The Monetization of Self: Personal Brands and the Business of Influencing
21-year-old high school dropout Emma Chamberlain earned $12 million in 2021. How\u2019d she do it? Glad you asked. She\u2019s a successful YouTuber who parlayed her internet prominence into major brand deals (and a coffee company).\xa0\nWhen I stumbled across a Bloomberg piece that cited \u201c86% of young Americans\u201d embrace the idea of becoming an influencer, I knew I had to do a deep dive on this wild west of a career field (and the careers these young people are leaving behind to pursue it, like teaching and nursing). Even non-influencers tend to manage their \u201cself\u201d as it\u2019s presented online, as there\u2019s a perceived connection between the presentation of your \u201conline self\u201d and your ability to earn money.\nLearn more about our sponsor, TaxAct: https://www.taxact.com/moneywithkatie\nTranscripts can be found at podcast.moneywithkatie.com.\n\u2014\nMentioned in the Episode\n\nInfluencer Nation: 86% of Young Americans Want to Become One: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-05/becoming-an-influencer-embraced-by-86-of-young-americans?leadSource=uverify%20wall\n\n\nThe Brand Called You: https://www.fastcompany.com/28905/brand-called-you\n\n\nForbes' Top Creators of 2022: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrasternlicht/2022/09/06/top-creators-2022/?sh=2a4b1e1567a1\n\n\nAlex Cooper is Coming for Joe Rogan's Spot: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/05/23/magazine/alex-cooper-interview.html\n\n\n\u2014\n\ufeffFollow Along at Money with Katie: https://moneywithkatie.com/\nWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoneywithKatie\n\nFollow Money with Katie!\n- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moneywithkatie/\n- Twitter: https://twitter.com/moneywithkatie\n\xa0\nSubscribe to The Money with Katie Newsletter\n- Sign up for free today: https://www.morningbrew.com/money-with-katie/subscribe/2\n\nFollow the Brew!\n- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningbrew/\n- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorningBrew\n- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morningbrew\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices