Influence plays an important role in marketing and in expanding business. You can use influence from various sources. Using influence in the correct manner can bring a tremendous boost to your business.
Celebrities
One of the biggest marketing influencers are celebrities.
That’s why brands often ask them to endorse their products. A celebrity is revered upon by millions of people and when he or she is seen in a commercial using a particular product or service, people get influenced. The product or service provider gets a huge exposure and respect thanks to the celebrity influence.
It is an intelligent idea to market your product or service to people who have an influence over the market. In other words, they have the power to start trends or change them.
So, if they are using your brand, the world will start using your brand too.
Targeting influencers in your niche is akin to doing word-of-mouth marketing. Words spread faster than any marketing tool. If your product is exceptionally good or beneficial, people will undoubtedly spread the word about it.
Bloggers
Bloggers are a new breed of market influencers. They have loyal followers and are looked upon as genuine individuals.
So, when a blogger talks about a brand that he or she uses, people trust them and want to try the brand.
This kind of marketing appeals more to the audience than traditional marketing, as the former seems more authentic.
How to use marketing influencers effectively?
Using influencers can help you avoid skepticism associated with traditional marketing messages. Often, the audience has doubts and queries related to your products and services. Influencers can help them clear doubts and answer queries, assisting them to see your product or service in a good light.
Businesses must respect influencers and build a rapport with them so that they talk about their brand.
Businesses can encourage an influencer to talk about their brand by giving them the first access to a soon-to-be or newly launched product or service. They can inform them about their ‘coming soon’ products and services. They can invite influencers to their offices and show them around.
Businesses benefit greatly by creating a buzz around their brands. Influencers play an important role in creating this buzz.
Does influence prove costly to a business?
Not really. It depends on what kind of influencers you are using.
If you intend to invite a top celebrity to endorse your product, of course, it’s going to be a costly affair.
Bloggers and patrons can be inexpensive. For example, a new eating joint can urge patrons to post reviews online. A nursery business can start a gardening blog. People can share their gardening stories. These can prove to be some of the best content creation tools.
You can even give freebies in the beginning to gain audience and spread the word. Contests, gift offers, subscriptions, and others help to create your own influence in the market.
Your influence need not always be big and widespread. You can start with small – a local influence covering your area. Eventually, as the word spreads, you can even become a nation-wide known business, and then a global brand. There’s no looking back.
