- Influencers pop up overnight
gaining traction in their vertical
through the likes of YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat
and even the seemingly old school blog.
A celebrity endorsement used to be the Holy grail
but now tapping into an influencer who speaks
to a loyal base
of followers is the real prize.
Influencers attract attention
because they're contributing authentically
to a community of like-minded individuals.
We have moms blogging
about their life and the struggle to raise children
reaching other moms who appreciate those stories.
We have incredibly talented scientists crafting
YouTube videos of a viral quality
and an entire audience dedicated
to a small leather worker turning
out beautiful photos of his work on Instagram.
Think about your own internet habits.
Do you feel idle time consuming content
from a person whom you admire, trust,
or aspire to be like.
Finding a way to interact
and engage with influencers should be part
of any comprehensive marketing strategy.
Now to put the value of an influencer differently
consider that influencers can carry the same weight
as their audience.
They're relatable.
You look at an influencer and think,
"Hey, they're just like me".
From there, whatever they do
or say has an opportunity to motivate a transaction.
So let's look at three highlights of influencer marketing
and then discuss how you can get started in it.
First influencers provide social proof
what they were listened to, where they go
what they use, this inspires communities.
People don't mind being sold to
if the seller is authentic and within their social circle.
Secondly, influencers are affordable.
Depending on the reach
of an influencer deals can be had
in exchange for free product or often in the sub $500 range.
Third, influencers cut through the noise.
Influencer marketing has proven to cure ad fatigue more
than any other marketing channel to date.
And why is that?
Well, because consumers want value.
An influencer outreach program is more valuable now
than it has ever been.
And remember, it's not necessarily the size
of the audience that gets results.
Rather, it's the quality of the content
and the ability of the influencer to promote your brand
in an authentic manner.
But I don't want to make it sound too easy.
The hardest part of influencer marketing is actually
finding the right influencers
and then negotiating the terms of the promotion.
To do that you'll need to look into people
with a moderate following in your niche
and take a look at tools like Buzz Sumo, Follower Wong
and Tap Influence to get started on your hunt.
Also, you might enjoy watching the course
influencer marketing foundations.
Just remember, target influencers that are authentic
to the niche you're in
and be sure to pick truly influential people
not just someone who can be a brand advocate.
I want you to be really thinking on the power and importance
of influencer marketing, and I encourage you to dig deeper
into the topic and invest energy
in adding this tactic to your overall strategy.