As an entrepreneur, having a strategic plan is more important than ever before, especially when it includes boosting partnerships, collaborating through influencer marketing and participating in some good old-fashioned networking.
The priceless nature of influencer marketing and partnerships
As the title of this blog suggests, it is a dog-eat-dog world. But that doesn’t mean we all need to fend for ourselves. Like the wily canine, we can team up to form partnerships that make us more weatherproof in the face of inevitable storms. Whereas we began the 2020’s with an overwhelming sense of isolation, we are coming to the halfway point with an intention to build trustworthy collaborations that will create an abundance in our businesses.
Utilizing influencers and partnerships in your business sets you up for marketing success by:
- Enhancing brand awareness
- Building trust
- Driving target market engagement
Yes, you could DIY everything and drop tons of money on ads, boosts, etc. But why not team up with an influencer and make use of the huge platform of followers they have built for themselves? It is a cost-effective method that is high in ROI and it will land you a whole gaggle of new customers.
How to make it work for you
During our 15 years in business, we have had to learn about the ins and outs of social media marketing through direct experience with our clients. One thing we always gravitate towards, even after all this time? Collaboration. But how do you build these partnerships?
One of the key steps to having a successful partnership with an influencer or other business is to make sure you have similarly aligned values. You will need to get along with your influencer both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Be very clear in your communication to ensure you both understand the other’s goals.
Here are some more important tips:
Define your goals and target audience before researching influencers
Again, look for an influencer whose content style, values and audience align with your brand. Know what you want before you go shopping. Look at their follower count, engagement rate and the authenticity with which they connect to their community.
Build a relationship first
Engage with their content before reaching out and, when you do, personalize your outreach so they know you are authentic about your intentions.
As a PR firm, we have relationships with many influencers already established, which is helpful to all of our clients when they are ready to use this form of marketing in their business.
Collaborate on content creation
You will need to be involved just as much as the influencer. Again, when you are working with a PR firm, they will handle all of this for you. It is important to give the influencer creative freedom, as their personality and style is what makes them popular with their followers. However, you will want to ensure that any content is also aligned with your brand and marketing strategy and will help you accomplish your own goals and objectives.
Once you have completed your work with an influencer, make sure to monitor and measure results. Continue a strong line of communication to build a long-term partnership.
Influencer marketing is a great way to form a long-lasting partnership that will continue to benefit your brand for years to come. If you combine this effective strategy with working alongside an established PR firm, you will have an even more successful go at your new partnership venture.
Ready to get started? Contact us to learn more about our strategic marketing, branding, communications and PR services!
