The New Face of Advertising

In the past, advertising was simple. Companies created TV commercials, newspaper ads, and big billboards. These traditional marketing methods reached millions of people. The goal was clear: show your product to as many people as possible and hope they buy it.

But today, things are different.

Now, many people don’t watch TV or read newspapers. They scroll on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. So, companies had to change. Instead of spending all their money on expensive commercials, they started working with influencers.

An influencer is a person who has a large audience online. They talk about fashion, fitness, business, or food — and people trust them. When an influencer shares a product, their followers often listen.

But here’s something interesting: companies are now choosing micro-influencers instead of big celebrities.

A micro-influencer has fewer followers — usually between 1,000 and 50,000. But they often have a stronger connection with their audience. Their followers know them, trust them, and feel like friends. Because of that, their recommendations feel more honest.

For example, a big company selling healthy snacks might pay $10,000 to a celebrity. That celebrity will post about the snack, but most followers might ignore it. Instead, the company could work with 50 micro-influencers. Each one might have only 2,000 followers, but those followers are more likely to buy.

This strategy is called influencer marketing. It is cheaper, more personal, and often more effective. It also gives small creators a way to earn money and grow their own brand.

So, the world of advertising is changing. It’s no longer about shouting to a big crowd. It’s about having real conversations with the right people.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you follow any influencers? What kind of content do they share?

2. Do you trust influencers more than TV commercials? Why or why not?

3. What’s the difference between a celebrity and a micro-influencer?

4. Have you ever bought something because you saw it on social media?

5. Why do you think people trust influencers more than traditional ads?

6. What are some problems with influencer marketing?

7. Should influencers say when they are being paid for a post?

8. If you were a brand, would you choose a micro-influencer or a celebrity? Why?

9. How has social media changed the way we discover new products?

10. Do you think traditional advertising is dying? Or is there still a place for it?