Welcome to a bonus episode of the Tech Mem Ride Home. I'm your host Brian McCullough.

Taylor Lawrence, over at the Atlantic, has the Influencer beat locked down.

I've told you about so many of her stories, often as Longreads.

If you think influencers, the universe of YouTube stars, Instagram stars, social media stars generally is a niche thing,

I'm here to tell you no way, this is already a huge industry with a ton of money sloshing around in it.

And Taylor covers this space better than anyone else. So today we get a sense of this space from all angles, society-wise, business-wise, even platform-wise.

But first, a word from our sponsors.

Whether you're selling a little or a lot,

Shopify helps you do your thing,

however you could ching.

As you know, I still run the first company I ever founded 25 years ago entirely on Shopify these days.

Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business from the launch your online shop stage to the first real life store

stage all the way to the did we just hit a million order stage. Shopify is there to help you grow

the whole way whether you are selling scented soap or offering outdoor outfits. Shopify helps you sell

everywhere from their all-in-one e-commerce platform to their in-person POS system

wherever and whatever you're selling. Shopify's got you covered. Shopify helps you turn browsers

into buyers with the internet's best converting check out 36% better on average

compared to other leading commerce platforms and sell more with less effort

thanks to Shopify Magic your your AI-powered All-Star.

What I love about Shopify is that you can take any business to the next level, even 25-year-old

ones, but especially 25-day-old ones.

Sign up for a $1 per month trial period. especially 25 day old ones.

...