A breakdown of sponsorships, influencers, and bloggers
With so many different forms of social media marketing becoming essential to both B2C and B2B industries , it can be a little confusing to differentiate between the terms.
- Influencers do exactly what their job title states. They are individuals with enough notoriety in specific industries to influence a product market or service, typically through social media channels. People look to influencers to guide them with their decision making. Influencers can have millions of social media followers (mega-influencers) or a small number of very engaged, topic-specific followers (nano-infuencers), and everything in between.
- Sponsorships typically include receiving compensation for an allotted number of limited promotional posts on social media, blogs or other forms of content. This can be done by way of influencers or through strategic product placement by a company.
- Bloggers use a modernized version of pen to paper promotion. A blogger will typically write product opinions on their respective forum or offer promotional pieces for a company or product. Popular bloggers often have a very loyal and engaged follower base, and many blogs have been in existence for a decade or longer.
Have Social Media Influencers forever changed the way marketing works?
The short answer is, yes! Influencers have managed to substantially change the way different businesses look to cater to their respective audiences. It’s also important to note that social media has been on a steady uphill climb as of recent years, so the influencer “game” isn’t going away any time soon.
Previously, where some companies might have looked to a celebrity or public figure endorsement for their product, they’re allotting that same amount of funding if, not more, for the services of social media influencers – internet-based “celebrities,” if you will.
Should I consider influencer marketing as a part of my marketing strategy?
Much to the traditional business owner’s surprise, many companies can benefit from the use of both traditional sponsorships and influencers. With the emergence of LinkedIn influencers, especially in B2B industries, it’s becoming clear that influencers make an impact even in the most niche markets.
Now, does this mean you should focus all your time and effort into working with an Instagram influencer with millions of followers? Not necessarily. If you’re interested in partnering with a person or organization that could be considered an influencer, make sure their audience is the same as yours – that they use the same social media channels, focus on topics they’re interested in, and generally match your company’s personality.
Consider beyond traditional social media as well – YouTube, podcasts, webcasts and blogs all have niche corners where your product or service could fit in perfectly. It’s all a matter of finding the right fit for your marketing goals and budget. This is where a marketing or PR agency can help – if you’re interested in exploring new forms of audience engagement, TRINDGROUP can help. Email [email protected] for more information.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″ css=”.vc_custom_1607012413611{padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1586802396320{margin-bottom: -200px !important;padding-top: -300px !important;padding-bottom: -200px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/12″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1586798978278{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;border-left-color: #ececec !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #ececec !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #ececec !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ececec !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 1px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”23012″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_circle_2″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Mary Catherine Ratliff is a Senior PR and Marketing Manager who specializes in traditional public relations including media relations, and also has years of experience in social media management, content development, digital marketing and internal communication. Mary Catherine develops strategic PR and marketing plans for her clients based on their business goals, and manages the execution of those strategies day-to-day. She has worked with a wide range of B2B and B2C brands including those in marine, oil and gas, engineering, aquaculture, law, finance, manufacturing, entertainment and health/wellness industries.
Mary Catherine holds a B.A. in Public Relations with minors in business and Spanish from Auburn University.
When she’s away from her work laptop, you can find “MC” exercising, cooking, writing for fun and spending time outdoors.
MARY CATHERINE RATLIFF
Senior PR & Marketing Manager
TRINDGROUP[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
