Influencer marketing is becoming a widely used strategy for internet promotion. It has been a catchphrase for some time now, and the mainstream media frequently uses it. However, there are still some people who are confused about influencer marketing. In fact, when some individuals first hear the term, they immediately wonder, “What is influencer marketing?”. And what is more important – “How can I take part?”
[ads position=”top”]
Influencer marketing is a synthesis of traditional and contemporary marketing techniques. It incorporates the concept of celebrity sponsorship with a smart content-driven marketing strategy. The primary differentiation in influencer marketing is that the strategy results in partnerships between companies and influencers.
However, influencer marketing is not limited to celebrities. Instead, it focuses on influencers, most of whom would never call themselves popular in a traditional sense. With this said, we may conclude that influencer marketing is not a private club for extraordinary individuals. The access is granted nearly to everyone willing, of course, with the condition of constant learning and a smart strategy.
An influencer may be defined as someone who contains:
- The ability to impact others’ purchase choices due to their expertise, education, status, or connection with their audience
- A fan base in a particular niche with whom they regularly interact. The magnitude of their specialty subject determines the size of the fan base.
It is necessary to highlight that these people are more than just marketing tools; they are social connection assets businesses may partner with to accomplish their marketing goals.
Influencers are not always celebrities in a classic way
One of the conventional media’s most common mistakes is failing to distinguish between celebrities and internet influencers.
It’s also crucial to remember that most influencers have worked hard to build a loyal and passionate following. It is not by surprise that these individuals follow influencers rather than brands. The audience could care less about the brand. They are solely interested in the thoughts of influencers. It is not quite wise to impose rules and business procedures on your influencers. They “own” the audience and may easily go, taking their followers with them.
Influencer marketing entails a company working with an online influencer to promote one of its goods or services. Some influencer marketing partnerships are less concrete than that; for example, businesses may engage with influencers to increase brand awareness.
PewDiePie, a YouTube star, was an early example of influencer marketing. He collaborated with the creators of a horror film set in the French catacombs under Paris to create a series of films in which he faced difficulties. It was ideal material for PewDiePie’s 111 million followers, earning almost twice as many views as the movie’s trailer.
[ads position=”mid”]
That’s only one example. It’s easy to see a celebrity collaborating with a brand to advertise a product, even if it is a series of 10-minute films rather than a 30-second television commercial.
But people wouldn’t be talking about influencer marketing, and you wouldn’t be trying to read about it on a page if it didn’t have a far more extensive range of possibilities. And the essential word there is “an influencer”.
Influencers, unlike superstars, may be seen in any niche. They might be anyone. Their online and social media fan bases are what make them effective. A prominent fashion designer on Instagram, a well-read cybersecurity columnist who tweets, or a recognized marketing executive on LinkedIn may all be considered influencers. And, of course, there are lifestyle bloggers as the most common entry point to the industry.
Some individuals will have hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of followers. However, many will seem to be average folks. They may have just 10,000 followers or less in certain situations. Nonetheless, they will have established a reputation as specialists in their industry. They are the go-to persons for answering people’s queries. They are the ones who create the most interesting social postings on their particular themes, depending on their field of expertise. They post beautiful photos, create amusing movies, and host instructive online debates.
What type of influencer can you become
Of course, influencers with hundreds of thousands and millions of followers need little effort to monetize their impact. But what about those who are just starting their path? Luckily, the market has started to recognize enthusiasts with an average and minimum audience. For these types of influencers, it is not the number of fans that matter; it’s about tight connection and strong communication.
Divided by the number of followers, there are:
- Micro-influencers
Micro-influencers are regular individuals who have become well-known for their expertise in a certain field or gained local popularity due to their exposed lifestyle. As a result, they often have a substantial social media following among enthusiasts of that area. Of course, the connection and contact that a micro-influencer has with followers are more important than the amount of followers.
- Nano-influencer
The nano-influencer is the latest sort of influencer to get recognition. These individuals have a tiny number of fans, but they are usually specialists in a niche or highly specific subject. Consider nano-influencers to be the traditional huge fish in a tiny pond. They may have less than 1,000 subscribers in many occasions, but they will be engaged and interested followers eager to connect with the nano-influencer and listen to their thoughts.
What about communication channels and content types? Starters usually choose between:
- Bloggers
Bloggers (or social media influencers, mostly micro-bloggers) have the most real and strong interactions with their followers. Brands are starting to recognize and encourage this.
Blogging has always been associated with influencer marketing. If a notable blogger (even nano, but with a strong impact on a bunch of those who follow him) promotes your product favorably in a post, it may motivate the blogger’s followers to check it out.
Many bloggers have amassed sizable followings in certain industries. There are important blogs on personal growth, finance, health, childrearing, music, and a variety of other subjects, including blogging itself. The trust of their followers is the one thing that all successful blogs have in common.
Participating in guest blogging is an alternative to having a blogger publish something that endorses your product. If you can get a guest writing space on a popular blog, you can manage the material and usually include a link to your profile in the author profile.
- Youtubers
Of course, a blog isn’t the only sort of popular online material. Video is another one. In this situation, rather than having their own website, most video creators build a YouTube channel. Brands often collaborate with prominent YouTube video producers.
[ads position=”bot”]
Influencer marketing statistics – pure facts that will make you believe
- Influencer marketing is expected to reach $13.8 billion by 2021.
- For every $1 invested in influencer marketing, businesses get $5.78 in return.
- Since 2016, there has been a 465% growth in searches for the keyword “influencer marketing” on Google only.
- Influencer marketing is considered successful by 90% of research participants.
- Instagram is used for influencer marketing by 67% of businesses.
- In the previous five years, 1360 influencer marketing platforms and firms have joined the market in the past five years.
