Digital Influencer Credibility

1- Fashion and lifestyle bloggers who are multimillionaires? Believe it. Simple fashion blogs have blown up to become huge income sources. Bloggers have integrated affiliate marketing, built their own brands or brand collaborations, and included sponsored content in their blog sites. Companies now see fashion bloggers as increasingly relevant digital influencers. Firms have also found that bloggers can drive more sales volume than celebrity endorsements. Therefore, brands are building more influencer campaigns into their marketing budgets. Ultimately, this means that bloggers can earn significant incomes. For example, the Refinery29 blog started out as a regular fashion blog with its bloggers earning an average income of $55,000 a year. It quickly turned into a fashion and lifestyle empire for Refinery29 founders Justin Stefano and Philippe von Borries. The site was valued at $500 million following investment activity and reported revenue of $80 million in 2016, which included revenue generated when influencers pushed sales to affiliates through links embedded in the blog.

Questions

5-10. Find an example of a blog on a topic that interests you. Are there advertisements on the blog? Does the blogger appear to be sponsored by any companies? Is there information regarding sponsorship? Write a brief report of your observations.
5-11. Digital influencers can shape consumer product acceptance and adoption. Discuss the process of making a purchase through a podcast, blog, or social media account based on the recommendation of a digital influencer. Are sponsored content, paid advertisements, unpaid advertisements, or product testimonials on blogsites credible information sources? Why or why not?
2- Marketing Ethics: Cashless Pizza Restaurant

A recent retailing movement is cashless stores, which aligns with the consumer trend away from cash purchases in favor of purchases with debit cards, credit cards, or electronic payments like Apple Pay. Stores and restaurants feel going cashless makes transactions faster, reduces their risk of theft, and cuts costs associated with money management. However, critics of cashless retailers say they discriminate against consumers who avoid bank accounts and credit cards, which often includes consumers with poor credit or undocumented immigrants. Consider whether a specific pizza restaurant near your university should go cashless.

questions

5-12. What factors are likely to influence whether consumers in your market choose to do business with the pizza restaurant that does not accept cash?

5-13. Discuss the ethical challenges surrounding the pizza restaurant’s decision to go cashless.