Instagrammers and Influencers

[scotx]

New thread to follow on from this one

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3462129-Can-we-chat-about-fashion-Instagrammers-influencers?msgid=84590932

It was clts if I’m not mistaken

There is a whole blog post on it on the OneRoofSocial website which is quite a read.

I read the One Roof thing. Interesting take on things!

Bit disappointed Emma Hill has decided to go down the #gifted route rather than #ad based on her poll after she was sticking to the rules so closely previously. Don’t know if that’s come from the influence of others or it highlights genuine confusion among us followers.

A number of people have posted the Anna Hart piece (CLTS and Luludumas have). As others have said it’s massively patronising and very much treats consumers as irritating idiots who know nothing and get in the way.

As long as it is clear I don't mind. I actually find the distinction between paid ads and gifted stuff helpful. Emma has spoken a few times in her comments about talking it through with the CMA and she has taken everything they told her on board. I think she has handled it very professionally.

Interesting read, that.

Hysterical complaints, consumer angst, inluencers’ suffering...

It does admit that interest dips when there is too much commercial contents though.

@bananamonkey have you seen the exchange on Emma's latest grid post between her and Josieldn regarding use of AD? I then clicked on Josie's page and she's got an undeclared Pandora ad on there

The CMA isn’t that bothered about influencers, and the ASA will only respond to consumer complaints. In essence they put this together as a quick way to limit the noise they’re getting.

Quite a confident statement there. I wonder about her sources.

@VTechnophobe I’ve just read it. I really don’t understand the comments complaining about it, or suggesting it’s unnecessary or “obnoxious”. I’m happy she’s still using #AD in that caption, her reposes seem well considered and clear, it’s a refreshing change to some of the other “are we bored with this yet?” attitudes I’ve seen elsewhere. She said she thinks #gifted is still in line with what CMA have told her?

I’ve had a good unfollow yesterday and kept those with content I genuinely like who seem to be being transparent (EH, ED, DMBL40, HFG etc.) Bit disappointed in AMR as I like her writing but “press sample” seems like a fudge.

I also had quite a thorough decluttering yesterday, particularly CLTS and rvk_loves. I looked through both their feeds and realised there was nothing in there which benefitted me personally in a positive way.

Yes, I saw it via CLTS, who I actually like, but how tone deaf is it to post something that belittles your customers. I have unfollowed very few but Anna Hart is one as she’s so dismissive of the actual consumer of the content.

I don’t have a problem with what Emma Hill did, I thought it was very transparent. She said would people prefer #ad or #gifted for gifted items. I prefer #gifted as then I can see clearly just how much is sent to these IGers. It is clearly a lot. EH is always transparent and has got on board with no issue.

I also like Hannah Gale.

But perhaps it is because EH and HG actually create content.

I have unfollowed one who went to great lengths to match the colour text for #gifted to the colour jumper they had been sent, so that you could barely see it at all. I cringed for them as thought it showed the lengths they had gone to deceive their followers whilst allegedly trumpeting how they complied.

@TheLuckyMrsPine yes after reading her explanation it’s clearer, I only saw the poll initially. I don’t actually mind the #gifted that much and she acknowledges it’s still an AD, I think that’s the issue for me, others don’t seem to recognise this.

I also really like HG.

I liked @wouldyoulikeabagwiththat 's comment a couple of pages back about feeling self-conscious about being in the "gang". I've slowly come to realise that I've kept following a lot of the main bloggers partly in a "what NOT to wear" way, as they've become so homogenous that it's boiled down to quite a recognisable Look.

What I mean is, I only have a limited clothing budget, and I like to buy things that will last a long time, so I don't want to spend it all on the most ubiquitous Insta-featured items. Because I'd feel conscious that people would see me at the school gate and think "Ah, she must follow all those Instamum accounts! Except she's had to buy all those things with her own money!"

OK, I realise this is (mostly!) in my own head, but I like to keep an eye on what they're wearing so that I don't end up spending £££ on something that will look a bit passé in a few months when they've all moved onto the next must-have. (I'm thinking Hush star jumpers, Bella Freud 1970 jumpers, leopard midi skirts for example).

I do agree on ED as one of the better ones who actually has knowledge rather than hours of free time to try on high street clothes. Feel bad for moaning about her style upthread now. I think maybe its just because I'm not into her style and she's the only one doing a better job of it I feel frustrated!

I mainly use intsagram for photography and travel but I do love clothes and would love for these women to be doing a better job of the fashion accounts. I have unfollowed many recently (Clemmie Telford was so rude about that pink jacket!!).

They are wrong to be blasé about HMRC and tax owed!

Ohhh, One Roof Social. Interesting read by someone who obviously feels well informed and makes some sense of it all. It is unfortunate that Ms Hart has such an abrupt manner and, in making light of the "Janet's" and "consumer angst" she might do well to remember how it reads to her future business.
We seem to have entered a time of influencers being smoked out for foul play almost as if it’s a sport, - well, that's one way of looking at it. Or you might just recognise that people feel like they have been treated like gullible fools and have had enough.
Seems we can agree that there is a need for honesty and did agree that inflencers who stray outside their "field" would not be well viewed by their loving disciples who will understand the opportunist greed taking place.

Whatever you’re all reading sounds irritating so I might give it a miss

Glad for a place to talk about this stuff without influencers putting their put upon spin on it

I agreed with some of it. Well, mainly this bit:

We work in an industry which requires no qualification, no level of professionalism and no criteria of understanding before entering into it.

This, apparently, is a positive.

Anna hart probably is very knowledgeable but the disdain in which she seems to regard the general public is staggering. The 'Janet's' are the reason this job exists at all.

*with which

I’m not convinced she is that knowledgeable - I think it’s her interpretation of the legislation from an influencer’s point of view.

Just as her style isn’t particularly aspirational - it appears to me to be “SAHM who doesn’t own an iron”.

I reckon one of the reasons there is so much push back on this is because when posting for a 'paid partnership' or paid advert, the 'influencer' won't be able to tag every other item in the photo. For eg, Influencer A is doing a paid partership with Company X, and is given a, say, vase to photograph (and flog) to her audience. She styles said vase oh so casually in her kitchen (discounted), surrounded by the myriad of other gifts - lights, wall clocks, glassware, etc - she has received over the years from other brands. Surely company X isn't going to allow those other companies - competitors - to be tagged within the photo. Under propper paid partnerships I would think Company X has complete control of the content, including the caption. But if she doesn't tag and highlight those other items she is going to be breaking the rules. And if she doesn't include those countless items in the photograph how are we supposed to envy her lifestyle? She's in a pickle.

Dunno though. Just a thought.

This is interesting, Emma Hill has written a reply to a follower on Instagram.

I don’t think I can be any more transparent but it’s been made quite clear that other influencers don’t like what I’m doing. The amount of DM’s I’ve had from other influencers has now reached double figures, some have been polite, some condescending and some downright rude, but the message from is the same...that I’m disclaiming too much and I think they’re getting it in the neck from their followers that they’re not doing the same and they don’t want to. But to be honest it’s not my problem, I’m doing my thang and they can stick doing theirs, and if it complies with the guidelines then great, if not then it’s on them.