Influencer marketing has become an integral part of online marketing campaigns. Brands are now leveraging the power of social media influencers by using them to promote their products and services.
The global influencer marketing industry is valued at approximately $13.8 billion and has doubled since 2019. If you want to grow your business, you can hire a few influencers who understand your brand and target audience. But how do you choose influencers for your marketing campaigns? Here are some tips to guide you.
1. Identify the Right Influencers
A previous report projected that approximately 67.9% of U.S. marketers would use influencer marketing in 2021. 80% of marketers find influencer marketing effective. When hiring influencers for your business, choose those that understand it.
Research influencers who are already talking about similar products and services. Use hashtags on social media, scan competitors’ mentions & tags, search by keywords on YouTube, and start following popular blogs and bloggers. Additionally, you can reach out to your followers with huge followings and ask them to act as brand advocates.
2. Use Micro Influencers
If your business is small, you don’t have to use macro influencers or celebrities who might be too expensive. You can use micro influencers and nano influencers those with 1,000 to 20,000 followers. According to a survey, almost 47% of influencers are macro-influencers (with 25,000 to 1,000,000 followers). They have a high engagement rate and are more accessible than traditional celebrities. So, if you can afford to hire them, go ahead.
3. Choose the Right Social Media Platform
Every influencer has a social media site they focus on. Before hiring an influencer for your brand, identify where your potential clients like to hang out then choose an influencer who is popular on the platform. For instance, if your target market is Gen Z, use TikTok influencers. Instagram is the top choice for U.S. marketers followed by TikTok and Facebook.
4. Set Goals
Once you have identified the influencers and platforms to use, you need to set measurable goals. If your goal is to reach new customers, share this information with the influencer so they can tailor their content to achieve this objective.
MasterCard, top banks, and reputable lenders have been using influencers to reach their target audiences in recent years. 1800CarTitleLoan used influencers to promote their instant online title loan program when it launched and saw positive feedback from their audience based on A/B testing of their campaigns.
5. Provide the Necessary Resources
For your marketing campaign to be successful, you have to provide the influencer with the necessary resources. Share photos, videos, case studies, customer testimonials, and any other data they can use to market your brand.
You should also be readily available in case they have any questions or need clarification. As soon as you start getting inquiries from prospects from the marketing campaign, take action so you can convert them into loyal customers. That way, you’ll achieve your marketing goals.
Influencer marketing has become a vital marketing tool in today’s world. Whether your business is well established or is in its infancy stages, influencer marketing can help. But ensure that the influencer completely understands your brand. Only then can the campaign be effective.