Why You Need to Work With Influencers to Boost Sales
Influencer marketing is a type of marketing that involves partnering with individuals who have a large following on social media or other platforms, and using their influence to promote a product or service. Social media can include Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, etc. These individuals, known as influencers or content creators, often have a strong connection with their followers and are able to effectively persuade them to try a product or service. They are talented in the art of content creation.
Influencer marketing has become popular in recent years due to the increasing use of social media and the rise of micro-influencers, who have a smaller but highly engaged following. Brands have found that working with influencers can be an effective way to reach and engage with a specific target audience that they can reach in a cost-effective manner.
Influencer marketing can be effective because it is perceived as more authentic and credible than traditional advertising. Influencers are seen as trusted sources of information and recommendations, and their followers are more likely to trust their recommendations and take action based on them. BUT it is important to partner with those influencers who care about your brand and whose audience aligns with your product. There are many influencers who have a huge following but they are not your audience or worse yet fake followers aka robots.
This is the basic structure for working directly with an influencer:
Identify your target audience: Determine the specific group of people you want to reach with your influencer marketing campaign. This will help you identify the right influencers to work with.
Research influencers: Look for influencers who have a large and engaged following within your target audience. Consider their content and style, as well as their engagement with their followers. Create a long list of potential outreach candidates.
Reach out to influencers: Contact the influencers you are interested in working with and introduce yourself and your brand. Be clear about what you are looking for in the partnership and how you can work together. Some influencers will never respond and that is ok. Some influencers will be open to sharing a product for a free sample but it really varies. Be clear about what you are or are not offering upfront.
Negotiate terms: Once you have identified a potential influencer to work with, negotiate the terms of the partnership. This may include details such as the length of the partnership, the type of content the influencer will create, the rights the brands have to use the content, and the compensation they will receive. You may want to partner with the creator for one piece of content or multiple posts/stories.
Create a campaign plan: Develop a plan for the influencer marketing campaign, including the specific goals and objectives, the content to be created, and the timeline for the partnership.
Launch the campaign: Work with the influencer to create and launch the campaign. This may involve creating content, promoting the campaign, and analyzing the results.
Analyze the results: After the campaign has concluded, analyze the results to determine its effectiveness and identify any areas for improvement. Use this information to refine your influencer marketing strategy and plan future campaigns. This can be used by tracking parameters and/or the use of a unique promo code for the influencer.
We can help you identify, target, and work with influencers of all sizes. The key is to target the right influencers that align with your brand and accurately track expenses and sales to see if this is an acquisition channel that is right for your brand. Reach out to learn more about how we can help you grow your business using influencers.
