Influencer Marketing in 2022

Influencer marketing as I have mentioned in a previous post is a subset of social media marketing that focuses on using a specific set of individuals with a dedicated social following to endorse a product or service on behalf of a brand under set conditions.

It is no surprise that the rise of influencers in various niches has taken center stage over the years and is bound to grow even more rapidly as we are embracing the digital age.

Where did it all begin?

Influencer marketing is something that came to be long before the rise of social media. When we date back to the 1760s one of the first ways influencers were used to market a product was through a royal family . Josiah Wedgwood was a potter and an entrepreneur who was known to make exquisite tea sets that were fashionable and artistic. Despite having an amazing product, one contributing factor to his success was the fact that he was known for being the "potter to Her Majesty " Queen Charlotte who was the wife of King George the third.

The fact that Queen Charlotte had influence at the time allowed him to position his brand as having ''royal approval''. This increased the demand for his products plus allowing him to sell them at above average prices , making him the the creator of the first global luxury tea set brand.

Coco Chanel was also known for the impact she had on fashion in the 20th century allowing women to express themselves in the way that served them best . Her influence allowed her to market her own brand which we still consider luxurious to date.

As we can see we have always been creatures susceptible to influence . The only difference now is with the rise of social media anyone can be of influence.

Who qualifies to be an influencer

An influencer by definition is anyone who has influence. In order for one to be considered an influencer they need to have as sense of authority, knowledge or a certain art of persuasion in regards to a subject. In the past they were associated with a large social media following however in recent times this is not particularly the case.

How can one identify Influencers

Most influencers tend to position themselves to be found , either directly or indirectly .

Hashtags

Hashtags are labels used on different social media sites that make it easy for you to find information that is niched down . A huge number of influencers tend to use hashtags under their content based on what they are sharing . If you are looking for a lifestyle influencer you may go on Instagram and under hashtags look for #lifestyleinfluencersinnairobi to find an influencer based in Nairobi .

Using google wisely

As we know we can find literally anything on google if you are strategic about it . In order to use google to your advantage, be as specific as possible so as to get the best results for you.

Read and follow blogs

Some bloggers can be of influence if you take the time to access the type of blogs they write . For instance you may be reading a moms blog . From this blog you discover this mom has a two year old toddler, in this case you are a baby monitor brand. This is a perfect blend for you and you can reach out to this lady to promote your brand in her blogs.

Send out alerts

You as a brand can make a post on your social media handles informing others that you are looking for influencers who match a specific description and promote the post . This allows influencers who are capable to reach out to you and you can vet them.

Using your landing page to your advantage

Landing pages can be a great way to create consented data from an individual . If you and your organization create a landing page that informs people that they can sign up if they wish to promote your brand. After which you can get to interact with each individual and lay our your terms.

Influencers are bound to have a major impact on brands as the year progresses so it is to your advantage to leverage the power of influencers.