I've noticed a trend (as a micro influencer) that when big brands I've worked with hand over their influencer campaigns to PR & Influencer agencies, the agencies tend to treat the influencers like CRAP. Is this like a market trend?

2 brands I've had long standing relationships with recently switched to using influencer & PR agencies & I cannot tell you how frustrating it has been? Crap communication. Unfair payment practices, pitting influencers against each other. Just a general lack of respect.

1 of them begged me for months to participate in an unpaid campaign. I agreed to it because of our long standing relationship. I was included in all the campaign briefs and emails but never received the actual product, while watching the campaign unfold online.

I responded to one of their campaign emails about how everyone should have received the product & what the next step was, letting them know I had not received the product. Absolute crickets & then all communication stopped. Have some fucking professionalism.

The other big brand handed over the campaigns to an infleuncer marketing agency. Wow, what a mare! Some briefs come in email, some briefs come in Whatsapp. Payment is agreed to via EFT then done via money transfer. Some influencers are openly paid WAY more, with no justification.

Some influencers paid WAY more than others, with no real justification. Being asked to participate in a campaign & then once again seeing the campaign go live without you & without any further communication. Shocking lack of professionalism.

As somebody who works in influencer engagement in my day job. I hope I never treat the influencers I work with like this. Unprofessional, disrespectful & like a piece shit.

Infleuncers are not pieces of s hit under your shoe! They are your brands partners and should be treated with some respect, decency and professionalism. PR Agencies & Influencer Agencies... I'm looking at you... DO BETTER!

Rant over. Thank you for attending my Ted Talk.