I thought for a while about whether or not to publish this post. But it’s something that has been on my heart for some time, and I’ve never been one to shy away from talking about the awkward stuff. The other day, I was taking outfit photos around town, and a woman stopped me and asked: “Are you an Influencer?” While most people may have been flattered, I cringed on the inside and didn’t even know how to respond to her innocent question. Even though I am considered an influencer by today’s standards, I really don’t love the meaning associated with it. I looked up the definition, and this is what I saw:
“An influencer is an individual who has the power to affect purchase decisions of others because of his/her authority, knowledge, position or relationship with his/her audience.”
The main problem I have is in that first line: “…an individual who has the power to affect purchase decisions...” Don’t get me wrong, I love fashion, and beauty products and still pinch myself that I have the privilege of being considered a resource in providing my amazing audience with the latest and greatest finds. But I don’t want that to be the reason I’m an ‘influencer.’ Instead of impacting your buying decisions, I’d much rather impact your heart.
When I think about the reason(s) I became a blogger in the first place, it really stemmed from a deep desire to connect, inspire, and create. I wanted to foster community, and sharing my love for fashion was a great vehicle in which to start building that community with women in a digital space. But I never wanted my content to end there. Sharing my heart, my faith, and the ups and downs of this life, is the driving force behind my brand, and what I strive to keep at the forefront of my content (…yes, yes, my impeccable style is just a bonus. LOL! #kidding). I never want to appear like I have it all together, or that my life is perfect. I want people to know that I’m broken, a hot mess, and just navigating through challenges like everyone else.
Full transparency: I am blessed to be able to do what I do. I love fashion, I love collaborating with brands, and I love the opportunity to build my own business. I love traveling, taking outfit photos, and conceptualizing photoshoots. But I love God and people more. While there is a level of professionalism tied to what I do because this my job, my hope is that I can still empower others to feel uplifted, inspired and authentic, by sharing content that is fun, thought-provoking, and real. Being an influencer should not be some millennial term used to describe those sharing the newest skinny tea cleanse. It should be revered as a responsibility that we all share. Each of us has the power to impact our communities. Are you a mom? You are influencing your children every day, simply through leading by example. Are you a teacher? Boom. Influencing countless lives year after year. Influence is dynamic and can change the world. That power is not limited to a stranger on Instagram with “xx” amount of followers- that power is in you.
As always, thank you so much for reading! Thoughts on this post? xo, Mata
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