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

wonderwall900 · 28-07-2017 07:37PM #1

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 · 28-07-2017 07:39PM

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 · 28-07-2017 07:53PM

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 · 28-07-2017 07:57PM

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 · 28-07-2017 07:57PM

Burn them at the stake

WHIP IT! · 28-07-2017 08:09PM

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 · 28-07-2017 08:13PM

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

meeeeh · 28-07-2017 08:13PM

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 · 28-07-2017 08:16PM

Snake oil but just to dilute it and resell it.

28-07-2017 08:18PM

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 · 28-07-2017 08:33PM

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

scamalert · 28-07-2017 09:35PM

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. · 28-07-2017 11:44PM

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 · 28-07-2017 11:49PM

No.

Poor Uncle Tom · 28-07-2017 11:53PM

Yes

byte · 29-07-2017 12:26AM

Maybe

gitzy16v · 29-07-2017 12:28AM

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 · 29-07-2017 12:37AM

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

dense · 29-07-2017 12:39AM

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 · 29-07-2017 06:58AM

Poll added.

Annasopra · 29-07-2017 08:21AM

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 · 29-07-2017 08:27AM

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_ · 29-07-2017 08:36AM

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 · 29-07-2017 08:39AM

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

Wibbs · 29-07-2017 08:46AM

_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 · 29-07-2017 08:48AM

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 · 29-07-2017 08:48AM

Bought 3 or 4 things Brian Keane Fitness recommended.

Don't think he gets any kickback at all

Annasopra · 29-07-2017 08:50AM

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_ · 29-07-2017 08:57AM

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

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

donegaLroad · 29-07-2017 09:45AM

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 · 29-07-2017 11:16AM

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.

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

Have you ever bought anything because an online 'influencer' posted about it? 61 votes

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