It happened with the explosion of social media… new marketing trends & tactics come in hot and a wave of “experts” pop out of the woodwork. As we head into 2016, we’ll see it continue with the rise of influencer marketing.
At its core, influencer marketing is one of the simplest tactics to understand and execute. It’s basically word of mouth marketing, reinvented. Begin by forming relationships – with the people who already use your product or your ideal type of fan – and engaging with them by sending product, creating content and helping them push it to their social circles. Think about it like beginning a new friendship.
TO FIND YOUR PERFECT MATCH
Know Yourself & Be Yourself:
It sounds like something your parents tell you, but it’s #truth. What are the core things your brand stands for? What does your ideal brand champion look like? In order to succeed in this space, you have to be authentic. If you try to match your brand with an influencer that isn’t a fit OR you force feed bland, boring content, the message just won’t spread. And even worse, fans will call you out, potentially reject the brand and whip up a storm of negativity.
Listen:
Who’s already talking about you and what are they saying? There are plenty of partners who can help you, but if you don’t have the budget, start with Google searches, monitor your social pages and check in with your customer service team.
Be consistent. Don’t stop communicating:
Communication is key and don’t forget that! Like any great relationship, work is required to keep the good things going. Continue listening to your fans & influencers, go to them first for insights on new products and don’t forget to reward them every once in a while. Let them be the first to get in on an offer, or send them a token of your appreciation.
Go forth and be real (it’s the key!).