Since I started using the internet actively, one thing that I have learned so far is that no fame is permanent. In fact, a rapid rise often leads to the steepest downfall. Most of the influencers keep on battling the competition to become the top player in their niche, and in this process, they typically forget where to draw the line.
Be it the Paul brothers or influencers like Jeffree Star, their one wrong move has been proven enough to get hated by millions of people around the world (Business Insider). While there are celebrities who have steady growth and positive image in people’s minds, such big names have to make their moves cautiously in order to sustain in the competition.
To get a better picture of the topic and learn some lessons, stick with me as I make you explore how a brand needs strategy, and a strategy needs thoughtful planning.
A famous case study as an example would be of Jake Paul. The younger Paul brother, or “the problem child” has leaned his career towards boxing, while the elder brother kept as an internet personality and occasionally appears at WWE as well.
Both of them have pretty messed up images on the web. Jake had a hard time managing his fame due to some incidents like “Team 10” house chaos and reckless stunts. Apart from these, the netizens have always criticized his behavior.
Even in professional boxing, Jake’s not respected. He is notoriously known for challenging retired legends from the sport like Iron Mike Tyson and Anderson Silva. Netizens accuse him of framing the match as his victory and avoiding legitimate boxing matches with current professional fighters.
Yet, both brothers are admiring the hate they get and are still somehow relevant in the internet space.
After the younger Paul, let me tell you about what happened with the older Paul. As mentioned, both Paul brothers do not have clean reviews on the internet. This is what went with Logan:
When your name is popular among the audience, you become a brand yourself. Hence, each move or statement you make public must be viable or well-thought.
Although creators need to act fast to stay relevant and gain people’s attention, the case might not remain the same when they get into some controversy. In Logan’s case, he hit back instantly with an apology after the Japan forest case.
Instead of leading to any better, the apology broke down with hate and everything went wrong again. The situation must be severe for him as he lost all his brand endorsement deals, projects, and collaborations.
Brands around the world opt for services like reputation management service so that they can have expertise on how to manage their image in the market.
DID YOU KNOW?
70% of consumers believe brands should pull partnerships with influencers who display inappropriate behavior.
So, as an influencer, you must play your cards right.
If you have critics, the following are some points you must consider:
Impulsive decisions always end up ruining things. So, take a moment and make decisions with a calm mind.
In the end, the audience is going to be the only factor that is going to matter in your career. Hence, be open to them and welcome their views as well as criticism.
Even when you reply to the controversy, stay focused on what you want to say regarding the issue. Do not go for illogical practices like playing the victim or playing the blame game.
For brands, while you pick the influencer to promote your brand, number of followers is not the only thing you should take note of. A study by Influencer Marketing Hub found that 68% of consumers trust recommendations from influencers more than traditional celebrities. So, there must be something more you should take a look at:
Now that everything has been made clear, let’s wrap up the topic.
Finally, one rule for everyone etched in stone is that reputation is tough to build. Not only for influencers but also for businesses. In this article, I shed light on the same subject and shared some real-life case studies of how many influencers are prone to the risk of getting canceled. If you liked the article, share it with your team and influencer friends as well.
