Influencer marketing is growing in popularity and importance. According to 77% of marketers, the influencer approach has generated effective outcomes for their business. But while this social marketing technique is becoming more straightforward, some confusion still needs to be clarified regarding seeding products with influencers. This article explores common questions about product seeding and its effect on your influencer marketing strategy.
What is Product Seeding?
Product seeding can confuse some people, but it’s easy to understand.
Product seeding is sharing products with influencers, often in exchange for their recommendation. It is an effective way for companies to get exposure to their product without paying for advertising or PR.
If you’ve seen someone on Instagram say something like, “I received this product from LUSH, and I love it!” then you’ve seen product seeding at work. Companies will often send products to influencers already interested in the brand so they feel comfortable recommending it to their followers.
The results are often amazing: when people see something they like or use being recommended by someone they trust, they’re more likely to check out that product themselves!
Product Seeding vs. Traditional Advertising
Product seeding and traditional advertising are two very different forms of marketing.
Product seeding is a form of influencer marketing that utilizes the power of social media to get your product in front of consumers, usually by working with an influencer who will post about your product in their own words. It’s important to note that product seeding isn’t just about getting free stuff out there—it’s about creating meaningful relationships between the brand and the influencer. The relationship should be based on trust, authenticity, and mutual respect.
Traditional advertising is more like conventional marketing: it involves paying for ads to be placed in publications and online venues where they’ll be seen by consumers who may or may not be interested in your product or service. Traditional advertising relies heavily on data-driven strategies that pinpoint who might be interested in your product—but those methods can be flawed when reaching potential buyers who may not have been exposed yet.
Benefits of Product Seeding to Influencers
Develop partnerships with brands
As an influencer, you can develop partnerships with brands that may have never reached out to you. The product seeding process allows you to get to know each other before formal agreements. You will be able to see if your content aligns with the brand’s goals and values and if it is something you can stand behind.
When it comes time for a formal partnership, both parties will already be familiar with each other and know what they want from each other. They will be able to focus on their strengths and weaknesses instead of feeling like they need to figure out how everything works before they can even talk about business.
Get free products
Influencers can get free products and share them with their followers. It is a win for everyone involved—the influencer gets positive exposure for their brand, and the company gets better exposure.
Create unique content
Influencers can create unique and engaging content by seeding products in their photos, videos, or blog posts. It allows them to use their creative flair while building trust with their followers.
By seeding products in photos, videos, or blog posts, influencers can create unique content that will stand out within their social media feeds and help them build relationships with their followers.
Increases followers
Product seeding is a great way for influencers to increase the number of their followers. Influencers will be able to increase the number of their followers by providing valuable content that is relevant to their audience. They can also build trust with their audience by providing genuine recommendations for products they like.
Host giveaways
Influencers can host giveaways in which they give away products they’ve been given brands. Giving off free products to your followers is a great way to build engagement with your audience.
You’ll be able to see how people respond to your Instagram posts and whether or not they engage with the content. It will help you determine if it’s worth investing in more posts about the same product or trying something new.
Benefits of Product Seeding to Brands
Generate brand awareness
Product seeding is a way to generate brand awareness and create buzz around a new product or service. It’s a great way to spread the word about what your brand stands for—and what it offers.
Product seeding can be done by putting samples of your product in the hands of people who can talk about it. They can then share the experience with their friends and family, generating buzz around your product or service.
Get authentic reviews
One of the biggest benefits of product seeding is that it gives you access to authentic, honest reviews. With traditional advertising, a lot of the time, you’re paying for positive feedback from people who may not be customers or users of your product. Product seeding allows you to get honest feedback from people using your product—which makes all the difference in evaluating whether your product is working for them!
Cost-effective marketing
Product seeding is a cost-effective way for brands to market their products. It allows them to get their product into the hands of consumers before it’s even launched so that those consumers will be more likely to buy when it does launch.
This is especially useful for smaller companies that don’t have huge budgets and can’t afford expensive advertising campaigns or celebrity endorsements. Product seeding also gives consumers an early look at the product, which helps them make informed decisions about whether they want to purchase it, and, if so, when they’ll buy it.
Social proof
The term “social proof” is used to describe the phenomenon of people being influenced by others’ decisions. It is a powerful tool for brands: when people see that others have bought or used a product, they are likelier to feel like it’s a good choice.
Product seeding is about creating social proof by showing people what others are doing with your product. In this way, you can encourage other customers to make the same choice as those who already have.
Test the market
Product seeding is a way to test the market without spending much money on it. You can see if people will buy your product before you take on the risk of producing and distributing it. You can also use product seeding to test different marketing strategies, such as whether a particular target audience responds better to traditional advertising or social media influencers.
Why is Product Seeding Important?
Product seeding is a way for brands to increase the number of people who know about and use their products. It’s a form of word-of-mouth marketing because it gets customers talking about your product, which leads to more sales.
Product seeding is also important because it builds up brand equity. When people start talking about your product, they also build up their credibility as someone who knows what they’re talking about. That’s good for everyone involved: you get more customers, and they get more respect.
Finally, product seeding helps you keep in touch with your customers and learn what they like and don’t like about your products. With this feedback loop in place, you can continue to improve your product over time and ensure that it stays relevant to its users’ needs.
Takeaway
As with any trend or culture, understanding how the digital landscape works are crucial when promoting your brand on social media. Developing a brand identity and finding ways to market that brand to target audiences is significant for your bottom line and your company’s longevity.
Product seeding can help a brand achieve its marketing goals, including increased awareness and sales. By reaching out to influencers, brands can promote their products to current and potential customers. At the same time, brands benefit from collaborating with influencers who add value to the conversation and help generate positive publicity.
