Anyone Can Be A Social Media Influencer

Micaela Marshall
mm392413@ohio.edu

Have you ever noticed someone you follow on Instagram is posting constantly about a certain product, brand or service? Have you ever wondered why? Or how they got that gig?

To be clear, I'm not talking about a celebrity. I'm talking about a person you know in real life, a friend of yours. Perhaps someone who has around 1,000 followers.

And in this case - less is more. Having fewer followers actually makes the person seem more real and trustworthy; therefore allowing the average consumer to feel comfortable listening to their recommendation to buy.

This marketing approach is a growing trend on social media, and that friend of yours I just mentioned, is considered to be a "micro-influencer."

So how do you become one? Is it effective, or simply deceptive?

Source: https://www.upwork.com/hiring/for-clients/influencer-outreach-connect-micro-influencers/ 

How:

According to Instagram Social Media Agency, Riotly Social Media,  there are 6 easy steps you can take to become a micro-influencer:

1. Be an Expert
2. Share Your Secrets
3. Start Making Friends
4. Create A Brand Image
5. Be the First to Say Hi!
6. Create a Package

And Riotly Social Media isn't the only agency looking to "help you grow fans on Instagram."

Studies have shown that micro-influencers are extremely beneficial for brands and carry a lot of weight in increasing sales and consumer outreach.

A study done last year by Experticity made several key findings:

• Micro-influencers are more direct in their recommendations to "buy it or try it" and 82% are "highly likely" to listen to that recommendation 
• Micro-influencers were seen to be more credible, knowledgeable and better at explaining how the product works and had 22% more "buy conversations" than a typical consumer

Upwork recently posted an article discussing how companies can find and use micro-influencers to gain consumer's trust and increase their sales. The "metrics" mentioned in the article that a brand should consider when finding a micro-influencer to represent you are:

1. Relevance - which links to "Be an Expert"
2. Content Quality - which links to "Create a Brand Image"

In that article titled "Influencer Outreach: How to Connect with Micro-Influencers" the best ways to connect with potential micro-influencers are:

1. Start with Social Media Interactions - which links to "Be the First to Say Hi!"
2. Look for Influential Fans and Followers - which links to "Start Making Friends"
3. Be Direct and Honest - which links to "Share Your Secrets

Effective or Deceptive?

Micro-influencers are proven to be extremely effective for the brand's marketing efforts and beneficial for both parties as the micro-influencer is paid and elevates their social status, while the brand appears more trustworthy and gains more customers. Micro-influencers deliver engagement, are cost effective, and create social buzz.

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with micro-influencers. I think that if I know the person personally and they are recommending a product, I am more likely to try it, compared to a celebrity posting about a brand they use. I don't see the harm in companies using social media stars to reach consumers, especially in this day in age where social media has become a person's main source of information, entertainment, and place to waste time.

However, it is unethical if there is not full disclosure that the person posting about the brand is receiving some sort of compensation or free products. Ultimately, if a company is paying you to post about their brand, it is impossible to be unbiased in your review/sponsorship. But, I would like to believe that a micro-influencer would be ethical themselves and only work for a brand they truly believed in and felt confident supporting.