Influencer Marketing BEST PRACTICES

In 2014, marketers saw up to a $9.60 return on every $1 spent on influencer marketing. Yet, with it’s success, this new approach is a

strategy many marketers are still struggling to master. Here are a few best practices to help ensure that your brand sees a return on

investing in influence.

01Work with influencers who resonate with your product

When selecting influencers, it’s incredibly important to make sure that the influencer has an organic connection with what

you’re trying to promote. For example, if you’re a fashion brand and you’re working with a food influencer, their

audience will become skeptical when they see a fashion post amidst all of their food pictures. In that sense, the post becomes no better than a paid social media ad. The best

influencer marketing posts seamlessly integrate your product with the influencer’s style so that their audience

can’t tell it’s a sponsored post.

This does not mean cross-vertical promotion is out of the question. Here are some ways fashion influencers successfully integrated travel into their aesthetic.

02When reaching out to influencers, it’s all in

the approach.

Nothing turns an influencer off quicker than cold, corporate-toned emails. Introduce

yourself, compliment their style, and subtly hint at the fact that you’d like to work with them. The more personable you are, the better they’ll respond. Remember, they’re

people too. That’s what makes them effective!

03Offer prompts that guide,

not control the influencer’s creative process.

As professional content creators, they have impressive followings for a reason. In building your brand’s campaign, consider the general

aesthetic and direction of the posts, and leave the rest up to their innovation. Allow the

influencer to put their spin on it, and you will both be grateful for the creative freedom.

04Synergize your influencer

posts with other social media ads.

Depending solely on influencer marketing is not enough for your social media strategy.

Leverage influencers as connection ambassadors, and use paid social media ads to directly communicate your brand’s

voice. This consistency ensures your brand is trusted, recognized and kept top of mind.

05Optimize your content

according to the platform you target.

If you’re targeting Vine or Snapchat, think about ways to include your product in a

short, funny video. For Facebook or Instagram, aim for a refined aesthetic to showcase your product. Promoting your

product across multiple platforms is the most effective way to reach your target

audience. Do so in a way that feels authentic to each platform’s position.

06Understand what a “like”

means for your brand and it’s campaign.

Influencer posts are a great way to produce authentic content for your brand, and can keep your brand

relevant in appealing to younger demographics. It’s equally important to know what your objectives are in

your influencer partnership, and what the post’s success means for your KPI. Do you want to see more followers on your brand’s channels and pages? Do you want to

see user-generated content under a streamlined hashtag? Understanding how social engagement gets you closer to the $9.60 ROI measurement helps ensure that you will be satisfied with your influencer strategy.

Ultimately, the most important aspect of influencer marketing is defining your goal. When it comes to setting up strategies to reach

that goal, InstaBrand is here to help. Our account managers and creative team are dedicated to coming up with comprehensive

influencer marketing plans to help you reach your audience.

GET STARTED HERE