Sure I personally feel fine about it, but lots don’t. And that not the followers fault. During this pandemic so many people have lost their jobs or lost substantial income. To wave a free haircut or whatever in front of peoples faces is so rough. And even worse is to ask for it!! The amount of my friends who have has messages from influencers asking if their small business will gift them something is unreal.
It’s the new world order though, it’s not always pleasant but essentially what is happening is your friends are being approached by someone asking for something in return for promotion. Your friends are free to say to but I agree in a lot of cases it’s very cheeky. In the old world I guess Don Draper & the lads would have made their pitch. Tbh if I had a business I would have a template email ready to reply saying a polite no thank you, we reach out to those who we want to work with.
Lots of people have suffered very badly in this pandemic. In light of that yes some of the influencer stuff is distasteful. But there is an element of personal responsibility in how you feel. If you can’t afford a haircut what different does it make if an influencer got one for free. They’re not getting charity it’s marketing by businesses, often small businesses who need cheap marketing.
Dr.Laura business model - I’m not sure, on the one hand I’ve bought services & products from young & therefore inexperienced beauticians. So I’d assume she is better qualified to advise having studied medicine. On the other lots of beauticians & doctors are highly specialised so I might pay a bit more & go to them. She certainly seems very interested in the subject.
I wouldn’t however pay for a private GP for my child. I don’t tend to bring my child to the GP at the drop of a hat but when I do I expect sufficient time on the under 6s scheme. Also very often I’ve been referred to a specialist/A&E as my practice seems to take the “general” in Gp very seriously & are very quick to refer to A&E. i need specialist allergy advice so I’m going to a specialist. I really don’t know how more time with another GP would help me, unless I needed a second opinion. But I always have the option of going to A&E for that, not that I believe in clogging up A&Es but anytime I’ve been in one most kids don’t seem to be there for emergencies. So I don’t know how to expects that element of her practice to take off. Those that have money to burn will surely just go to consultants.