Effective marketing has always been about persuading people to purchase products or services from a particular company. Brands spend a lot of money and time creating compelling advertisements, promotional campaigns, and marketing strategies to get the attention of their target audience. However, in today’s digital age, traditional methods of marketing are no longer enough to establish brand visibility and drive conversions. The art of influencing has become a valuable tactic for companies to improve their reach, meet digital marketing goals and increase brand equity.
Influencer marketing, which involves working with individuals who have a significant following on social media, is now a mainstream marketing channel. Many companies, including fashion, beauty, and technology brands, have reaped the benefits of partnering with influencers to create buzz around their products and increase brand visibility. Influencer marketing enables companies to reach a vast audience that trusts and respects the recommendations of their favorite influencers.
In this article, we will discuss the art of influencing or simply called strategies that companies can use to influence their target audience and increase brand visibility.
1. Collaborate with Influencers
The most commonly used way to leverage influencer marketing is by collaborating with influencers. Influencers have established a massive following on various social media platforms, from Instagram and Twitter to YouTube and blogs. By promoting a product or service on their channel, influencers can drive traffic to a company’s website and generate conversions. Companies can partner with macro and micro-influencers depending on their target audience and budget.
2. Leverage User-Generated Social Content
Social media platforms give every person with an internet connection a voice. Hence, companies can encourage their social media followers to share their experiences using their products and services. User-generated content can be photos, reviews, and videos posted on social media platforms. Creating a branded hashtag campaign can help companies track and measure the effectiveness of user-generated content.
3. Branding through Social Media
Social media platforms present various avenues through which companies can showcase their brand and attract new consumers. Companies can engage with their followers by creating unique, attention-grabbing, and visually appealing social media posts. Consistently posting quality content is the first step in building a social media following. Companies can offer consumers exclusive content and giveaways to incentivize consumers to engage with their brand.
Building a social media following can be a daunting task, but it is an essential part of growing your brand. Here are a few tips to help you build a strong following on social media:
- Identify your target audience: Knowing who your ideal customers are is crucial in creating content and messaging that resonates with them.
- Share quality content consistently: You should aim to post quality content regularly to keep your followers engaged and interested.
- Use the right hashtags: Hashtags help increase the visibility of your content and allow people to easily find your posts.
- Engage with your followers: Respond to comments and messages promptly, and initiate conversations with your followers. This will help build a relationship and keep your followers engaged.
- Collaborate with other accounts: Partnering with other accounts in your niche can help expose your brand to a new audience and help you gain more followers.
- Run social media contests and giveaways: This can be an effective way to increase engagement and acquire new followers.
- Invest in paid social media advertising: Paid advertising on social media platforms can help you reach a wider audience and promote your brand to more people.
Taking the time to build a strong social media following can greatly benefit your brand and business in the long run.
4. Search Engine Optimization
Many consumers turn to search engines when looking for information on a product or service. Therefore, optimizing the content of a company’s website for search engines can improve the brand’s visibility on the internet. SEO involves using keywords, meta tags, image optimization, and other methods to ensure that a website ranks higher on search engines like Google. Better search results mean more potential customers find a company’s website.
5. Collaboration with other Brands
Collaborating with other brands has increasingly become a savvy way for companies to increase their brand visibility. Partnering with companies that share similar values, target demographics or product offerings can lead to cross-promotion, sharing of followers, and generating valuable leads. Both companies can gain access to a broader and more diverse audience than they would have alone.
6. Sponsorship
Sponsorship is a way of exposing a brand directly to a target audience. Companies can sponsor events, shows, and even other influencers to generate brand awareness. Many companies are looking to sponsor events and activities that resonate with their brand and target audience, and this can be an opportunity to reach more people.
7. Creative Content
Creating quality content goes beyond social media platforms. It involves developing creative content, such as blog posts, videos, and infographics that resonate with the target audience. Companies should determine the formats that will best appeal to their customers, and then create unique and innovative content.
8. Giveaways and Promotions
Everyone loves free merchandise and promotions. Companies can leverage this craving by offering giveaways, discounts, and other promotions. Offering promotions not only incentivize customers to buy but also has the potential to attract new customers exploring a brand.
It’s essential to understand that influencer marketing is just one part of a bigger strategy. Companies should use other marketing methods that complement influencer marketing. The art of influencing requires consistent, creative, and innovative strategies that align with the company’s overall goals and objectives.
In conclusion, the art of influencing can help companies generate brand awareness and increase brand visibility in an over-saturated digital marketing landscape. It involves developing creative campaigns and leveraging various marketing channels, including social media, collaborations, and promotions. To achieve success, it’s essential for companies to be consistent in their approach, relevant to their target audience and innovative with their marketing strategies. By combining all these strategies, companies can increase their chances of succeeding in the highly competitive market and improving their brand equity.
To stand out in a crowded market, businesses must provide a unique perspective and repeatedly return to these steps to ensure their social media services are effective. Contact a creative agency DuPont REGISTRY Digital to get set up with a brand identity or tweak the one you already have. DuPont REGISTRY Digital offers website design, app design, brand development, and content services to companies seeking an integrated marketing strategy.