“Social media influencer” can be something of a dirty word depending on what groups you address. With over three and a half billion social media users worldwide, businesses would have to be fools not to target this audience. However, social media influencers live very filtered lives. This is why they are often seen as the cause for a massive spike in self-esteem issues for users.

Despite their reputation, no one can deny that social media influencers can help your company’s business in a massive way. What does a social media influencer do? How can it affect your company’s sales, for good or ill? Here’s what you need to know.

What Is a Social Media Influencer?

Before we discuss what a social media influencer does, we must first answer the question of what a social media influencer is. Many have compared these individuals to celebrities. A fair comparison, albeit their reach is more limited than your A-lister celebrities’ would be. 

Most influencers double as content creators and are active in the creator marketplace. These influencers are known for their expertise on a particular subject. Through a combination of charisma and careful analytic study, they have built loyal, enthusiastic followings who eagerly await their next post.

What Does a Social Media Influencer Do?

Now that we know what an influencer is, what does a social media influencer do? As mentioned above, there’s an overlap between influencers and content creators. Bloggers, YouTubers, and Podcasters can be considered influencers for their work. Alas, the act of content creation alone rarely pays the bills, ergo many are eager to partner with companies in need of their services.

The Benefits of Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is the practice of using social media influencers to push your products and services. This has a host of benefits for your business. You can increase your reach to a new demographic or further the reach to your targets with their help. They’ll also provide advertisements for a new product or product line, and providing a sense of increased relevance are but a few among them.

The Drawbacks of Influencer Marketing

Alas, influencer marketing is not without its drawbacks. No one likes to feel like they’re being advertised to. You only need to search for the number of tutorials on how to remove ads from YouTube to realize this. So, if you choose to use influencer marketing, you need to thread a careful needle where the social media posts don’t seem like blatant advertising while still getting the pitch out there.

Let’s Review

What does a social media influencer do for your company? Social media influencers can advertise your business’s product or service to a pre-existing audience. This furthers your reach and brand awareness. Remain careful in your choice of influencer and avoid making the posts seem like an obvious sales pitch. If you do, you’ll reap the business benefits fast.

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