(Needless to say, this is real.)
The Influencers Come Knocking!
Recruitment of Trend Savvy/Cool Hunting/Tastemaking Writers
June 10 2006
ATTENTION PASSIONATE AND INFLUENTIAL WRITERS!
THINK YOU KNOW WHAT'S ON AND UNDER-THE-RADAR SCREEN OF CANADA'S OPINION LEADERS, TASTEMAKERS AND SOCIAL RINGLEADERS?
Are you the fountain of influence, the keeper of trend-savvy insight and the arbiter of cool things?
If so, then we're looking for you!
In fact, we're looking for a team of Canuck journalists/writers/coolhunters to become our eyes and ears to the leading edge of Canadian culture and marketplace.
The initiative is called The Influencers. It's so new, we are just now putting the finishing details on our website. It will be launching in July nationwide.
The Influencers is totally unique - part word of mouth grapevine, part trend-savvy media, part social media/marketing engine and part non-profit profile raiser.
We are looking for writers and journalists with a broad cross-section of interests and a intellectual curiosity about new and interesting things.
Initially, each one of our 18+ subject areas, needs to be updated monthly. Updates will include a review of breaking trends, a listing of interesting discoveries, profiles of cool or buzzworthy stuff and eyebrow-raising weblinks found across the Canadian universe and beyond. Content will be crafted from a number of sources - including your own personal experience, web/magazine research and our active database of local influencers.
Your opinions will be published online, consumed by a special community of passionate, well-connected and very informed readers.
The perfect contributor? You have the following traits:
• Ahead in adoption, you have na instictive feel for what's next
• Connected to a wide social network
• Travel a lot, attack life
• Informationally curious
• Vocal and aren't shy in sharing your opinion
• Exposed to a lot of interests
• Suasion over your social networks and readers
• Want to participate in a revolutionary type of media/marketing initiative
• perhaps most importantly, write passionately and expertly about subjects you're interested in.
Key FAQs
We can already anticipate some questions you might have, we'll try to be as transparent as we can here in answering them:
What is the basis for launching The Influencers?
The Influencers' core reason for being is to tap into interesting ideas, products and services and seed and spread them through word of mouth. We think it's a better, effective way to learn about stuff - readers and consumers enjoy it, marketers benefit from it and only remarkable, genuine products succeed with it.
Is there anything like The Influencers out there right now?
No, at least we don't think so. We're pretty unique - if you combined Daily Candy, Trendspotting, a well targeted grassroots magazine and a My Space community, you might get pretty close.
Who runs the Influencers?
The parent company is Agent Wildfire, we are a marketing and communications group operating out of Toronto. We have led or worked with some of Canada's most loved products and brands and we're Canada's experts and zealots on the persuasive power of word of mouth.
Is this a paying gig?
You betcha...but if your core reason for interest is to get rich, than I would suggest greener pastures elsewhere. We pay fairly, we'll ratchet it up over time and offer bigger enhanced roles for people that really dig into what we do. Six figure book deals may exist, just not here.
So if I'm not getting rich in the short term, why should I be interested?
Well...you've got free reign to talk about stuff you are passionate and already know a lot about, writing to national group of engaged readers who are highly involved and passionate themselves. We hope you also identify with us as a company/publisher with a worthy cause, a genuinely interested soul and a unique idea with strong growth and exposure prospects.
Is this a full time gig?
No, although over time it may be just that for people that enjoy doing it. Most writers will be responsible for 3-6 articles per month, escalating in frequency over time.
How will you decide which writers to invite to the dance?
We're looking for writers with passion for their subject matter. We want a representative group nationally. We want writers who share a connection with our mission of getting interesting stuff on the hearts and lips of our readers. We want bad egos left at the door. Experience matters but enthusiasm counts for more.
I'd love to participate but do I have to disclose who I am - there may be some messy conflicts?
No - you can either operate as a ghostwriter or public figure - it's more important what you write than who you are. If you'll be writing incognito, just come up with a conversation inspiring pseudonym or interesting alias.
What subject areas do you need to cover off?
Take the survey below to discover the full list of 18 coverage areas
If you don't fit the profile or can't get involved given your current role, we would welcome you forwarding this message onto an interested colleague.
Thanks in advance...we look forward to talking with you.
Spread the word,
Sean Moffitt
Founder and Managing Director, The Influencers
Email: smoffitt@agentwildfire.com
Phone: 647-436-6802
Web: http://www.agentwildfire.com
