Disclosure: I received a FREE copy of Influencer Marketing for Dummies for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
I was delighted to have the opportunity to read Influencer Marketing for Dummies because it was packed with so much useful information and key takeaways. It’s a great read whether you are a business looking to work with online influencers or if you are a online influencer looking to connect and start building relationships with brands. The book is broken down into six sections with each chapter (20 chapters total) taking you through each phase of Influencer Marketing. The information is broken down so that you can really understand it. Among the first few pages, you get the definition of Influencer Marketing. It states that “Influencer Marketing is the art and science of engaging people who are influential online to share brand messaging with their audiences in the form of sponsored content.” You know when you start a book with the definition you are going to get some great insight on the subject matter. Influencer Marketing for Dummies doesn’t disappoint in getting you the information and statistics you need to back up the data shared. Some of my favorites parts of the book are when stats are shared based on case studies like, Women influence up to 90% of the purchasing decisions in their households. It’s no surprise that women also rule the social media space and it was also shared that’s why it’s a natural step to use a predominantly female influencer base to drive marketing campaigns. I’ll talk about a great product or service online with no problem and my audience listens. Women are Winning!
Influencer Marketing for Dummies really breaks down the importance of online influencers to any business. It’s recommended that it should be a part of every business marketing plan and that it is indeed “work” that should be compensated. There were also best practices shared like having a contract drawn up by a lawyer so it’s legally binding and knowing what to include in one. Having a contract set in place protects both parties. The book shares how to search for the ideal online influencer also adding that each influencer is special in her own way and deserves to be recognized accordingly. They also mentioned to always keep the three C’s in mind: Communicating, Contracting and Compensating. The one thing that was repeated that I absolutely enjoyed was that you need to build a relationship. I have worked with some amazing brands and over time some of my brand relationships that were limited campaigns have turned into brand ambassadorships that last longer. I definitely have brand loyalty with certain brands so it’s not a big deal for me to sign on for an extended period of time to exclusively partner and promote the brand. Influencer Marketing for Dummies breaks down the different platforms used to share content online also explaining how each platform works, where YOU fit in and what it’s best used for in a marketing campaign. How to measure a campaigns success and ROI (return on investment) was also shared.
I wish I could share EVERYTHING in the book but, you know… I think you should go out and get Influencer Marketing for Dummies. The book is geared towards businesses looking to start implementing Influencer Marketing as a part of their Sales Funnel. As a Blogger/Online Influencer who works with brands on an individual basis and through blogging networks and social influencer agencies, it really showed me how to position myself online as an authority. Influencer Marketing for Dummies shares the six “secrets” to influencer marketing success. One thing that was also mentioned that I can’t stress enough is that social media is founded on authenticity and influencers are able to connect and relate to their online community. I am always able to share a sponsored post in a way that comes across as not sponsored because I’m usually writing about something I am passionate about or already use in my daily life. I think being able to craft a story in your own unique voice and connect with your audience is a major bonus. That’s what keeps your loyal readers and followers tuned in to you. The fact that Influencer Marketing for Dummies was able to share why Online Influencers are so important, along with allowing us to keep the majority of creative control of our own personal stories when participating in a brand campaign was huge! I think if I had to just copy and paste a brands sponsored post for my blog or social media channels, my online community would be able to tell that it’s not in my unique voice.
In closing, I just want to stay that I really enjoyed reading Influencer Marketing for Dummies. It gave me an inside look at the processes a brand goes through when conducting influencer marketing outreach individually or with an agency. Like I stated in the beginning, it’s a great tool to have whether you’re a brand looking to start leveraging Influencer Marketing or a Blogger/Online Influencer so that you can position yourself to be their ideal candidate to work with.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.