Question

Have you ever considered exactly how big of an impact social media has on businesses today? How much time would you say you spend on social media every day, throughout the week, or even over the span of one year?

Social Data

According to ConvinceandConvert.com, 56 percent of Americans have at least one profile on a social networking site and 22 percent use these sites several times per day. For these reasons, social media specifically has become an incredible platform for businesses big and small. Huge corporations, small startups, and even mom & pop shops have come to understand the importance and power of social media. Today, more than ever social media is viewed as one of the most lucrative and innovative ways to help spread your brand and raise awareness in a less expensive and more intriguing manner. Using social media has become one of the easiest and most effective ways to attract and advertise to a target audience and helps develop a more personal relationship between the business and the consumer.  Convinceandcovert.com found that 53 percent of Americans who follow brands on social media are actually more loyal to those brands. One might ask, how do I take advantage of this information and apply it to my business? One very effective way is to start a collaboration between your brand and a social media influencer.

What is an influencer?

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term “influencer”, it refers to someone who acts as a sort of brand ambassador. A social media influencer is an individual who is selected by a business to promote their brand through the influencer’s own social media handles. By doing this, the business can anticipate that the influencer will generate some new attention to their brand and influence others to become followers. Why or how are these people chosen to be influencers? Individuals who are chosen to influence are generally already enthusiastic about a specific niche and or brand; they embody the brand in their daily life and display it through social media. Thus, the influencer has already established a niche following for whom they have become a trusted voice.

Benefits

Using influencers is a valuable way for companies to gain followers without having to actually pay for branded advertisements. This can also be extremely beneficial for businesses that are just starting out with low budgets or simply looking for an alternative way to save some dough.
Social media influencer collaborations are so unique because they are mutually beneficial to both the company being promoted and the person promoting. Overall, influencers are a great tool to implement into your social media strategy because they are happy and willing to promote your brand while simultaneously benefitting from this collaboration. In essence, influencers can be a critical part to your businesses growth because of their potential to increase brand awareness in an organic, personal and cost effective way.