Within the world of digital marketing, male influencers have become a force to be reckoned with. From pioneering YouTube millionaires like Ray William Johnson and PewDiePie to the staggering Instagram muscle of Christiano Ronaldo and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the guys haven’t wasted any time in demonstrating their ability to connect with audiences and scale the vast digital mountain for a better view of their audiences.
Among the latest stars to out-climb many of their peers is Hollywood Actor turned Director and Entrepreneur, Enzo Zelocchi. This handsome, multi-faceted, and often leather-clad creative holds just the kind of layered appeal that today’s male demographics are actively scanning for and ready to elevate.
So why is it worth paying attention to the latest movers and shakers within the male influencer sphere? For sure, they represent a niche part of a very ample marketing opportunity pie. The value of the global influencer industry has more than doubled in the last few years, reaching a high-altitude 16.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, and all of the brands investing in these potent players wouldn’t be doing so unless they thought there was real money to be made.
Male Influence and the Fall of Two-Dimensional Celebrity
Many outside the sphere of male-focused branding might imagine that the influencer game is a more female-dominated market. However, plenty of the world’s most high-value change-makers in this field have been men leaning boldly into their own demographic. Take American YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, who is on track to become the first ever influencer billionaire. Donaldson knows exactly how to entertain and monetize his bros, so what sets him, Zelocchi, and their broader creed apart?
The rise of social media and the opportunity for fans to get to know their idols on a much more complex level has brought about the demise of two-dimensional celebrity. The modern male consumer wants to follow fellow dudes who tick all the right aspirational boxes. Some aspects of appeal might be more superficial such as fashion and fitness, but others include success across numerous ventures, a taste for philanthropy—something that Donaldson and Zelocchi are known for—and a willingness to explore values in new and exciting ways.
The Mark of a Top Male Influencer in the Making
While Enzo Zelocchi—who now has over 10 million social media followers and counting—may have a way to go to catch up with PewDiePie and the other OG male influencer gatekeepers, he’s already broken through some significant ceilings. Few influencers of any ilk reach follower counts in the millions, let alone pass the eight-figure mark. So, what might have driven this ascension?
Zelocchi has demonstrated notable prowess in the movie industry, joining another rare rank as he became known for writing, directing, acting in, and producing his own blockbuster features. However, he also ticks the Entrepreneur and Philanthropist boxes with the recent launch of his brain-child tech startup A-Medicare. This forward-looking endeavor aims to democratize American healthcare, becoming the Amazon of its industry.
Just as it was for Nike when they decided to invest in the influence of an up-and-coming Michael Jordan back in the 1980s, the right influencer can carry a brand upwards at speed. If collaborating with the biggest male influencer names is out of the question, betting on the right rising star can be a boon for any business. For Zelocchi, there must be a swelling sense of having plenty of spotlight to share, and we can’t wait to see who steps into that brightness.