Thank you to the author and publisher for giving me an advance copy of this book. This book is a great history and overview of influencer marketing. This will be especially helpful in marketing courses and for people who don’t understand the impact of influencers. I wish the author differentiated between mega and celebrity influencers, as many influencer marketing platforms do. Sadly, due to the nature of social media, this book is already outdated. It is a great history, but it isn’t much more since so much has happened in the last 6 months. Especially with Twitter and TikTok.

This was a FASCINATING read and so relevant in 2023. With the rise and boom of influencing, it was so fascinating to read more about it. I wasn't familiar with the authors but I liked how they included interviews and excerpts from other people in order to include a variety of perspectives. I think this is such a great read for anyone who has an interest in social media and branding and how it is affecting everyone!

A full look into the world and business side of influencers. This book took a deep dive into a world that many people write off as frivolous and show it’s true scope and size.

An Influencer's World by Caroline Baker and Don Baker provides an insider's look at influential creators on social platforms from a diverse set of voices inside different industries. What sets this book apart is that it provides a holistic view of the costs and benefits of being an influencer in today's society. By providing business insights, an analysis of the psychology of influencing, and the financial, relational, and mental health costs of the influencer lifestyle, readers are able to learn more about some of our favorite entrepreneurs and leading industry executives.

There are four types of influencer marketers including mega, macro, micro, and nana influencers. The book explores each profile and the business acumen of these types of platforms that make them stand apart from the oversaturated world of social media. I wasn't expecting to learn so much about the mental health impact of being an influencer and appreciated how this book speaks to some of the psychological risk and protective factors of building and maintaining a platform. This idea of brand value and of an influencer's personal brand equating to their financial worth comes at a psychological and emotional cost and I appreciated the thoughtful way this is presented in the text while also sharing some case examples from specific creatives.

There is also lots of analysis around media in general and how social media as a media outlet has grown over the years. I appreciated how the book speaks to the bias of the algorithms on these platforms and the importance of stress management for folx looking to build a platform.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!