90% of marketers think that influencer marketing is effective. If you're starting to think about partnering up and collaborating with an influencer for the first time, you might have some questions. And justifyingly so, as the industry is still new and we are all figuring it out as we go. Where do you start the search? What are the most important things you should pay attention to? How do you vet an influencer? Do they all have managers you need to deal with?
How do you choose the most suitable one(s) to collaborate with?Here are the top 5 things to consider when trying to find the right influencer to partner with.
#1 Do your research.
Any business decision requires research, knowledge and due diligence. . Take your time to thoroughly research available influencers. Pay attention to the audience they target and the engagements on their page. Look at their content quality, the number of followers, and how well they align with your brand (if at all).
#2 What influencers do your customers and target audiences follow?
This is very helpful when trying to decide if an influence matches your brand messaging and overall tone. If your customers are following influencers in the same niche as your business, then they already have some connection and trust for those creators. This, in turn, will increase the interest and engagement of your target audience when they see those influencers representing your brand.
#3 Look for skills.
Having some followers and a camera technically makes anyone an influencer. But professionalism is at the core of business relations, and that's exactly what one should not compromise on. You don't need to find somebody with a doctorate, but be sure to look for creators who are knowledgeable in their niches and can manage through crisis situations.
#4 Authenticity is a must.
If you want to collaborate with influencers, then you, most probably, plan to spread awareness about your brand and draw new customers in. Authenticity is the driving force behind influencer-follower relationships. People are tired of cliches and are looking for original, authentic, and down-to-earth content. Prioritize authenticity in your search for an influencer.
#5 Communicate.
Once you have identified a potential influencer, reach out to them and have a casual talk/interview. See if you click and if they are passionate about what your brand does and how well they can represent it. State your expectations and goals clearly, as well as the intended budget. Communication will make everything clearer.
Be thorough in your research, clear about your goals, and you can definitely find the right influencer(s) and see tangible results with a bit of patience!
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