Unveiling Watch Influencers: Embracing Authentic Passion Over Profit
As a watch enthusiast, I have been exploring various channels run by influencers who share my love for horology. However, I have noticed a dichotomy among these influencers. While some genuinely express their passion for watches, others focus more on financial success. This has led me to reflect on the relationship between passion and profit in the watch influencer community.
I initially admired these influencers for their deep understanding of horology and their ability to convey their passion to viewers. However, as their channels grew in popularity, it became apparent that their pursuit of profit overshadowed their passion's purity. Sponsorships and brand endorsements started to dominate their content, and the focus shifted from genuine exploration and appreciation of watches to commercialized content aimed at driving sales.
This evolving landscape has taught me the importance of authenticity and integrity when pursuing one's passion. As viewers, we are naturally drawn to influencers who remain true to their love for horology, regardless of financial incentives. These individuals embody the belief that the intrinsic value of knowledge and appreciation for watches far outweigh the allure of material gains.
While I watch certain (channels) for their educational content and insights, I approach their platforms with discernment. Given their connections with brands and other influencers, I value the knowledge and experiences they share. However, I refrain from engaging in paid memberships or donations for content that should be freely accessible.
To those who argue that pursuing profit is a necessary and valid means of sustaining a career as a watch influencer, it is essential to balance financial success with a passion for horology. Monetizing content through sponsorships and partnerships can be legitimate and necessary for sustaining a career. However, it's equally important to maintain transparency, integrity, and a commitment to delivering valuable, authentic content to viewers. Authenticity and passion are the cornerstones of successful influence, and when these principles guide one's pursuit of profit, it becomes a sustainable and ethical approach to building a career in watch influencing.
In conclusion, my journey into the world of watch influencers has taught me that true fulfillment comes from aligning our passions with our principles and resisting the seductive pull of profit-driven motives. Let us strive to uphold the ideals of authenticity and integrity, both as creators and consumers within the watch enthusiast community.
I started my journey in the hospitality industry, where I learned the importance of attention to detail and customer satisfaction. This experience led me to venture into project management, where I ho...
I appreciate the approach of the YouTube channels that are a transparent adjunct to a watch selling business as is the case with Marc Frankel or Teddy Baldassare.
Their channels offer up entertaining and informative content but they never hide the fact that they are wanting you to head to their store. I appreciate that approach to "selling me" the most.
I would prefer that a YouTuber not gladhand me during a video while posturing as just a fellow enthusiast when in reality they are just engaging primarily to augment potential revenue streams. One does not have to be sneaky to financially benefit from me but getting caught being sneaky is a good way to kill that potential.
The less transparent and less nuanced a content creator is the more inclined I am to move along. Few of the many content creators I've met irl are authentic with some very notable exceptions. Many online personalities have carefully scripted their words, curated their images and reshot their footage until what remains is a phony "my best life" example of the inherent narcissism that often accompanies one's desire to be an "influencer" regularly appearing on our screens. Trust me I was raised in L.A. and I recognize it when I see it.
At this stage I'm learning more about watches from meeting up with other enthusiasts in fun locations where people look each other in the eye and one doesn't get to shoot retakes until just the right level of phoniness has been obtained.
Only a few YouTubers can survive on clicks and views alone. An assertion made by TGV but very few others. Any creator with additional revenue streams should be transparent about that otherwise imo it is just deception by omission.
"career as a watch influencer"
This caused me to giggle🙄
I appreciate the approach of the YouTube channels that are a transparent adjunct to a watch selling business as is the case with Marc Frankel or Teddy Baldassare.
Their channels offer up entertaining and informative content but they never hide the fact that they are wanting you to head to their store. I appreciate that approach to "selling me" the most.
I would prefer that a YouTuber not gladhand me during a video while posturing as just a fellow enthusiast when in reality they are just engaging primarily to augment potential revenue streams. One does not have to be sneaky to financially benefit from me but getting caught being sneaky is a good way to kill that potential.
The less transparent and less nuanced a content creator is the more inclined I am to move along. Few of the many content creators I've met irl are authentic with some very notable exceptions. Many online personalities have carefully scripted their words, curated their images and reshot their footage until what remains is a phony "my best life" example of the inherent narcissism that often accompanies one's desire to be an "influencer" regularly appearing on our screens. Trust me I was raised in L.A. and I recognize it when I see it.
At this stage I'm learning more about watches from meeting up with other enthusiasts in fun locations where people look each other in the eye and one doesn't get to shoot retakes until just the right level of phoniness has been obtained.
Only a few YouTubers can survive on clicks and views alone. An assertion made by TGV but very few others. Any creator with additional revenue streams should be transparent about that otherwise imo it is just deception by omission.
Absolutely! I couldn't agree more. Transparency is key in watch-related YouTube channels that are tied to selling businesses. Authenticity is paramount when it comes to content creators in this space. Meeting fellow enthusiasts face-to-face is far more meaningful than scripted content. It's important for creators to be transparent about additional revenue streams to maintain credibility and trust. Here's to supporting genuine, transparent content that enhances our passion for watches and fosters authentic connections within the community! Cheers to that!
Don't forget, any numpty with a smartphone can set up a YouTube channel as a self proclaimed expert. I suspect it's mostly ego driven rather than financially motivated to begin with.
That's not a dig at every content creator as I obviously enjoy watching them. 👍🏻
To be fair almost all of them gave me some value for my time during my first year or two of collecting. Many though didn't grow with me and have stuck with the same formulaic approach.
This is why I like the ones that don't sell a thing or that aren't ultra slickly produced
I think most watch content creators are good from the information point of view. The keep exposing me to new products, many times from producers that I did not know about. The ones I keep returning too in over a year that I have been watching them, do this better, in my opinion, than others. And if they get paid for the information they provide, more power to them. So far, I only gave money to 3 channel creators because those guys keep me interested and entertained. And 2 of these channels are not about new watches, but watch repair.
But all content creators invest time and money into producing this content, and they should be compensated, either by YouTube, or the watch producers, or us, the viewing public. Most of us do not pay anything, so instead of complaining, just switch the channel. If enough people leave their channel, the content creator will either change, or just go away. In the last month I unsubscribed from more watch channels that I subscribed, because I did not find them interesting any more.
It would be nice if they were transparent and would tells us if they are paid to provide the information that they deliver. But to me it is not necessary. I found out about a new watch, a new caliber, a new material, great, thank you very much.
Now, when it comes to their influencing power, I do not give them any. I know what I like and what I want at this time. I also know what I dislike. I know how much I can spend. These people just give me more things to like or dislike, but they have no power to make me buy or not buy anything.
Well said. Totally agree.
I believe most creators have to be sponsored somehow as to gain access to the watches to review. I only look at the ones who acknowledge they are sponsored.
If you ask me there is only one YouTube channel worth watching
https://youtu.be/5KN02b83UbE?si=MIi2obmmqZCqIXxh
I appreciate the approach of the YouTube channels that are a transparent adjunct to a watch selling business as is the case with Marc Frankel or Teddy Baldassare.
Their channels offer up entertaining and informative content but they never hide the fact that they are wanting you to head to their store. I appreciate that approach to "selling me" the most.
I would prefer that a YouTuber not gladhand me during a video while posturing as just a fellow enthusiast when in reality they are just engaging primarily to augment potential revenue streams. One does not have to be sneaky to financially benefit from me but getting caught being sneaky is a good way to kill that potential.
The less transparent and less nuanced a content creator is the more inclined I am to move along. Few of the many content creators I've met irl are authentic with some very notable exceptions. Many online personalities have carefully scripted their words, curated their images and reshot their footage until what remains is a phony "my best life" example of the inherent narcissism that often accompanies one's desire to be an "influencer" regularly appearing on our screens. Trust me I was raised in L.A. and I recognize it when I see it.
At this stage I'm learning more about watches from meeting up with other enthusiasts in fun locations where people look each other in the eye and one doesn't get to shoot retakes until just the right level of phoniness has been obtained.
Only a few YouTubers can survive on clicks and views alone. An assertion made by TGV but very few others. Any creator with additional revenue streams should be transparent about that otherwise imo it is just deception by omission.
I supplement my YouTube income by selling feet pictures on only fans
I supplement my YouTube income by selling feet pictures on only fans
I'll pass but congratulations on toenail fungus treatment being a business expense.
I think most watch content creators are good from the information point of view. The keep exposing me to new products, many times from producers that I did not know about. The ones I keep returning too in over a year that I have been watching them, do this better, in my opinion, than others. And if they get paid for the information they provide, more power to them. So far, I only gave money to 3 channel creators because those guys keep me interested and entertained. And 2 of these channels are not about new watches, but watch repair.
But all content creators invest time and money into producing this content, and they should be compensated, either by YouTube, or the watch producers, or us, the viewing public. Most of us do not pay anything, so instead of complaining, just switch the channel. If enough people leave their channel, the content creator will either change, or just go away. In the last month I unsubscribed from more watch channels that I subscribed, because I did not find them interesting any more.
It would be nice if they were transparent and would tells us if they are paid to provide the information that they deliver. But to me it is not necessary. I found out about a new watch, a new caliber, a new material, great, thank you very much.
Now, when it comes to their influencing power, I do not give them any. I know what I like and what I want at this time. I also know what I dislike. I know how much I can spend. These people just give me more things to like or dislike, but they have no power to make me buy or not buy anything.
Very well said. You pretty much covered every point I was going to make. Hahaha.
While watching YouTube coverage of Watches & Wonders 2024 it was painfully obvious that most of the "journalistic" web sites are now just extensions of brands marketing departments. When I started becoming interested in watches (around 2017/2018 time frame), there seemed to be much more genuine journalism, but perhaps the shilling was just disguised better than it is today. Between that and brands that seem to have the attitude that we should consider ourselves lucky to be allowed to spend our money on their over priced trinkets, my interest in watches is starting to fade.
Can we talk about what the Time Teller's channel and what it has transmogrified into? 🤪
I debated the time teller on his spin off channel regarding if we went to the moon or not
What was his opinion? I gotta know.
Have you seen it lately?
I stopped watching him. Now you got me curious.
What was his opinion? I gotta know.
He thinks we went, I don’t
I stopped watching him. Now you got me curious.
He's begging to get cancelled. Brazen AF
I stopped watching him. Now you got me curious.
Did you check it out??? What the hell???
He thinks we went, I don’t
I want to believe. Lol.
Did you check it out??? What the hell???
What is his other channel?
What is his other channel?
😮
I want to believe. Lol.
There is just no way, we couldn’t do it now which means we couldn’t do it then. No one’s getting past the van Allen belt
There is just no way, we couldn’t do it now which means we couldn’t do it then. No one’s getting past the van Allen belt
I prefer the Kuiper Belt. I like cooler places
There is just no way, we couldn’t do it now which means we couldn’t do it then. No one’s getting past the van Allen belt
They will tell you that they aimed for the thinnest part. Apparently they say that Apollo 14 went through the thickest part of the Van Allen belt.
I just watch it. Homophonic doesn’t even start to describe it. He also has derogatory comments about one gay man because he is from the Phillipines. Disgraceful!
I hope TTT is not in this forum.
I just watch it. Homophonic doesn’t even start to describe it. He also has derogatory comments about one gay man because he is from the Phillipines. Disgraceful!
I hope TTT is not in this forum.
I truly think he's just trying to get that channel cancelled.
While watching YouTube coverage of Watches & Wonders 2024 it was painfully obvious that most of the "journalistic" web sites are now just extensions of brands marketing departments. When I started becoming interested in watches (around 2017/2018 time frame), there seemed to be much more genuine journalism, but perhaps the shilling was just disguised better than it is today. Between that and brands that seem to have the attitude that we should consider ourselves lucky to be allowed to spend our money on their over priced trinkets, my interest in watches is starting to fade.
Yepyepyepyep!