Many people and businesses hate the term "influencer." Especially those individuals who attach it to themselves and start demanding rather than negotiating. However, the growth of influencer marketing often means they're still getting offers they do not want. To deter them away, people have begun to voice their disapproval both online and in real life. Whether it's a humorous post on Facebook or a stingy sign next to their establishment, one thing is clear: influencers have to adapt their strategies and communication methods in order not to lose potential customers.
This post may include affiliate links.
This Artist Greets All Influencers With An Offer
Influencer Tries To Get Accommodation For Free, They End Up Banning All Bloggers From Their Business
The entitlement of some people still baffles me, I would never dare to ask anything for free, unless I was dirt poor and going to the soup kitchen or something
Even then there's always the chance to say "I would work for food". But - looking at all these posts - I guess, pride and pride are two completely different things.
Load More Replies...
If I'm ever in Dublin, I will now hunt down this establishment to support them because of the backlash they received. These influencers are becoming a plague about social media and their followers writing negative reviews because their poor influencer hasn't received a free holiday is sickening and disgusting. Influencers need to realise that just by having lots of 'followers' they don't get to write to places and demand free stuff and to throw a hissy fit when that demand is denied. It's super easy in 2019 to get thousands of followers and sadly this has in turn given certain people the power trip of thinking they can use it to never pay for stuff again. I wish it would just stop!
Trust me when I say that Paul Stenson is not bothered by the backlash at all, its all getting his businesa noticed in a good way. check out his fb page for the cafe https://www.facebook.com/WhiteMooseCafe/.
Load More Replies...
And last but not least, by the amount of collagen or whatever f**k it is you injected in your exaggerated lips, I would remove "beauty" from your area of interest, might be "people affected by dismomorphya" would give more credibility.
"people affected by dismomorphya" yaaassss I'm lovin' this.
Load More Replies...
There is a special place in hell for people that write negative reviews out of spite without even having been to the place.
First off, I don't think Orlando needs help getting consumers-been doing it WAAAY before her 20-something YO behind came along. And Second, most of the people who follow are kids at that age or below. They don't have the moolah to travel to Dublin-heck I barely do-mainly cause I work and and have a family. I know my 30-something YO behind is not going to go off what a youngin' (whom I don't know) has to say.
I was going to say the same thing. I highly doubt Universal Studios Orlando said, "Please mention us on Instagram. We need you to let people know we exist!"
Load More Replies...
This is Elle Darby--funny thing is, this whole "feud" seems to be the thing she's most known for when googled....
Ha, seriously? Wow that's pretty funny there! Is that just her thing asking for free stuff to get denied, or is she really wanting these free things/perks? If you know that answer I would be grateful
Load More Replies...
Jasmine, they truly think and believe they deserve to get stuff for free! It's a result of as kids, " there are no losers and everyone gets a trophy" . That is c**p. There are losers and winners. Losing allows you to see where you need to work harder, to be better! Not everyone deserves a trophy! It just encourages that sense of entitlement and not working for what you wasn't, and to earn what you've worked hard for!
You get a standing ovation!!! You are very correct on this!!!
Load More Replies...
I read about this... the influencer chick wanted accommodations over Valentines Day for a solid 5 days—many hotels are booked months out for Valentines Day. That’s pretty cheeky to ask a business to give up 5 days worth of profit during a busy time of year.
"I know your name but apparently it's not important to use names" is the best burn ever.
I love how she says she "worked with Universal Orlando and it's been amazing for them". Gurl, I'm pretty sure Universal Orlando was doing just fine before you graced them with your presence.
Snowflake..... I watched her video, she looks like a entitled brat that didn't get he way. Lord help us if this is our next generation of snowflakes.
That they are just trolls that want you to pay for them, and so they can continue sucking everyone dry, for free! I am not influenced by any influencers, because my self esteem is strong enough to know, letting them influence me, is not how you do things. It's very cultish and ridiculous. For them to ask for freebies they never either deserved nor earned, is just a way to keep freeloading and mooching from honest people.
I think I missed what the Karen jokes, this is funny either way, whatever Karen did has people talking about her longer than BBQ Becky.
Load More Replies...
I would respond to such people something like "Our company policy defines Influencer as a person with at least 1M followers, anyone with a lesser number of followers is a waste of time. When/if you reach that number, please do get back to us and we might consider collaborating with you".
OMG!! I can so identify with this person! I have a small (4 room) BnB to help with my retirement and keep up the building in a historic area I created. I certainly don't get rich, just barely paying expense as my disability floors and I have to have help now and then. I get a few of these per year, and they are so critical and hateful. I wonder if they were raised this way, if it is a Millenial thing, or they are thinking it makes them important to be so ugly? When they call me after their stay and demand a refund or a % off their bill, I have to tell them no. The backlash is astounding. I have a lot of negative reviews, because Yelp and others like them refuse to post good reviews or remove fraudulent ones. I'm happy this person is doing so well. We need a way to fight back! When the poster uses some idiot name, like "best traveller guide" for their blog it's hard to know whom it is. They hide behind all kinds of fanciful names so we can't track them down to take them to court.
Also...what's going on with her face? Botox and lip filler? She's gonna fall into the Uncanny Valley.
Uh, 87,000 subscribers is also a drop in the bucket. Once you hit 5 million, THEN maybe we'll talk. LOL!!
This b******t probably started when the "you lost the game but still get a trophy" kids grew up and they had to get a job. I believe it was a "lightbulb" moment for one if them trying to figure out how to make money and not have to work. For unknown reasons They though about people who leave reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants, and other businesses . They thought "Hey, Im so important and full of myself plus my opinions are SO important and must be heard.", So being the self absorbed waste of space that they are; they must be paid or compensated for their enlightening insight.
I am sick of that "influencer" BS. The newest stupid trend that people abuse up to extremities
Bravo for standing up to those dime a dozen vicious "influencers" who are so full of their self delusions of power and importance that they demand free goods and services based upon their self glorification of being important. Thanks for having the balls to not bend over when those bloggers demand and then pile on the hate when they are told no and go get a job and pay your own way like honest, classy and decent people do.
I would want to if I was visiting Ireland. From now on I will only give custom to businesses who do not sponsor or collaborate with influencers who are basically amateurs with a huge SM following. People working in marketing departments and advertising agencies are qualified or work their way up from the bottom and are professionals.
Load More Replies...
I want to fly across the pond and give these guys my business just because of this response to the blogger.
Well said Paul Stenson. It is hard to work out whether they really believe that B.S. they spout or they believe that we are that stupid we will fall for their lies. Or number 3 - That they are so special we [Non Influencers] are in awe of them and aspire to one day become like them, thus throwing everything at them for free. This is absolutely laughable of course. I did however like the FREE advice you gave them. Get a job and pay your own way. Happy New Year.
I don't follow bloggers, I don't read bloggers, and this is the reason why. When they think they know it all and consider themselves some sort of god, that's it! You just made my 'list of shame' and I don't care what you think you do.
These free loaders amaze me, they think that they are entitled to anything they want just because they write c**p on social media. They probably don’t work like the rest of us who actually pay for the privilege of staying in a nice hotel. They make me sick with their embarrassing demands. Good on you for dismissing this free loading little madam
Id be sure to book with that hotel just because he banned them lol, id actually have peace an quiet
' Many thanks ! ' 🤣 This turned into Legendary the very moment it was posted about one yrar ago. Love every single thing about this
I have nothing but contempt for those lazy freeloaders. My husband is a photographer and gets requests from so-called “influencers” ssking him to work “for ‘exposure’” all the time. He tells them he doesn’t expose himself in public. Exposure does not pay the rent.
I mean, her Youtube channel's address is still legible under the attempt to hide it with black overwrite, but there was a try to be decent. That she made a shaming video is her own fault and pretty nasty step.
how the actual f**k does a youtube video and insta stories equate to FOUR free nights in a hotel plus free food and s**t? what?!
I get what he's saying but free advice for ANY professional - be kinder with your response. A simple "thank you for the offer but we are not willing (in a position, able etc.) to take it up at this time. We wish you well in your endeavours" would have done beautifully. I have to wonder why the manager felt justified in responding with what looks to me like a long rant at someone who asked for a freebie. Just say no, dude. Second, to everyone commenting on her skin, lips, face etc., I suppose you have amazingly perfect skin too. It would be extremely hypocritical of you to point out flaws in someone when your own skin, lips, nose, face isn't "up to par" or whatever that means. Finally, one thing many people forget is that the world has changed. Kids are different now than they were when you were growing up and that's a fact. HOWEVER, that does not give anyone the right to publicly shame or disrespect them for the choices they have made. "Snowflake" is a derogatory term. "Brat" is a derogatory term. None of us should stand up for it and yet, here we are. Personally, if this was the response of a whole MANAGER to a request like this, I wouldn't be willing to give them my patronage. Also, please consider that those "snowflakes" you keep insulting will be the forerunners of the economy in a few decades. Respect everyone, whether or not you agree with them.
Awe poor baby, you didnt get free hotel stay because you deserve it....guess what? You deserve a giant kick in the a*s too..wake up ! and grow a pair
Perhaps the cafe could have been nicer. But being a d**k seems that he got bad reviews which in fact hurt his business. Just being one person have so many followers the influencer May have different followers and. There are 8 billion people in the word. I’m sure they pay more in advertising than a free room and wait staff extra. On another note, the influencer should have definitely offered to pay but would do a video for discounts. Both are in bad taste
Well.. to be honest.. she asked them politely . And the reason they gave, about who paid the staff, was non sense.. what she asked was similar to promotion cost, I believe you know that stuff exists. Shortly, you can just simply deny her offer because you are not interested. As simply as that.. no need to be rude
Idk.. If her channel grants the hotel any exposure, then it's more of a trade vs. a free stay. If their video gets them a couple bookings which would have otherwise not happened, then it was already an investment. Being an "influencer" does take work, not to mention the video editing, metadata, etc... I don't see a problem at all.
Being an "influencer" takes the hide of an elephant and the belief that the world owes you everything. And the belief that everyone is hanging on your b******t.
Load More Replies...
I think that the hotel guy's reaction was way too intense and unprofessional, and also, they did not ask for it for free but in exchange for more media exposure which if done right could really attract customers. I think a polite No would have sufficed.
She has pink eye in her pic. Stay wherever you are and don't spread that all through Ireland.
So the original post was Jan. 16,2018 and the second one was Jan. 17,2018. How much actual backlash could you have gotten in one day? And seriously, all you had to do was decline. You wanted to be snarky. I personally couldn’t care less if you don’t give the twit freebies. I just don’t believe you were persecuted... this post was obviously made so you could get free exposure.
Marketing is expensive. I would argue that more visibility and traffic to a business establishment along with good PR is Good for business. Unless they were sold out I wouldn’t see the problem of accommodation or maybe Offer a discount rate. Also, the rant was unnecessary and unprofessional.
I want to stay there now! I’m not a blogger by any means. I actually work for a living and don’t mind paying for what I want. Much respect to Paul Stenson! It’s a handout society. Sadly
This guy is a legend! entitled brats want everything for free in exchange for a "feature post" GTFO! At least have a million followers or something significant before even thinking about asking for free stuff.
Hell yeah this dude is awesome!!! I love how you stood up for yourself and your hotel..
I think Paul overreacted. She asked for an exchange of services; advertising of his business in exchange for accomodations, she didn't demand anything. A simple "no, thank you" would have been sufficient.
Love his responses! Yes, how about just acting like an adult and paying your way? Time to grow up and be responsible!!!
Does anyone have a link to the video she did about the response to her email??
Not all bloggers are equal. I write blogs but not about hotels or other places that accommodate paying guests. My blogs are about health and disability, and they’re only posted on my denomination’s website.
That request for a freebie is called freeloading, by the way, and it takes quite a bit of chutzpah not only to ask for it in the first place, but to complain about it being denied. Entitled b***h.
"Last year I worked with Universal Orlando in Florida and it's been amazing for them!" - does she seriously believe that her posting on her 'blog' about Universal Orlando is the only reason they have thousands of visitors? Surely she is not that dumb? I sincerely hope that Universal are extremely grateful for all her hard work and help in gaining them a few more customers 😂😂😂😂
Influencer is not a job. Writing stuff on the internet is not an industry. The only thing real about all of this is the sense of entitlement.
I support the hotel but maybe people thought the owner was trying to be too smart with their reply. These influencers appear sensitive !
BRILLIANT! Keep up the great work, Paul! You have a friend in the Land of Enchantment...where you also have to pay for accommodations. Freeloaders need not apply!
damn, i have a YT Channel and i pay for everything i did in my vids, wether a guitar, gunpla toys, gimbal, guitar effect, etc. you can check it out here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_pPqDxD2R09WZAG3eEjmNw?sub_confirmation=1
First of all I am not an "influencer" and I'm not defending her in anyway, but hear me out. It works like this: You, as a business owner ar going to pay your employees. Instead of paying for "conventional" means of advertising to increase your revenue, you can host one of those "influencers" for free, pay your employees from your marketing buget and depending how successful your influencer is you can render more profits in the medium future.
And if you don't need it, why should you comp some self-entitled brat (who puts bad reviews out if she doesn't get her way) and let her stay in your place. Sounds like extortion to me. She just wanted a free vacation, not only for herself, but her boyfriend as well. No thanks!
Load More Replies...
I read this sometime ago, and I actually sent a message to the White Moose Cafe to congratulate them. The gall of (some) influencers is unbelievable - Good on him.
She does hot even look the part. Portrait taken the morning after? Not good!
Before we had money we bartered for stuff – and that's all that's going on here. She's offering exposure in exchange for accommodation. She wasn’t demanding anything, so why shouldn't she ask? It is entirely up to Paul whether he sees the value of her offer as reasonable payment for the accommodation. Which quite clearly he doesn’t! Entirely his choice! However, Paul’s response (in my opinion) is a bit on the harsh side. He labels himself as “speaking the truth” – and he’s clearly a very witty person – but I think you can “speak the truth” without going out of your way to be obnoxious. Anyway, She’s free to ask. Paul is free to respond. Why are the rest of us creating battle lines over it?
I suspect Paul has been inundated with similar requests (demands?) and the temper tantrums that come after he declines the request.
Load More Replies...
White Banana Beach Club Makes A Wild Suggestion To Influencers
This Ice Cream Man’s Response To A Choosing Beggar Gives Me Hope For Humanity
Sick And Tired Of Influencers This Ice Cream Place Introduces A Special Offer
Influencer Claims Their Work Is Very Hard, Gets Shut Down
Lots of work doesn't mean that they aren't insufferable. Also, the term "influencer" makes me cringe. But at the same time, I'd like to get $500k for a single social media post.
The Only Way To Protect Your Business From Wild Cb's
This Fake Guru Has 186k Followers And Always Post About How Much Money He Makes
The Way They Started Their Letter Is Worth A Separate Post
D Grade Reality Cook Tries To Offer Exposure To Award Winning Restaurant
Influencer Asks To Provided Food For 300-320 Guests For Free
Even I can feel the bruning insult at the suggestion to deliver tons of excellent food that was produced with much work and love, just to have it thrown away.
"I Guess I Just Lost The Biggest Opportunity Of My Life"
Restaurant Believes This Influencer Has No Right To Review Their Place
This Influencer Was Looking For A Personal Trainer That Would Pay Her For The 'Incredible' Opportunity Of Training Her
My Friend Is A Photographer And He Told Me That He Usually Gets Tons Of Messages Like This One!
Clothing Designer Is Surprised With Influencer's 'Great' Offer
When you have only 8k followers, you have no right asking for something for free and should just gratefully accept it if some company does want to work with you. Sure it's different when you have a million followers and an ad would reach a large number of people, but with 8k it's not worth it for any company
Yelper Is Mad Because Restaurant Didn't Them Free Meal In Exchange For Potential Ig Exposure
The level of self-absorbent attitude is so incredible with these people. I almost have a sort of grudging respect for the kind of chutzpah that it requires to make these sort of requests.
Yeah I Need Exposure, But Not This Way, Also I Think The Amount Of Emojis He Used Is Scary
This sounds like some fort of scam more than a legit influencer (if there is such a thing). The grammatical errors and how the sender is trying to create a sense of urgency regarding the money being sent smacks of scam. Plus, it's not audacious enough to be a real thing. $10 is enough to make a quick scam worth your time but not enough that it'll be too hard to get people to pay.
Burgers For Bullcrap
‘Influencer’ Bride With 55k Followers Tries To Get Wedding Shot For Free, Photographers Destroy Her With Sarcastic Response
Why Is It That When You Turn Down "Promotion!!!" In Exchange For Real Hard Work, These People Instantly Do A 180?
Likes Do Not Pay The Bills Ma'am
And even a quick drawing does not take into account the years of education, training, and practice that led to the ability to create it.
"We Kindly Retract Our Wish To Work With You”
Well, at least these influencers were polite when their request was rejected.
Free Food In Exchange For Posts
Traveling Blog Asks If They Can Feature A Hit Restaurant In Their Blog - Then Ask To Be Compensated For It
Yes, we can offer you to be a dishwasher in the #1 restaurant in WA..
Laura Worthington Of Laura's Little Bakery Is Sick Of People Asking For Freebies
He Said He'd Fry My Router So This Is Goodbye
Fry his router? Where'd it say he'd do that? I'd like a bit more background on this. Especially because the person demanding free service is bragging about his 315 followers. I have somewhere around that many FB friends and I hate people and am the definition of anti social.
For Anyone Who Wants To Know What Happened To Towie
Whoa, I know violence is bad and all, but I'm feeling such a need to punch this person in the face.
New Tactic Against Influencers? He Never Responded
Bachelorette Contestant Wants Free Rent To Be "Live-In Influencer"
Note: this post originally had 37 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Just last week I witnessed an 'influencer' get blasted at our favorite Italian restaurant. This place is always busy, packed with the line out the door. The girl in front of me wanted to speak to the owner (he's also the head chef). This guy is old-school Italian, and doesn't play around. She tells him she's an influencer, and wants a 'sample of everything ' . He directed her to the girl taking orders. No, she wanted it comped for a review. He yelled, "How's everyone enjoying your meals?" Cheers . "That's all the reviews I need". I thoroughly enjoyed watching her stand there looking like she got slapped in the face.
Even the mommy bloggers who display stolen recipes on their blogs and are a type of influencer. They get paid a huge fortune to be sponsored by food companies and manufacturers of cleaning products. I thought they did it for fun and recognition. There was an Australian psycho thriller about a mommy blogger who was pregnant and engineered envy in a single woman who worked in the local supermarket. Called The Secret She Keeps. The supermarket employee admired her and put her on a pedestal. She should have hated her instead for her boring blog and ripping off food companies.
Load More Replies... If you want to shame those parasites you shouldn't blur their names. They have made themsleves known as "Influenza" so let them face the consequences of their entitlement.
"Influencer" = lazy narcissist using Photoshop-level filters. "Collaborate" = free load. No, they are not working "hard af" as one of those people said. Scroll through Insta in "lifestyle" and it's all a blur of "GIVE ME! Or else". When my toddler godson says that, he gets a time-out. So... *click* or *swipe* and on to actual web content like, y'know, cat pictures!
I guess I lead a sheltered life. The only influencers I've ever run across have been on posts like this on Panda.
I don't even have an Instagram account to influence or be influenced.
Load More Replies...
As a graphic designer I get asked to do free or deeply discounted work regularly. If I won't do it for the average Joe, who doesn't make much money, I'm sure as hell not going to do it for someone who chooses not to work and is only exchanging services with a post (that might only be up for an hour or two??). My time, equipment and needs are too important to just give away free to just anyone who asks. That being said I won't get rude with someone who does ask. That's equally as wrong. But when someone simply tells you no, they can't, don't go into a tizzy because you think you are entitled. I assure you, you're not.
People seem to think that since art is a creative product, that they shouldn't have to pay for it. I do photography, and have done it professionally in the past and am familiar with what you describe.
Load More Replies... I’m sorry. I don’t get the “influencer” thing. Who exactly are these people? And who are they influencing? Why do they feel entitled to free goods & services? I noticed that most of the “influencers” got really nasty when businesses politely told them that they need to be paid for their time/products. Can there be that many entitled narcissistic a-holes out there? Haven’t these people ever heard the word NO before?
Each and every post I wanted to comment "Wow...WTF?" I would have to type it out a lot so I decided to just say it here instead lol
Surely these 'influencers' would have companies approaching them if they seriously had the power to bring in that many customers for the business?
I thought that was the idea and probably was the case when instagram and the mommy blogs started. But there are too many influencers now and they are getting desperate.
Load More Replies...
People have way too much time to answer these jerks asking freebies. Just done' answer the email and move on. They don't deserve your time.
Yeah I don’t like influencers either but just “no thank you” works. People who write these long winded responses are just looking for exposure and aren’t different from the influencers. Everyone is lame in these situations
Load More Replies... We need to stop calling these people "influencers" and instead call them what they are. Scammers.
Anyone else ever successfully pay a bill with "exposures" instead of dollars? Yeah, me, either.
Is being an "influencer" some type of new mental illness? From what I could understand from this, is every single one of them are bat s**t crazy....
Badmouthing companies who don't give into their demands for freebies and payments is certainly a mental illness. There's a term for that and it's 'protection racket'. Instead of the business owner having their windows smashed in they have their business badmouthed on Instagram and TikTok.
Load More Replies...
Being an "influencer" on social media doesn't give you the right to demand free products and services from people and businesses. The fact that so many of these people think that just having followers on Instagram is enough to get free services is appalling. I am not on Instagram and even if I was I would not demand freebies in exchange for exposure. These people need to get a real job and stop their entitled whining.
By reading the follower counts on the influencers profiles looks like I'm more of a influencer than they are
There are so many REAL influencers (funny how spell-check says it's not a word...) on Youtube these days that these self-entitled fakes are not even a thing for me to consider. There are enough REAL influencers who show us how to file taxes, put on makeup, how to grow and care for various plants, how to assemble that piece of furniture you bought from IKEA, etc, etc, etc. There are people who give honest real-world reviews on products. These people are real "influencers". They give and give and eventually become popular enough to have a following, which they then get sponsors. People who actually WANT to advertise their products on their videos. So, when you want something for free, self-described influencers, please remember you have to earn things. America is a capitalist nation. In other words, it is a meritocracy.
Their videos are usually monetized with advertising and they usually have qualifications or experience in what they demonstrate.
Load More Replies... One again, I know why I also read bad reviews - often enough it's jsut somebody complaingin about something totally stupid. The visciousness in some posts is a bit shocking. I do think some of the asked peeps are overreacting, though. Just say No. No need to write half a page of indignant insults and call people Brats. But trying to destroy a business just because they don't give you freebies shoudl actually lead to a lawsuit.
They probably get tired of it and snap, like most people Would after a while.
Load More Replies...
I cannot believe how many spelling errors, and grammatical errors there are in this post...Did any of these people pay attention in school? And how many lazy, self-entitled people there are...Unbelievable..
Every time I say the word ‘influencer’ it always comes out as ‘influenza’; considering influenza’s an unwanted virus that plagues people, perhaps I’m saying it right?
Influencers may have taken freebies too far, but to be fair, they didn't come up with this idea on their own. Before social media, I worked as an arts and culture journalist for 11 years in a small city. Definitely NOT a major influencer, and yet hotels, restaurants, and vendors constantly offered me free this and that. I only accepted freebies if I really felt there was a possibility I would write about their space, and even that was very rare. Sometimes vendors were offended and downright catty when I declined. Just saying, media quid pro quid has gone on a long time and it's always been a two-way street.
Your difference he is between 'they offered' and 'you gotta give me because I'm special'. If I say, give me specifics to I can write intelligently about you, that's one thing. To say, give me free stuff and I'll put in a good word for you (unasked) is something quite different.
Load More Replies...
I guess that, like in many other situations, this market, because it is a market whether we like it or not, will clear itself in a few years. The many will vanish and the few, more professionals in a good meaning, will continue.
Yep couldn't say it better. There is a market for influencers. This list is just the equivalent of basement bands wanting to get booked but only havin 2 fans
Load More Replies...
This generation has ruined media for those of us who actually ARE proper journalists and photographers and editors etc. It's such a gong show out there now it's not even very interesting anymore to be part of a legit magazine. But to be fair, they can't get jobs because my parents generation ruined everything... so...
I'm an artist on Instagram and I'm pretty small rn, so no influencers have asked me for stuff like this yet. But I do follow a lot of other, bigger, artists and I hear about these kinds of things all the time. It's really annoying because people don't take artists, musicians, designers, and other related businesses seriously enough. There's this whole stigma that they're not "real" professions and it makes me really angry. People work hard to achieve their skill.
People who can't even influence their own spelling and grammar are automatically worthless on social media.
It's wonderful to see so-called influences get owned! They are lazy bums who want to get their money for nothing and their chicks (or dudes) for free. I suspect a lot of these "influencers" are liars, claiming to be influencers in hopes of getting free stuff. You want stuff, do some honest work and earn money to spend.
My friend worked at the tulip festival recently. SOooooo many influencers were taking glamour photos inside the fields of colourful tulips. He was telling me all about it. So I went one day to see the flowers etc. Bunch of certain nationality were in the field. Having clearly been told by the staff (and my friend who was staff that day too) to get out. It is clearly marked to not enter the fields. Staff left, in their high viz jackets. Influencers mutter and giggle and climb right on back in. I turn and say, "Are you totally deaf? GET out of the field before I call the police." HUGE bright red faces. One pretends not to speak English. I say, "I lip read, coz I am partially deaf, I know you speak English, stop acting dumb." All get out of the field looking positively chastised. I explain to them the flowers only last a very short time, and once damaged by all the photographing influencers they are no longer! Bright red faces, lots of sorry sorry. I stood there and waited. They left.
Influencer my a*s.. Don't get me wrong, I know there's bunch of actual influencers who act just like a good infuencer supposed to be. But these people, are incredibly disgusting human beings with no humility and humble traits whatsoever. What I'm saying, it's a shame that the terms of 'influencer' now becomes something that sounds toxic.
Rule number one: If you need to go around calling yourself "an influencer," you're not. Rule number two: if you have to ASK for free stuff to promote to your social media followers, you are not "an influencer." Rule number three: if you don't understand rule number two, see rule number one.
In the mid-2000s, in my early 20s, I started a food blog for fun. "Influencers" weren't a thing then, so when businesses started reaching out to me for exposure in exchange for meals I was ecstatic! You want to give me food and I just have to write about it?! Unreal in my mind. I think where influencer culture and I split was in how I viewed the site. I was just doing it for me. If I had modest success with it, hooray, but I'd never ask a business for free anything. I wrote plenty of articles where I paid for the food gladly. I was the one wanting to write about it, no one asked me to, so why should I expect anything in return?
The all-important difference is that THEY asked YOU to write for them for a free meal. No reason to turn down a freebie someone offered you.
Load More Replies...
Normally I click to see all the images. Couldn't do it this time. Influencers are brats that received too many participation ribbons in their childhood
Do you ever get the feeling that society is descending into hell? Hopefully, all these twats will get publicly shamed and crash horribly and then this whole idea will be dead by next year.
Did your comment arrest this ‘descent into hell’ or accelerate it? Also, drama much?
Load More Replies...
we need to expose their act and their influencer social media so people know how cheap they are..
Bloggers and vloggers are just lazy a*s idiots looking for easy monsy and free stuff. Fuxking pests....
I have to know, does asking for free service in exchange for social media posts REALLY work for someone other than famous folks? I mean I would think if you are famous, clients would come to you-especially of you have 1.5mil followers.
Can anybody imagine where we would be if myspace/facebook which led to this obsession with likes and followers on all platforms was never invented? I bet we would be partying on Mars right now...although I guess it wouldn't matter because we wouldn't make our Earth people jealous with pictures haha
Well it is funny but I’m too lazy to read this all. That’s my own problem 🤣
I am a local guide on google. I paid for food the service and food was lovely. So i posted a good review and than was that. They knew i was a local guide and did check in on me but i wanted to pay like a decent human being and they asked me nicely how my evening was like a decent human being. I work my butt of a*s a chef and im nit doing it for 'exposure' i want to have enough money to live of off. Like they do
Whoever wrote this post: no-one deserves public shaming. it can ruin lives and drive people to suicide
This seems to be a difference in generational thought. I own a restaurant in Ecuador. Among other things we have vegan and vegetarian option. In our marketing plan, we have included inviting vegan and vegetarian "influencers" to our restaurant to try our vegan and vegetarian meals. We intend on giving them their meals for free because we understand that the people that follow them like them and trust them. We also understand that the most important aspect of any relationship is trust. We do not feel that we can establish the same level of trust that the "influencers" can. I have used influencers in other business endeavors with great success. We have gotten a ton of exposure for very little money which has translated into business. Like anything marketing related, you have to be selective about the influencers you use and make sure they are "targeting" your audience. In our minds, it isn't any different than bartering with the local media.
What in the everloving f**k... This is what I hate about this era we're living in.
There are only a few "real" influencers in the world: Madonna, Kim Kardashian and Chiara Ferragni.
I don't get it. Don't they make money with views of their postings? I've watched a video recently about Youtubers. It seems they make a lot of money just by people watching their videos. And then to have the audacity to ask for free stuff is beyond me.
I guess it's just an internet thing that these self absorbed, self entitled munchkins think so much of themselves because they have access to a computer and can get 'lots' of sychophantic other munchkins to worship the ground they walk on, that they think everybody else will feel the same. Talk about an echo chamber. Maybe there was a pre internet equivalent, but then they were just called scams and done with it.
I have a suspicion that there is a marketing company offering these companies the contact by influencers, and advising on how to post a sarcastic response that will go viral. Considering that the viral response seems to offer free advertising for the restaurant/photographer etc.
Hi bored panda. Pay me $500 and I will tell people in email you're a great site! (Signed) totally realistic and non-entitled person.
So bloody cheeky practically begging for free stuff. They have no morals at all
Who compares a profiteer with a martyr also compares a satanist with a saint. This whole place is a murderous and corrupting lie.
Personally, I avoid places that cater to "influencers". All having an influencer translates to is "their costs have been transferred to paying clients." But then, I try to avoid name brands for the same reason. Advertising costs are ultimately paid by the customers.
I'm a bit worried that some of the pictures don't make it clear whether they're stock photos or actually attached to the original post, there's some innocent models out there who might get attacked because of some of this rubbish :-(
Here's more reasons I dislike 'influencers ' and and YouTubers: Giving food, money, or a place to live, to the homeless... while recording it. One guy (recently) wanted to buy all of the bottled water in a store (prior to a hurricane warning) so he could record himself giving it away. The store manager refused. They don't do it out of compassion, but for views. Views = money.
lol i do commissions and i' so glad i've never seen anything like this or id go insane with laughter XD
mindboggling stuff - the sense of entitlement is ... actually - I am lost for words
half of them are rude too. One of the "influncers" i follow on instagram asked in the caption of her post "Any good albums come out recently?" and I commented "I've been streaming 'fandom' by waterparks! I recommend them!" (i've been listening to waterparks for like 6 years so-) and she responded said "it sucks sorry" and ????? i'm friends with the members and gonna see them for the 20th time but yknow 1 "influncer" is gonna change my 6 years of loving them lmao
This entire post upsets me. I have to wonder at the maturity of some of these "managers" and "business owners." Customers are customers - whether they are asking for freebies or asking for cold soup to be warmed up. It doesn't matter. What matters in the end is the reputation of your business. You want to keep it up, keep your customers happy. Some of these responses are just out and out rude - not considering the fact that in 20-30 years, these "influencers" and their generation are going to be the main clientele. A pro-tip for every business owner... just be kind. Your business depends on it. That said, nobody should slam a business for not wanting to give freebies. Respect should be both ways.
I have 23 followers across social media but I influence thousands annually to never return to my posts again.
Step 1) Find some irritating women Step 2) Show them being ‘punished’ Step 3) Complain about them Step 4) Go to step 3 At least it’s better than the straight-up incel posts, but it’s still misogynistic when you focus on punishing harmless but annoying women and never criticize men for the c**p they do
I've not down voted before, but your post is so far reaching and makes no sense in connection to the article that I really felt it was necessary.
Load More Replies... 
Just last week I witnessed an 'influencer' get blasted at our favorite Italian restaurant. This place is always busy, packed with the line out the door. The girl in front of me wanted to speak to the owner (he's also the head chef). This guy is old-school Italian, and doesn't play around. She tells him she's an influencer, and wants a 'sample of everything ' . He directed her to the girl taking orders. No, she wanted it comped for a review. He yelled, "How's everyone enjoying your meals?" Cheers . "That's all the reviews I need". I thoroughly enjoyed watching her stand there looking like she got slapped in the face.
Even the mommy bloggers who display stolen recipes on their blogs and are a type of influencer. They get paid a huge fortune to be sponsored by food companies and manufacturers of cleaning products. I thought they did it for fun and recognition. There was an Australian psycho thriller about a mommy blogger who was pregnant and engineered envy in a single woman who worked in the local supermarket. Called The Secret She Keeps. The supermarket employee admired her and put her on a pedestal. She should have hated her instead for her boring blog and ripping off food companies.
Load More Replies... If you want to shame those parasites you shouldn't blur their names. They have made themsleves known as "Influenza" so let them face the consequences of their entitlement.
"Influencer" = lazy narcissist using Photoshop-level filters. "Collaborate" = free load. No, they are not working "hard af" as one of those people said. Scroll through Insta in "lifestyle" and it's all a blur of "GIVE ME! Or else". When my toddler godson says that, he gets a time-out. So... *click* or *swipe* and on to actual web content like, y'know, cat pictures!
I guess I lead a sheltered life. The only influencers I've ever run across have been on posts like this on Panda.
I don't even have an Instagram account to influence or be influenced.
Load More Replies... As a graphic designer I get asked to do free or deeply discounted work regularly. If I won't do it for the average Joe, who doesn't make much money, I'm sure as hell not going to do it for someone who chooses not to work and is only exchanging services with a post (that might only be up for an hour or two??). My time, equipment and needs are too important to just give away free to just anyone who asks. That being said I won't get rude with someone who does ask. That's equally as wrong. But when someone simply tells you no, they can't, don't go into a tizzy because you think you are entitled. I assure you, you're not.
People seem to think that since art is a creative product, that they shouldn't have to pay for it. I do photography, and have done it professionally in the past and am familiar with what you describe.
Load More Replies... I’m sorry. I don’t get the “influencer” thing. Who exactly are these people? And who are they influencing? Why do they feel entitled to free goods & services? I noticed that most of the “influencers” got really nasty when businesses politely told them that they need to be paid for their time/products. Can there be that many entitled narcissistic a-holes out there? Haven’t these people ever heard the word NO before?
Each and every post I wanted to comment "Wow...WTF?" I would have to type it out a lot so I decided to just say it here instead lol
Surely these 'influencers' would have companies approaching them if they seriously had the power to bring in that many customers for the business?
I thought that was the idea and probably was the case when instagram and the mommy blogs started. But there are too many influencers now and they are getting desperate.
Load More Replies... People have way too much time to answer these jerks asking freebies. Just done' answer the email and move on. They don't deserve your time.
Yeah I don’t like influencers either but just “no thank you” works. People who write these long winded responses are just looking for exposure and aren’t different from the influencers. Everyone is lame in these situations
Load More Replies... We need to stop calling these people "influencers" and instead call them what they are. Scammers.
Anyone else ever successfully pay a bill with "exposures" instead of dollars? Yeah, me, either.
Is being an "influencer" some type of new mental illness? From what I could understand from this, is every single one of them are bat s**t crazy....
Badmouthing companies who don't give into their demands for freebies and payments is certainly a mental illness. There's a term for that and it's 'protection racket'. Instead of the business owner having their windows smashed in they have their business badmouthed on Instagram and TikTok.
Load More Replies... Being an "influencer" on social media doesn't give you the right to demand free products and services from people and businesses. The fact that so many of these people think that just having followers on Instagram is enough to get free services is appalling. I am not on Instagram and even if I was I would not demand freebies in exchange for exposure. These people need to get a real job and stop their entitled whining.
By reading the follower counts on the influencers profiles looks like I'm more of a influencer than they are
There are so many REAL influencers (funny how spell-check says it's not a word...) on Youtube these days that these self-entitled fakes are not even a thing for me to consider. There are enough REAL influencers who show us how to file taxes, put on makeup, how to grow and care for various plants, how to assemble that piece of furniture you bought from IKEA, etc, etc, etc. There are people who give honest real-world reviews on products. These people are real "influencers". They give and give and eventually become popular enough to have a following, which they then get sponsors. People who actually WANT to advertise their products on their videos. So, when you want something for free, self-described influencers, please remember you have to earn things. America is a capitalist nation. In other words, it is a meritocracy.
Their videos are usually monetized with advertising and they usually have qualifications or experience in what they demonstrate.
Load More Replies... One again, I know why I also read bad reviews - often enough it's jsut somebody complaingin about something totally stupid. The visciousness in some posts is a bit shocking. I do think some of the asked peeps are overreacting, though. Just say No. No need to write half a page of indignant insults and call people Brats. But trying to destroy a business just because they don't give you freebies shoudl actually lead to a lawsuit.
They probably get tired of it and snap, like most people Would after a while.
Load More Replies... I cannot believe how many spelling errors, and grammatical errors there are in this post...Did any of these people pay attention in school? And how many lazy, self-entitled people there are...Unbelievable..
Every time I say the word ‘influencer’ it always comes out as ‘influenza’; considering influenza’s an unwanted virus that plagues people, perhaps I’m saying it right?
Influencers may have taken freebies too far, but to be fair, they didn't come up with this idea on their own. Before social media, I worked as an arts and culture journalist for 11 years in a small city. Definitely NOT a major influencer, and yet hotels, restaurants, and vendors constantly offered me free this and that. I only accepted freebies if I really felt there was a possibility I would write about their space, and even that was very rare. Sometimes vendors were offended and downright catty when I declined. Just saying, media quid pro quid has gone on a long time and it's always been a two-way street.
Your difference he is between 'they offered' and 'you gotta give me because I'm special'. If I say, give me specifics to I can write intelligently about you, that's one thing. To say, give me free stuff and I'll put in a good word for you (unasked) is something quite different.
Load More Replies... I guess that, like in many other situations, this market, because it is a market whether we like it or not, will clear itself in a few years. The many will vanish and the few, more professionals in a good meaning, will continue.
Yep couldn't say it better. There is a market for influencers. This list is just the equivalent of basement bands wanting to get booked but only havin 2 fans
Load More Replies... This generation has ruined media for those of us who actually ARE proper journalists and photographers and editors etc. It's such a gong show out there now it's not even very interesting anymore to be part of a legit magazine. But to be fair, they can't get jobs because my parents generation ruined everything... so...
I'm an artist on Instagram and I'm pretty small rn, so no influencers have asked me for stuff like this yet. But I do follow a lot of other, bigger, artists and I hear about these kinds of things all the time. It's really annoying because people don't take artists, musicians, designers, and other related businesses seriously enough. There's this whole stigma that they're not "real" professions and it makes me really angry. People work hard to achieve their skill.
People who can't even influence their own spelling and grammar are automatically worthless on social media.
It's wonderful to see so-called influences get owned! They are lazy bums who want to get their money for nothing and their chicks (or dudes) for free. I suspect a lot of these "influencers" are liars, claiming to be influencers in hopes of getting free stuff. You want stuff, do some honest work and earn money to spend.
My friend worked at the tulip festival recently. SOooooo many influencers were taking glamour photos inside the fields of colourful tulips. He was telling me all about it. So I went one day to see the flowers etc. Bunch of certain nationality were in the field. Having clearly been told by the staff (and my friend who was staff that day too) to get out. It is clearly marked to not enter the fields. Staff left, in their high viz jackets. Influencers mutter and giggle and climb right on back in. I turn and say, "Are you totally deaf? GET out of the field before I call the police." HUGE bright red faces. One pretends not to speak English. I say, "I lip read, coz I am partially deaf, I know you speak English, stop acting dumb." All get out of the field looking positively chastised. I explain to them the flowers only last a very short time, and once damaged by all the photographing influencers they are no longer! Bright red faces, lots of sorry sorry. I stood there and waited. They left.
Influencer my a*s.. Don't get me wrong, I know there's bunch of actual influencers who act just like a good infuencer supposed to be. But these people, are incredibly disgusting human beings with no humility and humble traits whatsoever. What I'm saying, it's a shame that the terms of 'influencer' now becomes something that sounds toxic.
Rule number one: If you need to go around calling yourself "an influencer," you're not. Rule number two: if you have to ASK for free stuff to promote to your social media followers, you are not "an influencer." Rule number three: if you don't understand rule number two, see rule number one.
In the mid-2000s, in my early 20s, I started a food blog for fun. "Influencers" weren't a thing then, so when businesses started reaching out to me for exposure in exchange for meals I was ecstatic! You want to give me food and I just have to write about it?! Unreal in my mind. I think where influencer culture and I split was in how I viewed the site. I was just doing it for me. If I had modest success with it, hooray, but I'd never ask a business for free anything. I wrote plenty of articles where I paid for the food gladly. I was the one wanting to write about it, no one asked me to, so why should I expect anything in return?
The all-important difference is that THEY asked YOU to write for them for a free meal. No reason to turn down a freebie someone offered you.
Load More Replies... Normally I click to see all the images. Couldn't do it this time. Influencers are brats that received too many participation ribbons in their childhood
Do you ever get the feeling that society is descending into hell? Hopefully, all these twats will get publicly shamed and crash horribly and then this whole idea will be dead by next year.
Did your comment arrest this ‘descent into hell’ or accelerate it? Also, drama much?
Load More Replies... we need to expose their act and their influencer social media so people know how cheap they are..
Bloggers and vloggers are just lazy a*s idiots looking for easy monsy and free stuff. Fuxking pests....
I have to know, does asking for free service in exchange for social media posts REALLY work for someone other than famous folks? I mean I would think if you are famous, clients would come to you-especially of you have 1.5mil followers.
Can anybody imagine where we would be if myspace/facebook which led to this obsession with likes and followers on all platforms was never invented? I bet we would be partying on Mars right now...although I guess it wouldn't matter because we wouldn't make our Earth people jealous with pictures haha
Well it is funny but I’m too lazy to read this all. That’s my own problem 🤣
I am a local guide on google. I paid for food the service and food was lovely. So i posted a good review and than was that. They knew i was a local guide and did check in on me but i wanted to pay like a decent human being and they asked me nicely how my evening was like a decent human being. I work my butt of a*s a chef and im nit doing it for 'exposure' i want to have enough money to live of off. Like they do
Whoever wrote this post: no-one deserves public shaming. it can ruin lives and drive people to suicide
This seems to be a difference in generational thought. I own a restaurant in Ecuador. Among other things we have vegan and vegetarian option. In our marketing plan, we have included inviting vegan and vegetarian "influencers" to our restaurant to try our vegan and vegetarian meals. We intend on giving them their meals for free because we understand that the people that follow them like them and trust them. We also understand that the most important aspect of any relationship is trust. We do not feel that we can establish the same level of trust that the "influencers" can. I have used influencers in other business endeavors with great success. We have gotten a ton of exposure for very little money which has translated into business. Like anything marketing related, you have to be selective about the influencers you use and make sure they are "targeting" your audience. In our minds, it isn't any different than bartering with the local media.
What in the everloving f**k... This is what I hate about this era we're living in.
There are only a few "real" influencers in the world: Madonna, Kim Kardashian and Chiara Ferragni.
I don't get it. Don't they make money with views of their postings? I've watched a video recently about Youtubers. It seems they make a lot of money just by people watching their videos. And then to have the audacity to ask for free stuff is beyond me.
I guess it's just an internet thing that these self absorbed, self entitled munchkins think so much of themselves because they have access to a computer and can get 'lots' of sychophantic other munchkins to worship the ground they walk on, that they think everybody else will feel the same. Talk about an echo chamber. Maybe there was a pre internet equivalent, but then they were just called scams and done with it.
I have a suspicion that there is a marketing company offering these companies the contact by influencers, and advising on how to post a sarcastic response that will go viral. Considering that the viral response seems to offer free advertising for the restaurant/photographer etc.
Hi bored panda. Pay me $500 and I will tell people in email you're a great site! (Signed) totally realistic and non-entitled person.
So bloody cheeky practically begging for free stuff. They have no morals at all
Who compares a profiteer with a martyr also compares a satanist with a saint. This whole place is a murderous and corrupting lie.
Personally, I avoid places that cater to "influencers". All having an influencer translates to is "their costs have been transferred to paying clients." But then, I try to avoid name brands for the same reason. Advertising costs are ultimately paid by the customers.
I'm a bit worried that some of the pictures don't make it clear whether they're stock photos or actually attached to the original post, there's some innocent models out there who might get attacked because of some of this rubbish :-(
Here's more reasons I dislike 'influencers ' and and YouTubers: Giving food, money, or a place to live, to the homeless... while recording it. One guy (recently) wanted to buy all of the bottled water in a store (prior to a hurricane warning) so he could record himself giving it away. The store manager refused. They don't do it out of compassion, but for views. Views = money.
lol i do commissions and i' so glad i've never seen anything like this or id go insane with laughter XD
mindboggling stuff - the sense of entitlement is ... actually - I am lost for words
half of them are rude too. One of the "influncers" i follow on instagram asked in the caption of her post "Any good albums come out recently?" and I commented "I've been streaming 'fandom' by waterparks! I recommend them!" (i've been listening to waterparks for like 6 years so-) and she responded said "it sucks sorry" and ????? i'm friends with the members and gonna see them for the 20th time but yknow 1 "influncer" is gonna change my 6 years of loving them lmao
This entire post upsets me. I have to wonder at the maturity of some of these "managers" and "business owners." Customers are customers - whether they are asking for freebies or asking for cold soup to be warmed up. It doesn't matter. What matters in the end is the reputation of your business. You want to keep it up, keep your customers happy. Some of these responses are just out and out rude - not considering the fact that in 20-30 years, these "influencers" and their generation are going to be the main clientele. A pro-tip for every business owner... just be kind. Your business depends on it. That said, nobody should slam a business for not wanting to give freebies. Respect should be both ways.
I have 23 followers across social media but I influence thousands annually to never return to my posts again.
Step 1) Find some irritating women Step 2) Show them being ‘punished’ Step 3) Complain about them Step 4) Go to step 3 At least it’s better than the straight-up incel posts, but it’s still misogynistic when you focus on punishing harmless but annoying women and never criticize men for the c**p they do
I've not down voted before, but your post is so far reaching and makes no sense in connection to the article that I really felt it was necessary.
Load More Replies... 
