Article

5 Major Mistakes You're Making With Influencers

Published on

August 6, 2022

Category

Brands & Agencies

AUTHOR

Julian Slosse

1) Not building relationships with your influencers

Not building relationships with key influencers is one of the most common social media mistakes businesses make. Influencers are people with large audiences who can help to spread the word about your brand. However, simply reaching out and asking for help is not enough. You need to build a relationship with influencers in order to get them on board. Start by engaging with their content and leaving thoughtful comments.

Then, look for opportunities to collaborate, such as co-hosting an event or guest-blogging on each other's sites. As you develop a rapport with influencers, they will be more likely to promote your brand to their followers. Therefore, investing time in building relationships with key influencers can pay off in a big way for your business.

If your influencers had an emotional attachment to both the product and your business then they will definitely go the extra mile for you!

2) Using influencer marketing on incorrect platforms

influencer marketing has become one of the most popular and effective marketing strategies in recent years. By partnering with influencers who have a large and engaged following, businesses can reach a wider audience and generate interest in their products or services. However, it's important to choose the right influencer for your brand and to use them on the correct platform.

For example, although TikTok has become hugely popular, it may not be the best platform for influencer marketing if your target audience is over the age of 35. Similarly, if you're trying to reach a business audience, Instagram may be a better option than Snapchat. By taking the time to select the right influencer and platform for your brand, you can maximise the effectiveness of your influencer campaign.

To summarise, always research where your target audience is consuming content then cater to them! Incorrectly using an influencer can result in your target audience not even seeing the content.

3) Expecting immediate results

If you're working with influencers, it's important to remember that results don't happen overnight. It takes time for an influencer to build up a following and establish themselves as a trusted voice in their field. And it takes even longer for that trust to translate into sales or leads. So if you're expecting immediate results from your influencers, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

Instead, patience is key. Work with your influencers to develop a long-term strategy, and be prepared to see results slowly but surely over time. With a little bit of patience, you'll eventually see the payoff from your investment in influencers.

Rather than focusing on sales make sure you are tracking other KPIs such as brand awareness or website traffic. These are more accurate signs of an influencer's success and your ROI over the full course of the campaign. 

4) Not communicating the deliverables properly

Clear, consistent communication is key in any business relationship - but it's especially important when working with influencers. When you first reach out to an influencer, be clear about what you're looking for. Do you want them to post a photo with your product? Write a review? Make sure they understand your expectations before moving forward.

Once you've agreed on the deliverables, stay in touch throughout the campaign. Send over any additional information or resources they may need, and check in periodically to make sure everything is going according to plan. By maintaining open lines of communication, you can avoid misunderstandings and ensure that your influencer marketing campaign is a success.

That's why at Influencer DNA we make sure both parties are on the same page from start to finish. We avoid any miscommunications by having a detailed and personalised section on our platform so you can discuss and list the exact deliverables before you even start your campaign

5) Ignoring the significance of competitive analysis

Just because someone is an influencer doesn't mean they're the right fit for your brand. In fact, if you're not careful, working with the wrong influencer can do more harm than good. That's why it's essential to do your homework and conduct a competitive analysis before settling on an influencer.

A competitive analysis will help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of both your own brand and your competitors. It will also give you insights into what influencers are already working with your competitors, and what type of content they're creating. With this information in hand, you'll be able to make a more informed decision about which influencer is right for you. So don't ignore the importance of competitive analysis, this will result in you losing time and money!

At Influencer DNA we do the hard work for you! Our database is compiled of the top influencers in each field and category. This means you can be confident that whoever you select from our site will be a perfect fit for your brand. From their eating habits, hobbies and even their age - you can be as picky as you like!

BONUS - Not tracking campaigns correctly

Any digital marketer worth their salt knows that influencer marketing is an essential part of any good campaign. After all, what better way to reach your target audience than through the people they already trust and admire? However, as with any marketing strategy, there's a right way and a wrong way to go about it. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when running an influencer campaign is not tracking your progress correctly.

Without proper tracking, it's impossible to know whether your campaign is truly successful. Are you reaching your target audience? Are they engaging with your content? Are they taking the desired action? These are all important questions that can only be answered through proper tracking. So if you're not already doing so, be sure to start tracking by setting up conversion tracking on all your social platforms and website.

Another crucial thing to track is your brand mentions. This will give you an idea of how often your brand is being talked about online, and what people are saying about it. Impressions on your recent posts after your influencer mentions your product is also a great way to keep track of the traffic they are driving!

Conclusion

If you’re looking to work with influencers, it’s important to avoid these major mistakes. At Influencer DNA we can help direct you and make sure your campaigns run smoothly. With our expertise in this area, you can focus on what you do best – running your business! We really take care of everything. Contact us today to find out more.

Have you tried using influencers in your marketing? What were the results?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julian Slosse