4 Influencer marketing strategies you need to know

Influencer marketing has yet to reach its full potential in the digital marketing industry. And it is for us to uncover it. Tapinfluence.com reported that influencer marketing has 11 times ROI compared to traditional marketing. In 2016, according to Twitter, 49% of buyers rely on influencers when making a purchasing decision. These figures are expected to increase as more brands become open to investing in influencer marketing. But what do these numbers tell us? That influencer marketing really works and has delivered great results to brands and businesses.

There’s always a risk involved in every marketing strategy. And influencer marketing is a low-risk investment one should be willing to take.

Are you considering influencer marketing? If yes, read through this article as we discuss some strategies for your next campaign.

Your next target should be Gen Z

Who are Gen Z? They are the post-millennial generation. Babies born between 1995 to 2015. Those who are currently age 3–23 years old. But why Gen Z? Shouldn’t I be focusing on millennials? You probably asked these questions after reading the first few lines. Think of it as a long-term investment. Gen Z is expected to take over as the largest consumer group by 2020. By focusing your influencer campaign towards Gen Z, you are also investing in raising brand awareness and establishing a good brand-consumer relationship through generations. This is basically a look-ahead strategy. Consider that if you are looking into millennials as your market so does your competitors. The goal is to reap the seeds you sowed today in the future. If you’re onboard in influencer marketing for the long haul then you might want to consider this for your next campaign.

Utilize social video platforms

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Tiktok, Twitter and Youtube are the top social video platforms right now. And is expected to up their game even more in video content sharing. Many also predict that by 2021, video content will dominate all internet traffic by 74 percent. Brands and businesses see the potential of these social video platforms as a medium for advertising and influencer marketing, thus these platforms are scrambling to keep up with this shift. As more users turn to video content, as a business you need to be able to keep up. You can start by looking for a social video platform and influencers that fits with what your brand is trying to achieve. Be one of the first to take advantage of this trend which will help your brand stay or be more relevant.

Learn to work with your influencers

A brand-influencer relationship is not a one-sided affair. It’s a mutual relationship. Just as you want your influencer campaign to come across as authentic so does how you build a relationship with your influencers. Think of influencers as a direct extension of your brand, and not just someone you pay to endorse your product. Know how they work and at the same time understand their audience, only then can you truly discover the opportunities for your brand. Be clear as well with what you’re trying to achieve and give them insights on how to make their contents better. But remember, give them creative freedom. More than anyone, influencers know their niche and can tell which will and won’t work. The reasons why influencers are so effective in marketing is that their followers identify them as someone unique, relatable, reachable and genuine. Brand loyalty is not something that exists between brand and customers only. In fact, it’s also something you can build between your brand and your influencers. Engaging influencers as ambassadors for the long-term or for future campaigns will give an impression of authenticity to the followers.

Take one step at a time

Nothing beats a well-planned marketing strategy. When starting an influencer campaign you need not break the bank. It’s just a matter of knowing your goals and carefully planning the next steps you’ll be taking. Before going all in you need to first know the ins and outs of influencer marketing. Most brands who are new to this concept would opt for micro-influencers. Micro-influencers are influencers with 500 to more or less 10,000 followers. Micro-influencers are very effective in influencer marketing despite the lesser number of followers in comparison to macro or celebrity influencers. In fact, that doesn’t diminish their value in an influencer campaign and is often viewed as an asset. Fewer followers mean more opportunity for engagement which would generate leads and sales. Micro-influencer services also come cheaper than macro-influencers, you can have 10 micro-influencers for the same amount you have to spend on one macro-influencer.

The success of your influencer marketing campaign will depend on how well you identify and handle every possible opportunity. You can start by knowing the trends in influencer marketing and nourishing a strong mutual relationship between you and your influencers.

Can’t wait to get started with your next influencer campaign and apply what you’ve learned? Popstar offers influencer services in the Philippines and Indonesia. We have digital marketing experts that can help you strategize your next campaign and guide you every step of the way. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sources: entrepreneur.com | tapinfluence.com | wibbitz.com