UK Black Influencers – a directory

For those of you who’ve followed me prior to me creating this new blog last week, you may have already seen similar posts to this. I’ve shared lists highlighting my favourite Black bloggers in the UK and UK based Black travel bloggers on Circus Mums, my original blog. They’re both still extremely popular but out of date, hence why I reached out on Instagram a few weeks ago, asking for suggestions on UK based Black influencers to update my list with.

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Who are you favourite black bloggers? Which influencer do you check for on Instagram or Twitter religiously? Is there a black Youtuber that you constantly recommend to your friends? I NEED THEM! It’s about time I create a 2020 version of my ‘Ultimate list of Black Bloggers’ because the last one is old and unfortunately, many of the creators are no longer creating. The reasons why are probably worthy of its own separate post, maybe a dissertation ?. Did they not have enough support? We’re they less read because none BAME audiences found them less ‘relatable’ (I’ve heard PRs say this ?) did the creators simply not have enough time to juggle their creative outlets with work? Who knows. But what I DO know, is that there are so many AMAZING UK creators out there and I’d love to add them to my curated collection on my blog. Because the old list is still the most clicked on post on my blog. PRs bookmark the post and refer to it when they’re looking for creatives for their campaigns and I want to make sure the amazing black bloggers, vloggers and influencers that aren’t being found can be found. We need diversity on our screens, be it tv screens or computer screens. Representation matters. Please tag / suggest your favourite black UK creators in the comments!! Essay over! #representationmatters #blackbritishbloggers #bloggers #ukbloggers #blackcreatives #influencer #bloggerswanted #journorequest #recommendations #parentingblogger #diversity #diversityinmedia

A post shared by Tinuke (@tinukebernard) on May 7, 2020 at 1:31am PDT

I wouldn’t have imagined the post would be so popular and that I would have over 350 responses across the two posts on Instagram. Like, in the scheme of things, my account is tiny. I’m an OG micro-influencer. An Instagram account with less than 1400 followers but a tight-knit community nontheless, with high engagement rates. But 300 comments is nowhere near the norm.

I had and still have great plans for this directory. I don’t think it’s enough to simply list these accounts. I was so proud and moved to tears when compiling the directory of Black Influencers. I mean, We span so many genres, entertainers, fitness lovers, foodies, travel enthusiasts, cultural reps. You name it we are doing it. I want to hear the stories behind the people running these accounts. To hear their voices and learn from them. I’m still going to do that. But I was still in the planning stages when I put the directory live at 7pm last night.

I’d mentioned to Sareta Fontaine on Twitter that I had this list of 250+ Black influencers burning a hole through my spreadsheet and she said share it when I put it live. I saw it as a personal challenge to do just that. Make it live. In its minimal viable state rather than waiting for perfection. Because it seemed like the right thing to do under our current circusmtances.

I honestly didn’t expect to have the directory shared as many times as it has been. It’s been hugely popular and I hope it is a valuable source to black people trying to find people who look like them online. For people of other races who want to have their social media feeds reflect the real world in terms of being a diverse and colourful place. Valuable to the people working in media and advertising who seem to have real problems identifying Black influencers to reach out to for their campaigns. Let this be a starting point to you.

Should I have charged for this? I had a couple people in my DMs and on Twitter feed suggest this is something I should have charged for. That there are sites that charge a lot of money for this type of information as it’s valuable to brands. Maybe I’ve missed out on a massive cash cow. That would suck as my bank balance is screaming to be fed. But this was built with the black everyday public in mind first. As a way to find people and connect. Because the internet can be a lonely place if you’re trying to find Black skincare, fashion, parenthood or lifestyle examples to name but a few sectors.

That being said, I’m going to add a donation button to the site as a whole and to the Black Influencer Directory. If you want to donate you can.

If you are a company who will use this list to help make your own coin, maybe think about this from an ethical standpoint and send some of those coins this way too.

It’s totally up to you!

You can donate via Paypal.Me/tinukeB

CLICK HERE FOR THE DIRECTORY OF UK BLACK INFLUENCERS