5 Ways Fashion Influencers Can Boost Your Brand

Social media has transformed the face of marketing, with platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube positioning fashion influencers as one of the most powerful tools clothing brands can leverage. The latest stats predict the value of the global influencer marketing industry will hit a huge US$16.4 billion in 2022, representing enormous growth from the US$1.7 billion recorded in 2016.

Instagram fashion influencers are taking centre stage, with an increasing number of British brands connecting with high-profile personalities to leverage the power of social media marketing. The fashion influencer UK pool has enormous potential, making now the time to get stuck into social and take your marketing strategy to the next level with a results-driven fashion influencer agency.

The power of social marketing

The impressive growth of the influencer marketing industry correlates with a global uptake in social media consumption. In 2020, researchers estimate the average Brit spent around 110 minutes per day on social media. The number is even higher for Americans, who spend around 145 minutes per day or 1300 hours per year, browsing social. 

What is a fashion influencer?

No doubt about it, social media is a universally loved medium. But it’s not just for staying in touch with friends and family. Platforms like Instagram and YouTube have fostered a new era of marketing that combines the influence of celebrity with the trust of a good friend.

A huge 83% of consumers act based on trusted recommendations, and these recommendations don’t come exclusively from peers. Influencer marketing harnesses the trust built by high-profile social media personalities and uses it to inspire action through authentic engagement, content creation and storytelling.

So, what is a fashion influencer? The term describes an influencer with an established presence on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, who publishes fashion content. This can include anything from simple Insta carousels paired with branded hashtags and engaging captions, to more complex content like outfit of the day reels, social media takeovers and collaborations with other influencers.

While this content feels genuine and organic, it has the power to influence the purchasing decisions and opinions of their followers. It can be paid or unpaid, with high calibre influencers generally working exclusively with brands that align with their personal beliefs, values and image.

Want to know more? Read on to find out more about how fashion influencers can boost your brand in 2022:

1. Create trust and authenticity

Modern-day consumers are a smart bunch, with most no longer falling for conventional brand-created advertising. Think magazine ads, billboards and TV commercials. Only a small minority of millennials trust ads created by brands, making authentic content from social media influencers a critical part of any advertising strategy. When you connect with your target audience via an influencer they trust and respect, your message is far more powerful. 

This is known as “social proof” marketing, which is based on the idea that consumers trust their friends more than the company selling the product. Cue the role of celebrities and influencers. As we explored earlier, a “friend” doesn’t just refer to a person in their immediate social circle. It can also include people they admire or are interested in, i.e. celebrities and influencers.

2. Build a clear brand image

Building a clear brand image isn’t easy, with many companies channelling millions into their strategies. While in the past establishing brand identity was limited to conventional advertising mediums, social media has unlocked exciting new pathways for companies of all sizes.

For apparel and accessories brands, fashion influencer marketing is an effective and affordable way to build a clear identity. Working with fashion influencers who embody the values, ethics and vibe of your brand helps to establish your image and build a sense of shared identity with your customers.

3. Connect with your target audience

You can funnel all the cash you like into a marketing campaign but unless your message reaches your target audience, your spend is defunct. This is where YouTube fashion influencers and their peers on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook step up.

From Instagram followers to YouTube subscribers, fans are everything in the social media realm. High-quality influencers are backed by thousands of active and engaged fans who relate to them in some way. When you choose fashion influencers who align with your target audience, you’re instantly showcasing your brand to an army of likeminded consumers.

For example, if you run a boutique clothing company and want to push your new plus size range, working with established plus size fashion influencers will instantly connect you with thousands of potential customers across the country. All follow the influencer because they’re either plus sized themselves or interested in the plus sized fashion market.

4. Stay competitive

Social media is a formidable marketing tool, particularly in the highly competitive fashion industry. The fashion influencers market has experienced rapid growth over the past few years, with a recent study predicting global value could surpass US$17 billion by 2027. The brand exposure opportunities are enormous, making partnerships with YouTube fashion influencers and other social media personalities essential for businesses that want to stay competitive.

5. Maximise your marketing spend

Social is consistently ranked one of the top marketing mediums when it comes to return on investment (ROI). If you want to maximise your marketing spend and get the most out of every pound, collaborating with fashion influencers is a must.

Over the past few years video content has emerged as a particularly powerful medium, with Instagram Stories, Facebook Reels and TikTok videos building on the success of YouTube fashion influencers.

Ready to take your marketing strategy to the next level? As the number one fashion influencer marketing agency in the UK, we have the experience, expertise and connections to match your brand with top performing personalities. Our goal is to connect you with influencers that align with your target audience and generate the highest possible return on investment. With a network of more than 100,000 British-based influencers and 20+ million around the globe, our reach is second to none.

Not only do we match you with the most influential fashion influencers in the UK, but we can also execute and manage every step of your campaign for you.

Get in touch with the Find Your Influencer team today to discover how our industry-leading fashion influencer marketing service can amplify your brand.

What are Influencer Agencies and Why Work with Them?

Influencer marketing is at an all-time high. Last year, over 6 million sponsored posts were uploaded to Instagram alone and three-quarters of marketers increased their influencer budget. Why? Because social media influencers have thousands of loyal followers who trust their recommendations and brands can leverage this to target their ideal buyers. However, not all businesses have the expertise and resources to manage influencer campaigns in-house. This is where influencer agencies come in.

What does an influencer marketing agency do?

Unlike typical influencer platforms that simply provide access to a database of content creators for you to search through yourself, influencer agencies offer a fully managed service to simplify the process. This includes managing all communications between brands and influencers and creating a strategic plan of action based on your business values and goals.

Once an approach has been agreed, your influencer marketing agency will manage your campaign from start to finish. Your agency team will source suitable influencers, negotiate rates, set up contracts, produce creative briefs and guidelines, send out any product samples and review content before it is uploaded. They will also track your influencer campaign’s progress and report back to you on a regular basis.

Acting as a middleman between the two parties, the agency must also advocate for both the influencer and the brand. This may include making sure the business understands the value of their influencers and their need for creative freedom, while at the same time ensuring that all content fits the brand’s values, tone and objectives. 

8 benefits of working with an influencer agency

Partnering with an influencer marketing agency offers numerous advantages for brands, especially when running influencer campaigns at scale or for achieving specific marketing objectives. Let’s take a look at a few of the biggest benefits:

1. Expertise and industry knowledge

Influencer marketing agencies bring a wealth of expertise and industry knowledge that can help your campaigns become more successful. Their ability to design targeted strategies means that every effort aligns closely with your brand’s specific goals and audience preferences. 

By understanding the unique dynamics of different industries and consumer behaviour, agencies are experts at crafting campaigns that produce strong engagement and measurable results.

But that’s not all. By working with an agency, you’ll also be able to tap into their platform-specific insight. What works well on Instagram is different to TikTok and YouTube. Every platform has its own features, demographics and content trends. Agencies have the expertise to understand the differences, and advise you on what will be most effective for your campaign. 

Whether it’s creating visually striking content for Instagram, producing engaging short-form videos for TikTok, or crafting compelling long-form storytelling on YouTube, they know how to make the most of each platform’s potential.

Plus, agencies are great at staying on top of industry trends and keeping up with the latest best practices. The digital landscape is constantly shifting, with new influencer formats, algorithms and consumer behaviours emerging regularly. 

By staying informed and adaptable, agencies help your campaigns remain relevant and competitive. They make use of the latest innovations, such as Instagram Reels, TikTok challenges, or other trending formats, to keep your brand at the forefront of your audience’s attention.

2. Access to an established network

Outsourcing your influencer marketing to a specialist agency brings a host of advantages, from streamlined workflows and scalable campaign management to expert creative direction. Agencies act as an extension of your team, managing the complexities of influencer outreach and campaign execution while working to deliver your brand message effectively. 

The benefits of working with an agency include access to curated influencer connections. Agencies have established relationships with a wide network of influencers across various niches and follower tiers, meaning they can easily identify the perfect match for your brand. 

By pre-screening influencers for quality, engagement and past performances, agencies help you avoid the hassle of sorting through countless profiles yourself. Due to existing relationships, they can quickly find influencers whose audiences align authentically with your own.

At FYI, we have access to thousands of influencers in the UK and millions more worldwide, making it possible for us to find the ideal fit no matter your niche or platform. Through our experience, we provide valuable insights from previous campaigns to help you choose the best influencers for your strategy. 

When searching for an influencer, it’s easy to be blinded by follower numbers. But we understand that bigger isn’t always better – partnering with micro-influencers who have smaller followings but higher engagement rates can often yield stronger results than collaborations with larger creators. So, if you’re still focusing on a huge follower count as a prerequisite, you need to think again!

Another major advantage of this approach is that influencers are much more likely to respond to requests from agencies they already have a good relationship with. Those with thousands of followers receive a barrage of emails from brands every day, and as a result, they are likely to miss your message amongst the clutter. But if they’ve worked well with the agency before, they’ll be more inclined to open their emails.

3. Time and resource efficiency

Outsourcing your influencer marketing to an agency offers an easy solution that maximises results. Agencies take on the heavy lifting, managing every stage of the campaign – from sourcing and vetting influencers to outreach, execution and detailed performance reporting. 

But what really sets agencies apart is their ability to provide scalable management. Whether your campaign involves a handful of micro-influencers or a large-scale collaboration with creators across multiple platforms, an agency will handle the complexity of managing numerous partnerships simultaneously. This is especially beneficial if your brand is running a larger campaign, as it means that every detail is coordinated externally allowing you to focus on what you do best. 

Creative direction is a key strength agencies bring to the table. Their expertise in conceptualising campaigns helps align influencer content with your brand’s messaging and goals. Agencies guide influencers on how to produce high-quality, on-brand content that resonates with your audience, helping your campaign stand out in a crowded digital landscape.

If your business is considering influencer marketing for the first time, agencies are an invaluable helping hand. Without experience in this area, you’ll need to learn about collaboration processes, industry rates and campaign planning while managing countless variables. This can often be an overwhelming and time-consuming task, especially for small marketing teams. But with an agency by your side, you can bypass this steep learning curve and trust the process to seasoned professionals.

At FYI, for instance, our digital marketing experts draw on years of influencer campaign experience to guide brands through every step and support influencers in delivering their best work. By outsourcing these tasks, you can focus on your core business operations while leaving the intricacies of influencer marketing in expert hands.

4. Data-driven decisions

A data-driven approach is key to maximising the success of any influencer marketing campaign, and agencies are experts at using insights that drive better results. 

They provide comprehensive performance analytics, offering metrics like reach, engagement, and ROI so you can clearly see how your campaign is performing. By using data insights, agencies refine influencer selection and adjust campaign strategies. As a result, you can be sure every aspect of your marketing plan is optimised for success. 

Additionally, agencies benchmark your campaigns against industry standards, helping you identify areas for improvement and giving you a clearer picture of where you stand in comparison to your competitors.

Having an experienced campaign team is key to successful campaign delivery and ultimately, your business’s bottom line. Without a strategic plan and structured approach in place, your content will soon become disorganised and ineffective. To prevent this, agencies will create clear publishing schedules to work to. This will ensure that your influencer knows exactly what’s needed and when, and that all posts are cohesive and complementary to get the best results. 

In addition to this, at FYI, we go one step further. Our team will monitor all campaign activity using trackable links and make adjustments throughout as necessary. We’ll then compile the best-performing content from your influencer’s profile and use our Facebook advertising expertise to promote the posts on your brand’s social media pages. This is an affordable and effective way to amplify the content in order to reach as many of your target buyers as possible. In turn, you can expect to see more traffic and sales from social media.

5. Risk mitigation

Experienced in putting together influencer contracts? Clued up on the latest promotional content regulations? Well, in that case, you don’t need an influencer agency! However, if this isn’t your area of expertise, it’s best left to the professionals. 

Agencies provide expert contractual support, guaranteeing that all agreements between you and your influencers are clear, comprehensive and legally sound. From specifying content deliverables and payment terms to defining usage rights, agencies craft contracts that leave no room for misunderstandings or loopholes. It means that both parties are on the same page, and protects your interests should any issues arise.

As well as handling contracts, agencies offer valuable compliance and legal guidance. They stay up-to-date on regulations for promotional content, such as ASA and CMA guidelines, keeping your campaigns compliant with the latest standards. By taking care of compliance, agencies minimise legal risks and prevent potential penalties that could arise from non-compliant posts.

Fraud detection is another critical area where agencies prove their value. Using advanced tools and industry insights, they identify influencers with fake followers, bot-driven accounts or suspicious engagement metrics. After all, you want to be sure that your influencers can deliver authentic results and that you’re not just wasting money.

If you’re not experienced in drafting contracts, understanding promotional content regulations or spotting fraudulent accounts, you should use an agency. Attempting to do it yourself can lead to costly mistakes, as you risk publishing content that’s ineffective, unprofessional or even against social media policies. 

But when you work with an agency, you can rest assured that the contract between you and your influencer is watertight. There will be no loopholes that they can use later if things don’t go to plan. Agencies will also ensure that any content published fits your brand guidelines and campaign goals. In addition, they’ll check that posts adhere to social media best practices, so that your account doesn’t run into trouble. Otherwise, you may waste money on posts that won’t be approved or even get deactivated.

6. Cost-effective 

When it comes to influencer marketing, working with an agency may seem like an added expense. But in the long run, it’s often an investment that proves to be highly cost-effective. 

While agencies like FYI charge fees for our services, our expertise will help you avoid costly mistakes that can occur from doing it by yourself. From selecting the right influencers to running effective campaigns, an agency’s experience is invaluable in maximizing the return on your investment.

Agencies also bring the advantage of negotiating power. With established relationships across a wide network of influencers, they can often secure better rates than you might be able to achieve independently. For brands running bulk campaigns or long-term collaborations, these agency-negotiated deals can lead to significant savings, stretching your budget further without compromising on quality or reach.

By managing the process efficiently and leveraging their industry connections, agencies ensure that every pound spent on influencer marketing delivers measurable value, making them a smart choice for brands looking to achieve impactful results without overspending.

7. Brand safety and reputation management

You've spent years carefully cultivating your brand's image. The last thing you want is to partner with an influencer who does more harm than good. 

The best agencies minimise this risk by thoroughly vetting influencers, checking their values, tone and past content fit perfectly with your brand. This careful screening helps you avoid potential PR issues that could arise from working with creators whose behaviour or messaging might not reflect well on your business.

In addition to preventative measures, agencies also offer crisis management support. Should any negative situation arise during a campaign – whether it’s a controversial post, public backlash or unforeseen event – they have the expertise to address the issue quickly and professionally. Their experience in navigating these challenges helps to protect your brand’s reputation from harm and maintains your trust with your audience.

With this proactive approach, you gain the peace of mind of knowing that your brand is looked after by a team that truly cares about you. 

8. Long-term partnerships

Building long-term relationships with influencers can significantly amplify the success of your marketing efforts, and agencies are instrumental in fostering these connections. Through their established networks and ongoing collaborations, agencies create an environment where influencers feel valued and motivated to work with your brand again. These strong relationships pave the way for smoother, more efficient partnerships in future campaigns.

Agencies also provide valuable insights into how to nurture these relationships for lasting impact. For example, they can help you develop ambassador programmes or recurring collaborations with top-performing influencers. These long-term partnerships allow influencers to build deeper connections with your audience, improving authenticity and brand loyalty over time.

By building strong, long-term relationships with influencers, agencies optimise both your current campaigns and future influencer marketing success.

Looking to hire an influencer agency?

Whether you’re looking to grow your online community, promote a new product or even change your brand perception, we can help. At FYI, we have access to over 20 million content creators worldwide, all with proven results. From Instagram micro-influencers to TikTok superstars, we can help you find an influencer to suit your needs. 

Ready to outsource your influencer marketing to our talented team? Send us a message via our website or call us on 01617310048, and we’ll take it from there.

How Parent Instagram Influencers Can Promote Your Products

Whether you’re an avid liker or a couldn’t-care-less scroller – baby pictures are a pretty common sight on Instagram and Facebook. But the parents who post them aren’t just there to share their cute snaps.

Nowadays, social media is full of content for parents to scroll through, read, watch and enjoy. So much so, that there are even dedicated parenting influencers who provide tips, advice and relatable stories – along with plenty of adorable pictures and videos, of course.

While that’s great for parents, it also provides an opportunity for those who want to promote products for parents and babies, as this post will explore.

Parents as influencers

Over the past decade, it’s become the norm to see Millennials as the new kid on the block. These tech-savvy youngsters were entering the workforce, with Baby Boomers and Generation Z baffled by their short attention spans and lack of commitment – to quote a couple of cliches.

Fast forward to the 2020s, and Millennials have grown up. While definitions vary, Millennials are those born between 1980 and the mid-1990s. That means Millennials are now those aged between their mid-twenties and late thirties. For many of us, that means one thing – time for babies.

The result is that the latest cohort of parents are mostly Millennials, almost all of them are on social media and, like all parents, they’re on the look-out for some much-needed advice. That’s paved the way for parenting influencers. These like-minded Millennials have curated a following by documenting their parenting journey on platforms Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Are they parenting experts?

Not necessarily. Baby and parent influencers aren’t restricted to people with a degree in child psychology. In many cases, they’re parents who are finding their feet – just like those who follow them. This adds a unique, relatable quality, which is actually why they’re so trusted by their audience.

With 81% of consumers trusting their family and friends’ advice over that from business, this is a huge factor when it comes to promoting baby products.

What can they promote?

There are a vast array of baby products which influencers can promote on Instagram and beyond. This includes everything from prams and car-seats to the best brands of nappies and baby formula. It also covers every stage of parenthood, from pregnancy right up to teenagers.

On top of that, you’ll find various niches such as baby fashion and kids’ nutrition. Not to mention influencers who help the parents themselves. Fitness after pregnancy, working from home with kids, ways to relax and unwind when you get five minutes to yourself – the possibilities are almost endless.

Finding the right parent & baby influencers

With so many potential avenues to go down, it’s so important to find the right parent and baby influencer for your products. Fortunately, that’s never been easier, thanks to Find Your Influencer.

With a vast network of hand-picked influencers, we pride ourselves on matching brands with the best influencers for their requirements. See for yourself - read one of our influencer campaign case studies.

To find out more, simply contact our team.

What is the Value of a Social Media Influencer?

Social media influencers can be a powerful ally for any business. But like any investment, it’s important to consider the cost – not to mention the value you get in return.

In truth, there’s far more to social media influencing than the return on investment (ROI) alone. Read on as we look at ways of tracking ROI from influencers on social media, and the value they add elsewhere.

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Why influencer value is tricky…

ROI is calculated by dividing financial gain by the cost of an investment. It’s shown as a percentage, with larger numbers signifying a better ROI.

However, in marketing, that calculation doesn’t quite work. Why? There are a number of factors that can lead to financial gain over time, but they’re not easy to attribute to a single marketing campaign.

That’s especially the case if influencers are promoting your brand rather than specific products or services. How do you measure the results of better brand awareness? Let’s say you get 500 likes on a social media post that’s shared by an influencer or 1000 new followers following their involvement. It’s hard to put a specific value on this, but it can’t simply be dismissed.

In many cases, companies will take an educated guess. Unfortunately, this can be problematic when it comes to reviewing success. How can you decide whether a campaign was worthwhile if you don’t know its value? Should you continue using influencers or would your investment be better elsewhere?

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Is there a solution?

How can you track how much you’re getting back from your investment in influencer marketing?

At Find Your Influencer, we provide influencers with a unique URL to use in their promotions, allowing brands to precisely track how many sales are generated by people clicking through on their links. This allows you to see how specific influencers are performing, calculating a specific ROI for each influencer. If you’re using multiple influencers, you can compare these numbers to see who is providing the most value directly.

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Added value from social media influencers

With influencer marketing, it’s not just about direct ROI. There are several factors which could lead to more sales for your business over time, but that wouldn’t necessarily be attributed to your influencers. That’s important to consider the value they add elsewhere…

Awareness

One of the biggest benefits of influencer marketing is that it gets your brand out there. Potential customers become more familiar with your brand the more they’re exposed to it online.

Should they eventually see your products in store or an advert for your services, they might be more likely to make a purchase having seen the brand before.

Following

Having your business promoted by influencers on social media can also lead to more people following you on those platforms. That means a bigger audience to connect with, build loyalty within and sell to in the future.

Association

In some cases, influencer marketing can even create an association between your brand and the influencer’s characteristics or qualities. Customers link your product to what they know about the influencer.

Just look at Mo Farah’s endorsement of Quorn on TV adverts. Suddenly, Quorn is seen as the food product for health enthusiasts.

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Find a social media influencer for your brand

Influencers can add huge value to any business. But it’s important to find the right fit for your brand. At Find Your Influencer, our goal is to make this process a whole lot easier.

To get started, you can list your campaign on our site. Influencers will contact you, so you can discuss the project directly and find the right person for you.

If you’re looking for more support, our team is on hand to manage the whole process. We can assist with briefing, contracts, delivery, reporting – and recommend the best influencers for your campaign. Any questions? Give us a call on 0161 731 0048.

What is a good Instagram engagement rate?

Engagement rate is the heartbeat of Instagram influencer marketing, revealing how actively an influencer's audience connects with their content. Put simply, it’s the percentage of followers who interact – liking, commenting, sharing or clicking – showing just how impactful their influence really is.

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How to calculate an Instagram influencer’s engagement rate

The first option for calculating your Instagram engagement rate is to divide their total number of likes and comments (past 30 days) by their follower count, and then multiply by 100 to give you a percentage.

So what is a good engagement rate?

To understand what the number actually means and whether it is good or bad. Below is an industry standard guideline so you can benchmark results:

Less than 1% = low engagement rate 

Between 1% and 3.5% = average/good engagement rate 

Between 3.5% and 6% = high engagement rate 

Above 6% = very high engagement rate 

Engagement rate benchmarks by platform

Of course, an Instagram influencer may also be active on several other social platforms too. What is considered a good engagement rate on one may not be as impressive on another.

Engagement rates vary from platform to platform, depending on factors such as content type, posting frequency and the authenticity of the influencer's connection with their followers. Here’s a breakdown of engagement rates for Instagram, TikTok and YouTube:

1. Instagram:
Excellent: 5%+
Good: 3-5%
Average: 1-3%
Low: <1%

2. TikTok:
Excellent: 10%+
Good: 7-10%
Average: 4-7%
Low: <4%

3. YouTube:
Excellent: 4%+
Good: 2-4%
Average: 1-2%
Low: <1%

Engagement rate by follower count

It’s not just the platform that affects an influencer’s engagement rate – so does the size of their audience. Influencers are typically categorised into tiers, and engagement rates can differ significantly. 

It’s important to remember that a higher follower count doesn’t necessarily result in a higher engagement rate (ER). Often, smaller accounts that have built a closer connection with their followers will enjoy the highest ER. 

Let’s take a closer look at the different influencer categories:

Nano influencers (1K–10K followers):
Typically have the highest engagement: 4-10%+.
Their smaller, highly targeted audiences often result in more trust and interaction.

Micro-influencers (10K–100K followers):
Engage rates are strong but slightly lower than nano: 3-8%.

Mid-tier influencers (100K–500K followers):
ERs decline with increased followers: 2-5%.

Macro influencers (500K–1M followers):
Engagement rates typically fall between 1.5-4%.

Mega influencers/celebrities (1M+ followers):
Lowest engagement: 0.5-2%, as their audiences are larger and less niche.

What to aim for in influencer selection?

• Niche relevance: Even influencers with "lower" engagement rates can still be effective if their audience aligns well with your product.

• Balanced follower engagement: Look for consistent likes, comments, and authentic discussions – fake followers and bots can distort engagement.

• Context matters: Some niches (such as luxury interiors or finance) naturally have lower engagement due to the nature of the content.

So, what is a good engagement rate?

In summary, as an industry standard, an engagement rate on Instagram between 1% and 3% is generally good, it is the average we see on an influencer's profile. If the engagement rate is higher than 3%, that is a good sign that their audience is very engaged with their content, and if it is below 1%, it means their audience as a whole is not very engaged with their content. 

Keep in mind, a number of things influence engagement rate on Instagram, such as the time of each individual post, the frequency of posting, the number of followers, the content and messaging and the Instagram algorithm (and the limitations that sometimes come with it).

So when you are deciding what influencer to work with, or comparing a cohort of influencers, make sure you consider engagement rate. It's an important metric to consider and should not be ignored when choosing influencers for your campaign. 

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If you have any questions about engagement rates on Instagram, or would like to collaborate with a UK influencer, you can email hello@findyourinfluencer.co.uk or call 0161 731 0048 to chat with our team any time.

FYI secures partnership with Aldi Taste Kitchen & Instagram star Sara Kiyo - Shisodelicious

Looking to inspire parents with exciting ‘Back to School’ lunchbox recipes, Aldi Taste Kitchen collaborated with Instagram star Shishodelicious to create colourful, plant based bento box recipe videos.
 
In September 2018, Find Your Influencer secured a partnership with Aldi Taste Kitchen and @shisodelicious - Sara Kiyo, an Instagram star known for her colourful, plant based bento boxes. Bento is a Japanese-style packed lunch: rice plus several small side-dishes packed neatly in a bento box.

The Results

Sara Kiyo created two bright and inspirational bento box recipes, using only Aldi ingredients!, resulting in each video reaching over 250,000 views on YouTube in just over 7 days! Take a look at the final videos below and learn how to make Pink Tortilla Wraps with a Rainbow Fruit Salad, along with a Bean Mash Rainbow Salad.

Sara Kiyo also supported the campaign by creating bright and colourful photography, which was shared on her Instagram Feed and Instagram Story to her 94.1K followers!

NEED SOME HELP FINDING THE PERFECT INFLUENCER FOR YOUR BRAND?

Contact us today on 0161 731 0048 or email us on hello@findyourinfluencer.co.uk

5 Key Components for a Successful Influencer Marketing Campaign

The vast majority of marketers across the globe are increasing their influencer marketing budgets for 2019, and by 2022 Influencer marketing ad spend is poised to reach between $5 billion and $10 billion! A recent study also showed that a majority of marketers will spend anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000 on influencer marketing.

So, what makes a successful influencer marketing campaign? We’ve listed below what we believe to be the top five key components:

1. Proven Influencers

Identifying the right influencers is integral to your campaign, with 75% of marketers identifying it as their biggest challenge. Not all influencers are created equal, and knowing the difference between micro, power-middle, and top-tier influencers will help to determine who is right for your campaign.

Holding influencers accountable for driving business results is necessary for a successful influencer campaign. An effective influencer campaign utilises influencers who have the proven ability to engage with their followers, and inspire them to take action. The effectiveness of influencers is determined by engagement, clicks and conversions, not by their follower count.

2. Compelling Story

It’s important to create messaging that can be translated into a larger brand story – stories can affect consumers far more than billboards, statistics, or discount offerings. Information is better retained when it’s consumed in story-form, and influencers are effective storytellers, having amassed their following as a result of their ability to emotionally connect with and understand their followers.

3. Variety of Quality Content

As consumers pay less and less attention to traditional advertising methods, it becomes increasingly important for marketers to develop new ways to creatively capture audience attention. Influencer content is valuable because each piece is unique and produced in the same style that made the influencer successful in the first place, while presenting the brand’s core message in a manner that resonates with the audience. The content establishes an emotional connection between the influencer and their influencers, and is effective in inspiring action.  

Content creator and Instagram guru, @allthatsheis, is a great example of how an influencer can use her style and creativity to capture the attention of her audience. Her carefully-curated feed, which she updates once a day, has become something of a modern art form. Major brands such as Disney, Dyson, eBay, Mastercard, and many more, have cottoned on to the Instagram influencer and have all commissioned her to run advertisements on her channels. 

4.     Actionable CTA

The call-to-action (CTA) should be short, direct and actionable. Consumers need to be offered something that they need, which will then drive them to the next step in the process. A strong CTA compels consumers to take the further action desired of them, whether it’s visiting a landing page in order to learn more about the product or brand, signing up for a mailing list, a giveaway, a coupon, or making a purchase.

Photo credit @fashioninflux

5. Tracking your ROI

It's imperative when working with influencers to have a strong tracking mechanism. Ask influencers to use trackable links so you can measure traffic, engagement and, ideally, conversions on your site if possible. Alternatively, you could direct your influencer campaign into a branded landing page in order to measure the ROI of that influencer. The influencers can have as much free reign as you'll permit, as long as they drive their audience where you want them to go. Once on the landing page, you, as the brand, can incentivise the users and capture their lead info for measurement data and future communication.

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Not sure where to start with your influencer marketing campaign? Contact us today on 0161 731 0048 or email us on hello@findyourinfluencer.co.uk

How influencer marketing accelerates the path to purchase

While one in three consumers trust influencer opinions and recommendations when making purchase decisions, it’s important to note that consumers are not referring to traditional celebrity endorsements. Rather, consumers trust people who are just like them – peers they identify with who have built sizeable social followings based on authentic content and the relationship they’ve built with their audiences – and they trust these individuals over celebrities at a rate of seven to one.

As a result, more than a third of marketers (36%) will integrate influencer content with e-commerce to drive product sales this year. When combined with traditional shopper marketing tactics like free samples or elaborate in-store displays, influencer shopper marketing can deliver concrete business results across every stage of the path to purchase, from awareness and consideration to conversion and purchase.

1. Awareness

Whether looking to generate awareness for a product launch or a seasonal push, influencer marketing campaigns can activate hundreds of influencers who create thousands of pieces of original content about a product or brand. The influencers then share the content across multiple social networks, increasing awareness through authentic stories and experiences versus the limited amount of real-estate available in brand-created traditional ads or digital display ads.

2. Consideration

84% of consumers say that it’s important to hear about others’ experiences before making a purchase. By nature, influencer marketing is ripe ground for cultivating honest product reviews and other valuable content like tips, recipes, or how-to articles and tutorials. Consumers that are introduced to a product or brand through positive affirmation by a trusted source are more likely to consider purchasing the product for themselves.

Video credit to Jamie Genevieve

3. Conversion

Now that you’ve got their attention, how do you convert their likes and shares into clicks to learn more and email newsletter signups? It’s uncommon that consumers take a deeper action during the first introduction to a product or service, so brands turn to influencer marketing to inspire conversions over time. Today, more brands are investing in multi-flight, “always on” influencer marketing campaigns versus individual, one-off initiatives to nurture prospects into customers and drive deeper loyalty.

4. Purchase

Performance-based influencer marketing programs that are built to drive lower-funnel goals hold influencers accountable for creating content that inspires their audiences to take action. When structured to perform against specific shopper marketing goals, like in-store or online purchases, influencer marketing programs drive concrete business results that go far beyond short-term vanity metrics like reach.

Reaching your target consumer with a relevant message at the moment they are ready to make a purchase and inspiring them to take action is the ultimate goal for shopper marketing campaigns. From awareness and consideration to conversion and purchase, influencer marketing’s ability to drive consumers down the path to purchase through the trusted opinions of their peers is the hottest new tactic in every shopper marketer’s media mix.

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Not sure where to start with your influencer marketing campaign? Contact us today on 0161 731 0048 or email us on hello@findyourinfluencer.co.uk

Influencer Marketing for the Hotel Industry

Generating exposure can be tough for any brand, no matter how big or small. And that goes for the hotel industry too.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how beautiful your lakeside view is or how crisp your linens are if nobody sees them. You need to spread the word far and wide, and one of the most incredible ways to do it is with influencer marketing.

This new approach to social media marketing can generate up to 11 times the ROI of traditional advertising – and it’s hard to argue with cold hard numbers. Keep reading to find out how your hotel brand can take advantage of the up-and-coming trend…

Your target market is turning to social media

In this modern age, people are going online to perform in-depth research before making decisions on purchases – and they’re turning to influencers for guidance too.

Did you know that 66% of your audience trust consumer opinions posted online? Add in the fact that only 1% of millennials (that’s people aged 18-34 to me and you) have been influenced by a traditional advert, and it’s easy to see why influencer marketing is skyrocketing.

95% of millennials follow brands through social media. That’s a huge demographic – fresh to the workforce with disposable income – all flocking to the same few online platforms. Whether it’s Snapchat, Twitter or Instagram, it’s incredibly important to ensure your brand is represented in a positive light on the same platforms your target customers are using. And influencer marketing is a powerful way to achieve this goal.

Photo credit to Em Sheldon

Does influencer marketing work in the hotel industry?

100% yes. In fact, 42% of baby boomers admit that social media influences their booking decision. And, according to research into millennial travel trends, 87% look at Facebook for travel inspiration with 97% posting their experiences online whilst travelling.

Influencers hold significant weight, whether it’s through tweets, blogging or vlogging. They have the power to affect purchase decisions. From 1,000 to 100,000 followers, influencers have clout which can’t be ignored. This is especially prevalent in the travel industry, where consumers are more likely to use social media for inspiration, reviews and recommendations.

Consumers react positively to influencer marketing due to increased loyalty. And people trust influencers to deliver posts that are #travelgoals.

Can influencer marketing help my hotel brand?

With the right know how and the appropriate influencers, hotels and accommodation providers can build prosperous and significant relationships.

As a hotel, you may be missing out on a whole range of guests. Influencers can navigate these people to your website directly, using hashtags, images and videos. The aim is to entice customers with content that makes them want to hop, skip and jump all the way to your front door.

The beauty of the influencer is that they can help you understand and adapt your strategies. Influencers capture data, create original content and boost sales. With relatively little input on your part, you can enjoy a fantastic ROI and a wider global reach.

Finding the best influencer for your business

Before jumping into influencer marketing there’s a couple of things to keep in mind.

1. You want to build lasting relationships – The more the influencer trusts and enjoys your hotel, the more other guests will. It’s about the long-term engagement, it shouldn’t be a quick fix.
    

2. You understand your brand more than anyone else – That’s why it’s important to connect with an influencer who can match this brand seamlessly, whilst still bringing their own original ideas and content. This makes the marketing seem less “staged” and gives a sense of authentic content.
   

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Need some help?

Not sure where to start with your influencer marketing campaign? Contact us today on 0161 731 0048 or email us on hello@findyourinfluencer.co.uk

4 INFLUENCER MARKETING TRENDS IN 2018

1. Marketers Fight Against Influencer Marketing Fraud

The shift from surface level, fluffy metrics like reach and awareness signals the growing importance of influencer marketing fraud prevention in 2018. Marketers are willing to invest in the security needed to guarantee the quality of influencers and their audiences in order to maintain the authenticity of influencer content and protect their brands from fraudulent activities. This often includes working with influencer marketing agencies such as Find Your Influencer, who will go the extra mile to monitor the veracity of audience size, online engagements, and click numbers.

2. Influencer Content Drives Greater Returns from Paid, Owned, and Earned Media

Influencer content is nuanced, original, and authentic. The most successful influencer marketing campaigns are the ones where the influencer content is used beyond the original scope of the campaign to improve the performance of other channels (email, website, paid social, native advertising, etc.). 51% of marketers that repurpose influencer content report that it outperforms brand-created content, and of those who have yet to test influencer content against brand created content, 59% plan to do so this year.

Expect to see more brands A/B testing influencer content against brand-created content to determine what pieces will deliver the best results. Advanced marketers will then develop a strategic blueprint using those assets to drive incremental performance from their paid, owned and earned media.  

3. Influencer Content Integrates with E-Commerce to Drive Sales

More marketers are looking at the full consumer journey and holding influencer marketing accountable for driving lower funnel metrics in addition to awareness and engagement. High-impact recommendations, like those from a friend or trusted influencer, are 50 times more likely to trigger a purchase than low-impact recommendations, like ads in a magazine.

4. Advertising/Media Takes Ownership

As targeting capabilities evolve, advertising and media teams, who traditionally have larger budgets, are taking ownership of influencer marketing and managing campaigns with the same rigor that they use with other digital advertising channels. In 2017, 38% of influencer marketing owners were on advertising/media teams, whereas only 15% identified as PR/communications, a notable decrease from 31% in 2016.

In 2018, influencer marketing will more commonly become a line item in the advertising/media budget. The extra pounds allocated to these teams allows marketers to scale the size of their influencer marketing campaigns, increasing the number of influencers they work with and putting more pounds behind the content that’s proven to perform.

It’s no longer a question of whether or not influencer marketing works as it’s been proven to drive concrete business results time and time again. So what can we expect to see from influencer marketing in 2018? Not only will brands invest more in the tactic to combat fraud and ensure its authenticity, but they will also use influencer marketing to test various methods to identify which strategies are the most effective at driving results. Once they’ve developed a strategic blueprint, we’ll see the advanced brands scale their campaigns to drive lower-funnel metrics and greater returns from paid, owned, and earned media.

Got a question about Influencer Marketing? Email us on hello@findyourinfluencer.co.uk or call 0161 731 0048