Whitney Lauritson | The truth about influencer marketing: The good, the bad and the reality.

What's the first thing you think of when you hear the word influencer? How would you feel about being described as an influencer?Is there a good side to being an influencer?My guest Whitney Lauritson could be described as an influencer but she won't thank you for saying it because it has come to have so many negative and often shallow connotations in the online world. When I think about the people who tend to describe themselves as influencers, they are people who have large online followings in places like Instagram and YouTube and are often putting out vacuous content featuring their attractive and often enhanced features and generally relying on physical attractiveness or being intentionally contrarian and controversial.Fortunately, Whitney Lauritson is not one of THOSE kinds of people. She's someone who cares about human connection and about putting good things out into the world and that's one of the reasons she is such a great match with this show, where we share those values. We talk about how Whitney prefers to be introduced and delve into the world of influencer marketing and what the future may hold.In this episode:is there a good kind of online influencer?WTF is influencer marketing and why should I care?Which is better: a bigger following or a more engaged following?Where does podcasting fit into online influence?What is the future of influencer marketing?Why we should stop getting hung up on vanity metricsand much more. This was a great fun conversation with someone who really knows the industry well and also deeply cares about people and connection. We went to some places I didn't expect but I did thoroughly enjoy the conversation and got some great perspectives on influencer marketing and how we can all be making use of our online platforms.If you would like to connect with Whitney, you can visit: http://whitneylauritsen.com/ and check out her podcast This Might Get Uncomfortable where she and her co-host explore mental health, mindful living, and sustainability. Whitney's book recommendations are Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee and Reclaiming Conversation by Sherry Turkle and I will definitely be adding them to my audible wish list.Did you enjoy the show? Did you learn anything new or useful? If you did, then the best way to show your appreciation is by sharing the show to your online network. Tag me and I'll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode. Leave a review and I'll read it out on the show.Of course, if you REALLY liked it, you're welcome to support the show financially too using the link below.Support the show (https://speakinginfluence.supercast.tech/)Mentioned in this episode:Podfluence WeeklyJoin us for the official Podfluence Weekly newsletter https://present-influence.ck.page or Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6882642444815519744

Om Podcasten

Podfluence is the show for business coaches who are aiming to grow their reach and recognition by mastering the methodologies to maximise the impact of your presentations. More and more coaches are realising that podcasts are one of the best ways to develop your personal brand, become a trusted voice and generate organic lead flow through strategic investment of time and energy. Relationship marketing is here to stay and there are few better ways to build relationships with your perfect future clients & customers than being on podcasts as a guest or starting your own podcast. Lots of people can tell you how to start a show, a few can show you how to grow a show but hardly anyone out there is showing you how you can become known as a key person of influence in your area of expertise by going on the right shows and by showing up in the right ways. Just as public speaking can increase your credibility and professional image, it all depends on being able to present yourself well, deliver messages with clarity, confidence and charisma as well as being able to keep people entertained and engaged whilst you have their ears. Few other formats have your voice going directly into the ears of most of your listeners the way podcasts do and the ability to have longer form conversations that allow people to better know you and understand how you can help them solve specific problems. Join me week by week as I share my own experience and expertise as well as those of other experts and valued voices who are maximising their impact through the medium of podcasts. You're invited to join the Podfluencers Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/mrpodfluence and to subscribe to the Podfluencer Weekly Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/podfluencer-weekly-6882642444815519744/.