Chris Buetti

The Beauty of Instagram Automation, What Makes Someone A Good Influencer, and Eating For Free In NYC

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Intro

In this episode of Auxoro, Zach talks with Chris, a data scientist and co-founder of the influencer marketing platform Digital Prezence. Zach and Chris discuss Chris’ viral Medium article, the services that Digital Prezence provides, what makes someone a good influencer, and misconceptions about influencer marketing. 

Key Takeaways

House of Highlights: one of Chris’ favorite IG accounts

  • Chris and Zach discuss the Jordan documentary The Last Dance

  • (7:31) “… watching the documentary makes it more obvious that Jordan is the number one.” -Zach

Chris’ Viral Medium Article and Different Approaches to Instagram

  • (8:40) “I made an IG account that was completely self-sustaining.” -Chris 

  • Chris used this Instagram account to give publicity to local restaurants… and got free meals.

  • Zach tried using bots but Chris’ approach has an artificial intelligence aspect

  • (15:21) “If everyone does [botting], but no one talks about it, then no one learns about it.” -Zach

  • (15:40) “I’m not as much into the botting game as much as I used to be…” -Chris

Transferring Instagram Practices to Video Platforms like TikTok

  • (19:22) “I don’t have much experience in TikTok, mostly because I think I’m still a little unconvinced of its longevity… to me, it seems a little fad-ish.” -Chris 

  • It’s harder to automate TikTok because it doesn’t have as much of a web component.

  • (21:44) “It seems like TikTok has something that prevents people from reposting content that already exists on the account.” -Zach

Dealing with Pushback

  • Chris has dealt with very few creators who don’t want their photo reposted.

  • If he runs into any opposition, he automatically takes the photo down.

  • (26:29) “I think a lot of creators have a primal reaction when they see automation… not necessarily because of what you’re doing but of a fear of their content being automated away by something.” -Zach

What Chris does with Digital Presence

  • (28:40) “I learned how to code because I hated Followliker so much.” -Chris

  • Chris got a job at NBC as a software engineer and hated the job but loved math and statistics. 

  • Later Chris got his dream job with the NBA.

  • (32:48) “We operated on just growing peoples Instagram accounts, that was simply our business model.” -Chris

  • (33:01) “I didn’t find it to be super long term or super profitable… I really saw influencer marketing to be more of a lucrative area.” -Chris

  • Chris decided to create technology that could aid in influencer marketing and ended up developing software called Bella.

  • Advice for someone thinking of leaving their 9 to 5 job: 95% of people should prove their concept before making the decision, unless it’s very time-sensitive.

  • Both data science and people skills play roles in influencer marketing.

What Makes Someone a Good Influencer?

  • (42:18) “It really depends on what the brand wants.” -Chris

  • Some brands want ticket sales, buzz about their product, or user-generated content.

  • (43:21) “I see much better results from smaller influencers than I do bigger ones.” -Chris

  • There is real influence from Instagram users with YouTube channels.

  • Small to mid-size influencers are more personal in general. 

GuestPlease, an online app to connect podcasts and guests

  • Podcast views go up with high-profile podcast guests.

  • The app facilitates connection.

  • (49:28) “A potential podcast guest could be retitled into an influencer.” -Chris

  • This app allowed Digital Presence to rebrand their technology.


Misconceptions about Influencer Marketing

  • The influencers that perform the best are often unexpected and surprising.

  • (56:43) “One advice I would give: Stop looking at likes, stop looking at comments. Half of them are fake... ask for some deeper level things.” -Chris

  • Giving your name a good image is as (or more) important than clicks. 

How and Why Chris Got Where He Is

  • (1:05:58) “I had no excuses not to go build it myself or at least attempt to.” -Chris

  • He is both creative and entrepreneurial.

  • He’s willing to understand a problem and wait patiently before jumping into the solution.

Be Friends with Your Co-Founders

  • (1:11:51) “My co-founder is my best friend.” -Chris

  • Chris and his co-founder have complementary skill sets. 

  • Work with someone with whom you can be brutally honest.

  • Make sure there is no hierarchy among co-founders and that everyone has an equal say.

Go Out or Keep Working?

  • Later in life, will you wish had worked more or gone out with friends and family on the weekends?

  • Chris would prefer to have worked hard and been productive than feel like he messed around and wasted his time.

  • (1:23:10) “I wish I was working.” -Chris

Full Transcript, Click Anywhere To Play


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