Thanks to Elizabeth on prompting me to write this post by asking my thoughts on being an influencer during this age of capitalism. Whew, what a thought-provoking question! Mind you, I hadn’t really considered myself an influencer, just a blogger that loves to write about things I like. But yes, I agree to own this title of “influencer” since I’ve been known to influence a purchase or two.
First off this was prompted by the above Instagram stories post where I contemplate the Nordstrom Anniversary sale (and all the influencers that peddle for Nordstrom). I have to say these sales and the influencers that doggedly promote them are one of the more gray parts of influencing because it truly feels like they’re hawking things for their own (and the big company’s) profit (and not really for the reader’s benefit).
Anyway, in general I feel being an influencer (which by the way is not an easy job, not by a long shot—especially for those who generate a lot of content) is not all that it’s cracked up to be. First of all, many times influencers aren’t fairly compensated by brands for all their work. So to make a living influencers have to sell sell sell (and maybe sell out?). And there’s a bit of ugliness to the constant selling; for example, when influencers get back to promoting right after any tragedy (after the one prerequisite post about how heartbroken they are). And people say, well it’s because they need to earn a living. And I get it, this is a job that’s supporting your family. But where’s the line? Where’s the humanity?
I also personally don’t like it when influencers peddle things they’ve never tried. How do they know if it’s any good? And I get these “opportunities” all the time. Would I like to join their affiliate program and sell items I’ve never tried to get 20% commission? *eyeroll* No thanks. Those are one of my boundaries: I have to try it before I promote it. I also don’t follow influencers who promote predominately gifted items. Now I have been known to accept a gift or two and promote them so I know I’m sounding a bit hypocritical here. But if everything is a gift and everything is “amazing” it just rubs me the wrong way.
The cold hard truth is that the job of “influencing” requires compromising your ethics for money. It’s the name of the game; it’s capitalism. This is true for everyone, including myself. I 100% believe no one needs to be buying any more new things. Our world is drowning in stuff and it’s leading to our collective demise. In fact, the most sustainable thing to do is to stop buying stuff. But do I still buy things and share new things that I like that I think you would too? Yes.
And maybe I make myself feel better because I have my boundaries. But having boundaries is not profitable (at least not anymore). I stopped being able to make a living off off of my blog when I took stopped shilling for Everlane (because of their union-busting and treatment of BIPOC workers). Their whole enterprise at the time felt radically non-transparent. (But side note: since their replacement of the CEO and other senior positions I think they’re doing better. They’re still not the most ethical and sustainable brand out there—more like a step above GAP IMHO—but at least they don’t claim to be anymore).
But what really gets my gall are those influencers who market Amazon fashions or other fast fashion-type cheap disposable clothing, who then go off to glamorous Italian seaside vacations. Even if marketing fast fashion doesn’t fully fund their lavish lifestyle (you know a lot of the bigger names come from fairly well-off families), the fact that they’re promoting excess waste (in the form of poorly made clothing), exploitation of resources, and unfair labor practices for their own gain leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Do they know what they’re peddling? Do they care? Or is it all fair under a ruthless capitalistic umbrella?
Of course, not all bloggers are like this. There are many out there that do it ethically, promoting only what they’ve tried and love, while also promoting a bigger cause (racial equality, gender equality, sustainability, fair labor practices, etc.). I just don’t see most of them doing it full-time. As in, they have a real job and influencing is a side hustle. And I think it might be because influencing the ethical way doesn’t really pay (or if it does, it only pays a select few).
Personally I blog (ie “influence”) because I love to write. I love to write what I think or care about and I like to share things, both the tangible and intangible (and I’m so grateful I have an audience that will come here and read my thoughts and opinions). And I’m not gonna lie, I also appreciate that I can earn some money from it. But I have my lines that I won’t cross and things I won’t promote/do for the sake of money. And that’s 100% a luxury. That also makes it financially unsustainable. I’ve been fortunate to have been able to do this for the last seven years (but working for three of those years) with moderate success, but I’ve been mainly able to sustain this hobby because of privilege, luck, and support from family. But now that Emi is going to go to school full time and the pandemic is winding down (ie we’re all learning to live with it) I too am looking for a job. And this blog is going back to to being a side hustle, an enjoyable hobby. Which means I can to continue to choose what to write about without compromising my ethics (at least not too much).