iGB Affiliate 95_iGB L!VE 2024 | Page 22

TRAFFIC & STRATEGY

SMSO involves the use of things like captions , closed captions , alt-text and keywords in content , descriptions and on social media profiles . What ’ s tricky is that every platform uses a different algorithm , which means the approach used by affiliates looking to increase reach on socials will be channel-dependent .
Today ’ s social media platforms are transforming rapidly , with many branching out into things like ecommerce . The importance of these channels will only increase as we head further into 2024 , which is why it ’ s so critical that affiliates are aware of SMSO .
The evolution of influencer marketing
The influencer phenomenon was born out of the social media boom . The biggest of these digital creators have become global stars and have the power and influence required to strike incredibly lucrative deals with householdname brands .
For affiliates looking to break into the world of social media , partnering with an influencer is always an attractive option . After all , many of the biggest influencers have follower counts in the millions and can kick-start new trends with something as simple as an Instagram post .
However , partnering with the world ’ s biggest influencers is incredibly costly . They demand fees that are far out of reach of the average influencer , reserved only for major global brands .
That ’ s not to say affiliates can ’ t still benefit from influencer partnerships . Micro and nano influencers are a viable alternative and can even offer some advantages when compared to major celebrity influencers . Nano influencers have smaller followings , but these communities are often specific within a niche and highly knowledgeable . This means they can be harnessed to target an extremely responsive customer base . For example , an igaming affiliate could identify and partner with an igaming industry nano influencer , allowing them to market products and services to a customer group that has already demonstrated interest .
Social media collaborations
Social media has essentially democratised the marketing landscape . In the past , advertising products and services would require big budgets and space on TV , in print or on radio . These channels still exist but their relevance is waning as social media continues to expand and grow .
While this has been pivotal for businesses today and has opened up a new world of opportunities , it also means competition is fiercer than ever . One of the most effective
Popular creators on X can now profit directly from content by being given a share of funds generated from ads displayed next to their posts
Micro and nano influencers are a viable alternative and can even offer some advantages when compared to major celebrity influencers
approaches for affiliates to cut through the noise and make an impact in this incredibly crowded market landscape is to focus on brand partnerships and social media collaborations .
Partnerships have long been valuable for businesses , with research indicating that they can often account for up to 28 % of a company ’ s revenue . They can be equally as effective for affiliates as partnering with the right brands will give you access to new customer groups and will create new content opportunities .
However , affiliates must ensure they are partnering and collaborating with the right brands . Look for partners that match your brand values and make sure any potential partnerships do not throw up any compliance issues .
Monetisation on X
Tech mogul Elon Musk ’ s takeover of Twitter continues to make headlines . For all the criticism
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