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participate in new product development, publish “how-to” guides, and give tips on L’Oréal platforms. The collaboration takes the form of a co-branding exercise between L’Oréal Paris and each influencer. Influencers appreciate it when their style and voice are taken seriously by the brand. What pays off is crafting a working methodology in which the brand and the influencer get to know and trust each other through a highly customized communication. Of course, this approach comes with costs. Developing a few enduring partnerships calls for new expertise in finding the right influencers based on their unique distinct style, in negotiating individual long-term contracts, and in managing the day-to-day relationship. It implies creating intimacy with each influencer, knowing his or her interests, everyday mood, and career goals. It also means tracking new quantitative and qualitative performance metrics. How to maximize on your influencer strategy Just as you need a strategy for your content marketing program, you also need one for your influencer marketing program. An influencer marketing strategy doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, when you’re dealing with hundreds of potential brand ambassadors, keeping it simple is essential. With two out of three millennials blocking traditional ads, brands have recognized the 22 MAL30/19 ISSUE power of influencers to create meaningful dialogue with their communities about brands and products. According to Business Insider Intelligence, the value of the influencer economy is predicted to stretch to between $5 and $10 billion in global ad spend by 2022. But with this growth, brands are engaged in an escalating battle to stand out. Social platforms are increasingly saturated by sponsored content and consumers are skeptical of influencers who come off as “inauthentic.” is to increase brand awareness within a particular audience segment, drive sales of a new product launch, or change brand positioning through creative storytelling, campaign objectives and KPIs should be specific and measurable, including timeframes, platforms, audiences and metrics. Focus on alignment In order to effectively cut through the noise and help any business marketer with their influencer strategy, it is imperative to: There is no set template for what makes an influencer able to deliver results. But focusing on brand alignment over follower numbers enables brands to select talent that resonates with the target audience, even if this means flexing on a tried-and- tested formula. Lay the foundations Collaborate, don’t transact Starting with a clear vision of the target consumer and campaign objectives has a big impact on driving successful influencer activations. Really think about who you are and what message you're trying to communicate. Whether the objective While choosing the right partners and ambassadors is half the challenge, nurturing long-term, reciprocal relationships with your influencers is critical to creating maximum value. Take time to get to know the person, their While influencer marketing based on tra- ditional media has been used in marketing for many years, the rise of social media has created the boom of social media influenc- er marketing. Social media influencer mar- keting has successfully changed the way brands interact with consumers, especially in regard to lifestyle branding.