Integrity and Influence: Blogger Amy Roiland Discusses Influencer Marketing

Fashion is a big industry. All in, the global apparel market is valued at 3 trillion dollars, and according to a survey by Econsultancy and Fashion and Beauty Monitor, 57% of brands have a strategy in place for influencer marketing. Stylish women with picture perfect lives that turned Instagram into their playground are now at the centre of influencer marketing, and so we wanted to reach out to one to get her thoughts.

We got in touch with Amy Roiland, an LA-based blogger to tell us why she thinks influencer marketing is the future. It’s close to her heart not only as a blogger, but also as a fash-tech entrepreneur.

Becoming an entrepreneur wasn’t necessarily Amy’s childhood dream. It’s just that after a few years of blogging and receiving hundreds of questions about the clothes she’s wearing, Amy realised influencers and brands alike needed a fix. Working with little more than an idea and a single developer, Amy has since rolled out her app Fashion Tap and presented it on Shark Tank, the US equivalent of Dragon’s Den. She is currently recruiting a team to power ahead into the future.

Fashion Tap makes Instagram feeds shoppable, but unlike other similar platforms, everyone is welcome and no one is expected to pay a fortune for the privilege. Brands and bloggers can create accounts and link to the products in their photos, driving sales and earning a commission. Fans and followers will save time by never having to browse through thousand strong product categories on Asos, searching for something a blogger once wore.

As a fashion blogger, Amy has done everything from product photos to design collaborations and right now she's in talks to design her own eyewear line. Citing the actress Jennifer Love Hewitt draped in Seven Jeans and Juicy Couture as her first teenage style icon, Amy’s style has since evolved into a fun and quirky look, influenced by the 60s and accessorised with trendy eyewear. It’s unique, and the brands she loves tend to love her back. Her 54k Instagram followers certainly help, but Amy is hard-working. From planning her shoots to editing the pictures, using a tripod somewhere in the middle to shoot everything herself, she goes all out even for gifted products. As an influencer, Amy provides brands with over 10 photos and usage rights, and they will all be on her blog and social media within a week.

As an influencer, Amy provides brands with over 10 photos and usage rights, and they will all be on her blog and social media within a week.

She does acknowledge not all bloggers are created equal and that some won’t put in their best effort. From running late to taking too many liberties, there are potential hazards, but she is adamant influencer marketing is the way of the future. Sure, agency models work well for huge brands with even bigger budgets that can afford billboard spaces, but according to Amy, influencers are a chance for brands to connect with entirely new audiences. “The Internet has changed the world for a typical celebrity,” Amy says as she explains each blogger has their own set of excited fans, loving their looks and eating up their recommendations. Only working with brands they truly love, they are able to maintain their integrity and influence. When her eyewear line goes ahead, Amy envisions shooting the campaign for that with style influencers, too.

"Influencers are a chance for brands to connect with entirely new audiences."

It’s hard not to be infected with enthusiasm as we speak to Amy. Though we have a screen separating us, it’s clear she’s the kind that can’t sit still for too long. There are too many ideas to explore, too many photos to take. In the world of Amy Roiland, there is just too much to be excited for and she’s not going to stop before she gets to do it all. When someone as inspired as Amy is ready to give your brand their all, it’d be a crying shame to give it a miss.

You can follow Amy on Instagram or visit her blog.