Influencer Marketing Trends for 2019

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Margaux J Rathbun, One of Thousands of Business Coaches on Noomii.

Have you noticed how popular influencer marketing is? Are you thinking about incorporating it into your 2019 marketing strategy? Well, I am here to tell you that you are making a smart move!

It is no secret that influencer marketing has been trending since 2017 and is still in full-swing for 2019. Last year, many of brands leaned on both macro and micro-influencers to reach their targeted audience on various social media platforms. From YouTube to Instagram, influencer content creation has evolved and has been refined to cater to the needs of the various social media audiences.

For the upcoming year, I predict there are going to be refinements, new rules and trends for influencer marketing strategies. Every social media influencer has their own niche audience, so it is important that brands do their research. It’s not always about the number of followers an influencer should have! There is much more that you should take into consideration prior to conducting influencer outreach for your marketing campaign.

In fact, there is a checklist of things you have to take care of as a Marketer, before shortlisting your list of targeted influencers. This list should include determining the types of content that they create, the influencer’s target audience (and if they have purchased followers…something that is a big “no-no” in my book), the platform the influencer primarily uses and the cost involved in reaching out to their audience. If you are struggling with getting started on launching your first influencer marketing campaign, shoot me a note! I’d be happy to talk with you about ways I can ensure that your campaign is a success.

Now let’s get to the good stuff. Here are some of the influencer marketing trends I predict for 2019:

· Both macro and micro-influencers have started turning their personal brands into businesses. In fact, many countries have started recognizing social media influencers as entrepreneurs! In 2019, I predict that we will see an increase in influencers positioning themselves as online entrepreneurs. I’ve already been seeing this trend with many of the influencers that I currently work with. I assist them in launching online courses, hosting live webinars, and creating informative eBooks that they sell on Amazon. If you are an influencer looking for ways to generate some income, send me an email! Let’s brainstorms some ways that we can set you up with a steady-stream of passive income.

· Influencers are becoming increasingly transparent about divulging if their content has been sponsored or if they have received free products from a brand. This is due in part to social media platforms like Instagram encouraging the influencers to communicate this to their audiences prior to posting. In fact, Germany and the UAE have already started implementing and encouraging this with the influencers that reside in their countries. In 2019, I predict that full-disclosure will become a legal obligation to an influencer’s audience in many other countries.

· Purchasing fake followers will become a thing of the past. I have seen many influencers get their hands slapped (especially by brands) for purchasing fake followers in an attempt to boost their numbers. With all of the improvements in digital technology, it is now easy identify which influencers have fake followers and which ones have built their audience the authentic way. Influencers are also recognizing that fake followers do little to help with their engagement (which is something brands are very attracted to, especially when selecting to work with an influencer). If you are tempted to purchase followers, just say no! Send me a note so I can help you build your social media following in an authentic way!

· Machine learning and artificial intelligence has been a huge trend in 2018 and I anticipate that it will continue to be used in online marketing, especially for analyzing the data associated with influencer marketing and online campaigns. AI is being used to understand influencer’s audiences, past performance of sponsored content, brand affinity, and sponsorship saturation. Data is now the center of every marketing strategy and decision made by brands.

Are you thinking about getting started with your very own influencer marketing campaign? Congratulations and I would love to help you out! From discussing strategies to assisting with the influencer outreach process, I can work with you and your marketing team to ensure your campaign is a success. Please send me and email so we can set up a time to talk.