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.
The use of key influencers to drive awareness and spark engagement has become an integral part of almost every modern marketing strategy, but for many brands, even the most successful influencer marketing campaigns aren’t as powerful—or cost-effective—as they could be.
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?
When working to preserve your reputation and respond honestly to a PR catastrophe, your social media connections can save the day. Here’s what PR pros should know.
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.