Don’t look, influencer is not a term that you will find in the dictionary… at least, not yet. But the word is all over the media and a lot of people (many women among them) are furiously vying for the title.
So, what the heck is an influencer? According to the Influencer MarketingHub:
“An influencer is someone who has:
the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of his or her authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with his or her audience.
a following in a distinct niche, with whom he or she actively engages. The size of the following depends on the size of his/her topic of the niche.”
I am a blogger (with a pocket-size audience), who regularly writes some material for my blog, but can I call myself an influencer?
I doubt it… you need a sizable following to claim that title. But I am a pétanque fan and I like to play and write about the game. It is a discipline that is good for the body and the soul and I can testify to this. I am unfortunately burdened by Type II Diabetes and I need to watch the amount of glucose circulating in my bloodstream.
Any type of exercise is good for this affliction, and it can really be confirmed by the numbers. After 2 or 3 hours of pétanque, the level of glucose in my bloodstream drops dramatically, and the lower the numbers, the better it is. This definitely proves that besides being fun, pétanque is also highly therapeutic.
I play and write about this game. If I can “influence” you to take up this sport, then you might (if you are generous) call me a “mini-influencer”.
I write a lot about pétanque, but I am what you might call a “touche-a-tout” (a jack of all trades) who relates what I see or feel about certain events.
I do not write to “influence” anybody. I write to express personal opinions without any intention of swaying any group.
Writing is a pleasant and useful pastime. Because besides keeping the body fit, you also need to keep your mind on par. The little neurons pulsating in your brain need as much exercise as your pet, and if you neglect them, they will get flabby…and so will your mind.
Especially during an election year, I also dabble in politics. I am not an expert but I know which politico I like and which one I despise. And I get mad at some people for being so partial and so blind to the blatant flaws and lies of their champion.
Because of this, you might also call me a nanoscopic influencer… or if you are less charitable, a s**t disturber.
Alain