ARF Salon Series: How much Should Marketing be Influenced by Influencers?
After checking into the building and receiving a badge at the first of the Salon Series at the ARF, guests were allowed to mingle via a cocktail reception which quickly put people at ease. After about a half hour of this, the doors opened revealing a large room with our guests at the ready. The lineup included industry professionals: Edward Wong (SVP Research & Insights Buzzfeed), Essence Gant (Sr. Beauty Editor Buzzfeed), Oliver Yonchev (Managing Director, Social Chain), Christie Childers (Influence Relationships Manager, Social Chain), and Alexandra “Lex” Dieck (Influencer, Lexicon of Style). The panel was moderated by ARF’s own president and CEO, Scott McDonald, who asked challenging questions focused on the industry’s credibility and advantages. Edwin Wong pointed out early on in his explanation of what influencer marketing is today, that it is not a one-way street from content creator to consumer. He explains out how the landscape has “shifted from just...