Neil: Oh, not really. Just writing a script

for The English We Speak. I'm a bit stuck.

Feifei: What's the phrase?

Neil: Social media influencer.

Feifei: Well, that's easy.

Neil: Maybe for someone young

and trendy like you! Go on then, tell me.

Feifei: Let me talk you through it

step-by-step. Well,

you know social media?

Neil: Of course! Facebook,

Twitter, Instagram...

Feifei: A social media influencer

is someone who has a lot

of followers online - and who

is an expert or authority in a particular

subject - like photography

or cookery or make-up.

Neil: OK.

Feifei: What that person says, or does,

or buys, or wears... can influence

the decisions of their followers!

Which is why we call them 'social media

influencers'. Or simply, 'influencers'.

Neil: OK, I have a few followers. So if

I start, say, growing a long moustache,

and all my friends copy me - would you

say I was a social media influencer?

Feifei: Err... I suppose so! And then,

what might happen is

the marketing department of

a company selling moustache products

gets in touch - and pays you to start using

their moustache oil?

Neil: OK. I like the sound of this.

Grow a moustache and get paid.

Let's listen to some examples.

Our company was finding it hard to reach

new customers aged 16 to 25.

Then we hired a few

social media influencers and

sales just rocketed.

Kylie Jenner is one of America's

biggest social media influencers.

Companies pay her up to

a million dollars for a single post!

There's a lot of debate about whether

or not influencers should be open

about who is paying

them to promote products.

Feifei: You're listening to The English

We Speak from BBC Learning English.

Our expression is

'social media influencer'.

So, Neil, how's the script going?

Neil: I'm not writing it any more, Feifei.

I'm focussing full time

on my new business.

Feifei: Ah, I see you've grown

a moustache. Are you going to post

a picture so all your

twenty followers can see it and be

influenced by your amazing style?

Neil: Don't worry, I've realised I don't have

enough followers, or authority,

to influence anyone, Feifei.

But I have discovered there's

a gap in the market

for organic moustache oil!

Feifei: Oh, well done!

Neil's Marvellous Moustache Oil...

Neil: Nice. Now, I just need to find

an influencer to help me with marketing.

A hairy influencer.

Feifei: Good luck, Neil!

Neil: Bye.

Feifei: Bye.