Summary of How An Instagram Influencer With Over 2 Million Followers Made $0 From Her Failed Product Launch…

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    The Evolution of Influencer Monetization

    The early 2010s saw influencers rise to fame by creating entertaining content, building massive audiences, and monetizing through brand deals, sponsorships, and merch. While some influencers, like David Dobrik, successfully transitioned to more sustainable monetization models, many struggled.

    • Arianna Renee, an influencer with over 2.6 million followers, faced a stark reality when she attempted to launch a clothing line. Despite her large audience, she couldn't even sell 38 t-shirts. Her experience exposed the limitations of relying solely on influencer marketing for monetization.

    Flawed Business Model: Entertainment-Based Content

    The traditional influencer model, heavily reliant on entertainment-based content, has inherent flaws.

    • Entertainment content, while engaging in the moment, rarely converts to deep engagement and trust.
    • Building an audience on a platform you don't own creates a fragile foundation for your business, leaving you vulnerable to platform changes.
    • Relying on brand deals and sponsorships for monetization means you don't own your products, creating a constant need for the next brand deal.

    The New Model: Education & Ownership

    The new value creator business model focuses on a more sustainable approach to influencer monetization, emphasizing education-based content, audience engagement, and owned products.

    • Create valuable education-based content that aligns with your expertise and knowledge.
    • Cultivate a small but highly engaged audience that shares your values and ethics.
    • Monetize through your own products, such as e-books, courses, and coaching programs.

    Education Content: Building Trust & Value

    Education-based content goes beyond fleeting entertainment, providing valuable information and insights that resonate with your audience. It focuses on a specific person, problem, and purpose.

    • Education content builds deeper trust and engagement, leading to greater conversion rates.
    • Education content can be repurposed into frameworks, SOPs, and theories that you own and leverage for long-term success.

    Audience Engagement: Quality over Quantity

    Having a massive following doesn't guarantee sales. It's crucial to nurture your audience, building a strong relationship that fosters deep engagement.

    • Deep engagement is essential for long-term sales, as it takes time for people to convert from followers to paying customers.
    • A small but highly engaged audience is far more valuable than a large, indifferent audience.

    Sustainable Monetization: Owning Your Products

    Digital products and services offer a sustainable path to influencer monetization. You own the product and the sales process, allowing you to iterate and create a unique customer experience.

    • Digital products and services provide a consistent revenue stream that is less reliant on fleeting brand deals.
    • Digital products and services are scalable and easily adaptable to changing market demands.

    The Creator Economy: A Booming Opportunity

    The creator economy is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. By adopting a sustainable business model, creators have the opportunity to build profitable and fulfilling careers.

    • Focus on creating valuable content, building a loyal audience, and developing your own products and services to maximize your potential.

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