Definition: Influencer

 in Affiliate Marketing / Branding / Influencer Marketing / Social Media by (updated on )

An Influencer is essentially the internet version of a celebrity. The unofficial definition of an influencer says that you need at least 10,000 followers to be classed as an influencer, but the truth is more nuanced than that.

You need to be able to influence the decision making power of your followers on social media. If you can do that, then advertisers will pay you to advertise their brand.

Word of Mouth advertising is still one of the most powerful types of advertising out there, and Influencer Marketing is the social media version of this. As Influencers often operate within a niche (gaming, cooking, make-up etc), they are often entirely unknown by anyone who doesn’t follow them.

However, as influencers often interact with their followers in ways that celebrities generally do not, the connection between an influencer and their fans may seem (to the fan) much more akin to a friendship than a fandom – which is why a comparison with Word of Mouth advertising is apt.

 

7 Things To Know About Influencers

  1. If you hate influencers, think of it this way…. there are excessively popular authors, actors, columnists, musicians etc. The internet was always going to generate its own celebrities.
  2. Unlike traditional celebrities, influencers are often accessible to their fans in various ways. This creates a much more intense fandom, which can be very confusing from the outside.
  3. According to the Digital Marketing Institute, about 3/4s of people trust opinions on social networks when making buying decisions, and 49% of consumers depend on influencer recommendations.
  4. When an influencer operates in a niche interest they can have a lot of influence and celebrity within that niche, while not being known at all by the wider public. This is why influencers really test the limits of what “fame” means.
  5. According to a study by Tapinfluence and Altimeter, 70% of influencers are in it for the money. However, almost 60% of them say they are also hoping to effect some sort of change.
  6. Essentially an internet celebrity. Just because you haven’t heard of them it doesn’t mean they aren’t famous.
  7. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, there are 5 tiers of influencers:
    1) Celebrity (Mega) Influencers
    2) Macro Influencers
    3) Mid-Tier Influencers
    4) Micro-Influencers
    5) Nano-Influencers

 

Summary

Influencer Definition

 

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