What is Influencer Marketing?- Let’s learn the basics!
Hi all
Excited to share second post for series, “Blogging tips and tricks that actually works”.
In this post, I will talk about one of the most commonly used jargon “Influencer marketing”. This is one of the most common term that is used frequently in blogging and social media world.
For new bloggers, it might be somewhat confusing. So, in this post, I am sharing different aspects of influencer marketing. What is influencer marketing? How it works for brands and influencers? Read the post to know more!
What is Influencer marketing?
As per Wikipedia, “Influencers marketing is a form of social medial marketing that involving endorsements and product placements from influencers, people and organizations who have a purported expert level of knowledge or social media influence in their field”.
In simple words, influencer marketing is a form of collaboration between a brand and an influencer for promoting their products, services or campaigns. A person who have a large number of dedicated following on different social media platforms is called an influencer. Influencers have a capability to influence buying choices or service selection of their followers or audience because of a higher level of trust and in-built relationship. Brands used this power to promote their business with the help of influencer marketing.
What is difference between bloggers and Influencers?
This one is another common question or confusion that most new bloggers have. Though bloggers and influencers both have so many similarities but there are some differences too. A blogger is a person who have his own website. He/she creates quality content as per their niche and share this through blog. Most of the bloggers uses different social media platforms to promote their content. But it is not necessary that they have a huge following on social media platforms.
While influencers are people who have large media following on different social media platforms. They may have or may not have a blog. Their stong social media presence is their big assets and they use this power to promote different services or products through their platforms. Many influencers have their website too, for building trust and increasing credibility among their audience.
In short, a blogger is not necessarily an influencer but can become an influencer. In same way, an influencer does not necessarily to have a blog or website but he can have too.
Why Influencer marketing is latest trend?
In last few years, influencer marketing has grown from strength to strength. According to a recent survey, 34% of daily Instagram users buy something because they got this recommendation from their favorite influencers.
With the increasing power of digital medium, people more trust on real life people, instead of direct marketing. Businesses understand this mentality so well and spend a good amount of money on influencer marketing for promoting their products or services.
Do you know, in USA and UK, almost half of marketer spend at least 10% of their marketing budget on influencer marketing. With the changing time, influencer marketing industry has grown significantly and had become an integral part of marketers and businesses.
How it work for brands?
As I had mentioned before, influencer marketing offers various benefits to brands such as they get a chance to share their product or services to wider audience, and can drive sales or increase lead for their businesses. As a process, brands often create campaigns, either individually or with the help of influencer agencies and select suitable influencers as per their niche and requirements. The promotion campaigns have different strategies for influencers like creating a sponsored post, or make a review video or being a part of a launch event. All these activities have a sole aim to promote the brand and influencers get paid or get free products by doing that.
How it work for Influencers?
Influencer marketing is one of the best ways to monetize influencer power for influencer. By using this, influencers can earn a decent amount of money and can get established themselves as a recognized name in their related niche.
But getting sponsored opportunities is not as easy as seems. And influencers need to work hard on for creating content and building a large number of following that trust their recommendation.
Luckily, blogging and social media platforms offers huge opportunity for different kind of niche. Art, craft, music, all types of artists can use power of digital medium to sell their art or craft work, or showcase their talent in front of world. Check out this post to get inspiration about how 48 genius artists use their blogs to promote their art work.
What channels can be used for Influencer marketing?
Though most of the social media channels and blog get used for influencer marketing. While some are more popular than others. According to 2019 marketing survey, Instagram is considered as number one platform for influencer marketing which is used by 89% of marketers. With a massive growth of 1 billion users, Instagram has become top most priority of marketers to promote their products or services. Instagram is an amazing visually appealing platform that offers so many great features such as (Instagram feed post and Instagram stories) that influencers can used to create high quality, visually appealing content for their audience.
Next to Instagram, YouTube comes second in list and used by 70% of marketers. YouTube is more, about long videos that involves different kind of how-to and tutorial videos. Video reviews and demonstration video posts are two most common form of content that work best for influencer marketing.
Apart from these two, blogs are next important medium that used for more detailed and long form content. Creators can create detailed review or explanation post for promoting or reviewing different products and services.
Additionally, Facebook, twitter and snap chat also have their scope and can be used as effective social medial channels for influencer marketing.
I know, influencer marketing is a vast topic and it cannot be explained in one blog post. still, I had tried to explained some aspect of this topic, in this post. Hoping it will help you in getting an insight about influencer marketing.
What are your thoughts? Please share.
40 Comments
Alpana Deo
It is very important to know the difference between blogger and influencer. you have explained it in an easy language. I have seen any new bloggers all themselves as influencers or vice-versa. These are two separate things.
Deepika
Both Blogging and Influencing are different platforms, you explained in a very simple way. Initially, freshers get confused to choose in between to be a blogger or an influencer. Nowadays Influencing is on the boom.
Blogsikka.com
I wish every one on Instagram think that they are blogger, they should understand the real meaning of blogger ,thanks for this article I’m sharing it to Every one
Sweetannu
Gosh, there was so much confusion in my mind on this topic. I was wondering whom to ask.Glad I got to read your post.
Jhilmil
You’ve covered almost everything wrt Influencer Marketing . I’m glad that you penned down the difference between a blogger and an influencer as people often mix both these terminologies
My Words My Wisdom
Twitter is far behind i this race. Instagram has such a mass appeal that even starts are also falling in the trap of buying likes, views and followers.
DiaryOfAnInsaneWriter
This is such a useful post! I really hope that it enlightens people who constantly get confused between the two terms. Personally, it ires me when someone says that they are a blogger on Instagram…urrgghhh!!
Neha Sharma
This is such a fantastic post, Surbhi. I am sure many bloggers and influencers have a doubt about what is influencer marketing. You have explained it very well and have also cleared the common doubt of difference between a blogger and an influencer.
Metamorphosis
Very Informative post. Well right Now I am a blogger and I am loving to be one. To be a influencer is a challenge, you need to believe in every product you decide to market which at times not possible.
simisp
A good to go post with detailed information thank you for sharing and yes it’s really important to know the difference between a blogger and the influencers…
Varsh
A very well written post, Surabhi. People often get confused between bloggers and influencers even though they’re completely different. Personally, I prefer blogging over being an influencer since it gives me my own space and creative freedom.
Haimanti
Whenever I open social media, there ia no avoiding the word ‘influencer’! I just hope with the rapid increase in the number of influencers, the influence of the genuine ones are prioritized! Your post was informative and easy to read…
Ruchie
This is really great and informative, I like the way you have clearly mentioned the difference between bloggers and the influencers.
Roma
I am so glad Surbhi you wrote on the difference because almost always an influencer is considered a blogger and vice versa. The entire article in fact is very informative.
Rajshree Sawant
Glad your shared such a detailed post on the difference between influencers and bloggers. This is going to be helpful for people who are just starting out.
ourlittleworld2016
true, crisp and concise post. influencer marketing is the in thing now because it reaches out to ppl through real ppl not celebrities per se.
https://notjustmommying.com/2020/08/14/tips-for-aspiring-bloggers-influencers-my-100th-blogpost/
anurbannomadic
A must read for all budding bloggers and influencers. When I have someone seeking help, I am going to direct them to your page
Blogaberry Foo
I would like to call myself a blogger first and then influencer as the new influencer job is dependent on so many things. i have a similar post explaining the difference but some brands said they want bloggers for instagram posts because bloggers write well. While it is a compliment, i decided to just go with the flow.
Gunjan Upadhyay
This is gold for all new bloggers, where were such thought people like you when i started.The difference between bloggers are influencers is so clear and the details are so crisp. Great Post Surbhi
Snigdha
You have described everything so well . Blogging and influencing are different with some similarities. This is do helpful for new comers here.
Tina Basu
you have shared very valid informations. Since social media is so big now, Influencer marketing is pretty big these days. But somewhere I think, Blogs are much better for keeping up your own voice.
mominprocessnow
Very insightful Surbhi.. often new people get confused between influencers and bloggers. Going to be Very helpful for aspiring influencers.. excited to read coming posts on the topic.
Dr Bushra Allaboutthewoman
Very helpful information about Influencer marketing. Indeed socially media plays an important role in promoting the brand
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HappyMomLifestyle
Instagram is indeed a great place to be an influencer. Times will change and bloggers must adapt to changes too
nooranandchawla
You have gone into the nitty-gritties of an important topic, but I think the biggest difference between bloggers and influencers, which you have not expressly mentioned is that influencers use other platforms, as opposed to their own website, so that they can ‘influence’ the pre-existing audience on that platform. Bloggers who use websites to blog don’t have that pre-existing audience, they need to work for it! I teach all this in my Content Creation 101 course, so tend to go into excess detail, but I must compliment you on a well-researched and beautifully collated post.
Sushmita Malakar
Influencer marketing is a whole industry that is expanding. However, even some marketers are still struggling to understand influencer marketing. A very good point explaining the difference between influencers and bloggers 🙂
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DiaryOfAnInsaneWriter
I simply love visiting your blog posts again and again. There’s always something to learn. 🙂 🙂 Thank you for adding to my knowledge, Surbhi.
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Atheeth Belagode
Thank you for all the insights. I found it really useful for my first campaign.