Are Social Influencers the Future for Businesses?
COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO GAIN CUSTOMERS: REFERRALS
Minimal Effort from Businesses and High Trust Levels Makes Referrals Key
John Dugan has been a popular YouTube sensation with over 145,000 subscribers and over 12 Million views since his start in April 2015. Under the name ‘Resale Rabbit’, John has quickly become a fan favorite within the YouTube world. John spoke on a panel at the 2019 Reverse Logistics Association Conference and Expo about his expertise with social media.
John explained, “People follow YouTubers and watch them once or twice a week. Followers feel a bond to them like they are friends and that they know the YouTuber. So, when you see a YouTuber recommend going to a website and check out this supplier who can help supply products for you to resell, it’s almost like getting a referral from a friend. Followers trust their favorite YouTubers.”
According to Forbes, “Influencer marketing is a relationship between a brand and an influencer. The influencer promotes the brand’s products or services through various media outlets such as Instagram and YouTube. Influencers must be trusted figures within a niche community and retain a loyal following. In addition, they typically possess knowledge or experience about what they are advertising.”
Many industries, such as the fashion/beauty industry, have started utilizing influencer marketing to connect their brand with their target audience. In fact, a recent Nielsen study found that 92% of consumers trust word-of-mouth recommendations above all other forms of advertising. Industries like these have paved the way for more industries to utilize similar strategies.
Today, information travels like waves and influencers are the new wavemakers. They have the following, trust and influence to guide an audience toward loving, listening or leaving brands.
When asked how John, given his expertise, sees Social Media unfolding within the reverse logistics industry over the next couple years he responded, “I think influencers will have a major impact on social media and businesses over the next few years. I think there will be more influencers on YouTube, Instagram or Facebook – just trying to help people find their way.”
Social media is changing the way industries strategize their online presence with influencer marketing rapidly growing in popularity. According to Forbes, 39% of marketers plan on increasing their influencer marketing budget. Tapping into the this new marketing trend before your competition could be highly profitable for your company.
