The rise and rise of the Micro Influencer
One of the golden rules of advertising is ‘Know Your Audience’, well how better to do that than by involving them in your marketing strategy?
One of the latest trends you may have heard banded about is ‘micro influencers’, but what exactly are they? Well, in essence, micro influencers are social media users that inhabit the intersection of civilian consumer and minor celebrity; commonly categorised as people with a following of around 1000-10,000.
The benefits of using micro influencers are numerous; they are often experts in their chosen category and have garnered a large following for this reason, yet have a following localised to their particular field. For example an artist on Instagram may have a large following of people, the majority of which will also have an interest in art; by using micro influencers you are accessing a ready-made targeted audience. Being endorsed by a micro influencer is also a solid way to build credibility into your campaign; a good Google review is always welcome but it doesn’t have the impact of a well-known expert recommending your product.
There is an argument that using micro influencers may also be more beneficial than celebrity endorsement. With fewer followers micro influencers are able to maintain a higher rate of engagement with their followers, therefore promoting discussion on their posts; on Facebook, for example, the more an individual interacts with their friends and followers on a post the higher the organic reach. Not only could micro influencers save you money on promoting posts, but they also come without the hefty price tag of celebrity endorsement.
In fact, research shows that although brand exposure would be increased by using people with huge followings, for most businesses it’s irrelevant (Takumi, 2017). This couldn’t be more true for the majority of businesses; it just doesn’t make sense for Kim Kardashian to be endorsing a deli in Brighton, however, a micro influencer from Brighton who networks online with other people in Brighton, would be an ideal person to advertise with, despite having 1/100th of the followers.
Not only can micro influencers benefit you, but you can benefit them. By offering them to sample your product you create content for both parties and can endorse each other in the process, it’s a win-win situation.
At Air Social we understand the importance of knowing your local area, creating relevant and engaging campaigns through cost effective methods. To find out more get in touch.
