Influencer marketing is a growing trend as more celebrities and influencers are doing sponsored posts for brands. Most times they do this by taking photos of themselves while holding a product or doing an “unboxing” video on Instagram or YouTube. Many people don’t think of themselves as influencers but if you have a decent number of online followers and you consistently create original and engaging content, then you must know that brands are dying to work with you. Here are some of the tips on how to start your influencer marketing brand from scratch.
As an influencer, you have already established trust with your audience. If brands align themselves with certain influencers, then it’s easier for the brands to gain that trust as well. Research proves this strategy is quite effective, as influencer marketing delivers a much higher ROI than traditional forms of marketing. Brands know this and are allocating budgets just for influencer marketing.
It is important to note that brands do not necessarily choose influencers based on the number of followers alone. It is a waste of resources to have thousands of social media followers, if they aren’t engaged. If your followers are not amply engaged then they certainly won’t be interested in buying the products and services that you are promoting. You need to invest time and money in creating engaging content to build a thriving online community. If large brands have marketing budgets to grow their influence, then nothing stops you as a blogger or an influencer from creating a marketing plan for yourself.
Don’t be afraid to pitch to brands because the truth is they want to work with you; and they may not find you unless you put in efforts to get on their radar. This may include cold calling, sending emails or even attending events where you may potentially run into brands you want to work with. However, it is important to prepare and craft a great pitch when you have the opportunity to meet your target brands.
As an influencer or blogger, you must be in tune with what is happening in your industry and stay updated with current trends. You need to be able to prove to the brands you are targeting that you know your onions; and this will increase your chances of landing a deal with them. If you consider yourself an influencer, start putting in the work and you may find yourself working with major brands sooner than you think.
