What is a Social Media Influencer?

The world is filled with social media influencers these days! But, has anyone taken the time to explain what an "influencer" really means? Or better yet, how we as Social Media Managers and Business Owners can utilize them in our social media strategy? Let's break it down ↓

A Social Media Influencer can be described as having:

• A following

• Established Credibility

• Endorsement deals on products, services, and brands

• Typically they have an industry or specialization that they become credible in, such as beauty, food, lifestyle, travel, etc., and the main platform they are known for: is Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, etc.

Types of Influencers

Influencers are categorized based on the number of followers they have.

• Nano: 1k-10k

• Mirco: 10k-50k

• Mid: 50k-500k

• Macro: 500k-1M

• Mega: 1M+

Should I consider working with an influencer?

First will premise this by saying, all brands are different and it takes careful research and planning to decide if an influencer will be beneficial for your specific brand. However, we do know that influencers have seen a lot of success! According to Business of Apps, "48% of marketers found influencer marketing ROI better than other channels." Influencer marketing is a great opportunity to connect with certain age groups, especially Gen-Z and Millennial age groups! 15% of 18-to-24-year-old’s, and 11% of millennials have purchased something in the last 6 months because of an influencer. And, the amount of companies using influencers is expected to continue to increase.

Tips for Working with influencers

• Find the right influencer! You want someone who your brand can trust and relate to. You'll also want to ensure that they are within the same niche, have a similar following and that your goals align.

• Make sure to consult a legal site or professional and know the legalities around the subject. There should be a contract in place for this partnership as well.

• Go in with a strategy. This is a professional partnership, so you should go into it with a plan that includes budget, messaging, target audience, goals, and an overview of what each party can expect from the partnership. From there, you can alter your plan based on what you agree upon together, but it's important to come in with an outlook so you are both organized and on the same page.

• Reach out privately. Don't be the brand that comments "Collab with us" on their posts. In most influencer'’ bios, you'll find their preferred method of contacting them for brand deals - whether it’s their website, email, or through DMs, find their preferred message and start a conversation with them there.

• Don't underestimate influencers with less following, such as nano, mirco, and mid! This can be more budget-friendly and can result in a great ROI.

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