Influencer marketing has exploded in popularity over the past year. But what is an influencer? Given its fast growth, it’s easy to assume that everyone knows what it is. But, many people are still unclear on what exactly it entails, especially since some misconceptions about influencers have grown from the recent boom in popularity.”
This blog will discuss the different types of people who fit into that category and why. For thousands of other people and me, there are now sites focusing on influencers and calling them such. Content-sharing sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and even YouTube are now platforms where users can identify themselves as influencers. A need arises to explain what an influencer is or what makes them an influencer online.
What is a social media Influencer?
A social media influencer is a person who has a large following on social media and uses their platform to promote products and services.
Companies often pay them in exchange for sharing the company’s content with their followers, but they can also share their opinions and experiences with brands.
Social media influencers often have an established reputation as an expert in their field or as a trendsetter within their niche. It can make them more credible when recommending products or services to their followers.
Different Types of Influencers
There are many different types of influencers out there. From celebrities to bloggers and thought leaders, you can look at their follower numbers, the kind of content they create, or even the brands that work with them. You can do a lot to separate them into categories so you can be more strategic about who your influencers are.
Types of Influencers by Follower Numbers
Mega-Influencers
Mega-influencers are the celebrities of the Instagram world. They have millions of followers and are often paid to promote products or services, which is why they’re also known as “celebrity influencers.” Their clout comes from their ability to drive significant amounts of traffic and sales for brands that hire them, making them an essential part of any marketing campaign.
These are people with a large following on social media who can influence others with their presence in the community. They may be famous actors or musicians, but they can also be bloggers or vloggers who have built up a large following over time.
Because they have so many followers, mega influencers are often very selective about what brands they work with. They want to make sure that the brand is a good match for their values and interests.
Macro-Influencers
Macro-influencers have a smaller audience size, between 500,000 and 1 million followers. They can benefit brands looking to reach a larger audience without paying the hefty price tag of working with mega-influencers.
They are great for reaching a broad audience and getting your message out to people unfamiliar with your product or service. They tend to be known for a specific niche, like fashion or beauty, or their unique perspective on life. Their followers are interested in their opinion because of their expertise in that area or because they’re generally interesting people.
Mid-Tier Influencers
Mid-tier influencers are what they sound like: they’ve got a decent-sized audience but are less popular than the top tier. They’re somewhere in the 100K to 500K range, trying to grow their following by being active on social media and posting consistent content.
The good news is that mid-tier influencers tend to be more accessible than their higher-tier counterparts; they may not have a dedicated team managing their accounts, but they’re still pretty active on social media and are likely looking for opportunities to collaborate with brands that align with their interests.
One of the best ways to reach these influencers is through sponsored content—sponsoring their posts can help you build relationships with them and make yourself stand out from the crowd of brands only interested in top-tier influencers.
Micro-Influencers
Micro-influencers have audiences between 10K and 100K. They’re more affordable than their famous counterparts, but they still have a strong following and are engaged with their followers.
Their audience is interested in the same things as they are, so for example, an influencer who posts about fashion will have an audience interested in fashion too. It makes them much easier to work with than larger influencers who might have a broader range of interests and followers who are less relevant to your business or brand.
They are often very niche and can be trusted to provide quality information. These influencers have smaller budgets to spend on their campaigns but have lower standards for what they will accept payment. It makes them an attractive option for brands looking for low-cost marketing opportunities.
Nano-Influencers
Nano-influencers are the smallest group in the influencer marketing world. They have audiences of less than 10k, and they’re often people starting their careers or hobbyists who want to make a little extra cash on the side.
Nano-influencers can be great for companies looking to create an authentic connection with customers since they often have smaller followings and can be more approachable. But, they also tend to have fewer followers than macro-influencers or micro-influencers, which means that brands need to be willing to invest more time into building relationships with nano-influencers to reach their target audience.
Different Types of Content Creators
Bloggers
Bloggers are content creators who write about their experiences, opinions, and insights. Bloggers can be professional or amateur. They can be specific to a particular topic or more general in their coverage. Bloggers can write on any topic, from fashion to food to finance.
Bloggers are the first type of content creator. They create blog posts, which can be shared on social media and published on their websites. Bloggers can be experts in their field or passionate about their hobbies—it doesn’t matter! What’s important is that they consistently create high-quality content that others want to read, watch, listen to, etc.
YouTubers
YouTubers are video content creators who share their opinions and experiences through video blogs (vlogs). YouTubers may be focused on a specific niche, or they may be more general in their coverage. A YouTuber’s videos can cover anything from travel to cooking to comedy.
YouTubers are the most popular form of content creator. They can make money from ads, sponsorships, or other ways.
They can also be very popular on Instagram, posting photos and stories about their lives to gain followers. It can lead to opportunities to post sponsored content or work with brands as influencers.
TikTokers
TikTokers are short-form content creators who use TikTok, an app that allows users to create and share short videos. They often post about music, fashion, and beauty products.
They are content creators who post videos of themselves discussing a particular subject. They’re often known for their funny voices and high energy.
Instagrammers
Instagrammers are the most social and visual form of content creators. They are famous for their ability to create and share beautiful, vibrant images that can be used for anything from advertising to social media marketing.
Instagrammers often specialize in a particular niche, like food or travel, but they can also work with brands to create sponsored posts or campaigns.
Many Instagrammers use their networks to promote products they love by posting photos with links back to the product’s site. Some of them even create entire businesses out of this practice!
Podcasters
They are the people who create podcasts and host them on platforms like iTunes, Spotify, and Soundcloud.
Podcasters help people to learn new things by educating them about a topic in an entertaining way. They can be any age, gender, or ethnicity. Podcasters are open to more than one topic. They can talk about anything from politics to video games.
They also have a following of loyal listeners who look forward to hearing new episodes from their favorite podcasters every week or month, depending on what platform they use for hosting their shows.
Conclusion
In the end, there are many ways to become an influencer. Achieving that status is a process best left to the particular audience you want to sway. All you can do is start. But, if you’re looking for more concrete advice on becoming an influencer, you try to tap into your unique talents and skills. And remember, social media has made many creative options available for anyone who wants to be an influencer and build their following.
