Influencer marketing can be defined as “a form of marketing that leverages the influence of an individual or group of individuals so as to drive a particular response or action.” The appeal of this concept is that it focuses on social media to reach people who have a large following on their respective platforms.

Here are eight influencer marketing trends that you should keep your eye on:

Personalization

Companies are now leaning heavily on personalized marketing. However, it isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it’s a way of identifying the right influencers that can interact with a certain audience at the right time. Influencers are already interacting with fans online, particularly on social media. But influencer marketing adds a personal touch that companies are trying to harness. Social media can be a powerful tool for reaching the right audience at the right time.

Visuals Over Text

The internet has made it easier than ever to reach people who prefer visual content over text-only content. A number of platforms offer this option, including YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram Stories, to name a few. This is one of those times when visuals really do trump text. A video outro maker can be used to help with content creation, while influencers can create the best visual story possible. The reason is that people want to focus on the visual elements of a conversation. They want to feel like they’re part of something special.

Employing Influencers for Brand Building

The rise of Instagram influencers coincides with its meteoric rise in popularity among social media users. This is one example in which branding and advertising coincide, as people look for ways to promote products and brands without direct advertising. Many marketers are learning how to leverage these influencers and have realized that it’s an effective way of building brands, as well as driving traffic and sales to a company’s website.

Creator-focused Marketplaces

Another way to reach people is through creator-focused marketplaces. These are websites that allow people to create content and focus on using their influence from social media as a tool to make money. Some of these sites only offer an advertising opportunity, while others guarantee a cut of any revenue earned by the creator. As these sites become more popular, marketers need to understand what makes the most sense for their brands and make sure they choose the right marketplace.

It’s not just about creating a space for influencers and audiences to interact, but also about creating a marketplace to engage with customers. This can be done by creating a place that people come back to frequently, and one that makes it easy for people to find the products they want. Nevertheless, there are other ways to create a marketplace, too. One example is using Instagram Stories as a way of delivering product recommendations. Another is through sponsored hashtags on Instagram stories, which can be effective in reaching your audience in real-time.

Increased Focus on Authenticity and Transparency

Most business owners hope to boost sales by reaching out to the right influencers at the right time. But some brands are now taking this a step further by encouraging influencers to use their platform as a way of being more authentic while promoting a product or brand. This is an interesting take on influencer marketing, one that could help attract more people over time. Creating an authentic connection with consumers can be one of the most powerful ways of promoting a brand on social media, especially when it comes from someone they like and trust.

It’s no secret that more and more people are spending time on social media, and many marketers believe influencer marketing can help companies tap into this consumer base. However, there is a difference between influence and popularity. Many marketers have discovered that it’s more effective to reach out to influencers who have a personal connection to the consumer. Think of it as the difference between using celebrities in advertising versus using someone to whom your audience relates. An outro maker can help create a unique brand experience for potential customers.The Rise of Micro-Influencers

The Rise of Micro-Influencers

A micro-influencer is just what the name says: an individual with a significant following on social media, but not necessarily someone who is well known throughout the general public. This is the kind of influencer that marketers are beginning to focus on because they can create conversations online with their followers. By reaching out to micro-influencers, brands and marketers can start sharing content and experiences with a smaller group of people.

The Rise of Live Video in Influencer Marketing

Live video is a great way for companies to engage with their audience in real-time. Rather than just sharing content that shows off how extraordinary their product is, companies can create live broadcasts where customers are invited to ask questions and get an inside look at how a company operates. This kind of engagement usually comes across as more authentic and personal than traditional marketing approaches. It’s also more effective when it comes from people to whom the audience can relate.

Community Building

Not only are marketers moving toward community building, which focuses on creating a space where people can relate to each other and interact with the company’s products, but they’re also now turning their attention toward community building, which focuses on getting people to interact with each other online. This is especially true when it comes to influencer marketing. People want to share their experiences with brands’ products and services, and see bloggers/influencers talk about what they’re using as well.

Benefits of influencer marketing:

• Influencers have the power of social proof online: They influence the conversation and their influence can be leveraged even if your company does not pay them for their endorsement. They can go viral. The more followers they have, the more influence they exert on the conversation.
• Influencers are expert content curators: They know how to identify, create and produce content that is engaging, interactive, and “shareable” with their audiences in a short period of time.
• Influencers are credible sources of information because they develop a sense of trust with their audiences. They can share their experiences and give recommendations on products or brands they use.
• Influencers offer a different perspective than the brand on what its message is about, which can be both refreshing and innovative for companies who adhere to traditional marketing approaches.

Influencer marketing is more than just reaching out to celebrities on social media platforms. It requires influencers to be selective about the companies they partner with. It is one of the hottest marketing trends in 2022. Influencers can reach well-known audiences, and brands can create a brand image without paying for advertising. Of course, there are other ways to build a brand that don’t involve a celebrity and influencer, but influencer marketing is an effective way to engage with people who have an interest in the products you’re offering.

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence.

The post 8 Influencer Marketing Trends and Benefits appeared first on Find Your Influence.

In today’s article, we are going to talk about whether influencer marketing is worth the hype (or not) for B2B businesses. But first, let’s address why brands are investing in influencers. 

Why Are Brands Investing in Influencers?

The rise of influencer marketing has been a hot topic in the social media space over the past few years. In fact, the influencer industry is projected to reach $16.4B in 2022. 

As the industry continues to project forward with new apps emerging on the scene like TikTok and other apps, influencer marketing is one strategy your brand won’t want to miss out on. 

So, why influencers? A few reasons why B2B brands are looking to influencers to be part of their marketing strategy include: 

• They Make Your Brand Relatable– Influencers have been able to create relationships with their followers and have become trusted voices within their niche. This makes them an important tool for B2B brands looking to reach new audiences and make their products more relatable. In the B2B space, it is common to see many brands that can come off as “unrelatable.” Don’t let that be the case for your brand. 

Influencers add that human touch needed to elevate your brand forward and stand out amongst the competition in today’s social media realm. 

• They Spread Brand Awareness – Instead of remaining dependent on your current audience for traction, you can spread your brand message even more so with the power of influencers. By utilizing influencer marketing to its fullest potential, you can give your target audience a taste of who your brand really is. 
• They Bring in More Sales – Lastly, influencers can bring in more sales! People trust influencers because they feel as if they know them better than anyone else. 

They feel that by following an influencer, they get to know more about them because they’ve developed a relationship with them over time — digitally. When they buy something recommended by an influencer, they feel like they are making a personal decision rather than just buying something based on advertising or promotion.

Now that you know why B2B brands are leveraging influencers to scale their businesses, where do you begin your influencer marketing journey? Here are our top tips. 

How Can Your B2B Business Leverage Influencers?

Influencers have the power to change your business growth for the better. The key is to build relationships with them so that they can help you get your message out to the right audiences.

Here are some ways you can leverage influencers to boost your B2B business in 2022. 

• Create Influencer Marketing Goals

What do you want to achieve with your influencer marketing campaign? Are you looking to increase brand awareness? Get people talking about a product or service? Or, perhaps you want to increase sales? Setting clear goals will help ensure that your campaign is successful. 

• Reach Out to the Right Influencers

After establishing your goals, it’s time to reach out to the right influencers in your industry. Try reaching out to those who are 1) in alignment with your brand voice 2) post consistently 3) have engagement on their posts. Quality is better than quantity so be sure to only reach out to those who you believe are a great fit for your influencer program. 

• Consider Different Sizes of Influencers

When reaching out to the right influencers, don’t forget to look at all of your options! Just because someone may not have a ton of followers, they still may bring in more leads to your site compared to the mega-influencers. 

Another thing to note is that you shouldn’t only set your sights on social media influencers. Bloggers and podcasters also have a great influence over your target audience too. So, be sure not to neglect to add these people to your list of prospective influencers as well!

Are Influencers Worth the Hype?

Now for the moment, you’ve been waiting for…..are influencers worth the hype? 

Yes! Influencers are worth the hype — but only if you choose the right influencers in your specific niche. 

A few key takeaways from today’s message include: 

• To have a goal. Without goals, it can be hard to understand if your influencer campaigns are successful or not. 
• Reach out to the right influencers!
• Not to be afraid of different types of influencers, like micro-influencers, for example. (They may not be able to send traffic your way like a mega-influencer, but they’re a lot easier to get in touch with and they can sometimes send referrals in your direction.)

All in all, there are many benefits to incorporating influencers into your lead generation efforts—you just have to get started!

 So with that being said, what influencer marketing goals do you have for your business in 2022?  What steps are you going to take to kickstart your B2B influencer marketing program?

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence by Ryan Gould. Ryan serves as Vice President of Strategy and Marketing Services with Elevation Marketing. From legacy Fortune 100 institutions to inventive start-ups, Ryan brings extensive experience with a wide range of B2B clients. He skillfully architects and manages the delivery of integrated marketing programs, and believes strongly in strategy, not just tactics, that effectively aligns sales and marketing teams within organizations.

The post B2B Social Media: Is Influencer Marketing Worth the Hype? appeared first on Find Your Influence.

Why Representation Matters in Influencer Marketing

According to The Trevor Project, LGBTQIA youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Representation helps ensure these children feel validated rather than isolated. You can do this by working with LGBTQIA influencers throughout the year rather than only during Pride Month.

Good LGBTQIA Representation

Good representation in advertising comes down to three factors: inclusion, portrayal, and perception.

Inclusion

Inclusion refers to how you incorporate LGBTQIA individuals into your marketing efforts. The best way to execute this is by includingLGBTQIA individuals in your advertising campaigns, from print advertising to influencer marketing. From a publicity standpoint, modesty is your best friend. If you make a spectacle out of your inclusive influencer marketing campaign, consumers will lose trust in your brand.

Portrayal

How your advertisements portray these individuals is just as critical as including them. You will have the most success if your campaigns do not rely on the influencers being LGBTQIA. Treat them as you would treat non-LGBTQIA individuals

Perception

Consumers’ perception of this representation in your advertisements means everything. Sexual orientation must be irrelevant, or it will never be normal. Your marketing campaigns should work with LGBTQIA influencers just as frequently as they work with non-LGBTQIA influencers.

Bad LGBTQIA Representation

Rather than following the previous tips, bad representation relies on forced inclusion, stereotypes, and perception.

Forced Inclusion

Forced inclusion means collaborating with LGBTQIA influencers for the sole purpose of including LGBTQIA people. Think of it as including these influencers for the sake of brand reputation. Trying to force inclusion is the equivalent of saying one cannot be racist because he or she “has a lot of black friends.”

Stereotypes

A successful influencer marketing campaign does not rely on potentially harmful stereotypes. Using stereotypes spreads misinformation and further ostracizes LGBTQIA people. Some common LGBTQIA stereotypes can include the notion that all gay men are promiscuous, that lesbians are masculine, or that bisexual people are gay people in denial.

Perception

Just like with good representation, perception is key. If it feels forced or inauthentic, the LGBTQIA community will lose trust in your brand. Similarly, you could lose non-LGBTQIA consumers who believe your ad campaign is part of an agenda.

Find Your Influence Can Help

The team at Find Your Influence believes firmly that representation is critical in every influencer program. If you are unsure where to start, leave it to our team. To begin your next inclusive campaign, request a demo today.

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence by Jason Noury.

The post LGBTQIA Representation Matters appeared first on Find Your Influence.

Supplementing Your Current Marketing Strategies

When looking to integrate influencer marketing into your overall marketing strategy, influencer marketing is an extremely powerful tool for businesses, and can bring a variety of different benefits to the table. For starters, the use of influencer marketing can aid in increasing brand recognition, help your products/services reach a wide and targeted audience, and most importantly, bring a sense of personality and authenticity into the equation — especially when the influencer is given creative control in tailoring the content to their liking. That said, the integration of an influencer will aid in not only supplementing your current marketing efforts, but will create a new element that will only add to your credibility as a business. This is primarily because the influencer will be the one to relay content on your product, while touching on their own personal feedback and experience (aka testimonials) — something that will provide relatability in relation to your brand and is difficult to achieve through other marketing efforts.

The Connection Between Influencer Marketing and Content Marketing

While it may not appear obvious, integrating the use of influencer marketing can further help to positively influence your overall marketing strategy, particularly when it comes to your SEO efforts via content marketing. While influencers are well known for creating content in the form of social media posts, pictures, and vlog style videos, making the connection between influencer and content marketing can pay off greatly in the long run.

Getting in touch with an influencer who is willing to provide a testimonial or by collaborating with an influencer who is also a blogger can be creative ways to get new written content on your site. With such content playing a key role in ranking higher in search engine results and garnering organic traffic, learning how to write for SEO can seem difficult, though not impossible. By listing content ideas that are tailored to your target audience, researching associated keywords and collaborating with an influencer/blogger, you’ll be able to get the message out there in a way that benefits your overall marketing strategy.

Where to Start

When looking to get started with influencer marketing, it’s important to first create a budget that will determine how much you’re willing to spend, and can also help in determining what kind of influencer you’ll likely go with. Starting small is a great way to test the waters, especially if you’re already allocating a significant amount to other marketing channels. After creating a budget for your influencer marketing endeavors, taking the time to research and reach out to potential influencers who are a good fit to promote your product/service is equally as important before reaching out. From there, collaboration and building a good business relationship with the influencer will ensure that you’ll be able to continually advertise through the channel.

While influencer marketing is becoming more and more popular, understanding how the marketing method works and positioning it into an already established marketing strategy can be overwhelming. However, the benefits that an influencer can bring to the table can allow you to reap unique benefits, like bringing authenticity and personality to your brand through testimonials.

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence by Karoline Gore.

The post Successfully Integrating Influencer Marketing into Your Marketing Strategy appeared first on Find Your Influence.

70% of Teens Trust Influencers More Than Celebrities

Influencers create a unique trust with their audience, oftentimes even more than well-known celebrities. Teens feel as though they can relate, trust, and find comfort in their favorite influencer. 4 in 10 Millennials reveal that they believe their favorite influencer understands them better than their friends. When an influencer creates a trusted relationship with their audience, it is most beneficial for brands to utilize the influencer’s voice when getting the brand’s message out to the public vs. scripting what they want the influencer to say.

People Rely on Influencers Opinions When Making a Purchase

The importance of brands expanding their relationships with influencers has been increasing. According to the Digital Marketing Institute, 49% of consumers depend on influencers’ opinions prior to making a purchase. Along with this statistic, 40% of people have revealed they have purchased an item after seeing an influencer use it on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. With statistics like this, it is a strategic business move for brands to employ influencers when looking to promote their product.

Influencer Marketing Creates Brand Awareness

According to a blog published by Lexington Law, 74% of Gen-Z spend their time online, and with the many micro and macro influencers in the social media world, social media users are bound to stumble upon influencers. It is typical to say that these influencers have some expertise in this niche market. Influencers are typically drawn to create content that they have an interest in. For example, beauty, lifestyle, sports, health, cooking, and much more. When brands find influencers that they are confident can promote their product, they are ultimately creating brand awareness.

Different Niches Successful in Influencer Marketing

With the recent rise of influencer marketing, there have been different niches that influencers gravitate towards. Between tech brands and construction, there is no discrimination of what an influencer can promote. For instance, a tech company offers a variety of products, which gives them the option to work with various influencers. Within the technology business, it would benefit the brand to work with macro-influencers because they have a vast outreach. Tech products like phones and cameras, along with mobile apps, generally have mass appeal, which means they need to be advertised to a large and generic segment of consumers. Influencer marketing makes partnering with macro-influencers with big followings the ideal way for tech brands to achieve maximum brand awareness.

When a construction company is considering where they should start with their influencer marketing they can look toward partnering with known construction influencers. For example, partnering with Bjmacwoodwork can give you access to his 150,000 followers interested in woodworking while a partnership with Drywallnation gives you access to 235,000 followers interested in drywall construction.

Takeaway

Influencers create meaningful and trusting relationships with their audience, which leads consumers to look toward them for opinions on products. With the use of social media on the rise, when brands utilize influencers’ voices, they are creating brand awareness. 

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence by Alice Wholey.

The post How Influencer Marketing Affects Consumer Buying Behavior appeared first on Find Your Influence.

I have been a marketing/communications intern with Find Your Influence since January and coincidentally, as a writer for a student-run lifestyle magazine, I was given the opportunity to interview five students who are considered social media influencers at JMU. My goal was to gain a better understanding of what the influencing world was really like for young college students. I wanted to unlock the truth; the good, the bad, and the ugly of the influencing world. I wanted to get a better sense of how these students balance being influencers while still trying to have a normal college experience.

Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and the ever so addictive app, TikTok, have taken the world by storm. We scroll for hours until the blue light, illuminating from our smartphones, ultimately exhausts our eyes. Five-minute break; time to scroll again.

Social media influencers have become a growing phenomenon. Influencer culture has exuded a pristine image of perfection. It has become the life that most adolescents envy; brand deals, sponsorships, money, fame and followers. Sounds like the ultimate dream, right? But what about what’s behind the camera? What about what’s off screen? The time, energy, tears shed, self-shame, death threats, humiliation. Welcome to the not-so-perfect side of being a publicized punching bag.

 Megan James | 604.3K on TikTok

What do you do as an influencer?

“I do your relatable type of content on TikTok, fashion content on Instagram and work for Snapchat by posting videos on their Spotlight Feature every day.”

Do you actually enjoy being an influencer?

“I don’t think there will ever be a point in my life where I could sit in front of everybody and complain about what I do. I can tell you that it’s a lot of work, but I wouldn’t want to do anything else. So, if I have to work for however many hours a day, then fine I’ll do it because this is what I want to do with my life. I enjoy the hell out of it. Is it exhausting? Do I want to rip my hair out sometimes? Absolutely. But who doesn’t when you’re working? It’s what I love, it’s what I’m passionate about, it’s my work, it’s everything.”

What are your goals for the future after college?

“I have some pretty fun plans coming up! I graduate this May and then in August I’m moving to Los Angeles, California. When I move out there, I’m not getting your typical job, I’m going to focus primarily on social media. At the moment, I just started working on this business idea so I might start up a business while I’m there. I’m really just going out there and throwing everything at pursuing a dream. The way I see it is that I won’t let myself fail, I can’t. I have all the time in the world to put everything I’ve got towards this one thing. Now, say it doesn’t go how I want, then I just get a job. I live, I love, I can do whatever I want, so why the hell not?”

Anna Medykowski | 322.6K on TikTok

What do you do as an influencer? When did you first get started and why?

“I first started out in December of 2020 mostly posting my outfits and dancing videos. I think the first video I ever made got around 50,000 views and I thought that was the coolest thing ever, so then I kept going and my account just slowly started going up.”

What is the most difficult part about being an influencer?

“The hate on the internet. You can post something and not even think anything is wrong with it, but people will pick it apart and find anything to comment on. I have my own humor and my own style. If you don’t like it, I don’t really care, but at the same time it’s still aggravating to see these hateful comments.”

How has becoming an influencer affected your college experience? 

“Even though I’m constantly filming TikToks and working to keep my followers, I’m still having the same college experience I would have even if I wasn’t on TikTok. Sometimes it’s a bit annoying because I don’t get to expand and do everything I want to do with TikTok. I’ve had many photographers ask me to come out to LA, but I have to say no because I can’t miss class. So right now, I’m just focusing on the people that are in my area and those who are willing to come see me.”

Spencer Aitken |  2.3M on TikTok

What do you do as an influencer?

“I typically make story time videos on TikTok. I would make story time after story time and then last summer I had my most viewed video which was close to 60 million views. That’s when I really started to gain more followers.”

Is it hard to balance doing TikTok and school?

“Yeah, definitely. I’ve been putting a lot more emphasis on school this year rather than TikTok. Before the school year started, I had the opportunity to not go to JMU and go out to LA to be a part of a content creator house, but I decided to go to school instead because my parents always emphasized getting a degree first. Even though TikTok is good money, it was important for me to focus on the long-term.”

How has becoming an influencer affected your college experience? 

“It’s definitely positively affected my college experience. I feel like it’s made me into a more confident and self-assured person. I think that has reflected on my relationships and the people I’ve met. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have the social skills that I do now. I can now be myself without any repercussions. I’ve also gotten a lot more organized. Before TikTok, I was terrible with time management, but when companies give you deadlines, you have to meet them. It’s correlated to a lot of my school assignments as well.”

Tram Tran | 881.7K on TikTok

What do you do as an influencer?

“I went viral by making all you can eat sushi videos on TikTok. My friends always knew that I ate a lot and as a joke they told me to film a TikTok and my first video ended up getting around a half a million views.”

How much time, work, and effort does it take to keep your following?

“Before becoming an influencer, I never realized how much work it takes to keep up with your following and stay relevant. I had to email my advisor and ask to do all my classes online for this semester because it’s so hard to keep up with classes along with my work. Just posting a 15 second video can take me almost three hours to make. I also have certain deadlines I have to meet for brands. I’m part of an agency where they assign me certain deadlines and if I don’t meet them, not only does it look bad on me, but it looks bad on the agency as well, so there’s a lot of pressure to ensure everything is filmed on time.”

Do you actually enjoy being an influencer?

“I have this platform where I get to make people happy which is so rewarding. I still don’t think I have grasped how many people watch me on a daily basis. Like I’m just that girl that eats on TikTok, nothing special. My favorite part about influencing is the reaction from my followers. I get a lot of DMs from girls saying how much I helped them with their eating disorders and how I encouraged them to eat today. To know that I am making someone’s day a little brighter means that this is all worth it.”

Kendall Vertes | 7.3M on TikTok

How did you get started?

“I’ve done competitive dance my whole life and eventually we got a call from the TV show, ‘Dance Moms.’ After seven years of ‘Dance Moms,’ that was the steppingstone that opened a lot of doors for everything that came after. We were getting sponsorships and a lot of us got into music, acting and modeling.”

Do you actually enjoy being an influencer?

“Overall, my life is a revolving door of posting on Instagram, filming movies and making TikToks. My life is work, but I love it. That’s what I do. The hatred that people will post about you is the hardest part. I’ve been through a lot and I have tough skin but at the same time it’s difficult to bear sometimes. It’s hard not to respond, but most of the time I just have to let it go. I guess it comes with the job.”

How has being an influencer affected your college experience? 

“It was definitely a transition. Coming to a big campus in an entirely different state where I knew no one was definitely a big change for me. Everyone here at JMU has been so nice and I never imagined having the number of friends I do. I didn’t want my friends to like me for being ‘Kendall from “Dance Moms”’ I wanted them to like me for who I am now. I don’t really consider myself an influencer at JMU, and I don’t even like to consider myself famous because I came to college to be a normal person and get the typical college experience. I didn’t want to blend the fame part of my life and the normal college part of my life, so I try and keep those separate. Sometimes I just need to take a step back and remember to live my life for myself too, not just for my followers.”

Influencers are role models, public figures, comedians, fashion-icons, and more, but they are also real humans too. They go to school, watch way too much TV, fail tests, get their hearts broken and even do the dishes. Through hard work, dedication and a strong work ethic, Megan, Anna, Spencer, Tram and Kendall have developed the strength and resilience to make it in the influencing world and have preserved through the challenges of balancing college and millions of followers.

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence by Jordan O’Connor.

The post How College Influencers are Affected by the Influencing World appeared first on Find Your Influence.

It’s difficult to know how much money a creator can make on TikTok. It often depends on where they live and where their followers live. Content creators with 100,000 followers or more can get paid $200 to $1,000 per sponsored post. Creators with a million or more followers can get paid $1,000 to $5,000+ per brand partnership.

The biggest question beginning creators often ask is “How do you make money on TikTok?” We offer the following seven ways to make money on TikTok:

1. Join the TikTok Creator Fund
2. Go Live and Collect Virtual Gifts
3. Partner With Brands in the TikTok Creator Marketplace
4. Make Money from TikTok Ads
5. Sell Merch to Users
6. Become a Consultant
7. Influencer Marketing

Join the TikTok Creator Fund

The TikTok Creator Fund is not an ad grant or revenue sharing program. Creators receive funds from their videos based on many factors. The Creator fund is a way for TikTok to thank and reward their creators for their videos and creativity. In order to join, creators must meet eligibility requirements and apply in the app through their pro/creator account.

Go Live and Collect Virtual Gifts

Going live is an easy way to make money on TikTok. Creators must have at least 1,000 followers to go live. Followers can give creators “coins” as a way to show appreciation for their content. Users can purchase 100 coins starting at $0.99. Prices vary if one chooses to purchase more coins. Once a creator has collected a certain amount of coins they can exchange them for real money through PayPal.

Partner With Brands in the TikTok Creator Marketplace

Creators can apply for the TikTok Creator Marketplace when they have 100,000 followers. This will allow them to partner with brands and get sponsorship opportunities. Videos dedicated to brand sponsorships can earn up to $1,000 for a single post with 100K views, and videos dedicated to app sponsorships can earn $100 to $250.

Make Money from TikTok Ads

TikTok Ads are a great way for businesses to widen their reach among customers. Creators can use TikTok for Business to make money by using in-feed video ads, branded Hashtags, brand takeovers, and branded effects.

Sell Merch to Users

TikTokers can sell merch (merchandise) to make money. Some items may include hoodies, sweatpants, hats, and phone cases. Creators don’t have to have millions of followers to capitalize on this idea.

Become a Consultant

If you are a TikTok expert, there are many brands and individuals who will hire you for your services. This is a good way to leverage your expertise and diversify your income.

Influencer Marketing

Brands are always looking for individuals with a large following. It’s important that the influencer relates to the brand in some way. Based on follower count and engagement, it’s possible to earn tens of thousands of dollars for a post.

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence by Katie Meyers.  Meyers is an SEO Specialist at SEO Design Chicago.

The post Top 7 Ways to Make Money on TikTok appeared first on Find Your Influence.

Whether it’s a YouTube star like James Charles advertising for a makeup brand, or a podcast host like Joe Rogan advertising for a tech company, the popularity of influencer marketing is growing fast. Add the unprecedented growth of the gaming industry on top of this already booming marketing plan and you’ll have a real recipe for success.

Online Gaming Industry Ripe with Marketing Potential

Not so long ago, there was a real crusade against Let’s Play YouTubers and streamers. Multitudes of people were asking why gamers were watching other players play, instead of playing themselves. Fast forward to 2022, and not only are many more people playing video games themselves, watching influencers and online personalities play video games has also become one of young America’s most beloved pastimes. The gaming industry has officially completed the move from the dark ages of non-acceptance and demonization to a new dawn in which it’s the face of worldwide entertainment.

Any preconceptions about gaming being harmful to young minds and being a weak form of entertainment is completely outdated. The modern cultural landscape has now fully accepted gaming. Gamers are not a special breed of people, they buy cars, houses, food, and drinks just like anyone else. Influencers in this area are thus perfect for absolutely any product advertisement, as they are not bogged down to a specific industry and audience base. In the first quarter of 2021 8.8 billion hours of gaming content was streamed, demonstrating the immense audience potential that these online gaming celebrities have.

Gaming Influencers Making Big Waves

PewDiePie for example currently boasts over 110 million YouTube subscribers and has partnered with G-Fuel, promoting their products to his droves of fans in each and every video. G-Fuel benefited immensely from this partnership and now has a social media footprint of over 1 billion followers. The brand has recently launched a global retail campaign as PewDiePie’s fanbase has millions of people from a variety of different locations.

Another example of influencing making waves in the gaming industry is the survival of the Fire Emblem series. The series was launched by Nintendo back in 1990. It’s endured until the present day due to fanatics of the series and influencers who promote their love for the game. There’s now rumored to be a new Fire Emblem game scheduled for release in 2022.

Capitalizing On The Influencer Trend

Gaming influencer marketing is unique in that its proponents and potential partners have the space to market for whatever they please. Their fans are global, and their popularity is only increasing with each passing month. The technological advances in the mobile sphere of gaming are also producing fantastic results for brands who make use of this industry.

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence by Karoline Gore.

The post Gaming Influencers: The Next Generation of Promotional Superstars appeared first on Find Your Influence.

One social media influencer who has been dismantling these standards is Bethanie Garcia. Bethanie started her blog, The Garcia Diaries, in 2014 as a creative outlet for writing, photography and her musings on motherhood. Since launching, The Garcia Diaries has transformed into an inclusive platform for women and a true “diary” of Bethanie and family.

Bethanie’s blog has a “body positivity” section where readers can go to feel empowered in their own body. In a post titled, “Sexy At Every Size || WomenIRL Photo Series” Bethanie reveals that, “Once I started my journey towards self-love and body positivity, there was a huge shift in my mentality. I started loving my body, appreciating my body, seeing my body for what it was”. 

Bethanie has been a social media influencer that people of all identities can look to as an example. She is transparent of her struggles and how she has been able to work through them, which has been a powerful tool for her readers that are going through similar situations. 

Although sometimes this is easier said than done, here are some ways to begin your self-love journey. 

Remove influencer accounts from your feed that make you feel bad about your body

Research shows time and time again that the exposure of unattainable body types can cause negative self-perception. To ensure that you are ready to begin your journey of self-love you need to cleanse your social media of any accounts that lower your self-esteem. 

Practice saying self-love statements

When you think highly of yourself, you are more likely to nurture your well-being and make life choices that benefit you. Just by practicing self-love statements can form a better relationship with your mind, body, and soul. 

Stop judging other people’s bodies

For you to find peace and love within your own body, you need to stop judging people based on theirs. Once you begin realizing other people’s worth is not based on their appearance, it will become easier to apply this to your own self-worth. 

Appreciate all of the things your body lets you do

Take a step back and realize all the amazing things your body lets you do. Whether that be taking a stroll in the park, breathing, digesting food, or just simply keeping you alive. 

Exercise to feel good and be healthy

Find a form of movement that makes your body feel good. This can make you appreciate the way your body can move, without battering it down to an “ideal” shape. Exercising is a natural way to increase mood, energy, combat health conditions, and promote better sleep. 

Surround yourself with uplifting people

It is important to surround yourself with positive people who recognize your importance for who you are as a person, not what you look like. By having people in your life that love you, it is easier to fall in love with yourself. 

Scrap the calorie counting and the scale

Calorie counting overlooks nutritional value. You could be eating something “low calorie” and not fueling your body with the nutrients it needs. Calorie counting also causes you to ignore your body’s wants and needs. Our body sends signals to our brain to let us know when we are hungry, and if you ignore these signals it can become routine to over or under-eat. 

Do something good for yourself once a day

Get into the habit of doing something good for your body everyday. This can look like giving yourself a face mask, writing an empowering message on your mirror, or ending the day with a nice warm bath. Just by getting into a ritual of celebrating your body each day can make you appreciate it even more. 

Meditate

Meditation can transform the perception you have created of yourself. It can help you navigate through negative and harsh thoughts you have about yourself.

Follow influencer accounts with similar body types

When scrolling through social media it is uplifting to see other people that look like you. If you feel there is a place to go to find comfort in the representation of your body, you have the power to alter your perception of what makes a beautiful body. 

At the end of the day, we only have one body, so it is our own responsibility to take care of it. Disregard all of the negative background noise. Self-love isn’t something that will appear overnight, but by just devoting your time to practicing these steps you are ready to begin the process. 

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence by Alice Wholey.

The post Practicing Body Positivity in an Influencer World appeared first on Find Your Influence.

In order to gain a better understanding of how women are a vital asset in the influencer marketing industry, we talked with President and Co-founder of Find Your Influence, Cristine Vieira, about how she got started and co-founded such a successful company.

Tell me about how you started Find Your Influence. What was your vision? 

“Jamie (Reardon) and I co-founded Find Your Influence (FYI) when we were in search of an Influencer Marketing Tool to help us expand our own influencer marketing campaign. When we couldn’t find one, it was our “aha” moment. At the time, our campaign was producing tremendous results, but we also experienced the difficulty with searching, managing and reporting on influencer marketing programs, so we knew we had to build a tool that would help with just that.”

What does influencer marketing mean to you? How did you get into it and why?

“We were introduced early to the concept of influencer marketing (although it was called ‘Blogger Outreach’ at the time). We saw the amazing results of utilizing an authentic voice to tell a brand’s story. At the end of the day, influencers are exactly that, people we follow and trust. When they recommend a brand, product or service, we’re more inclined to listen, rather than just watching an ad. The space is only going to continue to grow as more people choose not to engage in traditional advertising. For me personally, all I have to do is watch my kids interact with their favorite YouTubers to see how powerful influencer marketing can be.”

As a woman, what does it feel like to be such a pioneer in the influencer marketing industry and the Co-founder of FYI?

“It’s an incredibly humbling experience having the ability to build and watch our business grow. We love building and surrounding ourselves with an amazing team. I’m beyond grateful for this journey.”

Would you say the influencer marketing industry is mostly dominated by women? 

“While the influencer marketing industry is still dominated by women, we have definitely seen a shift over the years. When we started Find Your Influence in 2013, the blogger space was very much dominated by women like, ‘Mom Bloggers’ and ‘Fashion and Beauty’ influencers, but we’ve seen quite an increase in influencers across a variety of industries.”

What is one thing you would tell women who want to become their own boss and start a company? 

“I would say take the reins and go for it! And more importantly, don’t give up. The challenges of owning a business are inevitable, but you need to continue believing in what you’ve built and know that whatever challenge you’re currently facing you can get through it.”

Do you feel like there is a lot of pressure owning such a successful company as a woman?

“I feel like there’s a lot of pressure owning a business – whether you’re a woman or not. I think both Jamie and I would say that from an investment standpoint, it may have been harder to raise money a few years ago as a female, but thankfully even that is shifting.”

What is your favorite part about being the Co-founder of Find Your Influence?

“My absolute favorite part about owning a business is building a sense of community and family within the organization. We are always incredibly grateful for the passion, hard work and dedication that we see from our FYI Family. It’s been an amazing experience watching the team grow and shift.”

As our world begins to adapt to the idea of women running it, we will continue to see an increase in female leadership in certain industries. Women have the ability to do so much good, if given the liberty to showcase our strengths. Influencer marketing is only the beginning. Cristine showed us that women really can do anything they set their minds to. With tenacity, dedication, and resilience, women can change the world.

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence by Jordan O’Connor.

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