Influencers can play a considerable part in catapulting your business to success when launching a startup. What exactly is an influencer? Active users of social media and blogs who have a sizable following– basically, anyone who could quickly become a brand advocate or promoter of your business. So how do you convince these valuable influencers to promote your startup? Here are some tips to get started:
Give a little, get a little.
Every social media influencer appreciates a little free publicity, so share the love, especially on social media platforms. Follow their accounts on each of the popular social media platforms and be on the lookout for the content they post that your followers would find valuable. When you spot something, share the content on your page, tagging the influencer. On top of sharing, be sure to actively engage on their pages, leaving insightful comments or feedback when they create blog posts or share third-party content. Although small, all these actions create a strong relationship with influencers that sets a foundation for you to work together in the future.
Let them exercise their expertise.
Show targeted influencers you view as experts in their respective fields by asking them to contribute to your blog. This doesn’t have to mean asking them to take the time to create a full-length blog entry for your page; just reaching out to them for a quote or an interview will do the trick.
Are you a restaurant owner who wants to boost the number of wedding receptions you host? Reach out to popular wedding planners or florists in your area and ask them for quotes or tips you can use for a blog entry that you are writing about weddings. Incorporating influencers into your own content will help establish your business as reputable and increase your online following.
Don’t be shy.
There’s no need to overthink your strategy when reaching out to influencers. Sometimes, the easiest way to get their attention is to reach out to them directly. Use direct messaging features on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to your advantage. Craft a message is discussing how you could help each other and how your brands share similar goals and values. Make sure you create a personalized note for each influencer you contact. No response? No problem! Don’t be afraid to follow up via email if you don’t hear back on social media. Be persistent!
Challenge them.
Remember how the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge took the social media world by storm? Create a similar campaign relevant to your startup, and challenge influencers to complete your task on social media. Take a look at The Heart Truth’s 28-Day Challenge to promote heart health awareness as an example of how this approach can be effectively implemented. When The Heart Truth’s 28-Day Challenge commenced, many Twitter users quickly began using their #MyHeart28 hashtag to promote when they completed different parts of the assignment. Use a similar approach, and ask influencers to participate. When influencers are asked publicly, it will be hard for them to turn you down, so make it easy to complete and creative to grab their attention!
Look outside the obvious.
As a startup, it may be a stretch for you to get a prominent influencer to promote your business immediately, so it’s essential to consider the less significant influencers. Try to identify people who are just starting and building their following. You can grow together and establish a relationship right from the start.
