Influencers! May The Fourth Be With You!

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MAY the fourth be with you!

I love theme days like Pi Day and May The Fourth Be With You. If you’ll indulge me in a Yoda/Obi Wan moment: You have the force within your grasp.  Success on-camera in the Galactic Media Empire – whether you are a host, actor or comedian –  requires not only talent and skills but that newly powerful something extra: social media mastery.

VH1 announced last week they were bringing back the Top 20 Countdown with a new host, Shannon Coffey.

This was the second sentence of the press release: You might recognize Coffey from her “Random Ass Girly Channel” on YouTube…

If you were smart enough to get a marketing degree in college, good for you. For the rest of us, I know it’s not what you signed up for but this is what the entertainment media industrial complex demands of us now. Embrace.

The buzzword du jour is INFLUENCER. As with so much of show business, this is a frustratingly inexact science.

Per google: “Social media influence is a marketing term that describes an individual’s ability to affect other people’s thinking in a social online community. The more influence a person has, the more appeal that individual has to companies or other individuals who want to promote an idea or sell a product.”

Translation: Do YOU bring eyeballs, butts in chairs, clicks??

And not for nothing: The more influence a person has, the more appeal that individual has to companies or other individuals who want to promote an idea or sell a product.” is a tangible asset when you are negotiating your deal.

I had a dynamic woman in my office earlier this week. She has 10+ years experience hosting a live daily show in a Top Ten Market. She recently lost a national job to someone less experienced with much bigger social media numbers.

You can control this part of the process. Do it!

Be disciplined. Be consistent. Be INTERESTING. Everyday. Put thought and effort into your content. It will not only make you more competitive, it will hone your point of view and improve your writing and communication skills.