By Heather Austin, Principal – Phoenix
Communication channels continue to evolve, and social media is no exception. Sometimes organizations may feel overwhelmed managing and creating strategic content and the thought of adding influencers partnerships to their “to-do” list can feel daunting.
However, with a few tips and the right partner, influencers can quickly and effectively help businesses meet tangible business goals. Below we’re sharing tips to consider when managing influencers as well as 50+ influencers in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and beyond helping brands, non-profits and businesses flourish in the Southwest.
INFLUENCER PARTNERSHIP TIPS
1. Prioritize goals and target audiences
- Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Prioritize 1-2 organizational goals and an audience you’d like to impact to ensure your influencer campaign is focused and effective
- When evaluating the best influencers for your brand, follower count doesn’t matter as much the influencer’s audience engagement with the type of people you want to learn more about your brand.
- Ask potential influencers for their analytics, but also do your homework. Click on people commenting and liking the influencer’s content. Are they people you want engaging with your brand, or are they just the influencers family members or duplicate spam accounts?
2. Plan and Measure a Path
- Every Influencer campaign should have a desired action or path you’d like potential customers (your target audience) to take alongside your influencer partner. Do you want them to RSVP for an event, purchase a product, learn more on your website or visit your location? Ensure the pathway is clear and allows people to easily take the next step. Bonus points if the pathway is measurable so you can easily quantify the impact of each influencer post!
3. Ask Don’t Tell
- While it is important to identify the type, frequency and amount of content you’d like the influencer to create and post on business’s behalf, leave room for outside-of-the box ideas. Brainstorm how best to meet your business goals and engage your target audience with an influencer rather than telling them exactly what to do. Take the time to ask and you’ll quickly be impressed with their creative ideas to increase their followers’ affinity with your brand.
4. Organize and Track
- For each influencer partner, create a one-sheet that details your:
- Campaign Goals
- Your Key Messages
- Call to Action/Measurable if possible
- Video/photo ideas – locations and parts of your business they’re allowed/encouraged to visually share
- Requested posting dates and type/amount of content on specific platform
- Required tags or collaborator info
- Required info that this is paid/sponsored content
- Defined payment: money or in-kind such as tickets to your waterpark
- Require each influencer to share their analytics after the campaign, but ensure your team is also tracking tangible impacts such as increased website traffic, event signups, product purchases, etc.
5. Allow Authenticity
- In addition to clearly labeling any partnership as sponsored, make sure the influencer actually likes your business/brand and has the flexibility to share what most impresses them, instead of being so rigid in the messaging you “think” they should share.
FIFTY CREATIVE SOUTHWEST INFLUENCERS
- Yull Ryu @Rysauce
- Emily Romero @Eatmelasvegas
- Rebecca Propes @RebeccaDIY
- Philip Tzeng @lasvegasfill
- Dong-Kyu (Daniel) Kim @ dongkyuverymuch
- Diana Brandt @AZFoodie
- Melissa Anaya @EatDrinkAZ
- Jonathan Tso (JT) @jayteetakesabite
- Kim Sneed @ANightOwlMedia and @ANightOwlTravels
- AJ Johnson @XOAJohnson
- Jenny Everve The Sensible Shopaholic
- Megan Stephen @the_stephen_3
- Anne Riggs @Lasvegasriggs
- Angelina Florczyk @Angelinaflorczyk
- Angel Khonesavanh @Keytomyheartofficial
- Robyn @Pearlletta
- Luke Kayyem @LukeKayyem
- Cassandra Cooper @Yochowdaa
- Amanda Getchell Stevenson @Middle_Manda
- Rebecca Lopez @CraftedSparrow
- Danielle Lerner @DanielleLernerTV @DanielleLernerTV
- Sophia Phan @Sophiafoodphan
- Toni Ryan @Holagato
- Julie Kim Battaglia @Julzkimmm
- Jay Cariaga @jaytheruler
- Samiya Jakubowicz @socialsami
- Skylar Hugo @lasvegashungry
- Dana Cortez @danacortez
- Felicia Romero @feliciaromero @feliciaromero
- Bentley @likethecar
- Aimee @golden_aimeee
- Florinda Wilson @Sparklemommtravels
- Velia @its.veliaa
- Veronica Leon @Mackidveronica
- Liz Call @lizoncall
- Chanda @AllPinkEverything
- Kendria Godair @kendria_godair
- Tiara Deahn @Sassy_Curls
- Andrea Robinson @AndreaRobinsonTV
- Ben Lamoreaux @Dadbod_Destroyer
- Nada @Momventure_world_in_az
- DJ Automatic @djautomatic
- Shanelle Kunz @Shanelle.WestValley
- Rachel Willis @MyDisorganizedLife
- Chloe Kendra @thebusybrunetteblog
- Melissa Lou-Ellis @newmexico_foodie_in_fashion
- Tiffani Monique @Tiffani.monique
- Breanna Bloomquist @Brebloomquist
- Caridad Maldonado @Caridadrosalia_
- Stefany Volmer @vegasbythebite
- Lindsay Stewart @thelasvegasfoodie
- Vegas Family Fun Guide @vegasfamilyguide
- Vegas is Fun @lasvegasisfun_
