to a new neighbourhood and put their goods and lifestyle on display to the neighbours, those they socialized with, and fellow students. Can't remember the name of it but the upshot is that they were all salespeople working on selling luxury brands. Maybe it's not so much a fiction but a possible reality that's closer than we think.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Mm - not solely because they've talked about it but if it looks interesting and like something I'd be into, I'd look into it myself so yes they've opened my eyes to products but wouldn't be the deciding factor of me purchasing. I've been gifted some items/treatments from some brands and there's almost like a "no pressure just see what you think of it" agreement.