Influencer Marketing
Partner with influencers to expand reach and build credibility.
1. Influencer Tiers
| Tier | Followers | Engagement | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nano | 1K-10K | 5-10% | $50-$500 | Authenticity, niche |
| Micro | 10K-100K | 3-5% | $500-$5K | Engaged communities |
| Mid | 100K-500K | 2-3% | $5K-$25K | Balanced reach/engagement |
| Macro | 500K-1M | 1-2% | $25K-$100K | Mass awareness |
| Mega | 1M+ | 0.5-1% | $100K+ | Celebrity reach |
2. Platform Selection
| Platform | Best For | Content Type | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle, beauty, fashion | Photos, Reels, Stories | 18-34 | |
| TikTok | Viral, entertainment | Short video | 16-30 |
| YouTube | Tutorials, reviews | Long video | All ages |
| B2B, professional | Articles, thought leadership | 25-54 | |
| X/Twitter | Tech, news, opinions | Text, threads | 25-49 |
| Twitch | Gaming, live content | Streams | 18-34 |
3. Influencer Vetting
Selection Criteria
| Factor | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Relevance | Audience match, content fit |
| Engagement | Real comments, interaction quality |
| Authenticity | Fake follower check, organic growth |
| Content quality | Production value, consistency |
| Brand safety | Past controversies, values alignment |
| Professionalism | Communication, reliability |
Red Flags
| Warning Sign | Indicates |
|---|---|
| Sudden follower spikes | Bought followers |
| Low engagement ratio | Fake audience |
| Generic comments | Bot engagement |
| Too many sponsored posts | Low trust |
| Misaligned values | Brand risk |
4. Outreach Best Practices
Initial Contact Template
| Element | Content |
|---|---|
| Subject | Specific, personal, not salesy |
| Intro | Why you follow them |
| Value | What's in it for them |
| Ask | Clear next step |
| Brief | Keep under 150 words |
What to Include
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand intro | Brief, relevant |
| Why them | Specific reasons |
| Campaign idea | High-level concept |
| Compensation | Range or "discuss" |
| Timeline | Approximate dates |
5. Campaign Types
| Type | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsored post | One-off branded content | Awareness |
| Product seeding | Free products for review | Authenticity |
| Brand ambassador | Long-term partnership | Loyalty |
| Takeover | Influencer controls account | Engagement |
| Giveaway | Prize collaboration | Growth |
| Affiliate | Commission-based | Sales |
| Event | In-person activation | Experience |
6. Compensation Models
| Model | Structure | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Flat fee | Fixed payment | Predictable budgets |
| Per post | Payment per content | Campaign-based |
| Affiliate | Commission on sales | Performance focus |
| Product only | Free products | Nano/micro, seeding |
| Hybrid | Base + performance | Balanced incentive |
Rate Benchmarks
| Platform | Per 100K Followers |
|---|---|
| Instagram post | $1,000-$2,000 |
| Instagram Reel | $1,500-$3,000 |
| TikTok video | $1,000-$2,500 |
| YouTube video | $2,000-$5,000 |
7. Brief Creation
Campaign Brief Elements
| Section | Include |
|---|---|
| Objective | Clear goal |
| Key messages | 2-3 main points |
| Deliverables | Exact requirements |
| Timeline | Deadlines |
| Guidelines | Dos and don'ts |
| Examples | Reference content |
| Hashtags/tags | Required mentions |
| Disclosure | FTC requirements |
Creative Freedom
| Approach | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Prescriptive | Product launches, strict messaging |
| Balanced | Brand campaigns with guidelines |
| Open | Brand awareness, authenticity focus |
8. Disclosure Requirements
FTC Guidelines
| Requirement | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Clear disclosure | #ad, #sponsored, Paid partnership |
| Visible | Not buried, early in caption |
| Every post | All sponsored content |
| Platform tools | Use built-in disclosure features |
Platform-Specific
| Platform | Method |
|---|---|
| Paid partnership badge | |
| YouTube | "Includes paid promotion" checkbox |
| TikTok | Branded content toggle |
9. Campaign Metrics
Awareness Metrics
| Metric | Formula |
|---|---|
| Reach | Unique viewers |
| Impressions | Total views |
| Video views | Views >3 sec |
Engagement Metrics
| Metric | Formula |
|---|---|
| Engagement rate | (Likes + Comments + Shares) / Followers × 100 |
| EMV | Engagement × value multiplier |
| Earned media | Non-paid amplification |
Conversion Metrics
| Metric | Track Via |
|---|---|
| Clicks | UTM links |
| Conversions | Promo codes, affiliate links |
| Revenue | Tracked by code/link |
| ROAS | Revenue / Spend |
10. Influencer Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CreatorIQ | Discovery, management |
| Grin | E-commerce focused |
| Upfluence | All-in-one platform |
| AspireIQ | Community building |
| Modash | Discovery, vetting |
| HypeAuditor | Audience authenticity |
Remember: The best influencer partnerships feel authentic. Focus on genuine alignment over follower counts.