We’ll break down why you need to secure an influencer marketing budget specifically and why Q1 is a great time to get it. Plus we’ve included strategies for how to make a case for influencer marketing specifically as it relates to your brand and stakeholder needs. Trust us, we know the importance of investing in quality influencer marketing. If you secure the right budget, you’ll likely have some successful campaigns and impressive ROI in your future. Happy New Year to you!

Let’s get started. 

Understand Why You Need a Q1 Influencer Marketing Budget in the First Place

If you’ve never had a dedicated influencer marketing budget, it may be time for that to change. And what better time to set the tone for your 2024 marketing strategy than right off the bat in Q1? Influencer marketing is an incredibly lucrative industry. When used strategically, it can make big bucks for your brand. With influencer marketing-specific dollars set aside in Q1, you’ll be able to ensure your influencer campaigns get the time and resources they deserve to move the needle for your brand. 

If your CMO isn’t down with allocating an influencer marketing budget, they’re likely behind the times. We can’t guarantee influencer marketing is right for every brand. But if you’re a marketer here reading this, it must be for good reason! And you’re not alone. A vast majority — 82 percent, to be exact — of marketing teams are setting aside dedicated influencer marketing budgets this year. And 67 percent are planning to increase their influencer marketing spending from last year. 

Clearly, something is working for those who invest in influencer marketing. And we’ll tell you what it is: Influencer marketing drives sales! Sure, you could spend your money on more traditional modes of marketing. There’s definitely a place for that, too. But here us out:

INFLUENCER MARKETING VS. TRADITIONAL MARKETING

Traditional marketing is outbound. It takes consumers out of their regularly scheduled program and interrupts it with an ad of some kind. Think a print advertisement, radio spot, commercial, billboard, etc. 

Influencer marketing is inbound. Instead of taking you out of your regularly scheduled programming, it is seamlessly integrated into it. The best influencer marketing is highly creative and entertaining. And perhaps most importantly, it feels like word-of-mouth advertising. 

Of course, influencer marketing is digitally native and involves creators proven to have influence over a consumer base. We call them influencers, duh. In today’s increasingly digital world, nearly everyone is exposed to influencers. The difference between influencer exposure and traditional marketing exposure is that in most cases, the consumer has chosen the influencers they want to see. So they’ve consented to the advertising rather than it being thrust upon them. As you can imagine, that makes a big difference in the path to purchase. 

To find out which strategy is best for you, check out our full breakdown post of the benefits and drawbacks of influencer marketing vs traditional marketing. Spoiler alert: There’s likely a place for both methods in your larger strategy. But the benefits of influencer marketing are undeniable. And a little allocated influencer marketing budget can go a long way. Plus, it’ll help you keep up with your competitors.

Appeal to Your Stakeholders

Of course, as with any marketing budget request, you need to know how this will serve your stakeholders. What are your consumers looking for in the new year? And where are they looking for it? What are your leaders’ goals and aspirations for the brand? How can you appeal to all of them using influencer marketing?

Chances are, your target audience is on social media. And if they’re on social media, they’re likely interacting with influencer posts. Why not meet them where they are, on the platforms they love scrolling on, and reign them in with thumb-stopping content that drives clicks for your brand? 

And we’re willing to bet your leadership wants to get the most bang for their marketing buck while spending the least. They want big results and small costs. Right? Influencer marketing can deliver. 

Every target demo is different. But we’re willing to bet yours has some exposure to influencer content. Find your niche in the influencer marketing sphere and speak to that when trying to get buy-in from marketing leaders. 

The world of advertising has gone digital. So much marketing happens on social channels, much to the benefit of consumers. Find out where your stakeholders are, and meet them there with exactly what they want. Chances are you’ll be able to do it using your influencer marketing budget for a fraction of what it would cost to go the traditional advertising route. 

Know the Numbers — Having an Influencer Marketing Budget Pays Off

Influencer marketing isn’t a rapidly growing, multi-billion dollar industry for nothing. The proof is in the pudding. The average ROI for an influencer marketing campaign is $5.20 for every $1 spent. Talk about a decent return! The average influencer marketer more than quintuples their money. If you’re looking for a selling point to get your CMO to buy into your Q1 influencer marketing budget, maybe lead with that stat. 

As of 2023, influencer marketing is a $21.1 billion dollar industry. And it’s only projected to go up from here. It’s expected to reach $22.2 billion by 2025. We’re talking billions, people! As of this year, worldwide influencer marketing ad spend reached $30.8 billion. By 2027, that number is expected to be more like $47.8 billion. If you don’t have an influencer marketing budget yet, we’d advise creating one soon. 

Cha-Ching! Get Ready to Talk Cost

Of course, you can throw out industry stats and impressive average ROIs until the cows come home. And yes, we think having this data will help make your case. But when you’re speaking specifically to your marketing leaders, you need to provide the numbers that matter the most to them. Namely, how much influencer marketing budget are you asking for? What is this going to cost them?

Lean on your campaigns from years (or quarters) prior to gauge how much you need and why. If you’ve never run an influencer marketing campaign before, or you have, but you’ve never had a dedicated budget for it, never fear. The beautiful thing about influencer marketing is that it can be successful at nearly every price point for any kind of brand. You just have to get creative and know how to strategize. 

According to Influencer Marketing Hub’s The State of Influencer Marketing 2023: Benchmark Report, here’s how influencer marketing spending broke down this year: 

• 43 percent of brands spent less than $10k
• 22 percent of brands spent $10k – $50k
• 14 percent spent $50k – $100k
• 11 percent spent more than $100k

Lean on Your Results, Let the Data Back You Up

If this is your first influencer marketing rodeo, don’t fret. You can rely on market data to back up your request. Check out our success stories with influencer marketing clients here. Or throw out some of these impressive stats: 

• The industry is expected to reach $22.2 billion by 2025.
• Brands spent $30.8 billion on influencer marketing in 2023.
• 25 percent of brands dedicate 10-20 percent of their marketing budget to influencer marketing.

If this is your second or third influencer marketing rodeo, yeehaw! You better dust off that data and bring it out of the stable. It’s time to show your leadership what you can do. Here at The Shelf, we’re always preaching the power of analytics and tracking. This is exactly why. The proof is in the pudding, people! 

Show your leaders where influencer marketing has helped your brand in the past and how you plan to increase your ROI with future campaigns. And don’t limit yourself to just sales. Give them the goods on brand lift, your mailing list, followers, clicks, and conversions. Influencer marketing is good for more than just making sales. Be sure to show them the results at both the top and bottom of the marketing funnel.

Go for Growth

Influencer marketing isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It’s a $21.1 billion dollar industry, for crying out loud. And it’s still growing! That’s good news for your brand. Especially if you choose to buy into influencer strategies now. Getting your CMO to buy in to your Q1 influencer marketing budget can set the tone for growth throughout the entire fiscal year. 

The industry itself is projected to grow 29 percent year over year as we head into 2024. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that pie? Whether your brand is new to influencer marketing (hurry, hop on!) or you’re hoping to increase your budget from last year, a hearty Q1 budget is a recipe for success. Successful influencer marketing leads to growth. And we have all the resources to help you create your most successful campaigns yet. 

So go for growth. Show your CMO what dreams are made of, and get that Q1 influencer marketing budget locked down. Check out this blog post for all the deets on how to grow your influencer marketing on social media in 2024.

Get Outta Here! Go Secure that Q1 Influencer Marketing Budget 

There you have it. Now you’ve got all the goods on how to approach your CMO and internal leaders to ask for the Q1 influencer marketing budget you need. You know as well as we do how lucrative influencer marketing can be for your brand. Now all you have to do is make your case, wow your higher-ups, and secure the funds to go out there and work your marketing magic! 

Here at The Shelf, we do a lot more than write blogs full of must-know-info. We help brands like yours run kick-ass campaigns. If you’d like assistance running influencer marketing campaigns in Q1 or beyond, please schedule a strategy call today. One of our experts will help you discover the best way to utilize our full-service agency. We love to see our brand partners succeed. 

Can’t wait to see all the influencer marketing magnificence you dream up. Wishing you a happy, generously budgeted Q1!

About This Author

Ariana Newhouse | B2B Writer

I am a freelance writer and comedian based in Los Angeles. While making people laugh is my jam, it’s not always the company brand. So, I strive to make people feel something. My writing philosophy is collaborative, empathetic, and humanistic. At the end of the day, no matter the message, there are real people on both ends of the process.

The post How to Get Buy-In for Your Q1 Influencer Marketing Budget appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

We’ll dig into the best platforms and strategies to drive traffic and turn those clicks into sales. Plus, we break down the five steps to creating a campaign strategy that works for you and your goals. And, we reveal the optimal influencer marketing ROI and how you can measure a successful campaign. 

Influencer marketing is a hot topic right now for good reason. The vast majority of marketers plan to utilize it this year and take advantage of the industry’s 29 percent projected growth year over year. Best to optimize your campaign strategies now while the market is hot.

Jack Harlow isn’t the only one who can put you in first class. With the help of The Shelf, you and your influencers can drive sales and get you one step closer to marketing luxury.

Let’s dive in!

Which Platforms Deliver the Best Influencer Marketing for Conversions?

When it comes to building the perfect influencer marketing strategy, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is which platforms to use. The most popular influencer platforms include Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, Blogs, and Podcasts. Twitch and Clubhouse are also popular with specific audiences. 

When influencer marketing for conversions, we suggest turning to Instagram and Blogs first. 79 percent of marketers consider Instagram essential to their campaigns. And it’s no surprise — 87 percent of scrollers take action after seeing product information in an Instagram post. That means more conversions!

Bonus points for working with influencers who are present on Instagram and also have their own blogs. These influencers can drive sales from both platforms, which can be a huge help considering the lifespan of an in-feed Instagram post is two days, compared to the two-year longevity of blog posts.

If you’d like a deep dive into choosing the right channels to maximize your influencer marketing impact, download our ebook. It breaks down the benefits, features, and demographics of each platform so you can make an informed decision on which channels to use for your next campaign. 

What Should an Influencer Strategy Include?

There are five key steps to creating a successful influencer marketing campaign strategy that will lead to conversions and drive sales. Let’s break them down.

STEP 1: Define your goals. 

Because you’re here reading our influencer marketing for conversions post, I’m going to assume your goal is just that: conversions! So congrats, you’re already done with step one. Go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back. 

STEP 2: Choose a campaign type. 

Once you’ve identified your goals, it’s time to zone in on your audience and the type of influencer campaign that will be most likely to get them to convert. Because you’re here for help on conversions, I’m willing to bet you’ll want to run a traffic/clicks/sales campaign on Instagram or a similar platform. 

STEP 3: Find the right influencers. 

Macro influencers with well-trafficked Instagram pages and blogs are best for conversion campaigns.  (Quick reminder: Macro influencers fall in the 300k to 1M follower range.)

But finding the right influencers doesn’t just mean finding someone with the right size audience. You also need to consider who will be the best fit to fulfill your influencer brief. You’ll get the best content when you play to your creator’s strengths, so make sure you find someone who can create work that aligns with your campaign vision.  

STEP 4: Promote and optimize your content.

When striking up a deal with your dream influencer, it’s important to get usage rights for the content they create so you can optimize their creative genius for your campaign. This means scaling content by resharing to brand channels, reposting on different platforms, and even repurposing content at different stages of the campaign. 

Make sure you get the most out of your influencer-generated content by optimizing each post and promoting posts using dark posts, boosting, or allowlisting.

STEP 5: Track your results.

If your goal is conversions, of course, you’re going to want to track just how well you’re driving sales with influencer marketing. Use these seven metrics to get an accurate picture of your influencer impact on sales. 

How Do You Structure an Influencer Marketing Campaign?

The structure for each influencer marketing campaign differs based on your goals. For example, a brand awareness campaign is going to look different from your campaign for conversions. 

Structure your campaign for what you want to achieve. Influencer marketing for conversions generally means structuring around optimizing and retargeting posts. You may not convert visitors the first time, so make sure they’re encountering your products at multiple touchpoints. 

We recommend focusing on strategic, aspirational product placement. That means skipping the boring ad-like product placements. Keep your imagery fresh and enticing so it’s more likely to go viral. And don’t forget about the power of SEO to help beef up those influencer click-through rates. 

(Word to the wise: Make sure to keep your SEO suuuuper natural, especially on social platforms like Instagram. You can get away with a little clunkier SEO phrases in blog posts, but it’s important to make sure Instagram captions sound like they’re coming from a real person and not an SEO bot.)

What Is the ROI of Influencer Marketing?

Because you’re interested in influencer marketing for conversions, it makes sense to measure your ROI in revenue. The average influencer marketing ROI is about $5.20 for every $1 spent. Not too shabby. 

Most marketing teams evaluate the value of their influencer marketing based on conversions and sales. But you can also measure ROI based on impressions and engagement, depending on the goals of your campaign. 

Do Influencers Yield Conversions?

To put it simply, HECK YES! Influencer marketing is a $21.1B industry for a reason. According to The State of Influencer Marketing 2023: Benchmark Report, a whopping 82 percent of brand marketers are setting aside dedicated influencer marketing budgets this year, and 67 percent are planning to increase their influencing marketing spending from last year. You don’t see those kinds of numbers unless you know your influencers can drive sales. 

One of the most valuable tools in the influencer toolbelt is their audience’s trust. Consumers are more likely to try a product recommended by someone they consider a knowledgeable peer or talented expert than a product recommended by the brand that sells it. That’s why influencer marketing is so great for conversions. Consumers want to be influenced and they want to be able to relate to the creators sharing the content. 

What Is a Good Conversion Rate for Influencer Marketing?

The general consensus is that a good influencer marketing conversion rate is 3 percent. Of course, this is a blanket statement applying to campaigns of all lengths and brands of all different industries and sizes. 

While it’s great to strive for 3 percent, the best way to determine if your influencer marketing for conversions is successful is to compare your traffic, conversions, sales, and all other KPIs to past campaigns you’ve run. That’s why it’s so important to track your results, so you can use them to inform your next, even better campaign. 

What Is a Good ROI for Influencer Marketing?

It’s important to remember that although there is great potential to get a killer return on your investment, upwards of 18 percent of influencer marketing campaigns fail to generate any profit at all. If this is your first rodeo for driving sales with influencer marketing, a good ROI will be any return on your initial investment. The closer you creep to that $5.78 for every $1 spent, the better off you’ll be. 

Remember, each campaign is a learning experience. Track your progress and don’t be afraid to experiment. Find what works for your brand and your audience, and lean into your most successful posts. Even if your first conversion campaign doesn’t yield incredible sales, it may garner follower growth, site traffic, and help you build your email list. These are all testaments to the success of your campaign, and they will help you get more sales on your next one!

Running Campaigns for Conversions in Conclusion

Driving sales with influencer marketing can be a breeze once you have the right strategies, influencers, and performance metrics established. I hope this post answers all of your burning questions on how to effectively run an influencer marketing for conversions campaign. If you’re itching for more info, there’s a lot more where that came from. 

Subscribe to The Shelf newsletter Tactical Influence to stay up to date on all the hottest influencer marketing trends. Or schedule a strategy call with one of our influencer marketing experts. We’ve got the goods to help you drive sales and crush your quarterly goals. Happy marketing!

About This Author

Ariana Newhouse | B2B Writer

I am a freelance writer and comedian based in Los Angeles. While making people laugh is my jam, it’s not always the company brand. So, I strive to make people feel something. My writing philosophy is collaborative, empathetic, and humanistic. At the end of the day, no matter the message, there are real people on both ends of the process.

The post How to Build an Influencer Campaign That Converts and Drives Sales appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And that means it’s time to pull out all the best influencer marketing tips and tricks for holiday shoppers. We’ve compiled seven holiday insights to help your campaigns succeed this holiday season. 

Whether you already have a holiday campaign in the works (look at you, planning ahead), or you’re hoping to whip one up in the next few weeks, these holiday insights can help. These insights will help you build strategies stronger than age-old holiday traditions. Our goal here at The Shelf is to warm your marketing hearts with helpful info that will make your holiday campaigns sing. With holiday insights this good, even the carollers will be jealous. 

So let’s get into it. These holiday insights will help you craft campaigns that make your bosses jolly. Deck the halls with deals. Express gratitude for hitting all your goals. And become enwreathed in impressive ROI. Grab some cookies and milk because it’s time to dig into the secrets of the season. 

1. Early Birds Get Deals, Not Worms

The best time to start thinking about your holiday campaigns was last month. Many shoppers are already working through their lists. And I’m not talking Naughty and Nice. They’re buying gifts, travel, and decorations. And they’re starting their shopping early. 

A whopping 92 percent of Americans are planning to celebrate one or more winter holidays this year. And 95 percent of consumers plan to make a holiday-related purchase this season. 

With so much shopping to be done, deals take precedence. Shopping early helps consumers stretch their holiday budgets over several months and snap up deals as they arise. This year, 46 percent of shoppers planned to start their holiday spending earlier than last year. For 41 percent of shoppers, that meant starting their holiday shopping before October. And even if they’re not yet making purchases, 96 percent of holiday shoppers are looking for gift inspo in October and November.

While it may be a little late to capitalize on the early shopping trend this year, it’s good info to put in your back pocket for 2024. Holiday shopping seems to start earlier and earlier every year. And it’s a trend we don’t see stopping anytime soon. Nearly half (48 percent) of high shoppers were set to start shopping before the end of October. So if you haven’t started advertising your winter holiday sales, start now. 

2. Think Digital

It’s 2023, and online shopping is alive and well — especially for the holidays. 58 percent of shoppers plan to do their holiday shopping online this year. That makes it the most popular shopping destination for the season. Department stores take second place with 49 percent of shoppers opting for them. Discount stores follow close behind with 48 percent shopping there.

Shoppers are logging online for good reason. That’s where the deals are! Or at least, it’s an easy place to discover deals and strike at the right time. 85 percent of those shopping online have several tabs open at once waiting for holiday sales to begin. Tech-savvy shoppers know how to use online shopping to their advantage to get the most bang for their buck. 

And they’re not just using the internet to make purchases. Holiday shoppers are looking online for gift inspiration. In fact, 17 percent of shoppers have reported using generative AI for purchase inspiration. 45 percent say they get gift inspiration from retail websites and apps. And 13 percent get their ideas from store emails. 

For those shopping online, 70 percent forgo the desktop in favor of mobile. That number is even higher for Gen Z, 85 percent of whom report using their mobile device for online shopping. That’s great for your influencer marketing campaigns. Focus on creating thumb-stopping content that will encourage mobile shoppers to buy.

3. Authenticity Should Not Be Forgot 

Cue “Auld Lang Syne.” Authenticity is our old friend in the influencer marketing world. She’s the one who brings followers and influencers together. And the holidays are her time to shine. Authenticity moves the needle, especially this time of year. 

The holidays are all about coming together. Celebrating the year we’ve had and the one to come. People are feeling the spirit of gratitude and giving in equal turns. There’s a lot of heart wrapped up in people’s purchasing this time of year. And that means marketing has to ring true and authentic or it will fall to the wayside. 

Influencer campaigns are a great way to infuse more authenticity into your brand this time of year. Remember the best influencer marketing is laid on a foundation of trust. Find influencers who have earned the trust of their following. And partner with influencers who trust your brand and who you trust, of course! 

4. Get Merry on Social Media

One of our most tried and true holiday insights is that social media drives decision-making for the holiday season. This is great news if you’re planning to run a holiday influencer marketing campaign. 

Shoppers want to see UGC of products they’re interested in. Half of holiday shoppers say UGC makes them more likely to buy. And half of Gen Z says social media is the most relevant channel for ads to reach them. So whether you’re running paid ads or a UGC campaign, you’ve got a good chance of reaching holiday shoppers.

If your target demo includes millennial women, you’re in even more luck. A staggering 81 percent say social media is the best way for brands to reach them. So roll out those holiday campaigns!

When it comes to inspiration, 18 percent of shoppers say they get holiday inspo from social media ads. And 7 percent say their holiday inspo comes directly from influencer recommendations. 

5. Shoppers Go Gaga for Gifting

It’s the season of giving and gifting. 69 percent of shoppers say gifts for others are the first thing they buy for the holiday season. This year, shoppers expect to spend an average of $620 on gifts alone. So what gifts do our loved ones really want to receive?

The top gifts consumers want to receive in 2023 are:

• 55 percent want gift cards
• 49 percent want clothing or accessories
• 28 percent want books, video games, or other media
• 25 percent want personal care or beauty items

While it’s a generous time of year, shoppers are tempted to spend on themselves as well. In fact, 58 percent of shoppers are tempted to buy gifts for themselves while holiday shopping. Don’t underestimate your consumers’ tendency toward self-gifting. 

If your brand is more focused on services or experiences rather than physical products, don’t fret. There’s still a place for you to make sales this holiday season. In fact, 23 percent of shoppers plan to gift an experience this year. Gifts come in all shapes, sizes, and price points. It’s up to you to figure out how your brand fits into the gifting economy.

6. Keep Inflation Top-of-Mind

Consumers are feeling the effects of inflation this year, with shoppers expecting to spend 14 percent more this year than last thanks to rising prices alone. Hunting for deals is a priority for many this year to offset the effects of inflation. 62 percent of holiday shoppers say deals and promotions are more important to them this year than last year. And 66 percent of shoppers are planning to participate in the Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals. This is up from 49 percent in 2022. So savings are top-of-mind. 

Shoppers are also intending to buy fewer gifts. In 2022, the average shopper intended to purchase nine gifts. This year, the average is down to eight. But don’t fret. This isn’t all bad news for your brand. 

Holiday shopping is important to consumers. So much so, they’re willing to cut costs in other areas to make sure they have enough for the holiday season. 27 percent are buying less for themselves, and 36 percent are cutting back in other areas to cover the cost of holiday spending. 

7. Get to Know How Gen Z Holidays

This year’s youngest demographic of shoppers (ages 18 to 29) is gearing up for some serious spending. But their shopping habits aren’t always in step with shoppers at large. Overall, Gen Z is the most likely to go online for their holiday shopping. And the most eager to turn to social media for inspo and purchasing. They’re planning to spend more on holiday shopping than in previous years. And hunting for the best deals and payment plan options.

Check out this infographic with all the juiciest holiday insights on Gen Z shoppers.

That’s a Wrap on Our 2023 Holiday Insights

It’s the season of giving, and these holiday insights are our gift to you. Hungry for more? Check out our 2023 Holiday Spending & Trends infographic. It gets into the nitty-gritty details you need to make your Winter Holiday campaign sing fa la la la all the way to the bank.

We hope this post taught you something that will inform your holiday influencer marketing campaign strategy. Whether you’ve been running holiday campaigns for years or it’s your first time marketing during the jolly season, we’ve got your back. Trends are always changing, but our love for all things influencer marketing remains the same. 

Still not sure how these holiday insights fit into your upcoming campaign? No worries! We’ve got your back. Schedule a strategy call with us today, and one of our experts will guide you with the accuracy of whatever GPS Santa uses on his sleigh. You know what we mean. We know our stuff. And we’d love nothing more than to share our knowledge with you. 

Happy holidays and merry marketing! 

About This Author

Ariana Newhouse | B2B Writer

I am a freelance writer and comedian based in Los Angeles. While making people laugh is my jam, it’s not always the company brand. So, I strive to make people feel something. My writing philosophy is collaborative, empathetic, and humanistic. At the end of the day, no matter the message, there are real people on both ends of the process.

The post 7 Holiday Insights for the Most Wonderful Marketing of the Year appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

Why write a whole post on the influencer marketing market size? Can’t you just give us a number and send us on our merry way? Sure, we could do that. But have you ever known The Shelf to dish out the bare minimum? 

We put together this post to not only show you the numbers but also to explain what the heck they mean, how they’re trending, and what that means for your business. Influencer marketing is a rapidly growing industry, and it’s important you don’t get swept up with the current. We hope this post will serve as a life raft to help you paddle along. In the spirit of this nautical analogy, we’re here to help you steer your brand’s ship toward prosperity. 

In this in-depth guide, we’ll break down all you need to know about the growing influencer marketing market size. Plus, we’ll discuss how your brand can stand out in this saturated industry. Let’s get started.

What is Influencer Marketing?

Before we even talk about influencer marketing market size, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page with our terms. First and foremost that means understanding influencer marketing. You can check out a wealth of information on the industry elsewhere on our blog, but the gist is that influencer marketing is a digital alternative to traditional advertising. 

Whereas marketing used to mean putting up billboards or investing in television commercials, now a healthy portion of our marketing budgets are funneled online. One of the most lucrative ways to market on the internet is to use social channels like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and  Pinterest. And one of the best ways to market on those channels is with the help of influencers. 

Influencers are content creators who have earned a sizable following and the trust of that following. They create content their followers enjoy, often within a specific niche. They build rapport and trust within that niche and with their audience, and eventually, they become enough of a trusted figure to successfully sell products. Instead of paying a random commercial actor or big-time celebrity to sell your products in an ad, you enlist the help of an influencer. Because they’ve earned the trust of their audience, they’re more likely to make sales. 

The trust element in influencer marketing makes it more akin to word-of-mouth advertising than traditional marketing types. Learn more about the difference between influencer marketing and traditional marketing here.

How Do We Define Market Size?

Market size is a fundamental concept in the world of business and economics. Think of it as the proverbial pie – the total value of a specific industry or product category within a given geographical area, often measured in monetary terms. It’s like sizing up the slice of the pie that your business can potentially claim. Imagine you’re a tech company launching a new line of smartphones. Understanding the market size involves digging into the number of potential buyers in a particular region and how much they’re willing to spend on smartphones. Is it a sliver of the pie, or a generous helping?

But here’s the twist: market size is not a static entity. It’s a dynamic beast, influenced by economic shifts, technological advances, and changing consumer preferences. As you consider your slice, you must also factor in growth trends, seasonality, and the impact of competitors who may be nibbling at the same pie. Moreover, market size is your compass for making strategic decisions. It informs product development, pricing strategies, and marketing efforts. The bigger the slice, the more you can potentially reap. But remember, what you bring to the table – your innovation, quality, and understanding of customer needs – can redefine your slice’s size. So, market size is not just about understanding what’s there; it’s also about shaping what could be yours in a vibrant, ever-changing marketplace.

So What Is the Global Influencer Marketing Market Size?

The influencer marketing marketplace is bustling and expanding as we speak. As of 2023, influencer marketing is a $21.1B industry. That’s up 29 percent from 2022 when the market size for influencer marketing was valued at $16.4B. Using our definition from above, that means there is $21.1B  being made in the influencer marketing industry in 2023 alone. That’s a lot of pie!

It’s no wonder that most marketers want a generous helping of the influencer marketing pie. In fact, 82 percent of marketing teams have a dedicated influencer marketing budget. And 17 percent of marketers invested in influencer marketing for the first time this year, in 2023. 

Is Influencer Marketing a Good Idea for My Brand?

Yes. Influencer marketing is a worthwhile investment for nearly any brand. You may have heard rumblings that influencer marketing is dead, but in truth, influencer marketing is alive and well. There’s a reason 89 percent of marketers who invested in influencer marketing in 2022 decided to maintain or increase their influencer marketing budgets in 2023. Influencer marketing works. 

And it makes sense. Of all the humans on Earth with the internet, 87.5 percent use social media. That’s 4.8 billion people scrolling on the platforms where influencer marketing shines. If that doesn’t blow your mind, consider this. The average social media user, regardless of demographic, spends 2.5 hours on social media each day. That’s 2.5 hours worth of attention from 4.8 billion people. Some quick math tells us Earthlings collectively spend an average 12 billion hours on social media each day. In the attention economy, that’s a lot of eyeballs and a lot of marketing opportunity. 

The beauty of influencer marketing, despite the fact that there is money to be made, is that there’s an influencer and an audience for every brand. The creative freedom and ingenuity of influencers knows no bounds. Whatever your brand is selling, there’s an influencer who could help you boost sales. 

How to Navigate the Growing Influencer Marketing Industry

As the influencer marketing industry grows and evolves, your campaign strategies will have to grow and evolve too. The best time to start influencer marketing may have been yesteryear, but the second best time to start is today. In 2023, brands earn an average of $5.20 for every dollar they spend on influencer marketing. That’s a great return, but just a few years ago in 2015, that ROI was $6.50 for every dollar spent.

I don’t say this to scare you. The influencer marketing bubble isn’t going to burst. But it’s important to know how to navigate this industry as more and more marketers flock to get a piece of the pie.

Because influencer marketing is rapidly changing, it’s important to remember to remain flexible. Set actionable goals. Track your metrics. And be ready to pivot. 

The beauty of influencer marketing is that you can change and improve your campaigns on the fly. These aren’t the one-and-done uber-expensive television commercials of the past. They’re scrappy, collaborative, and generally cheaper suites of content pieces that can be tweaked and improved as you roll out each campaign. 

Don’t be afraid to try things out. Use 24-hour story features to test messaging or gauge interest in a new product before you launch. Trust your influencers to know their audiences and the current market. Don’t be afraid to fail. Just make sure you fail better the next time. 

Standing Out in the Influencer Market

You may be asking yourself: if there are so many brands influencer marketing, how does my brand have a chance to stand out? Luckily, the key to influencer marketing success is our bread and butter. We have a whole article on influencer marketing best practices you should totally check out when planning your next campaign. For now, we’ll give you a quick overview.

Standing out in the influencer marketing world boils down to a few key things. (We’re giving you all the links so you can deep dive into these strategies on our blog.) If you follow these five steps, you’ll be ahead of the curve in the influencer marketing game:

1. Build ROI-driven campaigns
2. Choose the right influencers
3. Create kickass content
4. Transform audiences into customers
5. And track and adapt to your metrics

The key to standing out in the influencer marketing industry is to remain strategic at every step of the process. A great team leads to engaging campaigns leads to top-notch influencer selection leads to captivating creative content leads to conversions. Every step in the process builds on the last.

Mastering the Market, Influencer Marketing Style

One of the best ways to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck is to work with an influencer marketing agency you trust. Choosing the right influencer agency partner can make navigating influencer marketing much smoother. The best agencies know the market, are on top of trends, and have proven their ability to get results. If you’re overwhelmed by the looming possibilities of diving into the market, partnering with an agency could be the right step. 

Of course, there are plenty of agencies out there worth their salt, but here at The Shelf, we’re biased. When it comes to hitting those KPIs and getting jaw-dropping ROI for your influencer marketing campaigns, The Shelf has you covered. We know all the tricks of the trade to help you succeed, whether this is your first influencer marketing campaign or your hundredth. 

Whether you enlist our services or DIY your next campaign, check out our 2023 Guide to Influencer Marketing Strategy for the deep dive. We’re here to spill the tea on all things influencer marketing strategy.

That’s That on the Influencer Marketing Market Size

We hope this inspired you to make the most of the ballooning influencer marketing market size. Whatever your niche, there is an opportunity to capitalize on influencer marketing. With more and more people scrolling and engaging on social media, there are plenty of people from each target audience being influenced. 

Once you find your audience, we can help you find the creators who influence them. From Gen Z to Boomers, adventurers to homebodies, and every market in between, everyone is inspired by somebody. We’ll help you find who inspires your audience and guide them to creating resonant content for your brand. 

If you’d like help designing your next influencer marketing campaign or you’re finally adding influencer marketing to your strategy and you’re not sure where to start, we can help. Schedule a strategy call with one of our experts today. We’ll guide you through the sea of influencer marketing and bring those highly coveted results you seek safely to harbor. 

About This Author

Ariana Newhouse | B2B Writer

I am a freelance writer and comedian based in Los Angeles, and while making people laugh is my jam, it’s not always the company brand. So, I strive to make people feel something. My writing philosophy is collaborative, empathetic, and humanistic. At the end of the day, no matter the message, there are real people on both ends of the process.

The post What is the Market Size for Influencer Marketing? appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

Whatever product or service your brand specializes in, if you are catering to an American audience, odds are your customers are celebrating Thanksgiving. Meet them where they’re at and add to the festivities. Luckily for brands, the season of giving is also the season of spending! There’s money to be made this holiday season. Use these five Thanksgiving strategies to see how. 

Before We Get Into Thanksgiving Strategies, Let’s Talk Numbers

Thanksgiving is the second most popular holiday in America (after Christmas). A whopping 90 percent of Americans are planning to celebrate this year. Many of whom are traveling far and wide to reconnect with family for turkey and stuffing. Last year, nearly 55 million people traveled more than 50 miles for a Thanksgiving feast. Approximately 49 million road-tripped to their destinations. And 4.5 million took to the skies. 

All that is to say, Americans are willing to go to great lengths to celebrate Thanksgiving. That’s even more reason to invest in influencer marketing Thanksgiving strategies this year. With consumers planning travel, meals, and decorations, Thanksgiving is already top of mind. 

Turkey Day enthusiasts are doing more than just traveling. They’re putting their money where their mouth is. And they’re spending on more than food. Although, food spending is a big piece of the pie. Last year, Americans spent $1.1 billion dollars on Thanksgiving turkeys alone. Millennials were the biggest splurges on Thanksgiving day parties and feasts, with hosts spending an average $461 per party. Boomers, by contrast, spent $242 when hosting Thanksgiving. 

With party and prep costs aside, Thanksgiving itself is one of the biggest spending days of the year. Last year, Americans spent $5.9 billion online shopping after their turkey dinners on Thanksgiving Day. There’s a lot of money being spent, and that means there’s plenty of money to be made by brands like yours.

A Cornucopia of Thanksgiving Strategies

Okay, let’s get into the meat of the post. It’s time to talk about Thanksgiving strategies. We’ve added an example post for each strategy to help you visualize what each could look like in your own campaign. The rest is all gravy. Let’s dig in. 

1. Hyper-Target Your Audience

The vast majority of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. That’s great. It’s wonderful to see people come together from all walks of life to celebrate this communal holiday. But it also leads to a lot of generalized influencer marketing campaigns. Because there are so many eyes on Thanksgiving content, many brands go wide. They cast a wide net, targeting anyone and everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving, rather than focusing on a specific niche. 

Influencer marketing for a wide audience can be beneficial for certain types of campaigns. (For example, brand awareness campaigns can benefit from larger, more sprawling audiences.) But if your goal is to convert customers and make sales, it may behoove you to niche down. Scrollers are going to see so many generalized Thanksgiving posts this November. Help your brand stand out by creating hyper-targeting campaigns that speak directly to your specific target audience.

Targeting works. And hyper-targeting is even better. Get specific about who exactly your target audience is, and speak directly to them. Where are they scrolling? What are their pain points? How can you make this the best-ever Thanksgiving season specifically for them?

Search Thanksgiving hashtags and niche keywords on your target audience’s favorite social platform. You may be surprised by the overlap you’ll find. For example, did you know being pregnant during Thanksgiving has become an internet meme? If you’re a maternity brand or your target audience is expecting moms, hop on this trend! 

2. Focus on Moments

Like we said in this 2019 Thanksgiving strategies post, moments are what we remember. This time of year especially, there are so many homey, family-filled moments that make up the spirit of the season. Tap into that with your influencer marketing content. Encourage your influencers to create moments worth remembering and inspire your audience to do the same. 

Thanksgiving moments could include: sharing a meal, the car ride to grandma’s house, setting the table, getting ready together for a gathering, walking through fall foliage, baking something special, or telling someone you’re grateful for them. There are so many heart-warming moments this time of year! Let’s put them on display for all to enjoy. 

Think about how your customers use your products or services to make memories. Then capture those memory-worthy moments. Take this example of a mother-daughter duo sharing the first bite of their beautiful Thanksgiving cheese board. 

3. Embrace the Season of Giving

Consider giving back this thankful season by running a giveaway. One of the great things about giveaways is that they can be run with the help of influencers or directly from your account. So if you were late to the game on selecting Thanksgiving strategies this year, and you don’t have any room in the budget to hire an influencer, don’t fret! 

Giveaways are common on Instagram. (Don’t worry, you can run them through Facebook, TikTok, or your site of choice if you’re not a big Insta brand.) Many Instagram giveaways will be structured like such:

An engaging and visually dynamic grid post and story post will feature or explain the products or services being given away. The details of the giveaway will be listed in the caption.

To enter, potential winners will have to follow the brand and the influencer who promoted the giveaway (if there is one). Next, they’ll have to like the post or share it on their Instagram story. This is great because it extends your organic reach. You can even encourage entrants to create their own original content around the giveaway to increase your UGC. A great way to do this and keep track of it is to create a hashtag for the giveaway and ask entrants to tag your brand in each post.

Finally, entrants will be asked to tag friends in the comments of the original post. Sometimes this is the basis for general entry. Other times, each unique tag represents a new entry. So entrants can maximize their chances to win by tagging friends. And the brand wins by getting discovered by more and more users who may fall within their target audience. 

Giveaways are a great, inexpensive way to increase your reach and give back to your customers.

4. Go with Gratitude

Gratitude is universal. We’re all grateful for something and someone. That means your customers are too! An influencer campaign focused on gratitude is sure to win hearts this season. 

We suggest encouraging your influencers to organically incorporate your products into a gratitude-focused post. This could be a TikTok video in which the creator talks about what they’re grateful for. Or it could be a static Instagram post with a grateful caption. Whatever the platform or medium, it’s easy to share gratitude. 

Organic product placement in a gratitude-focused post is a great way to shed a positive light on your product or services. These posts can be effective even when your brand isn’t the main focus of the post. I mean, if you want to ask influencers why they’re grateful for your brand, and you trust they’ll have some sweeter-than-pumpkin-pie answers, go for it! But that’s not the only way to use gratitude as one of your Thanksgiving strategies. 

Here are some examples of posts centered on gratitude with some chill product placements. This type of content is great to request from influencers who you have an ambassador-type relationship with. They know your brand well, and they know how to make it shine even if it’s not front and center. 

TikTokers on Gratitude

This video is about the scientific effect of gratitude on the brain. It caters to a specific niche, is on theme for Thanksgiving, and features a well-placed product (label side out!) on the table. Subtle yet effective. 

In this get ready with me post, influencer Anna Kai talks about lessons she’s grateful to have learned while she does her makeup. We can see her well-used Tartelette eyeshadow palette, logo to lens. But the video isn’t about being grateful for eyeshadow. She speaks from the heart about her gratitude and just so happens to be creating an amazing look with this product while she tells us about it.

5. Think Home, Family, and Food

Your Thanksgiving strategies should reflect the themes of the season. Your audience is getting in the holiday spirit. Meet them there! Aside from giving thanks for another bountiful harvest, that means focusing on home, family, and food. Of course, this is easier for food, home, and lifestyle brands to seamlessly accomplish. But don’t be afraid to think outside the box!

This time of year is about togetherness. There are parties being thrown, comfy clothes being worn, and delicious treats being shared. How can your brand embrace those cozy, communal themes? 

Could one of your products be featured in an influencer’s Thanksgiving tablescape? Does your brand offer the perfect autumn outfit to stun at the family function? Is any part of your brand applicable to the whole family? 

Influencer Brynn Witfield with CB2

Check out this post from influencer and Real Housewives of New York star, Brynn Witfield. She partnered with @CB2 to decorate her home for the holidays. Her carousel Instagram post features a picture-perfect Thanksgiving tablescape.

Notice that Brynn added a long caption to her post. Not only does she gush over the brand and her excitement for this partnership, she also adds a personal touch. She talks about how she dreamed of curating a beautiful home when she was a little girl. Now, with the help of CB2, she gets to make that dream a reality. And, she acknowledges those who may have a tough time during the holiday season. She knows not everyone has the family or home they always dreamed of. 

She tugs on our heartstrings with childhood stories and a nod to the complicated dynamic of families this time of year. And through it all, she encourages us to celebrate! This post exudes gratitude and subtly hits on every theme of home, family, and food. Plus, it makes the brand look great! This is a perfect example of how choosing top-notch influencers will help you take sponsored content to the next level. This partnership is about more than pretty home decor to Brynn. It’s about gratitude, family, and dreams come true. 

Want More Thanksgiving Strategies? We’ve Got the Leftovers

The holiday season is officially upon us. After Thanksgiving comes Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. That weekend of feasting and shopping will kick off millions of Americans in their holiday spending. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and it can be the most wonderful time for your brand, too. 

We hope these Thanksgiving strategies inspired you to get started on your Turkey Day campaign. There’s more where this came from. Our expert team can help you make the most of every theme and special day this holiday season. If you’d like help sourcing influencers, planning campaigns, or developing a holiday strategy, schedule a strategy call with us. We’re here to help. It’s the season of giving after all, and we’re so thankful you’re here. 

About This Author

Ariana Newhouse | B2B Writer

I am a freelance writer and comedian based in Los Angeles, and while making people laugh is my jam, it’s not always the company brand. So, I strive to make people feel something. My writing philosophy is collaborative, empathetic, and humanistic. At the end of the day, no matter the message, there are real people on both ends of the process.

The post 5 Thanksgiving Strategies to Help You Gobble Up Your Influencer Marketing Goals appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

I know that’s not the crystal-clear answer you hoped for, but I promise it’s not a bad thing. Brands of pretty much any size and budget can run a successful influencer marketing campaign with the right strategy. Of course, the DIY approach will run you a much smaller bill than working with a full-service influencer marketing agency like The Shelf.

Like most things, you’ll get out of your influencer marketing campaign what you’re willing to put in. A monetary investment like hiring an agency can yield big returns, but so can scraping together a kick-butt strategy entirely with your in-house team.

Invest in Strategy First

Before you spend a dime on hiring influencers or partnering up with an agency, first you need to define your goals. There are plenty of cost-effective options for each type of influencer campaign. 

If you’re hoping to increase brand awareness, maybe you can rake in some UGC with a contest or giveaway. Hoping to increase sales instead? Affiliate marketing with the help of smaller influencers can really move the needle. Get specific about your goals and you’ll find plenty of resources that will break down the cost to achieve them.

Show Me the Money

According to Statista, the influencer marketing industry is worth over $21 billion in 2023. And brands small and large are bringing home a piece of that pie. The average ROI of an influencer marketing campaign today is $5.20 for every $1 spent. So whatever you have to spend on your next campaign, it’s likely to be a worthwhile investment. 

So what can you expect to pay when working with influencers? Take these numbers with a grain of salt. Influencers often set their own rates, sometimes without the help of an agency that knows the industry standard, so prices may vary. 

According to Influencer Marketing Hub, the industry standard for influencer posts is around $100 per 10,000 followers per post. This is absolutely not always the case. And it’s important to remember, number of followers is rarely the most important factor when selecting influencers to work with.

Influencer Marketing Cost in Conclusion

Influencer marketing can be done on almost any budget. Fortunately for you, that means it doesn’t have to cost your brand an arm and a leg for good quality content. Unfortunately for us, that means we can’t give you a one-size-fits-all answer for how much a successful influencer marketing campaign costs. 

The truth is, it varies. It all depends on your budget, the scope of your campaign, and the goals you hope to achieve. This can be a lot to parse out on your own but don’t worry. That’s where we come in.

If you’d like a more in-depth look at what your next influencer marketing campaign might cost, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can book a strategy call with one of our experts and we’ll walk you through the offerings that fit your budget. 

About This Author

Ariana Newhouse | B2B Writer

I am a freelance writer and comedian based in Los Angeles, and while making people laugh is my jam, it’s not always the company brand. So, I strive to make people feel something. My writing philosophy is collaborative, empathetic, and humanistic. At the end of the day, no matter the message, there are real people on both ends of the process.

The post How Much Does Influencer Marketing Cost? appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

One of the highest-level choices marketers make these days is how to advertise. Do you go the traditional route and spend millions on commercials? Or do you target social media instead of traditional TV, out-of-home, or print ads? Should you hire commercial actors or influencers to be the face of your campaign? These are all great questions, and luckily for you, we have answers. 

In this article, we’ll break down the differences between influencer marketing and traditional marketing, so you can make an informed decision on where to spend precious ad dollars for your next campaign. While here at The Shelf we’re partial to the influencer marketing buzz, we promise to give both types a fair shake, so you can choose which is best for you. Don’t be surprised if, by the end of this article, you’d like to use both! 

Let’s dive in. 

What’s the Difference Between Influencer Marketing and Traditional Marketing?

First, let’s define our terms. In the broadest strokes, influencer marketing is online and traditional marketing is offline. But it’s not that simple anymore. Traditional marketing techniques can be used across brands’ social media channels. And influencers can be cast in TV commercials, billboards, and other “traditional” ads. In 2023, there are plenty of ways to meld influencer and traditional marketing. But before we get into the potential of an influencer and traditional marketing swirl, let’s talk about the contrast between the two.

WHAT IS TRADITIONAL MARKETING?

Traditional marketing is, well traditionally, old methods of advertising like print ads, billboards, TV commercials, and radio spots. Think of traditional marketing as outbound. It takes consumers out of their regularly scheduled programming. Traditional marketing, whether online or off, is an interruption or an add-on to what the audience is already consuming. 

For instance, say you’re watching your favorite sitcom only to be interrupted by a car commercial right at the most climactic scene! The commercial, an example of traditional marketing, takes you out of your activity and disrupts your show-watching experience. This might be annoying when you desperately want to know whether the protagonist gets the girl or gets fired or catches her sister stealing from the family safe. But it’s not necessarily a bad thing. By inserting the ad into a media experience you’re highly engaged in, you’re more likely to stick it out and watch the entire car commercial rather than changing the channel, so you can be sure you don’t miss it when your show comes back on. 

Another distinct feature of traditional marketing is its breadth. While you can choose the channel or timeslot of your TV commercial to align with a show that reaches your target demographic, you’re casting a wide net. Therefore the content you’re creating isn’t as tailored or as bespoke. 

Traditional marketing online can look like banner ads on the margins or in pop-ups of websites other than the brand’s home site. These essentially function as the print ads we see in newspapers in magazines. Another example could be commercial-like video ads that play before YouTube videos. The tactics, budgets, and intent of ads like these mirror the strategies of old-guard traditional marketing in the social media sphere — and of course, they don’t typically cast influencers.

WHAT IS INFLUENCER MARKETING?

Influencer marketing, on the other hand, is fresh, new, and digitally native. This tactic refers to social media marketing that leverages the followings of influencers. It takes word-of-mouth advertising to a whole new level. Influencers develop trust with their niche audiences by creating engaging and entertaining content that audiences find authentic and reliable. 

Influencer followings come in a range of sizes and niches, so you can get very specific with who exactly you’re targeting and how much you want to spend. You have the option to cast a wide net with mega influencers, whose followings rival the reach of traditional advertising methods, but you can also go much more granular and focused if you choose. 

Influencer marketing is considered inbound because instead of interrupting your consumers’ experience with another form of media, the best influencer marketing creates an entertaining and valuable experience for the consumer — that the consumers actually want. Instead of taking you out of your element, it adds to it. 

Another distinct difference is that influencer marketing puts consumers in the driver’s seat. Your target audience chooses which influencers they follow, and therefore the type of products they’ll be advertised. As most influencer marketing is consumed on social media sites accessed via mobile devices, each influencer ad can be skipped with a simple swipe of the thumb. Because it’s easier for consumers to skip or provide negative feedback to influencer marketing, the influencer ads themselves must be highly engaging and entertaining to encourage the audience to stick around and watch. 

Influencer marketing includes any social posts made by an influencer. This spans all the different social media networks and post types. Think everything from a trendy, transition-heavy TikTok video to a highly professional text-heavy LinkedIn post. There are influencers for every niche, platform, and brand desire. 

Traditional Marketing Pros

Traditional marketing is a tale as old as time. It’s tried and true and has worked for decades. And even with the booming social media presence in our daily lives, traditional marketing isn’t going anywhere any time soon. It allows you to cast a wide net and reach a large variety of demographics within your audience in a single campaign. This means you can reach a more diverse audience with fewer assets. Traditional marketing strategies also allow you to retain full control of the creative at every step of the process. And they can be great for targeting hyper-local audiences. 

There is a long, impressive history of traditional marketing full of crazy, cool, creative, and groundbreaking campaigns. If you want to live your Mad Men fantasy, traditional advertising can definitely deliver. 

Traditional Marketing Cons

If the bulk of your target audience is younger — think millennial and gen z — traditional marketing may not be the most effective use of your budget. And speaking of budget, traditional marketing can be much more costly than its influencer counterpart. Traditional marketing generally has much longer lead times than digital alternatives, as print and TV spots require months of notice and approvals before publication. This, of course, expands your marketing timelines and likely decreases the number of campaigns you can run per fiscal year. 

Additionally, it can be hard to track ROI on traditional marketing efforts. You can’t exactly track clicks on a radio commercial or determine how many people bought your product because they saw it on a billboard, so it can be harder to know just how effective your campaigns really are. 

Influencer Marketing Pros

One of the greatest benefits of influencer marketing is that it doesn’t feel like marketing. Influencers promote products in ways that feel seamless to their audiences. Imagine a friend telling you about their favorite new lip balm. It’s not going to feel like a commercial for lip balm. This is your BFF we’re talking about! They have chapped lips that need balming just like yours, and you trust their opinion! The best influencer marketing feels like a conversation with a trusted pal. 

Basically, influencers create high-quality, engaging, and often highly topical (re: trendy) content that provides social proof for a product. This is great for engaging your audience in a way that feels more organic than traditional methods. 

Influencer marketing can also be highly targeted. Choose the influencers that align exactly with your target audience, and you’ll be able to find new consumers in any niche. Plus, because influencer marketing lead times are so much shorter, your campaigns can be much more iterative. Social posts allow you to try out different tactics and adapt on the fly based on real-time results. If you’re a big believer in chasing those ROI numbers, influencer marketing can deliver those data points. 

Influencer Marketing Cons

Of course, all that glitters isn’t always gold. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows on the influencer marketing front. With the flexibility and affordability of influencer marketing comes a big relinquishment of control. The best influencer campaigns allow influencers to put their own spin on the promotion. That means you probably won’t be providing an exact script or slide-by-slide storyboard for your influencer to follow. And finding influencers you trust to accurately represent your brand can be difficult. 

Choosing the wrong influencers can do a doozy on your brand’s reputation, but don’t fret! Influencer marketing agencies (like us!) can help you find the right influencers and drastically decrease the risk of hiring influencers you’ll regret working with. 

Traditional Marketing Examples

Let’s compare some traditional and influencer marketing efforts from a singular brand.

Companies like Don Julio Tequila are able to create cinematic masterpieces like the video below with their traditional marketing budgets and creative teams. This commercial ran both on social media and out-of-home channels (aka TV commercial spots). And it’s clearly an artful and creatively impressive piece. You’ll notice that it’s more of an endorsement for the brand itself rather than for a single product. This is likely due to the breadth of uses and audiences this traditional-style commercial served. 

Source: Don Julio Tequila on YouTube 

And Don Julio Tequila applies traditional marketing tactics to its social channels for more than repurposing out-of-home ads. They also create social-specific ads like the one below. You’ll notice this is more than just social-specific, it’s also product-specific and therefore more targeted to a subset of Don Julio’s wider audience. 

Source: @donjuliotequila on Instagram

You can see 5,870 people liked this Instagram ad for the brand’s Rosado. That’s a little less than 2 percent engagement when you consider the account’s 319k followers. 

Influencer Marketing Example

Don Julio Tequila advertised the same product with popular influencer, Tefi Pessoa. While Tefi has a bit smaller Instagram following, boasting 229k followers at the time of writing, her sponsored post for the same product received a much higher engagement. With 8,450 likes, Tefi’s post earned an engagement of 3.7 percent. And she was able to put her own spin on the campaign, which her followers loved because it was authentically her.

Source: @hellotefi on Instagram

Is Influencer Marketing or Traditional Marketing Better for My Campaign?

Here at The Shelf, we’re obviously partial to all things social media marketing. It’s our bread and butter. But as we’ve established, it’s totally possible (and often even preferable!) to mix your traditional and influencer marketing strategies in the digital space. 

However, there are some clear determining factors that can help if you truly need to choose either or. If you’re targeting a huge, diverse audience, you have a baller marketing budget, and you want to unleash your team with complete creative control, traditional marketing may be the way to go. 

On the flip side, if you’re targeting a mostly young (millennial or gen z) audience that falls into a specific niche, it may make more sense to find influencers your consumers trust to promote your brand. If your marketing budget is a little light on cash, and you’re really looking to get the most bang for your buck and show your leaders tangible results, influencer marketing is a great option!

Influencer Vs. Traditional Marketing: The Good, The Better, and The Best 

The truth is, there’s no one right way to market a product. Your specific campaign goals, budget, and brand identity make your marketing needs unique to your brand. And your target audience, where they fall in the marketing funnel, and how they most like to shop are all going to affect where and how you reach them. There’s a lot to consider, but the good news is whether you choose to go the traditional route or dive into the hip new world of influencer marketing, there are benefits to both. And you don’t have to choose just one! 

Influencer marketing and traditional marketing offer distinct benefits. They’re both good options. One might be better than the other for your specific needs, and we hope this article helped you determine which strategy will best help you achieve your goals. 

If you have any further questions, or you’d like help structuring your next campaign, schedule a strategy call with one of our experts. We can help point you in the right direction, especially if you think influencer marketing is the right move for your brand. 

About This Author

Ariana Newhouse | B2B Writer

I am a freelance writer and comedian based in Los Angeles, and while making people laugh is my jam, it’s not always the company brand. So, I strive to make people feel something. My writing philosophy is collaborative, empathetic, and humanistic. At the end of the day, no matter the message, there are real people on both ends of the process.

The post Influencer Marketing vs Traditional Marketing: Which is Best for You? appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

Both strategies allow your customers to also become your advertisers. Capitalize on word-of-mouth referrals and product testimonials by determining which social media marketing strategy is right for you. Heck, maybe your brand would benefit from both! 

We’ll break down the differences between affiliate marketing and influencer marketing plus the benefits of each. And we’ll walk you through which strategy might be right for your next campaign in the paragraphs below. The world of social media marketing is your oyster. We hope this article will be your pearl.

Let’s start by defining our terms.

What is Affiliate Marketing? 

Affiliate marketing is the process by which an individual outside a company, or an affiliate, markets the company’s products and gets paid on commission for the sales they drive. Similar to influencer marketing, this practice is most common on social media. Affiliates identify a product they enjoy and share an ad or link to the product on their personal social channels or website. From there, their followers can click on the link and purchase the product. Those conversions are tracked through the affiliate’s bespoke link. The affiliate is then paid a portion of the sales they drive.

Because all parties benefit, affiliate marketing represents an attractive symbiotic relationship for both affiliates and brands. The market for affiliate advertising is growing rapidly. Affiliate marketing spend in the United States crested $8.2 billion in 2022. That’s up from $5.4 billion in 2017. 

There are three different types of affiliate marketing: unattached, related, and involved. Let’s dive into a quick explainer of each so you can determine which type might be best for your brand. 

UNATTACHED

In the unattached model, the affiliate marketer has no attachment to the product, service, or brand they are promoting. This may mean that the product is outside of their niche and that they do not have authority in the industry. The affiliate marketer may not have ever even used the product. They simply post a link and hope people click on it.

These are low-risk, low-commitment partnerships in which the affiliate simply links to a product and does little to deep dive into the advertising or use of the product. Unattached campaigns are generally run on a pay-per-click (PPC) model. While all three models can be beneficial in the right use case, the unattached strategy is the least involved.

RELATED

Related affiliate marketing is a step up from the unattached model. Affiliates may not actually use the product they are promoting, but it does align with their niche, meaning they can speak with authority on the product. This type of affiliate marketing is common among influencers. (I know. This is the affiliate marketing section, but there’s some overlap!) Expertise in a certain niche often leads to garnering a following that trusts the affiliate’s taste and input. This authority + the following = influence. 

Because the affiliate actually has some authority in the space of the product, this can lead to more targeted and successful conversion campaigns. However, there is always the risk of an affiliate recommending a less-than-stellar product since in this model they likely aren’t actually using it outside the marketing effort. While this can still result in sales for the brand, it can lead to backlash from the affiliate’s following which can damage both the affiliate and brand’s reputations. 

INVOLVED

This model of affiliate marketing is the most involved, duh. In involved affiliate campaigns, the affiliate has used the product and can vouch for it from their personal experience. Like the related model, they often have established a niche and following within the vertical of the product. This means they have authority in the space and the added oomph of using and loving the product themself. 

This model can deliver the most bang for your buck, but it does require added investment on the part of the affiliate and likely the brand. The affiliate must build credibility and trust with their audience within the niche, and know the product well enough to convey a genuine interest and appreciation for the product. There is less risk of customer backlash in this model since affiliates must be picky about which products they advertise. And it can lead to higher sales since affiliates can leverage their personal experience of the product rather than relying on PPC.

What is Influencer Marketing?

If you’re a regular here at The Shelf, you know influencer marketing is our bread and butter. If you’d like an in-depth explainer of all things influencer marketing, you can check out our deep dive here. All you need to know for this article is that influencer marketing is an alternative to traditional advertising that leverages influential creators on social media to speak to niche audiences. It’s a form of word-of-mouth advertising that relies on trust and strong relationships between influencers and their followers. 

Basically, influencers publicize their authentic, positive experiences with products and brands and provide recommendations to their followers. It’s like going to a trusted friend for advice on what lipstick to buy, except the trusted friend is a creator whose job it is to feel like every one of their followers’ bestie. It’s taking the parasocial relationships formed over social media and applying word-of-mouth advertising tactics to them. 

In summary, creators with influence (big followings) post about things they like (products, brands, services, etc.) and because they have authority within specific niches and earned trust with their audiences, these posts move the needle for the brands they partner with. 

What are the Benefits of Affiliate Marketing?

For well-established brands, affiliate marketing is super easy to implement. Once you have a mechanism for creating and tracking unique affiliate links, it’s simple to track the conversions from each sale. This ease of use and the scalability it enables are huge benefits of affiliate marketing. 

Increased conversions can also lead to increased site traffic. While beefing web traffic isn’t the primary goal of affiliate marketing, increased sales can lead to more website clicks. More eyeballs on your site are a benefit as well. 

Another noteworthy benefit of affiliate marketing is its affordability. You only pay for tangible results. That means you only pay for conversions, not clicks or impressions. This can be a cost-effective and risk-free alternative to typical influencer marketing. 

What are the Benefits of Influencer Marketing?

Working with influencers can help you build brand trust, awareness, and credibility within your niche audience. Because influencers are highly regarded authority figures within their niches, getting their vote of confidence can make a big difference for your brand. 

Additionally, you have more control over the content created when working within influencer marketing. While we always advocate giving creators the creative freedom the need to make some content magic, your brand does have a Fsay and final approval on the creative they produce. You can (and should) provide influencers with a brief identifying your key takeaways and creative vision for the ad, so they can get creative within the bounds you’ve identified for your campaign. This level of targeting and control is an appealing benefit to many. 

Plus, the average ROI for influencer marketing is $5.20 earned for every $1 spent. Talk about a worthwhile investment. It may be more expensive to use influencer marketing than a purely affiliate approach, but if you have the budget, it can be worth every penny. 

Which is Better for My Campaign?

When deciding between affiliate and influencer marketing, it’s not always a question of either or. Often the two strategies are used in combination. This is especially true in campaigns where the primary goal is to drive sales. The name of the game in affiliate marketing is conversions. You know who is great at driving conversions? Influencers. 

So, if you’re looking to get products flying off the shelves, a combination of influencer and affiliate strategies may be best. However, influencers don’t always come cheap. A worthwhile partnership with an established influencer in your niche will likely cost a healthy chunk of change. Affiliate marketing with lesser-known nano influencers or affiliates without influencing power can be a more cost-effective option. 

If you’re looking to run a different type of campaign, for example brand awareness or user-generated content, it may make sense to forgo the affiliate marketing and opt for a typical influencer campaign instead. 

How Can I Use Affiliate and Influencer Marketing Together?

Contrary to the title of this post, it’s not always affiliate vs. influencer marketing. Sometimes, they make a great team! As we discussed in the first section, related and involved affiliate marketing campaigns are often run using influencers as the affiliates. If your goal is conversions, your campaign could benefit from using influencers as affiliate marketers. Because influencers often have an established niche and curated followings, they can be great authority figures for advertising certain products. And the affiliate model ensures they are compensated for the conversions they drive. 

An affiliate and influencer marketing combo strategy will be best suited to conversion campaigns. If your goal is to increase brand awareness, industry credibility, or web traffic, you may want to go the typical influencer marketing route and leave out the affiliate strategies. Remember, affiliates only get paid for the conversions they drive, so they should be used for conversion campaigns. 

However, not all influencers may be interested in affiliate marketing. It’s important to be upfront about your partnership expectations and compensation when establishing the initial relationship with your influencers and affiliate marketers. Trust is the name of the game when it comes to social media marketing, and it’s as fundamental in your partnerships as it is in your audience. 

How Can I Measure the Success of My Affiliate or Influencer Marketing Campaign?

To measure the success of any marketing campaign, you first need to establish your goals. Once you’ve set your goalposts, it’s important to track your metrics throughout and after the campaign to determine your ROI. In most affiliate campaigns, you’ll be tracking conversions. In influencer marketing campaigns, you may be tracking engagement, brand awareness, website traffic, and more. 

When tracking the success of an affiliate marketing campaign, it’s essential to have a reliable way to generate and track your affiliate links. These links will be used to track the individual success of each affiliate and the overall success of the campaign. Reliable links are also essential to make sure your affiliates get paid. Remember, tracking is the name of the game. 

Kick-Butt Examples of Both Approaches

Check out these examples of affiliate and influencer marketing posts driving engagement out in the wild. Will you use posts like these in your next campaign?

AFFILIATE MARKETING EXAMPLE 

You won’t be surprised that we’re using an affiliate marketing example posted by an influencer. We’re The Shelf! It’s what we do! Fashion and lifestyle influencer  Frankie Bridge is the queen of the affiliate marketing post. Here she models a gorgeous orange dress with the brand Warehouse UK tagged and #affiliate in the post caption. Her followers can go to the link in her bio, buy this exact dress, and Frankie will earn a commission on the sale. 

There’s not a ton of finesse or creativity needed for the content itself. All she has to do is model the dress and her followers can decide if they’d like to purchase it. You’ll notice this was a carousel post, too. She wore several different outfits from different brands, each with an affiliate link followers can shop in her bio. There’s no need to feign brand loyalty. Frankie simply posts what she likes (or frankly, what she thinks will sell) and the rest is up to her followers. Of course, her sense of style and aspirational lifestyle probably help drive sales. 

INFLUENCER MARKETING EXAMPLE

In contrast, this influencer post is just that, only an influencer post. There is no affiliate link in bio here. Fashion lover and my constant inspo Cole Habersham sports a Topicals shopping bag in this post and shouts them out with a tag in the caption as well. 

Because we know Cole wants to get his bag and keep up the trust he’s earned with his following, we can assume he was compensated in some way for this post. Because it’s not an affiliate post, he wasn’t cut into any sales the image drove. He was likely compensated with an upfront fee, free products, or a combination of the two. 

The post is a little more lived-in, a little more creative, and a little more Cole than the generic affiliate post we saw above. This is because influencers have to be more discerning with what brands they partner with for posts like these. The brands Cole posts to his grid have to align with his personal brand and offer products he actually believes in.

Get Help with All Things Affiliate and Influencer Marketing

So, which is better: affiliate marketing or influencer marketing? It depends. If your goal is conversions and you have a decent budget, it may be best to go with a combination of the two. If you’re looking to drive sales with the least amount of investment, affiliate marketing may be better. For campaigns with goals outside driving conversions, influencer marketing is likely the safer bet. The beauty of social media marketing is that there’s a lot of overlap when it comes to these tried and true strategies. 

If you’d like some help determining which marketing strategy is the best for your campaign, our experts would be happy to help. Schedule a strategy call with The Shelf today and we’ll help you build the campaign of your dreams. If you have any other questions on the difference between affiliate and influencer marketing strategies and what will work best for your brand, please let us know in the comments below. We’ll get back to you with all the deets. 

About This Author

Ariana Newhouse | B2B Writer

I am a freelance writer and comedian based in Los Angeles, and while making people laugh is my jam, it’s not always the company brand. So, I strive to make people feel something. My writing philosophy is collaborative, empathetic, and humanistic. At the end of the day, no matter the message, there are real people on both ends of the process.

The post Affiliate Marketing vs. Influencer Marketing: Which is Better? appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

But where do you begin? This article is a good place to start. We’ll walk you through everything from what type of crowd fund is best for your campaign, to choosing the best influencers to help market it, to sharing some examples of already successful crowdfunding campaigns out in the wild. 

Whatever your project and wherever your crowd, there’s likely an influencer with a following that aligns perfectly with your goals and target audience. We’ll help you find them and make the most of their marketing power. Let’s get started!

What is Crowdfunding?

First, let’s define our terms. If you’re here on The Shelf’s blog, you probably know what influencer marketing is. If you need a refresher, think of it this way. Influencer marketing is a typically digital alternative to traditional marketing that uses influencers and their followings to market on social media. Because influencers come with their own crowd, it’s a natural progression to influencer marketing for crowdfunding. 

But what is crowdfunding? Think of crowdfunding as a fundraiser. Remember selling Girl Scout cookies or Boy Scout popcorn door-to-door? Your neighbors pitched in a small amount of money and you were able to raise enough collectively to fund the annual camping trip. Crowdfunding is similar. In grown-up land, crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising small amounts of money from a large group of people. So the crowd produces the fund. 

In today’s day and age, crowdfunding typically happens on the internet. No need to go door-to-door wearing a little sash. Of course, contributors to a crowd fund don’t necessarily get cookies or popcorn or anything tangible for their contribution (though they can). The benefit of contributing to a crowd fund is enjoying the reward of the finished product, whatever the venture or project is the crowd is funding. 

What are the Different Types of Crowdfunding?

There are several different ways to crowdfund. Each of them can benefit from influencer marketing, but before we dive into how you can market your crowdfunding project, let’s determine what sort of crowd fund you should start. There are four basic types of crowdfunding: donation-based, equity-based, debt-based, and reward-based. Your budget, brand, project, and goals will determine which type of crowdfunding venture is right for you. Here’s a quick explainer of each type to help you decide: 

DONATION-BASED CROWDFUNDING

Donation-based crowdfunding is pretty self-explanatory. This is a type of fund in which people give money for nothing in return. This is potentially the most generous type of crowdfunding and therefore can be difficult to achieve depending on your project. People are motivated to donate because they truly believe in your brand, project, or cause. Donation-based crowdfunding can be successful in the charity space. People feel good donating and investing in a good cause. 

EQUITY-BASED CROWDFUNDING

Equity-based crowdfunding is an investment for the contributor. People who contribute to the fund receive a portion of the business based on how much they pay towards the fund. Basically, brands give away a portion (or shares) of the company in exchange for this financial support. This type of crowdfunding is popular with startups and small businesses. 

DEBT-BASED CROWDFUNDING

Debt-based crowdfunding is categorized as peer-to-peer lending. This basically means that your brand is receiving a loan from the crowd that will be paid back. Those who pledge money for the project are guaranteed to get it back with interest before a certain deadline. Think of this as leaning on your community for extra cash rather than taking it to the bank. 

REWARD-BASED CROWDFUNDING

Reward-based crowdfunding is exactly what it sounds like. Contributors receive a reward for contributing to the fund. This is a particularly popular form of influencer crowdfunding because it feels similar to a social media giveaway. Rewards generally coincide with the value of each contribution. For example, a tier-one reward might be a t-shirt. Tier two may offer something more valuable like a free service. And so on. This incentivizes contributors to donate more and rewards them for their efforts. Win-win!

What Is Influencer Marketing for Crowdfunding?

Now we have a basic understanding of both crowdfunding and influencer marketing. How do we put them together to make some mega-successful ROI magic?

There are two parts to every crowd fund. The crowd and the fund, duh. The great thing about influencers is that the best ones come with a crowd built in. And this isn’t just any crowd. Influencers aren’t shouting in the townsquare to random passersby. They have curated, highly targeted audiences that often reflect specific niches. The best influencers are valuable as marketers because they have highly engaged audiences who truly trust them. These crowds they possess aren’t filled with randos. Their crowds are ideal audiences for someone’s brand. All you have to do is find the influencer who has the crowd that aligns with your target audience. 

Because influencers have developed trust with their audiences, or crowds, their followers may be more willing to contribute to a crowd fund when it has the influencer’s support and stamp of approval. Trust is the name of the game here. It’s natural for consumers to be wary of companies asking for their money. Especially if that ask doesn’t guarantee anything immediately in return (a reality for donation-based and debt-based crowdfunding). Influencers can bridge the trust gap and get contributors to buy into your brand and crowdfunding efforts. 

Is an Influencer-Powered Crowd Fund Right for Me?

Whether you’re new to the crowdfunding game or you’ve been raising funds for years, influencer marketing may be the boost your next crowd fund needs. Influencer partnerships can enrich your campaign strategy and infuse some much-needed creative power and variety when you need it most. If you’re looking for any of the following benefits in your next crowdfunding campaign, influencer marketing may be the way to achieve them: 

• Building trust with your audience
• Reaching niche audiences
• Increasing brand awareness
• Providing value to your contributors
• Developing cross-functional content

How Do You Market a Crowd Fund?

Obviously, there are many ways to skin a cat (what a horrible phrase) and market a crowdfund. This article is specifically about influencer marketing crowdfunds, so we’re going to focus on that. 

GOALS

The first step to influencer marketing your crowd fund is to define your campaign goals. Clearly you’re hoping to raise money, but are you also looking to increase brand awareness? Maybe you’re trying to deepen trust with the audience you already have. These goals will likely help you determine what type of crowd fund is best for your campaign. 

AUDIENCE

Once you’re clear about your goals, you’ll want to identify your target audience. Who are they? What do they like to see on social media? What would motivate them to contribute? And perhaps most importantly, who do they follow and trust?

CREATIVE VISION

After your goals and target audience are squared away, you’ll need to establish a creative vision. How will your content provide value to your contributors? How will you motivate them not only to click or follow but also to spend their hard-earned dollars to support your efforts? A creative vision and content ideas will help you in the next step which is…

INFLUENCERS

Choosing the right influencers! This is a fun part, at least for us at The Shelf. (If you want help with your influencer selection, let us know.) Find influencers who align with your crowd and make awesome content. Remember, the best influencer-generated content comes with some creative freedom on the part of the creator, but it’s always good to give them a brief with some direction. You want to give them space to create freely within the confines of your campaign. 

You may notice that the steps to marketing a crowd fund using influencers are pretty similar to influencer marketing for any other old product or service. You’re not wrong. There are, of course, more wrinkles to consider with a crowdfund, but the basic influencer marketing principles remain. 

How Do I Get a Crowd to Actually Contribute to My Fund?

One of the easiest ways to increase the chances people will contribute to your fund is to provide value to your contributors. This probably seems like a no-brainer, but it works! If you’re a new brand or start-up small business, this may look like running an equity-based campaign. For legacy brands looking to raise funds for a new venture or project, rewards-based crowdfunds may be the most successful. 

Everybody loves free stuff. You tell me something is free and it’s hard for me to pass it up. That’s why the reward or “free gift” economy is so compelling. By creating a reward offering, you’re incentivizing people to contribute to your fund. They get the moral boost of donating to something they believe in and the added bonus of getting a gift (or some other reward) for their generosity. Everybody feels good about the transaction, so everybody wins!

If you’re looking to run a reward-based crowdfund, consider what rewards your audience would find most compelling. Are they a tote crowd? Maybe they love a branded t-shirt. If your brand is more service- than product-focused, maybe a discounted service is the way to go. If I can get 20% off a massage, I’m way more likely to book the massage. You feel me? 

Find out what your audience wants and find a way to give it to them that balances their monetary contribution. There’s also an added gamification aspect to stratified or tiered rewards. Your most avid supporters will get to climb the ranks to that highest reward tier, and whatever the reason for being there, it always feels good to be on top. 

What Makes a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign? 

Successful crowdfunding campaigns do several things. They help you raise the funds, deepen your connection to your target audience, and create value for your contributors. If you go the influencer marketing route, they also result in a productive symbiotic relationship between your brand and influencer partners. 

Let’s take a gander at a successful influencer-led crowdfunding effort already out in the world. 

SOULCARE COACH ZAWADI NYONG’O

Zawadi Nyong’o pulls double duty as both the influencer and the brand in this crowdfunding example. Zawadi is a yoga teacher and SoulCare coach who maintains her small business with the help of crowdfunding. Her approach is donation-based, and it gives her contributors the opportunity to communicate with her directly via their donation. She uses the link in her Instagram bio to direct contributors to her Ko-Fi supporter page, Venmo, or Cash App. 

The messaging surrounding her donation structure is compelling (and a tale as old as time). A small donation, often advertised as the price of a cup of coffee, is marketed as just that. Buy Zawadi a cup of coffee with your donation and support her life’s work. This works well for an influencer-run brand because her followers already have a parasocial relationship with her and therefore are more likely to want to buy her a cup of coffee the way a friend would. In addition to these ever-present donation opportunities, Zawadi used her crowdfunding model to fund the publishing of her “I Am Always Here” affirmation meditation on @insighttimer. Not only do her contributors get to support her life and work, they also directly benefit from the services she’s able to create with their donations. 

Influencer Marketing for Crowdfunding in Conclusion

I hope this answered all your burning questions about how you can utilize influencer marketing in your next crowdfunding campaign. Raising money for a project or venture you’re passionate about is no easy feat, but rest assured it can be done. And influencer marketing can make it easier and potentially more fun! 

Find your crowd and raise those funds with the help of influencer partners who truly get your mission and your brand. If you’d like help finding those influencer partners or designing your influencer marketing strategy for an upcoming crowdfunding campaign, schedule a strategy call with one of our experts! We’re always happy to help. 

About This Author

Ariana Newhouse | B2B Writer

I am a freelance writer and comedian based in Los Angeles, and while making people laugh is my jam, it’s not always the company brand. So, I strive to make people feel something. My writing philosophy is collaborative, empathetic, and humanistic. At the end of the day, no matter the message, there are real people on both ends of the process.

The post Influencer Marketing for Crowdfunding: How It Works appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

Crypto influencer marketing is just that — influencer marketing campaigns tailored specially to the crypto space. When done well, it can bring in the big bucks.

Benefits of Influencer Marketing for Crypto

If you’re a brand running a cryptocurrency project, chances are you can benefit from influencer marketing. Crypto is anything but traditional, so it makes sense to veer from traditional marketing strategy. Influencer marketing for crypto allows you to niche down to your specific target audience in an intentional, cost-effective way. Some benefits of crypto influencer marketing include:

• Increased brand awareness
• Authentic engagement with niche audiences
• Establishing credibility in the crypto space
• Enhancing trust with consumers
• Cost-effective campaigns with brag-worthy ROI

Is Crypto Influencer Marketing Profitable?

Influencer marketing is famously cost-effective when compared to traditional marketing. That remains true in the cryptocurrency space. Depending on the scope of your campaign and the audience size of your influencers, you can run a successful crypto marketing campaign at nearly any budget. 

In general, brands generate $6.50 in revenue for every $1 spent on influencer marketing. And the market is only growing. According to Statista, the influencer marketing industry is valued at 21.1 billion dollars today in 2023. 

How to Find Crypto Influencers

The first step to finding the right crypto influencers is to hone in on the appropriate channels. Unlike typical influencer marketing, your crypto audience may be more likely to frequent Reddit, Twitter, or Discord. Other big players in the crypto space include Youtube, Medium, and Telegram. That’s not to say you should skimp on the more popular social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. We always support a cross-functional approach to influencer marketing. But it’s important to hone in on where your target audience scrolls. 

Once you’ve established your desired channels, it’s time to find influencers. Look for influencers who create content relevant to your brand, project, and campaign. The best influencer partnerships are built on an alignment of values. Because the crypto space can get a bad rap for being scammy, it’s important to choose influencers who are credible and have a respected reputation in the space. You can look at their experience, previous collaborations, and reception from followers to determine an influencer’s credibility. 

Example from a Crypto Influencer

Here’s an example of influencer marketing for a crypto brand that looks a little different from what we typically see of influencer posts. Crypto influencer Kevin Mcoin, who runs Crypto Club on Youtube, posted this video plugging the crypto project Pokerfi. 

Unlike typical influencer posts, we never see Kevin’s face in the video. Instead, we hear his voice, a trusted, credible source in the crypto space, explaining the benefits and features of this project. 

Cash in on Crypto Influencer Marketing 

The best influencer marketing stays fresh and keeps up with the times. For your brand, that may mean dipping into the world of cryptocurrency. If you’d like to learn more about how to integrate crypto into your influencer marketing, schedule a strategy call with one of our experts today.

About This Author

Ariana Newhouse | B2B Writer

I am a freelance writer and comedian based in Los Angeles, and while making people laugh is my jam, it’s not always the company brand. So, I strive to make people feel something. My writing philosophy is collaborative, empathetic, and humanistic. At the end of the day, no matter the message, there are real people on both ends of the process.

The post What Is Crypto Influencer Marketing and Does it Work? appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.