Stop and read this before you hire your first influencer!
Before we get into the basics of hiring an influencer let’s define one!
What is an influencer?
An influencer is a person who has the power to persuade or cause change. They are often considered experts in their field and have a large following on social media, which they use to generate interest in certain topics. Influencers can be found across many different industries, including fashion, journalism, politics, and sports. There are also those that specialize in food trends or home design.
The most successful influencers make it so readers trust them when they endorse products because of the connection that has been built with their followers over time through content creation and engagement with fans online.
These individuals do not work directly for brands; however, brands may hire these people as ambassadors for advertising campaigns by paying them to post pictures wearing clothes from a certain line or using a product for a period of time.
The influence that these people have over their fans is by no means something new. However, the Internet has created an entirely new type of celebrity who can reach millions through various social media channels with just one post. These individuals are becoming popular enough to be considered household names and can attain a high income from just one image on Instagram.
According to Forbes magazine, the top 10 highest-earning celebrities in 2022 were all individuals who have dedicated their lives to wielding influence through building up large social media followings first.
Types of Influencers:
There are different types of influencers, and each has their own niche. Some of the most popular types include lifestyle, fashion, food, travel, and beauty bloggers. However, there are also those who specialize in other areas, such as technology, automotive, or home décor. No matter what the topic is, an influencer can be successful if they produce high-quality content that their followers enjoy and if they are able to create a connection with their audience. This is what helps them to persuade their followers to take certain actions, such as buying a product or service.
Where to look:
Finding influencers can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. A good place to start is by looking on social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. You can also use websites or apps that specialize in connecting brands with influencers, such as:
Tribe, https://www.tribegroup.co/
Upfluence https://www.upfluence.com/
Buzzsumo. https://buzzsumo.com/find-influencers/
Another option is to attend events where there are likely to be influential people in attendance, such as industry conferences or meetups. Another option is you can reach out to individual influencers and ask them to work with you. This can be a great way to find new and upcoming talent.
Working with the influencer:
When brands want to start working with an influencer, the first step is to make contact. This can be done in a variety of ways, but the most common is by sending an email.
When drafting an email to an influencer, it’s important to make sure that it is well written and personalized. It’s also important to be clear about what you want from them and what you’re offering in return.
Another thing to keep in mind is that most influencers are busy and receive a lot of requests, so it may take some time for them to get back to you. If you don’t hear back after a few weeks, you can always follow up or try reaching out to someone else who might be a better fit.
Most influencers are not looking for money upfront, but they do expect some form of compensation in the future.
Influencer Compensation:
Below are the two most common ways to compensate influencers. Discussing this with them will let them understand what they need from you.
1. The most common way to compensate an influencer is by giving them free products or paying them a commission on sales generated from their endorsement.
2. Another option is to offer exposure through social media exposure, which can help grow their follower base.
Brands that would like to work with influencers should do their research first in order to make sure they are reaching out to the right people.
It also helps if there’s a specific reason for seeking someone out instead of just casting a wide net. It’s a good idea to have a meeting in person or talk on the phone before making any commitments so that you can get an idea of how the influencer interacts with their followers and what kind of content they post.
During this process, you should also consider whether or not the influencer has been vetted for authenticity. You can do this by checking if they have a Verified Account badge on Twitter or Instagram, if they are listed as endorsing brands on their website, or if you can find any other examples of endorsements online.
It’s also important to make sure that the influencer has not been involved in any scandals or controversies in the past. These types of factors can do irreparable damage to a brand’s reputation, and they aren’t worth taking the chance with when working with influencers.
1. A good way to make sure that you get the best results when working with an influencer is by having a clear goal in mind. This can be anything from generating more exposure for your brand to increasing sales. It’s also important to be upfront about the kind of content you want them to create and how it will be used.
2. A lot of influencers are looking for more than just free products, so offering exposure on social media or through blog posts is an excellent way of helping an influencer further their own brand as well as your own.
3. When planning a campaign, it’s important to clearly define what you want and how you measure success. This will help keep everyone on the same page and prevent things from spiraling out of control due to a lack of guidance and communication.
The best practice is not always the best practice according to different people. Influencers are no exception — they are very picky when it comes to brands, marketing strategies. The most popular types of marketing for influencers are by far pay-per-post or their own channel promotion.
When you plan your campaign with the influencer, it’s important to be clear about what kind of content you want them to create. This can be anything from sponsored posts to Instagram stories, but it’s also important to consider what kind of tone fits your brand the most. If you’re unsure, asking them for some examples is always a great idea — they will most likely give you suggestions that really work!
One thing that many brands forget about when working with influencers is including them in the creative process. Getting their input early on is a great way to make sure that everything they produce will fit your brand as well as their own style and tone.
If you want influencers to work with you, it’s always a good idea to have someone from your marketing team coordinate with them. Sending emails back and forth can often lead to confusion, so having one person who can speak on your behalf is invaluable.
When you are hiring influencers it’s important to do your research first. Many brands look for them just by using hashtags, which is not the best way since many of them are fake accounts or bots. If you want real followers and real results, you should engage with them and get to know their style and tone — do your research!
When you are trying to promote different brands it’s important to understand who the influencer is and what kind of content they produce. Influencers work best when they provide the audiences what brands lack, so if a brand is too broad or does not have an audience then there might not be a perfect match.
The most important part of hiring influencers is the later process — you need to see if their style and tone fit your brand, plus get familiar with their audience, this is why your research is important! Some brands fail at that because they just focus on someone with more followers.
If brands are clear about what kind of content they want, they’ll get the results they need with influencers.
The important part is to be upfront about what kind of content you want and how it will be used, that way there won’t be any confusion later on! Brands can also benefit from giving influencers exposure on their social media channels or guest posts on their blog. It will be a win, win combination!