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Does Being An Influencer Make CENTS?

Anything considered a "hustle" and not necessarily a CENTS-based Fastlane

Kal-El1998

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I've tried to do a breakdown myself, but I still feel like it could go either way. What do you think?
 
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sknowles

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I've tried to do a breakdown myself, but I still feel like it could go either way. What do you think?
In my opinion, I believe at first, as you develop yourself as a personal brand people know like and trust, it will be very heavily reliant on your time. But as you grow your following (Im thinking you'll go the usual route of IG/FB/YT?) perhaps offer online courses & resources on how to do what you've done? Im thinking you can then start to remove yourself from the machine.

It does violate the Entry, & Time but there's still so much value that can be offered as an influencer if you differentiate somehow and supply the Need.

Hopefully others will chime in on this post as well to provide more insight.
 

lowtek

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Control - you control your image and how you use your influence, so I think that one is met.
Entry - it's a long road to building a sufficient audience to have any amount of influence. Most people aren't willing to do it, so I think it's a sufficient barrier to entry.
Need - this is debatable. If you're using influence to actually provide honest and well researched opinions / recommendations, then I think there's a need. if you're just looking to build an audience and cash out, then need is violated.
Time - this is also debatable. It depends on how you monetize that influence. Are you using influence to sell your own product that can be fulfilled while you sleep? Then it's met. If you're using influence to provide a 1 on 1 service, then it's violated.
Scale - I think this one is met, under the same conditions as above. If you're selling a digital product in particular, then it's infinitely scalable and divorced from time. If you're selling a 1 on 1 service, then scale is limited.
 

The-J

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Control - you control your image and how you use your influence, so I think that one is met.
Entry - it's a long road to building a sufficient audience to have any amount of influence. Most people aren't willing to do it, so I think it's a sufficient barrier to entry.
Need - this is debatable. If you're using influence to actually provide honest and well researched opinions / recommendations, then I think there's a need. if you're just looking to build an audience and cash out, then need is violated.
Time - this is also debatable. It depends on how you monetize that influence. Are you using influence to sell your own product that can be fulfilled while you sleep? Then it's met. If you're using influence to provide a 1 on 1 service, then it's violated.
Scale - I think this one is met, under the same conditions as above. If you're selling a digital product in particular, then it's infinitely scalable and divorced from time. If you're selling a 1 on 1 service, then scale is limited.

Basically, it CAN make CENTS but it could also NOT make CENTS.

Being an influencer on its own isn't going to make you any money unless you've got a business model around it. Based on the strength of that business model, it could potentially make CENTS.
 
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Andy Black

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If we expand the definition of what it means to be an influencer beyond “just” getting paid because we have an engaged following, then I’d argue that we should all strive to have influence.

I like @kak’s comments here:
Two kinds of wealth. Resource and influence.

Resource is traditional wealth. The purchasing power of products, services, and more opportunities.

Influence is the kind of wealth best illustrated by the sharks on shark tank. One phone call changes an entire business forever. You can sell your company and start another with almost immediate success.

I would argue that in the long run, influence is the most important of the two and actually leads to more resource wealth than just focusing on resources to begin with.

My favorite part, influence can not be quantified, so it isn’t even taxed.

Basically the earned respect of others = influence. It is highly important.
 

Tom H.

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You can control your image and build your audience, but it still feels like a "please pick me!" situation, and depending on what kinds of niche you're in, the barrier to entry doesn't seem very high.

I doubt that an absolute pro can treat it like a real operation that they design and control, but it seems like most influencers are benefiting from a lot of luck.
 

MJ DeMarco

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I've converted this thread to a question, please upvote best answer.

Control - you control your image and how you use your influence, so I think that one is met.
Entry - it's a long road to building a sufficient audience to have any amount of influence. Most people aren't willing to do it, so I think it's a sufficient barrier to entry.
Need - this is debatable. If you're using influence to actually provide honest and well researched opinions / recommendations, then I think there's a need. if you're just looking to build an audience and cash out, then need is violated.
Time - this is also debatable. It depends on how you monetize that influence. Are you using influence to sell your own product that can be fulfilled while you sleep? Then it's met. If you're using influence to provide a 1 on 1 service, then it's violated.
Scale - I think this one is met, under the same conditions as above. If you're selling a digital product in particular, then it's infinitely scalable and divorced from time. If you're selling a 1 on 1 service, then scale is limited.

Well said.

Not really a cut-n-dry answer to this question, but INFLUENCE does harbor a lot of opportunities and opens a lot of doors, many of which could be turned into CENTS based varieties.
 
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