Why I Stopped Using | Poor Little It Girl

Let me start that I wasn’t going to write this post. I didn’t think it was a big deal. I had done an Instagram Story announcing to the Instagram world that I wouldn’t use or promote LTK anymore. The influx of questions I received, mostly from bloggers, asking why, was overwhelming. This post highlights the curiosity around influencer marketing tools and how we, as bloggers, use them.

The landscape of digital marketing is ever-evolving. Affiliate platforms have emerged as a cornerstone for influencers aiming to monetize their content. Historically, these platforms have not only revolutionized how bloggers earn revenue but also how audiences engage with online content. However, the dynamics of favoritism and lack of diversity, particularly in platforms like LTK, underscore the pressing need for more inclusive practices within the industry.

Why I Stopped Using LIKEtoKNOW.it

No one was upset. (Ex: “NOOO! Bring back LTK!! You’re my favorite influencer that uses LTK!”). But most said they were curious about the backend of my decision to do this for my business. So instead of writing the same thing back on my DMs, I figured I’d dedicate a post to it, explaining why I stopped using LikeToKnow.It.

What is LTK?

So let’s backtrack a bit. What is LIKEtoKNOW.it? LTK is an affiliate platform that used to be called rewardStyle. RewardStyle was the first (or one of the first) to allow bloggers a way to monetize their Instagram photos and earn commission from sales they generate. For those looking for alternatives to LikeToKnow.It, there are several options out there.

It’s an app-based system (used to be a rewardStyle app, now the liketoknow.it app). Since home decor and fashion are very visual, you’ll find a lot of those pictures and products on the platform, but it’s not limited to that.

How does LTK work?

From the user side, LTK provides readers with a link or the ability to use the LTK app to shop photos. From the influencer side, when someone shops the items from the photos, they receive a small percentage of the purchase price. There is an influencer app and rS dashboard backend aspect of it, but I’m sure you’ve seen the @liketoknow.it on lots of bloggers’ social media photos. Here’s a look back at my old LTK page where I used to direct people to shop for anyone who’s still not sure what the heck I’m talking about. This is an example of effective affiliate marketing.

My journey with LTK

We’re talking like 2011…?? Don’t quote me on that. But it’s been a long damn time. I loved rewardStyle as an affiliate program. It’s an easy way to link products to use on my site. These affiliate commissions are the foundation of how I earn money for my bills! (Disclaimer: I have this listed on my policy page: for each click and/or purchase on my site from my links I earn a small commission.)

Their influencer desktop dashboard allowed me to easily link items to share in blog posts and I’ve always had fantastic rS reps so yeah, no huge complaints. But like any platform, there are pros and cons of LikeToKnow.It.

A few years after I started using rewardStyle they launched the previously mentioned LIKEtoKNOW.it. I resisted it for a long time. I felt like the links look spammy in my Instagram captions and I was adamant about wanting people to come to my BLOG to shop, not some other platform.

But alas, I caved. And for a while, as LTK grew, so did my following! I was discovering new bloggers through their regrams and, if you were regrammed by them in the early days, you’d earn THOUSANDS of followers. It ruled.

Why I Stopped Using LIKEtoKNOW.it

Fast forward to 2016, and I felt like the mood shifted. Maybe not to everyone else, but certainly to me. LTK was all bloggers would talk about! In a super obsessive way that made me think. Here are some fashion blogging tips based on my experience.

Why are we putting all our eggs into the LTK basket to earn income?

That doesn’t seem safe for our business and future. But I kept at it. I used LTK on every post, 3 times a day. I was determined that one more post with their link would earn me another regram, would earn me more money, and I’d be set. Clearly, that was way wrong.

As the months passed, it was apparent that LTK had shifted gears. Their feed was filled with women who fit the same mold. The same rotation of about 10 tall, thin, white women bloggers were regrammed again and again. No diversity in skin color, size, style…nothing.

They were provided MULTIPLE takeovers where their numbers and sales were growing and growing. (Note: I call these girls “LTK famous girls”.) And here I was sitting with my 60K followers and not budging in numbers. Not even when I begged my rep for a regram and finally got one. I felt like I was at the mercy of a freaking Instagram feed. How pathetic is that!?

The Final Straw

Finally, at the end of 2017, I had had enough. I was sick of comparing myself to these LTK-famous girls. And after I saw one of them get her ANOTHER takeover Tuesday, I had enough. I sent a scathing email to not just my rep but the entire LTK team.

I was demanding answers as to why the same girls were given opportunities over the rest of us. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy that, the more they featured someone, the richer/more LTK famous they got. This was a major factor in my decision to switch from LikeToKnow.It.

When I finally got a response from their team, they were like yeah, we feature bloggers that convert well. Basically, a “sorry not sorry” approach. They went into more details and as I said, they were honest and open (I mean, as much as they could be) and I respected that.

I didn’t agree with it (hello, diversity is important here people!) but if their focus was on just making money and not supporting the entirety of the influencers on their platform, regardless of how they looked or what designer bag they carried, they were certainly succeeding.

But honestly, I had had ENOUGH. I was letting an Instagram platform make me so angry…why? Why was I supporting a platform that wasn’t supporting me, but only a select few that all looked exactly the same? Why was I constantly bitching about it to my fellow blogging friends? That’s not normal.

All that time and energy could be used to make my OWN brand better rather than focusing on what they’re doing with theirs. So I decided after that email, enough was enough.

The Financial Impact of Affiliate Marketing for Influencers

Affiliate marketing has become a lucrative avenue for influencers, with potential earnings reaching significant heights. Statistics reveal that top-tier influencers can generate substantial income, highlighting the allure of platforms like LTK for content creators. Yet, this financial promise often comes with its own set of challenges, including the pressure to conform to certain aesthetics and the intense competition for visibility. Understanding this can be crucial for anyone monetizing a fashion blog.

Business after quitting LTK

If you’re not a blogger I totally can hear you right now, “Why are you being so dramatic? It’s just an Instagram feed/affiliate platform?” But if you’re in the industry, then you know what I mean. SOME (emphasis on the word “some”) bloggers are obsessive about it. Blogging without LikeToKnow.It has brought its own set of challenges and rewards.

They use it on EVERY photo, they talk about it all day every day, it’s their entire livelihood. They strive every day to catch the eye of the LTK team in hopes they’ll be that season’s LTK famous girl and be set. (It’s well known that LTK has taken unknown bloggers and skyrocketed them to fame through numerous regrams and email features.)

At the time I left LTK I had been blogging for eight years and I didn’t want to have that mindset of waiting for someone else to make me a success. I want to be a success because of my hard work and point of view.

So how have the last six years of no LIKEtoKNOW.it been for me? In a word: glorious! It’s been nice not obsessively checking their feed to see who was featured (update: still the same LTK famous tall, thin, white women mostly) and making sure I had my LTK linked images up on Instagram three times a day.

How To Earn Affiliate Income From Instagram

I’ve talked before on my blog about how you can earn money as a style blogger. But influencers are most curious about how to earn money from Instagram. As you guessed, many do so via a Shop LTK page or via the LTK app. Again, I use ShopStyle Collective to monetize my static Instagram feed posts.

But when I do my Instagram stories, I use a couple of other affiliate platforms to earn income. These influencer affiliate programs have been pivotal for many content creators. The two main platforms I use to link to products on my Instagram feed are ShopMy and my Amazon Storefront.

Embracing Diversity and Challenging the Status Quo

The conversation around diversity in affiliate marketing is gaining momentum, with more influencers advocating for representation across the spectrum of race, body size, and style. This shift towards inclusivity not only enriches the content landscape but also reflects the diverse realities of audiences worldwide. As the industry moves forward, platforms that prioritize diversity and offer equal opportunities will likely resonate more with both influencers and their followers.

Final Thoughts on Quitting LIKEtoKNOW.it

Ok, this post ended up being a LOT longer than I intended. But I hope any blogger reading it has found it helpful, and it answers many of your questions. I was to reiterate too that I’m not bashing or hating on any blogger who still uses/loves LIKEtoKNOW.it.

I get it, it can be lucrative, and some women swear by it. (While I earned money from my LTK posts, it wasn’t where most of my rS money was generated. My blog is always where most of my sales come from. That’s why I appreciate it when you come to my BLOG to shop, thank you!)

But at the end of the day, I just felt it was toxic to my blog and branding. That’s just me though! If it works for you, you do you, girl! Yikes, this is a long post! Ok, if you have a comment or question about all this let me know below. I’ve got to stop typing. Ha!

Reflecting on my journey away from LIKEtoKNOW.it has been a process. I am reclaiming my voice and values in an industry often swayed by trends and favoritism. Moving forward, my focus is on creating content that resonates authentically with my audience. I want to build a community based on transparency and inclusivity. The decision to step away from LTK, while challenging, has opened new doors for creative freedom and personal growth as an influencer.