In this case, the influence that comes with being a social media influencer can be detrimental to a person’s social life. According to the New York Post, Eva Lopez is suing the NYPD “for defamation, libel, slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence” after the police used her photo on a wanted poster for a robbery. After a friend contacted Lopez about the situation at hand, she soon learned that she was a wanted woman, which she notes left her in disbelief. “I thought it was something fake,” said the Instagram influencer, who also happens to be a native of Queens. “I really couldn’t believe the police would put me on a wanted poster.”

Influencer marketing has increased in popularity over recent years. More and more brands are leveraging social media influencers to connect with their audience and gain their trust. If you’re looking to become a social media influencer, you’ve made a great step in the right direction to growing your following. Follow this step-by-step process to become the next big influencer in your niche. HOW TO BECOME A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER: A QUICK GUIDE 1. CHOOSE YOUR PLATFORM If you want to attract a large audience, it’s best to focus on 1-2 social media platforms.  After you’ve chosen your channels, the next thing to do is optimize your profiles by switching to a business account, creating an engaging bio, and adding a profile picture. 2. GET TO KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE Before you start posting on your social media platforms, it’s important to know your audience. Figure out what type of content they like to see from influencers. To do this, look at your current follower base to learn about their...

As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, we want to highlight these Black Women who have taken the unconventional route to success and built their own platforms for their respective endeavors. Black women are the future and these ten women are proof that there’s no standard blueprint to follow in order to prosper. Find out more about these phenomenal trailblazers below. Karen Civil Photo Credit: Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET Elizabeth, New Jersey native Karen Civil has come a long way in the entertainment business. The self-made marketing guru has become one of the most sought after influencers in hip hop culture. She started in this business as an intern for Hot 97, which helped her launch her own website KarenCivil.com in 2008, covering upcoming artists like J. Cole and Nicki Minaj. Civil later turned her love for online blogging into a fruitful career in entertainment. The media maven has built up a platform that she continues to expand today, branching out into...

If you’re looking for Instagram influencers to follow for inspiration to grow your business, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we talk about some of the most popular business influencers that offer great value and unique viewpoints. Plus, following some of the influencers we talk about will give you a chance to connect and grow your following. For a fee, these influencers can endorse your brand and send lots of followers in your direction. 4 INSTAGRAM INFLUENCERS WORTH FOLLOWING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS 1. NEIL PATEL Even if you’re not in the digital marketing niche, Neil Patel can be a great inspiration for your own company’s success. Patel is the co-founder of various businesses, including KISSmetrics, Hello Bar, and Crazy Egg. Patel uses his Instagram account to connect with business owners. He’s always informing and educating whenever possible. For example, he often posts about mistakes you should avoid on Instagram and ways to create content that’s engaging and shareable. 2....