Social Media Influencer

What do you think when you hear the term social media influencer? Do you think of internet celebrities with millions of followers? Do you think of celebrities who have used social media to promote their films or TV shows? Execute you think about famous personalities who have created wildly popular Twitter accounts like Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Fallon, and Barack Obama? While plenty of people fit this definition, it’s important to know that the term social media influencer has a much broader meaning than most people realize.

What is an influencer?

An influencer is a person who influences the people who like their posts. The more followers an individual has, the greater their influence. An influencer’s following can range from a few hundred to several million, depending on their social media platform. Instagram celebrities with well over 10 million followers can earn up to $150,000 per promotional post on Instagram alone.

What Are Social Media Influencers?

Social media influencers have built a brand based on their social media presence. This means they usually have an enormous following, either through a blog or by participating in other online activities, like tweeting and Instagramming. In return for promoting a product or service to their followers, they are rewarded with an affiliate link or some form of monetary payment (depending on the brand). Because they have such an engaged following, this can translate into increased sales for the company they are affiliated with.

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Types of Influencers

A social media influencer (sometimes called a digital influencer) can be anyone who has amassed a following by creating and sharing content through social media. Types of influencers include personalities, often with niche interests, micro-influencers with relatively small but very engaged audiences, and macro-influencers.

The main type of influencer I want to talk about is the personality type. You may have seen these people in various campaigns; they range from beauty vloggers to fitness gurus to motivational speakers.

By Types of Content

A Social Media Influencer, also called a content creator, producer, social media celebrity, or internet personality, are users of social media sites like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. They produce and use social media posts on their channels to grow a personal following and fan base or promote brands. Their popularity on the platform can often lead to them being considered an industry leader, leading to high-value partnerships with major brands. Often these influencers post sponsored content on their channels that typically earn them an upfront payment and an added commission for every click or impression their followers make.

By Level of Influence

An influencer’s level of influence refers to how many people they reach on social media. These levels range from micro-influencers with less than 10,000 followers on Instagram to macro-influencers with over 10 million followers. The more followers an influencer has the more sponsorships and advertising opportunities they have. For example, for the Super Bowl in 2016, many Twitter users retweeted tweets with just 1% engagement, but one user tweeted about hair conditioners and received 34% engagement. The higher the engagement rate of an advertisement or tweet from an influencer who has reached their target market (more on that later), the more companies are willing to pay for these endorsements or advertisements.

Best Social Media Platforms for Influencers

One of the best ways to leverage influencers is to have them promote your brand on social media. If you are trying to pinpoint the best social media platforms for influencers, I recommend looking at Instagram. The re-gramming and ability to scroll through photo feed on Instagram make it a favorite among many top influencers. Other really good options are Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook, which offer publishing posts and interaction with followers.

How much do Influencers Make?

No two social media influencers are the same. Some bloggers make six figures a year, but others might only make a few hundred bucks. The main factors that come into play are the following: ·Audience size ·Brand recognition ·Content quality (i.e., how engaging it is) ·Engagement rates (i.e., likes, shares, comments)