As social media usage continues to grow, the importance and value of influencer marketing increases. Businesses are beginning to look into influencer marketing as a way to build brand awareness and multiply revenue. We consistently receive a handful of similar questions regarding influencer marketing. This blog post is focused on answering those frequently asked questions.
Influencers help you gain access to new communities who may be interested in your brand.
Q: How do I find influencers to work with?
A: One effective way to find influencers to work with is to check out the top posts for the hashtags specific to your industry. If your hashtag is #cooking, check out the top posts with the hashtag #cooking. The same goes for other topics. You’ll be able to see influencers who regularly produce quality content that fits in your niche. This link explains how Instagram Hashtag Following works.
Influencer marketing is an effective way to increase attendance at events.
Q: How do I know if it’s a good influencer to work with?
To know if an influencer will help you gain a positive ROI (return-on-investment), it’s important to figure out the engagement an influencer receives. Instagram engagement is a combination of likes and comments. Use this Instagram calculator to figure out the engagement rate of an influencer you’re interested in. Influencers who have an engagement rate of more than 8% are often good to work with. Remember that engagement rate is more important than total followers. It’s always a good idea to work with influencers have an engagement rate in the double digits and also do a great job of responding to comments and direct messages.
Choose to work with influencers who have great engagement rates.
Q: Do I have to pay influencers?
A: You don’t always have to pay an influencer when you team up. Some influencers are only looking for free product. Other influencers will give you a shoutout if you give them products or services that are equal to a specific monetary value that makes them feel like it’s worth their time.
Influencer marketing can provide a better ROI than traditional and digital advertising.
Q: How do I get influencers to agree to work with me?
A: Influencers want to work with brands who fit their values and help them provide authentic content for their followers. Don’t reach out to influencers just because they have 100,000 followers or 10,000,000 followers. Make sure the influencers you want to work with have similar values and you’re able to help them with their goals. When pitching influencers, explain as simply as possible how your brand will help them and provide value for their followers.
Clarify expectations and always deliver as promised when working with influencers.
Q: What do I do if they agree to work with me?
A: Congratulations! You got an influencer to say yes to working with you! Be sure to nail down expectations and strive to be as transparent as possible. Communicate with the influencer what he/she can expect to receive from you. If you’re shipping product, send them the tracking information. If they’re coming to your business for an experience, plan out the details of their time with you. Set yourself up for success.