Customers today, are more informed than ever. They are tech-savvy, fast and trend-conscious. All of this plays a powerful role in their purchase decisions too. So, strategies that may have given great results in the past, might not be as effective anymore. So, before we delve into the benefits of an influencer strategy, let’s take a look at why it is so important.
Influencer marketing is “in”
We’re not saying you should do it because everyone is doing it. It is more like knowing what your audience wants. They follow social media and social media celebrities are the role models that they look up to, consciously as well as subconsciously. They are more relatable, more real and the fact that they are not “acting” or putting up a show just for the sake of it, adds to their credibility. In short, the audience wants to see their favorite digital faces share their favorite brands and products. So, if you don’t step up and tap into this opportunity, someone else will. Besides, aligning your brand with a trendsetting influencer only proves that you are an innovative market leader. Automatically, people would want to be associated with you!
Benefits of influencer marketing in 2020
Did you know that about 40% of internet users are likely to make a purchase after a social media influencer is spotted using it? And more than 85% of millennials use social media to learn about new products? Right! So, if your objective is to boost your sales, you cannot overlook any influencer marketing advantages.
-
- Trust, Authority and Credibility
People look up to influencers and trust their opinions and recommendations. So, when a popular figure is spotted using and even promoting your product, in a not-so-obvious way, it gets you the brownie points. Studies prove that even the slightest promotion from an influencer in the form of a tweet can increase purchase intent up to five times as about 40% of internet users end up making a purchase if a tweet strikes the right chord. So, if you can have an industry expert or a social media personality or even a mainstream celebrity talk about your brand, it becomes easier to build trust, credibility and authority around your products/services. - The Possibility of Extremely High ROI
Research has shown that influencer marketing campaigns tend to have an unlimited potential. This is very different from conventional advertising tactics. The latter comes with a limited reach and limited possibilities. On the other hand, with influencer marketing, your content has the potential to be shared for an infinite number of times and for an equally prolonged duration. The potential to go viral is what keeps attracting attention over and over again. Even if you collaborate with micro-influencers with a lesser following, you have nothing to lose. You may even get a better bang for your buck as the smaller following tends to be more focused and engaged when compared with millions of fans. The benefits of influencer outreach far overweighs the initial costs. Hence, the return on investment tends to be extremely high. - Brand Awareness and Reach
Influencer marketing can prove to be an excellent strategy for reaching out to new audiences in an organic way. It is very different from regular advertisement that seems imposing to most consumers. Instead, it hits the bull’s eye but reaching out to them where it matters the most-social media! It is more like the native place of the digital consumers who do not want to be distracted by annoying banner ads. Your brand now has a better chance of being noticed, remembered and even loved by users who are already interested in and engaged with your niche. In addition to that, influencer marketing provides immense value to your audience. It educates, inspires and solves problems by delivering relevant content to the relevant target. When influencers mention your brand or product on a popular social media platform, the connection with the viewers and consumers automatically grows stronger and instantaneous. - Winning Partnerships
When a brand connects and engages with an influencer, they kickstart a beautiful professional collaboration. In the long-run, such partnerships can prove to be amazingly helpful to your brand’s image and growth. The possibility of joint-ventures, engaging and creative campaigns, LIVE events and endless other opportunities start opening up the moment you join hands with an influencer. - An Enriched Content Strategy
When you stop force-feeding irrelevant content to a certain group, you would end up being very unpopular! On the other hand, sharing influencer content actually fills the gaps in your existing content schedule. Good content coupled with a popular name is recipe for effectiveness and higher ROI. - Delivering the Right Message in the Right Way
- Trust, Authority and Credibility
The audience that you reach via influencer marketing in essentially your target market. They are already interested in your particular niche. Not only does this help with a better organic reach but also, boosts up conversions better than any other marketing strategy. Besides, the very fact that influencer marketing does not seem pushy, it stands a higher chance of being effective. It is one of the most ideal ways to drive your message across to the right spot.
Irrespective of the size of your business or your industry, influencer marketing can be effectively incorporated in your tactics. At the same time, it is important to choose your influencers carefully. They shouldn’t just be random popular faces. They need to resonate with your brand as much as they resonate with your target audience. So, you should identify the right areas where this could work for you and start experiencing the advantages of influencer marketing in more ways than one.
