Influencer, the book written by Brittany Hennessy has been a hot topic among online business owners and content creators as of late. I’ve heard it recommended as a must read on at least 2 different podcast and who knows where else so I decided to give it a look.
The book is a 147 page easy read so, all in all, it doesn’t hurt to spend a couple of days reading it. You will definitely learn SOMETHING that can be useful in building your online business. Mostly from a collaboration stand point, which is super important in this field.
Influencer did leave much to be desired in the categories of tech, management and creativity, however. While it mainly focuses on interacting with other people in your niche and profession, it rarely touches on much else. Don’t get me wrong, knowing how to interact with people is a top priority in being an influencer and necessary for survival in this career.
Influencer Basics
This book is super useful in understanding the basics of getting started on your online presence. It details out a great checklist of things to make sure you have everything in order before you start working with brands and other influencers that will help you to look professional.
There’s nothing worse than landing on a site who’s social media links either aren’t anywhere to be found or are broken. It instantly loses the trust and/or excitement of the audience member who will probably move on with their life instead of working harder to find you elsewhere.
It also details out exactly how you should design your bio, about me and collaboration pages which can be exponentially clarifying. Trust me, this is one of the harder things about growing online. Knowing EXACTLY what it is you’re doing here.
Exactly how to design an inquiry email and how to answer them tactfully without breaking ties when it’s a no go is also discussed. This tact is useful and oh so important when your entire livelihood depends on collaborating and working well with others. This is SOCIAL media after all.
Building a Team
One of my favorite things about this book was the chapter on building a team. Those of us with an online presence often wear all of the hats on our own. We’re the writer, the researcher, the photographer, the designer, the editor, the manager, the everything.
When you’re first starting out, this is necessary. Not only can you not afford to hire a team just yet but you also need to stay scrappy. That means aware of all of the processes that make your business what it is and how to do those things yourself. A team is great but you’re the boss here. Know how to run things if someone quits or gets let go.
Building a team as an influencer is a milestone we all fantasize about. This book details how to know when you’ve reached that point and who to hire once you get there. Information that isn’t as commonly dished out among others.
Influencer Vocabulary
Influencer defines many terms and words that most people wouldn’t be familiar with. In some ways, this is useful. If you get an inquiry letter from a brand that speaks influencer, it’s important to be on the same page and able to fluently decipher it.
The author categorizes the different types of content creators and the types of profiles that may be associated with each one. Useful if you’re still in the process of figuring out who you are and what you do online.
Definitions of various words and terms are sprinkled throughout the book but there is also a handy little glossary in the back to help you quickly interpret anything you may come across. Who ever knew that being an influencer required it’s own language?
Influencer not Celebrity
I really try not to complain. It’s a low vibration and we don’t want to be there if we can help it. However, this book spent a LOT of time complaining about people. I’m honestly unsure to whether it’s purpose was to actually help people or to simply be an outlet of the stresses of dealing with people in this profession.
Nearly every section is accompanied by a story of how an influencer was annoying followed by another “Don’t be THAT girl” story. She makes sure to detail how entitled influencers tend to think they are and their ridiculous demands that mirror that of “real” celebrities.
The whole thing made me feel as though I should need to walk on egg shells around her if we ever met. Hell, it makes me feel like I need to walk on eggshells while writing this. She’ll surely judge me terribly for it and possibly make sure I never work in this town again. Which is something she’s accustomed to doing, per her book.
All in all, if you’re just starting out, it’s a good book for basics overview. Just keep in mind you may need a thick skin going into it. Don’t take any of it personally and remember, despite what the book may entail, there’s different ways to skin a cat. (I hate that expression. Drop me a non violent one in the comments?)
The Truth About Being an Influencer
No doubt, being an influencer is a HARD job and a demanding one. So many people get into it not realizing how much work really goes into it. They get overwhelmed and quit before they really ever get off of their feet.
The biggest mistake people make is trying to do everything themselves. You don’t know what you don’t know until you get in there and start working. Hiring a coach who knows exactly what you need to be focusing on can alleviate this overwhelm and save you a TON of time.
If you’re interested in growing your online business, look into working with me. We’ll get you to where you want to be. Books are great but can only take you so far. A personalized approach to you is what’s most impactful for your life and business.
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Author
S.S.Blake; Spiritual Life Coach, Yoga + Meditation Teacher and Founder of Earth and Water
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Citations:
Brittany Hennessy. Influencer; Building Your Personal Brand In The Age of Social Media