THE #Influencer and the Influencer — how to become a Meta Influencer.

THE #Influencer and the Influencer. It’s a word that has come to signify importance predicated by the number of followers and impact in the digital age in which you can move audiences.

There’s an arbitrariness about this, whether 50k or 100k plus qualifies, but whose counting. What matters for the platform handing out gongs is they’ve picked you. Your metrics and stature meet with their internal values.

Before influencing became a career choice; it’s not uncommon to have “influencer” alongside “doctor” or “lawyer”, it was measured by a standard of excelling in your own field.

Academia for instance while not using the word measures it generally through rankings of lecturer to professor. The lecturer is reaching for local and national attention, whilst the Prof has an international rep. They influence by their international presentations and deep knowledge within a subject.

But there’s an error in that system, because, for instance you could have an international reputation and yet be a senior lecturer. Happens a lot with broadcasters who leave media to go into academia.

You could also excel widely at what you do, but not necessarily be seen in the digital age as an “Influencer”, though offline you influence the hind legs of anyone. As the saying goes “You don’t have to be a ‘person of influence’ to be influential.

Which is what Quincy Jones is here. Influential. A man who has changed music, worked with best of the best, a selfless quality to make an impact, and whose international reputation burns like a lodestar.

As I reflect on meeting him a good while ago; recently found the tape, I reflect on my own standings. Nope definitely not an influencer, me. But seen a bit and have welcomed sharing that nationally and internationally.

From 1993 when I lived and worked in South Africa witnessing change, and reporting on it for the BBC, to 2005 creating one of the world’s first video platforms which won a major award in the US. I had to make up ghost writers and videographers because I believed, no one would believe one person put the platform together, and then more recently creating a global event with a colleague for 300 academics to gather and share their ideas.

As I reflect on the photo with Quincy Jones it strikes a chord for what I might call “Meta-Influencers”, not because they’re on Facebook but what they do can be measured by a social index of collaboration, local, national and international.

And that term “Meta-Influencer” draws attention to an empathy to share, as well as deliver on social thought. It’s a bit awkward calling oneself an influencer just as you might refer to yourself as a hero. It’s someone else’s call to make.

And the same could be said for Metairs (shorten for Meta influencer”). Think of the impact, the collaboration, the friends. It’s been a busy few weeks and will maintain being for a while as I’ve assignments to put to bed.

But in the realm of continuing collaborating, yes Mr Jones and a belated happy 90th birthday