Social media is no longer just for sharing holiday pics, scrolling videos, or admiring celebrity posts. The likelihood of Gen Z getting financial advice from social media platforms has increased significantly and is almost five times higher than among those over 41. Consequently, this has given rise to a new breed of influencers specializing in finance, better known as “Finfluencers.” Finfluencers offer financial advice to adults and educate kids about money through social media platforms.
Who is a Finfluencer?
Basically, the term ‘finfluencers’ refers to the ‘financial influencers’, who provide information and advice on a variety of financial topics, such as forex trading, stocks, investment ideas, and personal finance, through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and in the form of podcasts.
Shortly, Finfluencers are the go-to financial advisors of the digital generation!
Investing today requires a sophisticated understanding of technology, as well as a low level of financial anxiety. Today’s young generation is more likely to have grown up watching their parents handle the financial crisis, and its consequences may have had an impact on them. Furthermore, as millennials and zoomers begin to enter adulthood, they face a wide range of challenges, including rising rents and housing costs, rising inflation, and a challenging job market. As a result, they became more cautious when it came to managing their money and putting it into investments.
Moreover, Gen Z was the first generation to grow up during the golden age of the internet and technology, growing up at the same time as emerging tech giants like Facebook, YouTube, and the iPhone. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Gen Z has a greater chance than adults of seeking financial advice on social media than any other generation.
Check out how the new generation like Gen Z and Millennials Invest their money and that most of them are going to be digital natives.
The Rise of Finfluencers in the Post-Pandemic Era
During the Covid19 pandemic, the fintech sector experienced significant growth, with payments and investments increasingly becoming digital. Several startups turned this crisis into a wave of opportunity and marketing through traditional methods became irrelevant and less useful in the modern age of social media, popularly known as influencer marketing.
Following the pandemic, many individuals decided to pursue full-time content creation as their career!
As millions of new investors entered the market these past two years, finfluencers have become increasingly popular in almost every corner of the world. The new generation of brokerage firms has created easy-to-use apps that make trading more accessible than ever before. With smartphones becoming more affordable, the internet becoming more accessible, and digital payments becoming more prevalent, the new-gen investors are now more easily able to enter the market and learn and trade at the same time.
As reported by Statista, a German firm that specializes in market and consumer data, influencers — those who post fashion, gadgets, health, beauty, and finance on social media — have more than doubled in size over the past five years, rising from $1.7 billion in 2016 to nearly $14 billion in 2021. It is also interesting to note that the market size increased by more than double from $6.5 billion in 2019.
Finfluencers come in many forms:
Finance-related content on social media platforms can appear in many different forms like informative posts on Facebook, knowledge-sharing videos on Instagram, wealth podcasts on budgeting, financial management on YouTube, investment, and many more. In contrast to traditional financial advice, the information provided by finfluencers is easy to understand, easy to access, and, in many cases, free (or low-cost). As a result, social media has grown in popularity as a source of finance-related information for all levels of society.
Finfluencers of today are now exploring several options:
- In the wake of the Reel boom, Instagram creators are doubling down on YouTube shorts and ramping up their YouTube presence.
- Several are also offering paid courses or translating their content into other languages to compensate for the decline in earnings.
- There is a growing trend for brands and influencers to enter into long-term partnerships rather than create one-time posts for them.
Gen Z evaluates banking and investment options based on different values than earlier generations. Their lack of trust in traditional financial institutions has been inherited from Millenials, and they follow TikTok and Instagram “finfluencers” who have millions of followers than a traditional financial advisor. Gen Z prioritises experience and sustainability, and sees omnichannel as trustworthy, thereby increasing their knowledge of investments.
Finfluencers: Are they trustworthy?
Before you decide whether to trust social media finfluencers, you need to understand the ethics of finfluencer marketing. Finfluencers agree to promote a brand through some type of agreement that may be monetary or non-monetary. Any such partnership between finfluencers and a brand should be disclosed to readers, as it makes sense. This kind of disclosure is positive for both the brand and the influencer, as it builds trust between the two parties.
Risks associated with following Fake Finfluencers
Although ‘finfluencing’ has become increasingly popular in the past few years, and the number of finfluencers is rising as well, these developments have piqued the interest of not only followers but also regulators. Since there is a risk associated with social media platforms providing inappropriate financial information and affecting the financial well-being of followers of finfluencers, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- It is important to make sure that the person providing the advice has the appropriate qualifications and experience
- The factuality, the currency, and the timeliness of the information that has been provided
- The ability to obtain a clear understanding of the viewers’ financial literacy, risk appetite, and risk tolerance is important
- There is a potential risk that the information will be misleading and that scams will be committed
- Without a doubt, crypto assets and meme stocks are among the most popular and most attractive high-risk assets in the market
There is a good chance that you will come across random trading scams while seeking ways to gain success in the financial world and increase your revenue. It is therefore necessary for traders and investors to evaluate financial service providers and detect any scamming or fraud activities. Here’s a detailed guide on how to avoid trading scams in 2022 that you might find helpful.
How to find reliable and trustworthy Finfluencers?
Considering the role of an influencer is to influence you to buy a certain brand or to avail yourself of a certain service, they must be trustworthy. It is even more important when it comes to financial influencers or finfluencers. By doing so, you will probably gain insight into their investment advice and invest your hard-earned money accordingly. When it comes to trusting finfluencers, there are a few things to bear in mind.
1. Don’t just follow the numbers blindly
In spite of the fact that finfluencers with large followings are usually assumed to be trustworthy, this is not always the case. Finfluencers with a large following are not necessarily to be trusted. You should also remember that just because a finfluencer appears on Google does not necessarily mean you can trust them. The reason for this is that Google’s results depend on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and keywords, and good content may not always be the reason. You can, however, use Google to search for the most popular finfluencers nearby and the asset of your choice. For instance, searching for ‘top Instagram finfluencers’ in google will yield a list of influential people with finance-related Instagram accounts.
2. Check the credentials of a finfluencer
Make sure the finfluencers you wish to follow and emulate have the right credentials. In searching for influencer synonyms, ‘maven’ and ‘authority’ come up as a couple of results. In other words, an influencer is someone who has expertise or authority in a particular area. This is why most brands devote resources to influencer marketing.
In terms of trusting finfluencers, it would seem logical for them to have at least some understanding of financial matters, and some knowledge of how the industry works. You would expect that he or she has some degree of financial education and experience. A very easy way to find out is to look at the person’s LinkedIn profile.
3. Watch out for the red flags
It may not be easy to determine whether you should trust a finfluencer. You should, however, stay away from finfluencers who show some of these red flags.
Finfluencers who use expressions like ‘double your money,’ ‘guaranteed return,’ etc., should be considered with caution. It is the same with any get-rich-quick schemes or money-making tips. The best way to avoid clickbait content like this is to look at it carefully.
Additionally, look at the content of a finfluencer to determine whether he or she has used the product being promoted and reviewed. A careful reviewer can also differentiate between an honest review and praise for praise’s sake. Don’t be fooled by promises that seem too good to be true. Finfluencers do a lot of marketing for brands, so it’s vital to double-check their work.
4. Take the time to research
Be careful not to follow any advice from social media with blind faith. If something you find online piques your interest, you should always do your research. For example, if you plan to invest in a stock, research the company and decide whether you should invest in it based on your research. It is important to remember that even the right investment may sometimes not be right for you based on your risk profile and your investment objectives.
You should always take professional advice if you do not have the time or expertise to do it yourself. Trading forex can be made easier by investing through a reputable broker such as AximTrade, which offers curated portfolios of international currencies, categorized by risk profile and built with different themes or goals in mind. Here is an AximTrade review for more information on how AximTrade stands out from the rest.
5. Don’t hesitate to trust your gut
In order to make an informed decision about whether or not to work with finfluencers, you should analyze their profile and content, as well as the legitimacy of their claims. There are some influencers who are very transparent about what they do. In the event that a post is an advertisement, the user will be notified. Also, an explanation of sponsored content would be provided in a disclaimer.
Some good finfluencers may even share how much money they make. While some finfluencers may not disclose any information about paid partnerships, others may not disclose any information. If you are following a finfluencer or are considering following one, you might want to consider the above points. Listening to your gut instinct is always a good idea. To conclude, if you want to follow a financial influencer, make sure that they are trustworthy. It’s your hard-earned money, after all.
Revenue streams of Finfluencers
The finfluencer marketing industry has grown in recent years, and several new platforms have emerged for sharing financial-related content. With affiliates, ambassadors, and influencers, brands can reach a larger audience than they could with their own blogs, social media, and advertisements. Here are the most effective revenue streams available to finfluencers of today:
Forex IB Commission — The commission model used by a Forex IB has proven to be extremely effective, and this is considered a joint venture between an IB and a broker. This model is most commonly associated with affiliate marketing, in which you have a variety of commitments to consumers or traders. The responsibilities of forex finfluencers or IBs as part of the business network include offering customer service, providing educational resources, and arranging local deposit transfers. There is a big potential for your IB business to grow through the use of various tactics such as business networking, retention, offline events, and promotional marketing that it offers.
Forex Affiliate Marketing — Forex is a world of excitement and opportunity, and being a forex affiliate marketer can be both challenging and lucrative. Finfluencers choose forex affiliate marketing businesses to promote third-party products or services and earn a commission if the third party makes a sale thanks to your promotion. Affiliate marketing in forex refers to linking to the website or trading platform of an external broker. If someone clicks on your link and then signs up with the broker, you are either paid a one-time commission or credited a percentage of their future trades. Forex affiliate marketing business commissions will likely be very similar to those for Forex IBs.
YouTube — There are a variety of ways in which finfluencers are able to earn revenue. The number of views on YouTube videos increases as more people click on them and this, in turn, increases its revenue. Based on the number of views, YouTube distributes a portion of this revenue to the content creators. Furthermore, there is also the possibility for YouTubers to enable channel memberships on their channels. As a way to entice viewers to become members, YouTubers explain what membership-only benefits they offer.
Blogs — Producing trading and investment-related articles still remains one of the best ways of generating income for finfluencers. Hence the best way to stand out as a finfluencer is to become a blogger. It is possible to generate a more stable income by writing a blog and sharing trading tips, strategies, and financial news. One should, however, always be honest when writing promotional blogs and avoid promoting affiliate programs for the sole purpose of earning commissions. A long-term strategy like this is not successful and does not work.
Podcasts — Speaking of podcasts, many people enjoy listening to them while driving, walking on the street, exercising, cooking, or doing other activities. This will enable marketers to cover a wide range of topics related to investment and trading, including trading strategies, financial management, and so on. Whenever a podcaster gets a large audience, they can start promoting, either at the beginning or at the end of the podcast, the products of the brokerage companies they partner with, to monetize their podcasts.
Sponsorships — Finfluencers programs offer much more than trading commissions and forex rebates. Many of the top Forex brokerage firms offer their forex broker partners and finfluencers a variety of sponsorship opportunities, such as workspaces, local teams, and a variety of other benefits. By partnering with Forex IB companies, they will be able to hold events, cover business travel expenses, and have them advertise on your social media channels as a result of these partnerships.
Despite this, however, becoming successful as a forex broker partner is not an easy undertaking. The first step to becoming a successful finfluencer is to develop their skills and be persistent. Don’t forget that some of today’s most successful forex finfluencers started as IBs or networkers. The ability to close deals, excellent people skills, some patience, and an interest in the financial markets are qualities of successful forex finfluencers.
Enjoy Ample Benefits as a Finfluencer with AximTrade
AximTrade partnership program offers the best start-up options for all types of finfluencers. The signup process is very simple, you don’t have to pay any upfront investment, and no integration is needed. Simply apply to become a Forex Partner, share your referral link with your clients, and earn profits on a regular basis.
Finfluencers can get access to a comprehensive set of learning resources, technical analyses, and educational materials with AximTrade. The technical indicators offered by AximTrade are intended to help you get a better grasp of market trends and trading signals more easily with sophisticated mathematical calculations.
Offering highly advanced MT4 execution and Copy trade platform, the company has achieved regional and global recognition for its competitive trading conditions, low spreads, minimum balances, reduced financial commitment, diverse account types, and lucrative forex bonuses. Clients can also benefit from top-notch financial security, easy & convenient payment options, and 24-hour customer support in their native language.
Finfluencers — FAQs
Who is a Personal Finance Influencer?
A ‘personal finance influencer’ or a ‘finfluencer’ is someone who shares money tips and investment advice via social media channels with the aim of raising financial awareness among prospective followers. Finfluencers utilize platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Podcasts to build their following and share finance-related content.
How to become a Finfluencer?
In order to become a finfluencer, it is vital that you cultivate a good number of following on various social media networks. It is not necessary that you have a professional background in finance, but if you wish to attract an audience, you must be able to create engaging and shareable content that will attract them to your website.
There is no law against giving financial advice on social media, however, finfluencers have to follow some legal requirements if they want to do so legally. Furthermore, a finfluencer must disclose their affiliate relationships or sponsored content to their followers so they know they may receive compensation for recommending products or services.
