Who would’ve thought that a bunch of people calling themselves influencers would be influencing us and our decisions today, and we wouldn’t even complain about it? Instead, we would be buying the products they recommend. Crazy, right? As viewers, we all like to see different kinds of videos uploaded by these influencers because they are entertaining and unknowingly, we are convinced to buy those reviewed products or services. And we, as an audience, tend to trust influencers because we can connect more with people, and it’s easier for us to trust them. Influencer marketing holds vast potential and it’s time we get on board.
Nowadays, Influencers are essential for every marketing strategy. They know exactly what to do and how to create brand awareness among the audience, which will eventually benefit the brand.
No more ‘advertisements only’, no more breaking the bank for big billboards, no more expensive photoshoots, just a real human sitting across the screen and telling you why you should get your hands on those soft hand creams or that mango wood chair from a particular small business. Small businesses have proven how diverse influencer marketing can be. Influencers don’t just market for huge brands and businesses. They also give unbiased reviews for small businesses, giving them a real chance to reach their target audience.
What is Influencer Marketing?
Influencer marketing means when the marketing is done through an influencer. In this type of marketing, the influencers collaborate with a brand, review its products or services, and share it with their followers on social media platforms. These followers have a high chance of converting to the brand’s customers after watching the influencer’s review. All because of the trust they have in the influencer’s choice and opinion.
Typically, there are 4 types of influencers.
- Micro-influencers. Number of followers: 5,000 — 100,000
- Mid-tier influencers. Number of followers: 100,000 — 500,000
- Macro-influencers. Number of followers: 500,000 — 1M
- Mega-influencers. Number of followers: 1M+
This pool of followers of any given influencer could be a brand’s exact target audience. It could be the perfect fit – the brand’s product/service and the influencer’s followers. So, the only thing to do is get them together and spread the word. Once that happens, the brand gets new customers, increasing its revenue within a short duration usually. Influencers are viewed as no less than an expert by their followers, which is why the followers end up buying products or using services based on the influencer’s recommendations. It’s all about the trust the influencer has built with their online community.
Since everybody’s available (if not active) on at least one social media platform today (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), investing in an influencer marketing strategy would be a smart move. It’s best to target the platform where your target audience is most likely to engage.
Influencer marketing is one of the most important types of social media marketing. Working with an influencer ensures that the brand’s message reaches the target audience that wouldn’t have otherwise reached them, consequently increasing its engagement and sales.
Influencer Marketing Tips for Instagram
Today, Instagram is the go-to place for some of the biggest influencers. There are some smart tips to keep in mind before you start influencer marketing on Instagram. Here’s a list we curated. Bookmark for reference later.
1. Know the brand’s target audience.
This is crucial. A brand can create an effective influencer marketing strategy that works for them only after knowing who its target audience is. Because knowing the target audience will make it easier for the brand to choose an appropriate influencer for them. This is an essential step as the brand might want to target a whole new audience for themselves, and finding an influencer that will be able to communicate the brand’s message clearly to the audience is a must.
2. Find influencers that resonate with the brand.
This is the second most crucial step. Make a list of influencers you think could be the best fit for the brand. The chosen influencer should align with the brand’s vision and goals. However, selecting an influencer depends on many factors, such as how much reach the influencer has, what they will charge, how much engagement rate they can get, what their style is like – are they more professional or casual, etc.?
3. Set a goal.
The brand should set its goal, the time it wants to achieve it in, and what it is that the brand wants – is it followers or more engagement or more traffic to their website, etc.? Once the brand knows what it wants, the path becomes clearer, and the goal seems more achievable. If the goal is set, there are higher chances of the campaign being executed more properly.
4. Set a budget.
An influencer marketing strategy could be pretty expensive; therefore, choosing an influencer who doesn’t burn a hole in the brand’s pocket would be wise. With influencer marketing fees rising with every passing day, these things could prove expensive. But, one thing to keep in mind while choosing influencers has to be that one should give more importance to engagement rate than the number of followers. A great way of doing this could be choosing a micro-influencer with less following but high engagement rates over an influencer with a huge following list but low engagement. The engagement rate is the real game changer and is what ultimately matters when it comes to influencer marketing.
5. Observe what others are doing.
Doing this would be a great step. Observing what the other brands are doing, how often they are posting content, what strategy they adopt, how they are posting their content, and what types of posts are doing well for them, could provide some great insight.
6. Learning how to pitch to influencers.
There are different ways of pitching to different influencers. The different kinds of influencers are micro, macro, mid-tier, and mega. Sending pitches to these influencers for collaboration could be a task, but one needs to figure it out because one pitch matters a lot. And pitching right away in the first instance would look too desperate and will have higher chances of the influencer backing off. Therefore one should focus on making a genuine relationship first.
7. Giving the influencer a campaign brief.
A briefing is always a good idea. When one gives a proper brief to the influencer regarding the campaign, they will know exactly what to do and how to do it to get the results for the brand. But, when going over the campaign brief, try to do it sparingly because the influencers know what they need to do to interact with their audience best. They need to do their job their way without making it feel like a promotional post they were paid to make.
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8. Hosting giveaways is always a good idea.
Giveaways are a proven way to get more people aware of the brand and more followers on the brand’s Instagram page. This is an effective way to get more people interested in the campaign. The influencer could tell its audience on Instagram that they are having a giveaway and that to be a part of it, people will have to follow the brand’s page and so on. Therefore, more people will know about the brand, and the brand’s following will increase.
9. Make use of all the recent Instagram features.
Instagram keeps on adding new features, and one shouldn’t miss out on them if one wants to attract their target audience. There are so many ways brands can use these features to their advantage, such as doing paid story collaborations with influencers, making reels with them, using the collab features, etc. These are just a few things that could be done to get more recognition among the audience.
10. Track success.
The brand should always track how far they have come. The results could be measured in terms of how many more new accounts they have reached, how much has their engagement rates increased, how much more traffic have they gotten to their website, how much more revenue are they getting, how many more people are aware of the brand, etc. These are a few things that can be examined to measure a brand’s results after working with an influencer.
Final words
Making a proper influencer marketing strategy for Instagram that works and brings results could seem overwhelming. It is achievable though. And, once this strategy is in place, you will see a big difference. Gone are the days when businesses and brands used to rely on traditional marketing. Fast forward to today, Instagram and Influencers together have proven to be a deadly combo for attracting the right target audience and making a brand reach its highest potential. But, before starting with anything, the brand must have a clear goal. Only then is it possible to find the right influencers for their Influencer marketing?
Instagram provides a lot of scope for brands to reach their target audience, consequently increasing their sales and engagement. Therefore, brands should put their efforts into crafting an impactful yet practical Influencer marketing strategy for Instagram to drive more sales and increase revenue.
FAQs
What is influencer marketing?
Influencer marketing is a type of marketing strategy where brands collaborate with influential individuals on Instagram, known as influencers, to promote their products or services. Influencers have a large following and a significant impact on their audience’s purchasing decisions.
How can influencer marketing benefit my business?
Influencer marketing can benefit your business in several ways. By partnering with influencers who align with your brand values and target audience, you can increase brand awareness, reach a larger audience, improve brand credibility, and drive sales or conversions. Influencers’ authentic content can also help create a stronger connection between your brand and your potential customers.
How do I find the right influencers for my brand?
Finding the right influencers for your brand involves careful research and consideration. Start by identifying your target audience and understanding their interests, demographics, and preferences. Then, search for influencers who have a similar target audience and content that aligns with your brand values. Tools like influencer marketing platforms or agencies can also assist in finding suitable influencers.
What are some key factors to consider when selecting influencers?
When selecting influencers, consider factors such as their engagement rate, authenticity, content quality, relevance to your brand, audience demographics, and previous brand collaborations. Look for influencers who have an engaged and active following, genuine interaction with their audience, and a track record of successful partnerships.
How do I approach influencers for collaborations?
When approaching influencers for collaborations, it’s essential to personalize your outreach and show genuine interest in their work. Begin by following and engaging with their content, then send a polite and professional email or direct message explaining why you believe a collaboration would be beneficial for both parties. Clearly communicate the value proposition and outline your expectations for the partnership.
