More than possibly ever before, social media is all about being in the moment. It’s no wonder then that live video capabilities have been adopted by multiple social platforms as of late. Going live is an excellent way to engage with audiences and can open up a business to new opportunities. Due to its immediate nature, going live allows people to experience what your business is doing and react in real time.
While influencer marketing was once primarily a blog-based industry, there are now multiple platforms available, and many sponsored programs don’t include blog posts at all. As the CEO of an influencer marketing agency, I am often asked which platform I recommend most, and I have the same response every time: It depends on your goals.
Influencer marketing is a force to be reckoned with, and the industry is showing no signs of slowing down. We’ve all seen the data that supports this powerful form of marketing and the studies that show how today’s consumers are much more influenced by their peers than traditional advertisements. In fact, according to Nielsen’s Global Trust in Advertising report, 82% of those in the U.S. trust recommendations from people they know.
Is blogging dead? According to Google’s search results (as of this writing, anyway), there are over 34 million answers to this question, all of which vary by author opinion. In my experience as a previous blogger and current CEO of an influencer marketing agency, blogging is alive and well, but it sure does look different.
For a consumer scrolling through their favorite blog or social media feed, a successful sponsored post doesn’t feel like an advertisement — rather, it’s perceived as a natural extension of the influencer’s regular content, leveraged with the trust and credibility built up over time between influencer and audience.
Word of mouth has always been a highly effective form of marketing. That’s why influencer marketing has become such a popular strategy in the social media age: Nearly 80% of marketing decision makers plan to invest in this strategy in 2018.
Using technology to reach your customers is a make-or-break opportunity: it offers you the ability to better connect with some but can turn others off who are looking for a more personal experience.
There are over 270,000 Google results for the search term “marketing to millennials.” This demographic is set to officially become the largest living adult generation in 2019, with population numbers soaring to 73 million. It’s no wonder so many brands are focused on cracking this diverse, evolving segment with over $200 billion in buying power.
When you hear the term “Instagram aesthetic,” a certain visual theme is likely to come to mind — most likely reminiscent of what you tend to see on your customized Instagram feed. Maybe you think of lots of white space and immaculate interior spaces, grungy high-contrast fashion shoots or a green, perfectly lit smoothie.
When you picture the sales funnel — awareness taking up the widest part, narrowing through interest and decision, finally ending in action — where do you think influencer marketing fits in?
In an ever-shifting technological and social landscape, getting started with influencer marketing can feel like an intimidating venture for brands that are new to the space — especially given the always abundant, yet sometimes conflicting information about what works and what doesn’t.
As brands are increasingly turning to influencer-created content to highlight their products and services, it’s easy to see how certain verticals are particularly well-suited for this type of marketing. Beauty, food, crafts, decor and fashion are just a few. These categories are often aspirational in nature, highly visual and offer broad appeal. Bloggers, Instagrammers and other social media stars have become incredibly skilled at seamlessly working sponsorships into their carefully curated content by using their signature style to showcase brand messaging.