More and more businesses are beginning to recognize the power influencers can have on consumer decisions. So much so that the industry is expected to be worth over $20 million by 2022. Money talks—and this kind of spend speaks for itself.
If this is a digital marketing channel you’ve thus far left unexplored, you may want to change that.
So what can a social media influencer do for your business? The answer might surprise you. Read on to learn how and why tapping into influencer marketing channels can boost your brand, increase sales, and help your business reach dizzying new heights.
What Is Influencer Marketing?
Influencer marketing involves a business partnering up with an influencer on social media (be it YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter) in order to have them promote a product or service that the business offers.
This partnership can come in the form of paid promotions, gifted items, brand ambassadorships—the list goes on. The idea is that you’re using the influencer’s reach and, well, influence, to resonate with your desired audience.
The title social media influencer isn’t just reserved for celebrities with millions of followers. So-called “micro-influencers” and “nano-influencers” with far fewer followers can prove to be even more effective as spokespeople, as their followings are often small yet extremely devoted.
How Can a Social Media Influencer Help Your Brand?
Possibly because it is a new phenomenon, some marketers tend to underestimate the potential power influencers have over consumer spending, particularly in the millennial and Gen Z cohorts. To do this, however, is to completely ignore the proven results many brands have enjoyed from these partnerships.
The fact is, influencer marketing campaigns offer great ROI. This is why they’re becoming ever more popular with brands the world over.
Influencer marketing can also help you to:
- Tap into new markets
- Boost awareness of your brand
- Drive more sales
- Increase consumer trust in your product
For all of these reasons and more, it’s a powerful resource that you can’t afford to ignore.
Create a Successful Influencer Marketing Campaign
Are you ready to try your hand at influencer marketing? A few words of advice to help ensure your first campaign goes off without a hitch.
Choose the Right Influencer
Don’t just choose an influencer that has a high reach and engagement rates. To make the partnership more authentic, pick someone that is aligned with the mission, goals, and vision of your brand.
Make Sure It’s by the Book
In many countries (the US included) influencers are required to declare whenever a post is based on a brand partnership. If they fail to do so, you could both be penalized by the FTC. Make sure whoever you work with plays by the rules.
Utilize Helpful Technology
To give your campaign the very best chance, you may want a little outside assistance. Influencer marketing software like the Unity Suite from IZEA helps you to track and analyze the performance of your campaigns. You can also gain access to their large database of influencers.
Try It Yourself Today
You’ve got little to lose and everything to gain by trying out your own social media influencer marketing campaign. Follow these simple steps, start out small, and see where in the world it can take your business today.
If you’re looking for more digital marketing content, check out the rest of our guides.