Influencer marketing is a great marketing strategy that is here to stay. It is a strategy that’s capable of delivering quick results and is cost-effective at the same time.
That being said, influencer marketing isn’t perfect. Fake followers, lack of transparency, and difficult evaluation process are some of the cons that come with running an influencer campaign.
So, the question is:
Should you join the influencer marketing bandwagon?
Reasons to Use Influencer Marketing for Your Brand
Influencers can help you:
Build trust and credibility
You can’t get people to trust your brand overnight. However, influencers can help you build it quicker than you can.
People follow influencers because these content creators provide value, give genuine opinions, and share tips that stem from their expertise in a particular niche.
So, when an influencer talks highly of your brand, it is most likely that their audience will look at you in a positive light too.
Widen your reach
Most people running their businesses online aim to reach and engage new audiences.
As influencers have huge followings, they can help you reach more people faster. This is especially true if you select an influencer whose niche aligns with yours.
For instance, if you sell sports shoes, partnering with a sports influencer can be highly lucrative.
Cut costs
Contrary to popular belief, influencer marketing isn’t restricted to working with mega-influencers and celebrities anymore.
Nano- and micro-influencers have become popular. Although they have smaller followings, they generally have higher engagement rates. Needless to say, they’re also more affordable.
In addition, influencer marketing uses a highly-targeted approach, which increases the chances of generating the desired results.
Does Influencer Marketing Work for Everyone?
No marketing strategy is perfect. Influencer marketing is no exception.
Finding the right influencer is not a child’s play. The online world boasts a sea of influencers with different interests, passions, and audiences. For obvious reasons, not all of them can help you achieve your goals.
Choosing the right influencer for your campaign can be a highly complex process. If you rush it, you’ll end up with the wrong influencer that can completely break your campaign.
In addition, if the influencer you partner with ignores the FTC guidelines, it can cause trouble for your brand.
The risk of partnering with influencers who have fake followers and inauthentic engagement rates is also real.
However, you shouldn’t let these challenges prevent you from leveraging influencer marketing.
If skepticism is holding you back, you can leverage an influencer marketing platform to better manage and analyze your campaigns.
Don’t know of any?
Check out my article on ShaneBarker.com.
If you want to get more information about the pros and cons of influencer marketing, take a look at the infographic below.
Image Courtesy: ShaneBarker.com
Shane Barker is a digital marketing consultant who specializes in influencer marketing, content marketing, and SEO. He is also the founder of Content Solutions. He has consulted with Fortune 500 companies, influencers with digital products, and a number of A-List celebrities.
