I’ll take you back to the basics so that you can truly understand Influencer Marketing and PR. They go hand in hand. You’ll also see the importance of it in today’s marketing strategy for businesses. So, in case you didn’t know… Influencer Marketing is a form of marketing where influencers in their respected fields or niches has a specific target market (audience) in which they share brand awareness and messaging. Many influencers have a very loyal and engaging online community.
Businesses take a portion of their marketing budget to allocate to influencer marketing in addition to traditional marketing like print ads, TV advertisements, radio ads and digital ads. Every business has their specific marketing strategy that works for them. As an entrepreneur, I can speak on this first hand and let you know that it’s all trial and error. One business may thrive with Facebook ads while another may not and be more successful on Instagram. Use the platform that works for you and shows proven results!
It’s important when you are in the influencer space that you maintain a positive online brand reputation. That along with being an authority or expert in your niche will give you longevity in this field. It’s also a HUGE positive with the brands that you forge connections with and establish partnerships. I’ve been in brand ambassador programs for years due to brand loyalty and sharing my authentic experiences with some of my favorite products. People value your personal feedback!
I can also share with brands how my product review, restaurant review or travel experience persuaded others to purchase a specific item, eat at a certain restaurant or book that trip. When you can show a brand a return on their investment, you’re doing great and they’ll keep you on their list of influencers or bloggers who have the power to engage consumers and motivate their purchasing decisions. I personally will pay attention to someone’s personal experience over a paid print ad. I’m just saying!
While I don’t like the word “expert†because I feel as though it puts you out there and I’m really behind the scenes and avoid being in the spotlight at all costs. I can own that I know my stuff and am well versed in social media marketing, influencer marketing and community management. I also make it a priority to seek out PR companies like Behrman PR that specializes in lifestyle brand Publicity to introduce myself and work towards building a long-lasting partnership.
Overall, Influencer Marketing is a continuous growing form of social media marketing that involves working with “influencers†who have expert knowledge in their niche that endorse brands that they believe in using their blog and social media platforms. According to mediakix 80% of marketers find influencer marketing effective and 89% of marketers say influencer marketing ROI is as good or better than other marketing channels. 65% of marketers plan to increase their influencer marketing budgets this year.