What is the deal with influencer marketing and how can it benefit my business?

Let’s talk about this whole influencer marketing thing and how it can work wonders for your business.

Influencer marketing is all about teaming up with people who have a big following on social media. These influencers have built a reputation and trust with their audience, so when they recommend a product or service, their followers pay attention.

So, how does this help your business? Well, when you partner with an influencer, they can help you reach a broader audience who might be interested in what you have to offer. It’s like they’re giving you a shout-out to their followers, saying, Hey, check out this amazing business!

But it’s not just about reaching more people. Influencer marketing can also boost your credibility and trustworthiness. When someone they trust tells them that your product or service is great, they’re more likely to give it a shot. It’s almost like having a friend vouch for you.

Now, you might be wondering how to find the right influencers for your business. Well, it’s all about finding someone whose values align with yours and who has an audience that matches your target market. It’s like finding a business buddy who shares your vision.

Once you’ve found the perfect influencer, it’s time to work together to create content that will resonate with their audience. This could be a video, a blog post, or even a social media post. You want to make sure the content is engaging and authentic, so their followers will be genuinely interested.

But it doesn’t stop there. You also need to track the results of your influencer marketing campaign. Are you getting more website visits? Are sales going up? By keeping an eye on these key metrics, you can see if influencer marketing is really making a difference for your business.

In conclusion, influencer marketing is a powerful tool that can help you expand your reach, boost your credibility, and connect with your target audience. So, why not give it a shot and see how it can take your business to the next level?

Influencer marketing is a trendy strategy that you should think about adding to your marketing plan.

Even though you might not be able to hire a famous celebrity like Kim Kardashian to be the face of your brand, anyone can have some influence and talk about your company, products, and services if you give them the right incentive.

This article will help you understand all the details of influencer marketing and how it can benefit your business.

What does Influencer Marketing mean?

According to Joe Sinkwitz, the founder and CEO of Intellifluence, a marketplace for influencer marketing, who I talked to on the phone for an interview with USamerica.US, the term simply means getting someone else to spread your message for you.

When it comes to influencer marketing, there are many different ways to run a campaign. It could involve bloggers writing reviews, social media posts mentioning a product, or even celebrities endorsing a brand. Sometimes, these campaigns are sponsored, which means that money is exchanged. Other times, companies send products to influencers in exchange for their honest reviews.

It’s important to note that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires influencers to disclose any compensation they receive in these campaigns. However, not all influencers adhere to this rule, so as a consumer, it’s important to be cautious when making purchasing decisions.

Why Should I Use Influencer Marketing?

Let me tell you why influencer marketing is a great choice:

Trust is key. Influencer marketing is all about taking advantage of the trust that influencers have built with their followers. Trust is like gold in a world where our friends’ opinions matter most. When influencers endorse your brand, products, or services, it really makes a difference.

Focus on the right audience. Influencer marketing doesn’t prioritize reaching a large number of people. Instead, it focuses on connecting with a specific group of people who trust and follow the influencer. It’s better to reach deeply into a niche market where the influencer has a strong influence, rather than spreading yourself thinly across a broader market.

Affordable and effective. The best part is that influencer marketing can get you the attention you need without breaking the bank. It’s a cost-effective way to generate buzz and get people talking about your brand and what you offer.

Let me share with you a cool story about a coconut oil products company. They ran a campaign and got a whopping 218 shoutouts from influencers. These mentions came from all sorts of places like blogs, social media, YouTube, and Instagram. And guess what? Their only expense was sending out sample products to each person. Check out this video that spills the beans:

Now, here’s something interesting. You don’t have to go crazy and reach out to a gazillion influencers to make a campaign work. Depending on your specific market, just a handful of influencers can make all the difference in getting people to notice your brand or products. It’s like shining a spotlight on them in search engines and social networks.

But here’s the deal. If you’re keeping your list short, you gotta make it count. Look for the big shots in your industry, the ones who have a lot of authority and influence.

Let the Numbers Speak: Influencer Marketing Rocks!

• Did you know that 92% of people make a purchase after reading about a product on their favorite blog?
• And get this – 69% of people are likely to buy a product if someone they follow on social media recommends it!
• It’s true! 81% of marketers who have used influencer marketing campaigns agree that it’s effective.
• And here’s an interesting stat: 65% of brands are planning to spend more on influencer marketing in 2016 compared to last year.

The report says, Influencers have dedicated followers who actively engage with their content and join in on the conversations that follow.

So, why not give this approach a try? It seems like a pretty compelling reason to me, don’t you think?

How Can I Use Influencer Marketing?

Let me share with you five practices, contributed by Intellifluence CEO Joe Sinkwitz, that can help you achieve success with your campaign.

1. Make Your Goals Clear

First things first, it’s important for you to define your goals before diving into an influencer campaign. By choosing the right goal, you can make your search for an influencer much easier.

If you want to focus on branding and getting noticed, it would be wise to collaborate with an aspirational influencer, like a celebrity, who has a wide audience, Joe advises. But if your goal is to drive sales, then create different buyer personas – fictional representations of your target market – and use tools like Hootsuite to find influencers that resemble these personas the most.

2. Gain Trust by Demonstrating Expertise

In my opinion, I believe that you can take the persona approach to the next level by appealing to the most knowledgeable person in the group you found.

Take note of the person in the group who knows the most about the subject you’re interested in. Reach out to them directly and use a peer influence strategy, where they can reach out to others in your target market on your behalf, Sinkwitz suggests.

3. Choose the Right Channels

Sinkwitz warns that many businesses make a common mistake when starting an influencer campaign by relying on the wrong channels.

I think it’s important to focus our marketing efforts on the social media platforms that are most relevant to our target audience. For example, if we’re a small business selling B2B customer relationship management software, we should spend more time on Twitter and LinkedIn, where our potential customers are more likely to be. It doesn’t make sense to invest a lot of time and resources in trying to increase engagement on Instagram.

On the other hand, if we’re an organic tea manufacturer, we should be targeting multiple social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook. These networks have demographics that align with our target audience, so it makes sense to reach out to them there.

Another important consideration is if we sell products on Amazon. We should make an effort to gather as many reviews as possible on the platform and then promote them on our social media channels. This can help drive traffic back to our Amazon page, increasing sales and visibility.

Step 4. Discuss Compensation Agreement

Don’t worry and stress about reaching out to influencers, like I did in the past. I used to think it would cost a fortune to work with them and that I had to give away all my products just to get some coverage. But I learned that it doesn’t have to be that way.

If you’ve done your research and found the right influencers, your product itself might be enough compensation. They’ll value it because it’s something they actually want or need.

However, it’s important to note that some influencers may ask for both money and products, and that’s okay too. It’s just part of the negotiation process.

Hey, before you jump into any influencer deals, it’s important to know what you’re getting in return, he advises. Are you getting a well-thought-out video or blog post, or just a simple product tweet? And most importantly, is the value you’re getting worth the compensation?

5. Blend Influencer Campaigns with your Marketing Strategy

Marketing experts often say that no marketing tactic should stand alone, and Sinkwitz agrees.

When you incorporate influencer marketing into a mix of proven tactics, it becomes a powerful psychological tool, he explains. If used correctly, it can create a strong desire to buy among your target audience.

Sinkwitz illustrates this with an example:

Imagine this: I’m scrolling through my Facebook feed when suddenly, I spot a post from a friend raving about how amazing a product is. As if that wasn’t enough, I then come across some ads promoting a discount trial offer for that same product. The temptation becomes hard to resist.

When a well-known person endorses a product, combined with a trusted review, subtle peer pressure from friends, and an enticing discount offer, it becomes almost impossible to say no. This is the fascinating power of influencer marketing.

More Helpful Tips

Here are some additional tips to consider, along with the best practices mentioned earlier:

Be generous. The more irresistible the gift you offer in your pitch, the more likely the influencer is to agree to write a review or record a video.

Step out of the realm of the big shots. It’s tough to catch the attention of famous folks and convince them to even consider taking a look at your product. But don’t let that discourage you. Instead, broaden your horizons and reach out to bloggers and social media enthusiasts who may not have a huge following but are more approachable and open to your ideas.

Remember that less is more. When presenting your product, don’t feel the need to inundate your audience with every single detail. Leave some room for curiosity and let the product speak for itself.

Embrace individuality. Avoid imposing too many restrictions on the influencer you’re reaching out to. Allow them the freedom to shape their review in a way that reflects their own style and personality. This will make their content more genuine and captivating.

Why Small Business Influencer Marketplaces Can Help You

When it comes to finding potential customers who can help promote your products, there’s an effective method you can try. It involves using marketplaces that connect companies with influencers. You might be wondering, what exactly are these marketplaces? Well, they are platforms where small businesses like yours can connect with influencers who can help spread the word about your products. Here are three such marketplaces you should check out:

Intellifluence. One great option is Intellifluence. It’s a platform where businesses like yours can reach out to influencers and ask them to promote your products. It’s important to note that Intellifluence doesn’t work the other way around – influencers can’t reach out to businesses. However, for only $9 per month, you can have unlimited access to this platform. That’s quite a good deal!

Tomoson. Another option is Tomoson. For $99 per month, you can use this platform to run up to ten marketing campaigns and collaborate with up to 100 influencers. It’s a great way to increase your reach and get your products in front of a larger audience.

You’re gonna love this awesome platform called Famebit. And you know what? It’s totally free to get started! With Famebit, businesses like yours can easily connect with influencers and make a big splash with your brand. And it’s not gonna cost you an arm and a leg either. Endorsements start at just $100!

Here’s the best part. You get to set your own budget for your promotional campaigns. No need to stress about breaking the bank. Plus, you can review proposals from influencers and pick the perfect platform to showcase your brand. It’s like having your very own team of marketing experts at your fingertips!

Other marketplaces charge way too much, but with Famebit, it’s totally affordable. For just $9 a month, you get unlimited usage and the power to reach out to as many influencers as you want. No limits, no extra fees, just pure business magic.

If you want even more power, there’s Tomoson. For $99 a month, you can have up to ten campaigns with a hundred awesome people promoting your brand. That’s a whole lot of bang for your buck!

So, what are you waiting for? Join Famebit today and start making waves with your brand. It’s time to take your business to the next level!

That’s a wrap!

When it comes to influencer marketing, I’m talking about using people who have different amounts of influence to spread the word about your brand. This can happen in a few different ways, like when bloggers write reviews, when someone mentions your brand on social media, or when a famous person endorses your products. Often, influencers get rewarded with money or free stuff, but it’s important to note that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires influencers to openly disclose any compensation they receive.

1. Trust is Key: Influencer marketing works because these influencers have built up trust with their followers. In a world where we’re influenced by our peers, leveraging that trust can be incredibly powerful in getting attention for your brand and what you have to offer.
2. Finds a Special Spot: While traditional marketing targets large groups of people, influencer marketing focuses on smaller, specialized markets where influencers have a big impact.
3. Gets More for Less: Influencer marketing campaigns can attract a lot of attention without needing a ton of resources. When done well, these campaigns can bring in great results.
4. 92% of people have bought something after reading about it on their favorite blog.
5. 69% are likely to make a purchase if someone they follow on social media recommends it.
6. 81% of marketers running influencer marketing campaigns find engaging with influencers effective.
7. 65% of brands plan to invest more in influencer marketing in 2016 compared to 2015.
8. Set Your Goals: First things first, I want you to clearly define what you want to achieve with your campaign. This way, you’ll have a clear path to follow when choosing your influencers.
9. Aim for Authority: Find influential people who have a strong presence in your target audience. Getting them involved in your campaign will help you leverage their influence on their peers.
10. Choose the Right Channels: It’s important to pick the social media channels that your target audience uses the most. This way, you can reach them effectively and ensure your campaign has the maximum impact.
11. Discuss Compensation: When working with influencers, it’s crucial to have an agreement on how they will be compensated. This could be through money or valuable products. Just make sure the compensation is fair for the value and effort they’ll be providing.
12. Add to Your Marketing Mix: To make your marketing strategy more effective, it’s important to include influencer marketing. This means working with popular individuals who can help promote your brand to a larger audience.

Here are some extra tips to ensure success. Firstly, be generous when approaching influencers with your pitch. Secondly, don’t limit yourself to only the most famous ones – reach out to a variety of influencers with different follower sizes. Next, keep your pitches short and to the point. Lastly, give influencers the freedom to incorporate their own style and personality into their reviews.

Additionally, consider using platforms like Intellifluence, Tomoson, and Famebit to connect with small business influencers. These platforms can help you find the right influencers for your brand, making influencer marketing more accessible and easier to manage.