Influencer marketing is everywhere these days. It’s a buzz word in the air for every marketing guru out there. But what is influencer marketing really? In this blog post, we will cover what influencer marketing is and, just as importantly, what influencer marketing is not.
An influencer is someone with a large following on social media. The best ones have highly engaged and loyal audiences. They are likely experts in their industries and have the power to affect the perceptions and behaviors of others.
Influencer marketing means hiring an influencer to promote your product or service, borrowing the influencer’s reach. It is an effective technique, as consumers do not like being advertised to and rely on tools like ad blockers to avoid these messages. As traditional marketing has less and less credibility, influencer-based marketing becomes more powerful.
It leads to improved word-of-mouth for your product or service. It provides social proof, which is the idea that when someone supports something, others will follow. It can expand your reach, brand awareness, customer loyalty and conversions.
Before you approach an influencer, make sure you have clear goals in mind. It also means following FTC guidelines carefully. You must always disclose when a post is a paid advertisement.
On the other hand, influencers are not robots for hire who will do whatever you command. This form of marketing means investing in a relationship with an influencer and his or her audience, not expecting a robotic output of your orders. You should not tell an influencer what to say about your product or service. They know best how to communicate with their fans, so you should let them drive the creative.
Unfortunately, influencer marketing is not a guarantee of ROI. Although studies have shown that this form of marketing is effective, you must go into it knowing that the message may not resonate with your target audience.
Influencers are not just traditional celebrities. An influencer can be anyone with a significant social media following who is trusted in a niche industry.
Influencer marketing is not just a trend. It has been around for a long time, and it will continue to grow as other forms of marketing and advertising become less effective.
Looking to up your influencer marketing game? Turn to the experts at the Borenstein Group, a Top DC marketing agency. We can get your influencer campaign started and successful right away.
