While many brands launch their own influencer marketing campaigns, there are ways to ease the workload that comes with this type of marketing. You can use self-service influencer marketing platforms or rely on a full-serve team to manage campaigns for you. How do you know which one to use? We’ll help you pick the right choice for your brand.
What is a self-service influencer marketing platform?
A self-service platform offers features to help launch an influencer campaign and ease the setup process.
Usually, the key feature on these platforms is a search tool. By using keywords like “fashion YouTuber” or “Chicago influencer,” you can search for social media posts mentioning the post and find specific types of influencers. You can also use filters to narrow your results.
Some self-service platforms ask creators to make profiles that give marketing teams a way to review and vet influencers. You might also find communications tools, like messaging systems, to connect with creators of your choice.
IZEA’s Marketplace is a self-service platform that can help you find influencers, narrow your results, and reach out to influencers.
What is full-service influencer marketing?
With a full-service option, marketing teams rely on influencer marketing experts to craft strategies, identify influencers and execute campaigns that will engage your target audiences.
Most full-service options are more than a series of features on a dashboard — it’s a dedicated team that will act as an extension of your brand. You can expect them to talk with your marketing team, learn about your brand, generate and execute campaigns, and provide robust metrics to highlight success.
IZEA’s Managed Services provides a full-service team of dedicated marketers that can help you with:
- Influencer creative strategy
- Influencer discovery
- Influencer relationship management
- Campaign management
- Paid media optimizations
- Analytics and reporting
Which type of influencer marketing platform is right for your company?
There are many influencer marketing tools that your brand can use, so much so that it’s hard to know which one is best. Here’s some advice to pick between self-service and full-service.
A self-service platform may be the solution if your marketing team lacks:
Campaign data
If you’re new to influencer marketing and aren’t sure if it’s a viable option for your brand, it’s a good idea to start with a self-service influencer marketing platform. With tools, you can find, vet, and communicate with influencers. You can launch a campaign and see if it resonates with your target audience.
Once you have campaign data, you can assess whether it’s something you’d like to regularly implement.
Self-service tools allow you to test influencer marketing without a large commitment.
Financial resources
Self-service platforms won’t break your budget. You can often use influencer search tools and basic features for free, so for brands with restrained budgets, it’s an affordable way to support an influencer campaign.
A full-service platform may be the solution if your marketing team lacks:
Time
To execute a successful influencer campaign, there are many steps involved. To start, you must identify your target audience, brainstorm ideas, and find the right influencers. You’ll need influencer contracts, a campaign strategy and briefs, and the time to communicate with influencers. There are approval processes, comments to monitor, and metrics to watch.
Does your team have time to manage this? If the answer is no, then a full-service influencer marketing team is your best bet.
Campaign expertise
While influencer marketing has become a staple, it’s not rooted in the industry like more traditional tactics. As a result, your team may not have the knowledge or skills necessary to generate and execute a campaign. If you think influencer marketing can elevate your brand, a full-service platform can provide the expertise and guidance necessary to succeed.
Influencer management skills
For the best results, your brand should work with influencers regularly, which requires regular communication.
During a campaign, you must communicate everything from goals and deadlines to content expectations and KPIs. When a campaign isn’t running, you need to nurture the relationship. Long-term connections with consistent influencers play a role in your success, so make them feel like part of your team. How? Here are a few ways to engage with influencers to maintain a relationship:
- Send regular emails.
- Share influencer posts on your brand’s social.
- Send influencers swag.
- Mail thank you cards for a job well done.
- Ship gifts for holidays or to mark their anniversary as an influencer.
If your brand’s marketing team doesn’t have the time to manage this kind of relationship, a full-service team is in order.
Influencer marketing can elevate your brand and its products, and tools exist to help you launch successful campaigns. Self-service tools are great for beginners or those with a team in place to launch campaigns, while full-service options are ideal for larger companies that see the value in continued influencer campaigns and programs.
Influencers:
Looking to partner with industry-leading brands? Create your free profile today.
Marketers:
The world’s biggest brands trust IZEA’s influencer marketing software and managed solutions. Find out which solution is right for you.
IZEA MANAGED SERVICES
Strategy and execution from the company that launched the industry.
IZEA MANAGED SERVICES
Strategy and execution from the company that launched the industry.
IZEA MANAGED SERVICES
Strategy and execution from the company that launched the industry.
IZEA MANAGED SERVICES
Strategy and execution from the company that launched the industry.
