MAL 30:19 MAL30 | Page 20

PUBLIC RELATIONS Building Viable Relationships With Influencers By Irene Mbonge "More than ever, consumers are looking to fellow consumers to inform their purchasing deci- sions. The rise of social media has opened up a new channel for brands to connect with con- sumers more directly and more organically. If a brand is not using social media influencer marketing as a strategy to bet- ter attract its target audience, it may be time for the company to start evaluating their adver- tising strategy." 18 MAL30/19 ISSUE "It’s influencers, rather than brands, who are going to have the best ideas about how to tap the connection with their audiences. Giving up control can be difficult for brands, but it’s often neces- sary. While brands need to make their campaign and business ob- jectives clear, they also need to trust influencers to understand their market and relinquish the creative reins to create content that really resonates."