We built an influencer search engine called SocialBook and went to almost all the technology events in Silicon Valley to showcase it. We usually had a booth, and the most frequent questions we got were “I really want to be an influencer, can you help me become one?” and “Are you helping people become influencers?” We had to explain that we have an AI-based influencer search engine, and you need to be an influencer already before you are included in it.

Our booth during one tech conference

The point is, the word “influencer” has come to represent for privilege and a fast income stream for many people. According to research, “becoming an influencer” is many millennials’ dream job.

We have heard of a lot of huge names, like Logan Paul, Superwomen, DanTDM, and Pewdiepie. Many of them have received fame and glory like celebrities and earned more than we could ever have imagined. Some of them even have their own world concert tours. These “influencers” become popular among Internet users usually because of a particular event or a certain behavior they post online. They usually have very strong personalities. With the development of the Internet, influencers have appeared in various fields, such as literature, music, games, anchors, entrepreneurship, and traditional art. In the last era of influencers, fans were fragmented and there were no good liquidation measures. But the influencer economy 2.0 lets influencers precisely measure their followers on every centralized platform, such as YouTube or Instagram.

However, there are also problems with centralized platforms. Sometimes there is no way to engage with a favorite influencer beyond liking and commenting on their videos or posts. And 50% of the tips you tip to YouTubers will be taken by YouTube. Influencers also have no good ways to properly engage with their fans and encourage loyalty. They spend huge amounts creating content but lose followers constantly. Influencers become famous quickly, and if they do not properly maintain their fame, they will fade away quickly as well. The problem of how to quickly transform their fame into more tangible assets has become a priority for many of them. The most common solution is to distribute their own merchandise online. For example, Logan Paul’s store has generated more traffic than Pepsi Cola’s (See here for more detail). Even if only 1% of this traffic leads to purchases, it’s still a huge amount of money. But not everyone is Logan Paul. Small influencers are struggling to survive in online space and begging for attention.

How can one attract more attention and loyal followers? Can different influencers have their own personal platforms where they can take full control? With the development of blockchain DApps, such as personal games and personal stores, influencers can now easily engage with their followers and receive tips without a cut. Blockchain will ensure that all your work is recorded on the chain and is always public for everyone to review.

Most influencers won their fame through YouTube and Instagram, and so have no choice but to stay with those huge centralized platforms. But with the development of blockchain, the most potential after YouTube lies in mobile-friendly influencer engagement DApps on blockchain. Now youcan not only play with your influencers, you can talk with them and donate to them using cryptocurrencies.

Play game with your influencer

Blockchain technology is still at a very early stage, where people are hesitant to try it, just like when people first heard of the Internet. But given the influence of many influencers, we believe that BOOSTO can help with the mass adoption process for blockchain.