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.

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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.

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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.

In the beginning, before creators truly understood the value their voice had, influencer pricing was below market value for the high-impact content they were creating. However, fast forward to today, and brands are looking at a much different marketplace. The kids of those original influencers we followed, are now telling stories on TikTok and Instagram. However, the stakes have changed, and just like trends that can be seen in almost any facet of life as it relates to Gen Z and Millennials, these now very coveted consumer groups know their value and the market has flipped in their favor. Over the years, brands have come heavy into the marketplace, inflating the values and driving up the total cost of influencer programs by overcompensating creators.

As we sit today, content creators have more value than ever. With that, participation alone in any influencer program costs more, and that leads me to the entire premise of this blog, we need to have a serious conversation about usage and exclusivity. As the market has evolved, what used to be a sense of pride (the brand wants to use my content), has turned into another negotiation point, and often a steep one at that.

Let’s start with exclusivity. Authenticity is one of the biggest components to a successful influencer program. As a salesperson, I can tell you that you can’t sell something that you just don’t believe in. That said, one trend I am seeing from brands is exclusivity requests that block off more than just their direct competitors, they block off full categories. There is a reason that is problematic, first being that it’s just not real life. As a consumer, I may drink a soda from one holding company, a tea from another, a coffee from another, a potato chip from another, a cookie from another and on it goes. Individual consumer preferences are part of who that person authentically is, and even if brands have engaged them on other brands within that channel, are they truly passionate about that secondary brand? We should be embracing real life which would call for a diverse set of brand partnerships, more reflective of a real-life consumer. While take-overs and 100% share-of-voice work for standard media, working in this manner with influencers just hurts the credibility of the creator and the overall effectiveness of the program.

As influencers have evolved, so has their content. Most influencers today create high-quality content, some even bring in professional photographers to help them develop their content. This creates an opportunity for the brands where they can have content developed at a fraction of the cost that they many traditionally have paid a studio. Taking complete ownership of the content influencers create makes complete sense from a brand standpoint but it also comes at a cost. It goes without saying that the longer the usage term, the more compensation influencers will expect. I have seen programs where cost of the usage terms greatly exceeded the cost of the content.

When factoring the cost of usage and exclusivity into any program, brands are dramatically decreasing the scale of their influencer program.  In many cases, influencer programs are lined up one-to-one with media programs, resulting in CPMs that are always going to look much less efficient unless balanced with paid media (and then you have to take more money away from content creation just to create that balance).

Given all of the this, here are a few questions brands must consider  before building their next influencer program.

• What exclusivity rights will balance competitive separation and cost effectiveness?
• Where do we plan on using this content? We know all influencers will allow us to use it on social with accreditation, what’s the plan beyond that?
• If we are unsure of the plan beyond the current scope, does it make sense to keep additional budget and negotiate usage after content has been created? By doing this, we can negotiate the exact rights we need for the exact content we want.

As with anything, it is all about finding the right balance. As outlined, the original premise of influencer marketing was to connect with smaller pockets of consumers via voices they trust. As long as creators have the leverage at the negotiation table, it’s incredibly important to really think about how we are engaging them. This will result in saved budget and improved program results and a more didact approach to negotiations may just help calm the waves and start to bring down costs in the overall creator economy.

The post Attention Brands! Usage and Exclusivity are Critical in Influencer Negotiations appeared first on Find Your Influence.

Focus on macro-influencers 

Although micro-influencers can have immense value, macro-influencers (who have follower numbers ranging from 250,000-1,000,000) are where it’s at for tech companies — especially for app and electronic brands. 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.

Take Advantage of IGC for Paid Ads

Influencer generated content (IGC) is a powerful and cost-effective influencer marketing tool. In fact, consumers consider IGC to be 50% more trustworthy than other types of content. This is because IGC tends to be more honest, relatable, and authentic than impersonal, professionally-created content. Moreover, new tech products, including software products, can often seem intimidating to consumers who either aren’t tech-savvy or simply lack industry knowledge. But, by using IGC for paid ads, you immediately benefit from having a friendly, familiar face representing your product, which in turn helps your customers feel at ease and encouraged to try it out. It’s also essential to develop a tech or software product you can be confident users will love and want to pay for. Fortunately, product development agencies work with companies to develop meaningful, in-demand products with the help of an efficient product-led development strategy.

Partner with Influencers in Different Niches

As a tech company selling a wide variety of products, you have the luxury of being able to work with an endless list of influencers — so there’s no need to limit your influencer marketing campaign to one segment. However, tech products can also be promoted by less-obvious influencers. For instance, you could team up with foodie influencers to market a food delivery app, or with interior design influencers to advertise home gadgets. It’s also important to rely on the “test and invest” strategy throughout your various influencer partnerships. Trackable links can monitor each influencer partnered with and the performance data can then be used to assess which influencers generate best results, so you know what moves to make for your next campaign.

Influencer marketing can help tech brands gain a competitive edge in a saturated market. By partnering with macro-influencers in various niches and taking advantage of IGC for paid ads, tech brands can effectively increase brand awareness and boost sales.

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

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Choose Influencers Who Have A Relationship With Their Audience

Influencers have the ability to connect with their audiences in ways brands do not. They create close relationships with their following through regular engagement. Using a social media influencer who has an authentic bond with their audience creates a trust in the influencer that the products they are promoting are ones that they use themselves.

According to a study posted by Social Media Today, 87% of shoppers surveyed in May of 2019 were inspired by an influencer to make a purchase. If you consider this, that could mean that your brand’s product launch could perform above the standard branded content if you select to partner with the right influencers.

Select Social Media Influencers Who Align With Your Brand

 It is important to note that the influencers you choose to work with should align with your brand’s values and messaging. So, when looking for influencers for your product launch campaign, look at what they have posted about in past posts. For example, if they have posted branded content, what is their engagement rate? Not only should they have a relationship with their following but they should also vary in total reach.

There are varying types of social media influencers, all with their unique follower range and engagement rates. In an earlier post, we shared insight into the value of micro and macro influencers and the values they bring to campaigns.

Addison Rae’s collaboration with ITEM Beauty is a perfect example of this. In August of 2020, Madeby Collective partnered with Addison as co-founders of the beauty brand ITEM Beauty. This partnership made for a great collaboration as she is the face of the brand and had previously focused a lot of her personal brand around beauty. It also didn’t hurt that Addison had grown a large and dedicated following.

Provide Influencers With Products

 Brands should provide their contracted influencers with the product to promote across their platforms. This gives the influencer the ability to show off the product and how they use it themselves. This may include showing them using the product or creating a dance on TikTok involving the product. This can allow potential customers to see how or when to use it. If the brand’s values and message already aligns with the company, it should come easy to the social media influencer to do so in an authentic way.

Involve Social Media Influencers In the Planning

No one understands an influencer’s audience better than the influencer themselves. Brands should brainstorm with each contracted influencer to ideate on how to best position and curate the launch. Social media influencers know what their audience best responds to and brands should can that to their advantage. This may be as simple as opening up a question sticker on their Instagram Story for followers to ask questions about the product launch.

If social media influencers are not involved in the planning, it could lead to their audience having a difficult time connecting with the campaign and it’s message. If the influencer is directed what to do and say rather than being involved, it may come across as inauthentic when speaking to their audiences. Many followers will take notice of the difference in tone and may not be as excited about the launch. This can lead to low engagement, and therefore fewer sales.

Are you a brand looking to partner with an influencer for a product launch? Check out FYI Exchange and request a demo today.

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence by Gemma Weinstein.

The post Using Social Media Influencers to Launch New Products appeared first on Find Your Influence.

So as this holiday shopping season approaches, Find Your Influence offers brands and retailers a few suggestions on how to best prepare for this busy sales period.

Make Online Options Equally as Accessible as In-Store

As shopping online is slowly but surely overpowering shopping in-person, brands need to be sure that they are taking advantage of their online opportunities. As Medium.com discovered during last year’s holiday season, the statistics have shown that online sales are skyrocketing compared to any other years before. Customers will be looking for online options more than ever.

Because of this, brands need to be on top of their plan for this year. Whether that is offering exclusive online sales or creating a new marketing strategy, this is not something to wait until the last minute to do. Make your website user friendly. Create online options that are unique to your brand. Market your products in a new fun way that will stand out to your customers. Whatever you do, get a head start on making your online strategy successful and unique to your brand or company.

The most important part of making online options accessible is to make sure people know about it. Hire an influencer to specifically market your easily accessible website. When making a deal with an influencer to promote your product or company, outlining what you want highlighted is very important. Make sure your influencer knows to share this great element of your brand with their audience.

Spread the Word on Different Social Media Platforms

Marketing for this year’s holiday season will be one to strategize for. As Adweek reported on 2021 holiday preparation, “people are discovering and purchasing on social more than ever.” As we can expect, online retail will be more crucial than any other year. Influencer marketing is one of the best options for getting your brand’s name and product out there.

Find an influencer that is a fan and genuine consumer of your product. Influencers that truly enjoy using and promoting your company are the best way to get your products out there as well as making the most of your deal with the influencer. Another key factor is planning which platforms an influencer will use to promote your brand. Based on their following, as well as your product’s target audience, promoting your brand on different platforms at different times can be a key element in getting your holiday sales up during this upcoming season.

Many brands are contracting influencers for holiday campaigns in July and August. Influencer rates can increase 15-20% in November and December. Smart brands will contract with influencers early, to lock in standard rates.

 Plan for a Longer Holiday Shopping Season

As we saw last year, the online version of holiday shopping can last a lot longer than the usual Black Friday deals or the last minute Christmas shopping. This year, we can expect a longer and more drawn out holiday season when it comes to customer activity. As customer’s behavior continues to change, one thing that has been seen is the increase in preparation for the upcoming months in sales and travel. Travel plans are being made far in advance which can affect many brands. Preparing for these early bookings and unexpected purchases can be a key factor in maximizing sales this season. With such a technologically advanced and different world we live in today, brands can truly never start too early when it comes to preparing for this holiday season.

This preparation is easily accomplished by having an influencer market your brand as early as summertime. Whether paired with a discount code or a sale for booking during a certain time period, influencers can boost your sales in an unimaginable way. By picking the right influencers, platforms, and times to post, influencer marketing can be the perfect solution for your brand and holiday marketing strategy.

Looking to find an influencer to represent your brand for this holiday season? Request a demo of Find Your Influence today.

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence by Madelyn Schloss.

The post How Influencers Drive Holiday Shopping Sales appeared first on Find Your Influence.

Grow Your Organic Reach

 With Instagram’s ever-changing algorithm, it can make it a bit more difficult for users to grow their organic reach. When using hashtags, make sure you don’t use too many as it can lead to your account getting shadow banned. When your account is shadowbanned, it means the Instagram algorithm flagged your account, claiming you did not follow community guidelines. The account is essentially invisible to new followers and prevents your content from being seen, especially on the hashtag search results page.

You can avoid this by using precise and relevant hashtags. For example, if you are posting about the Grammys make sure to use #Grammys2021 instead of just #awards. The relevancy all depends on who your target audience is, so make sure to use hashtags that relate both to your content and your audience.

Create Branded Hashtags

 Branded hashtags are the perfect way to promote a product or brand as an influencer. Utilizing these builds a connection to a brand and/or product you are promoting and it allows you to reach a wider audience. According to a study by Simply Measured, 70% of the most-used hashtags on Instagram are branded hashtags created by businesses. An example of a branded hashtag could be Coca Cola’s #ShareACoke. To further grow this campaign, they collaborated with stars like Ryan Seacrest and Selena Gomez. It became a viral hashtag campaign and continues to be promoted by the brand.

 Involve Yourself in Trending Topics

 Trending topics have the ability to become popular on multiple platforms and create a larger conversation. Using the correct hashtags can further promote the product or brand you are partnering with. They can also be seen by those who aren’t your typical follower, further growing your reach.

Be careful that you don’t only post about trending topics in your niche. Followers want to see a wide variety of content and your content can often become stale if it’s just focusing on one topic. One way to involve hashtags not related to your niche would be to use them during the holidays, because it will be easier for you to take part in holiday trends and topics, regardless of your niche. If you are unable to find that connection between your niche and a trending topic, you can form your content so that it fits the topic. But, this has to be something that is at least remotely related to your niche. Tyson Apostol is an American reality television personality and Pickleball’s #1 influencer. Although his main focus is pickleball, he engages his followers by including content on his page of his children and everyday life.

Build a Community Around a Hashtag

 Hashtags have the ability to help you grow your brand as an influencer. If you are successful in creating a hashtag for a campaign with a brand, your followers can have the ability to communicate with you through the hashtag. These hashtags can allow you to create a close-knit relationship with your followers and allow them to feel connected to you. Make sure that the hashtag is unique to you and emphasizes your connection to the brand partnership. Although the majority of the time brands have a say in the hashtags you use, make sure you have a conversation prior to the partnership about what hashtags you feel align with your brand as an influencer and what has led to your success in the past.

See What Your Audience is Using

One of the most effective ways to use hashtags is to see what your audience is using and is interested in. Take a look at your following, what they are talking about, and what trends they are engaging in? You then can tailor your hashtags to what they are excited about. This will not only keep your current followers engaged but attract potential followers’ eyes to your content.

Are you someone who wants to grow their popularity as an influencer, but you don’t know where to start? Reach out to our Influencer Management Team with your questions today. Send us an email at info@findyourinfluence.com.

Freelance contribution especially written for Find Your Influence by Gemma Weinstein.

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