Why event promotion should use influencers
Before making an important decision in your life, who do you go to for
advice?
It’s probably your partner, family member or longtime friend. Consumers
trust the people closest to them because they have established
relationships with them and know that they have their best interests at
heart.
People are skeptical of promises from brands, but not friends. This is why
influencer marketing is so successful—and crucial for growing key trade
show or event metrics.
Who is considered an influencer?
An influencer is someone with a specialized passion, expertise or topical
authority, who has significant power to affect the purchasing decisions of
others.
While there are many types of influential personas—and quite a bit of
debate among marketers about who technically fits under the “influencer”
umbrella—there are a few groups that stand out.
Celebrities, journalists, bloggers and social media stars are the most
obvious groups. However, any individual with the ability to shape the
opinions, conversations, trends and actions of their audience can be
considered an influencer.
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Niche “micro-influencers” represent the Goldilocks zone for many brands.
Not only do they command a substantial number of active followers, but
they’re also far more familiar and relatable than a superstar.
For example,
“Sweet John” Muehlbauer
of Rocksauce Studios was one of the lucky few to participate in HBO’s
Westworld activation at SXSW in advance of the show’s season 2 premiere. As
a brand that relies on word-of-mouth marketing, HBO was counting on social
chatter from influencers to create buzz about the show—and it worked.
Muehlbauer shared a live stream on Twitter that let his 2,400+ followers
experience some of the event’s magic:
Live from #SXSWestworld #sxsw https://t.co/W8K9xef6rp
— Sweet John (@sweetjohn) March 9, 2018
On the other end of the spectrum, Tim Burton—better known as “Shmee150”—is
an auto industry influencer who commands more than 1 million Instagram
followers alone. He regularly attends auto shows and meet-ups, previewing
the coolest cars and latest technology for his audience.
At the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS), he gave a coveted #firstlook
at new vehicles like this one:
The covers are off the @rimac_automobili C_two! My video showing you around the new 1,914hp full electric hypercar with some phenomenal technology is live now on YouTube! #Rimac #C_two #firstlook #GIMS #Shmee150
Who the best influencers are for your brand will be contingent on your
industry, target audience and campaign goals. For example, if you’re
looking to generate awareness about a new event, your influencer search
will look a lot different than if your goal is to sell tickets quickly.
What are the benefits of influencer marketing?
Influencer marketing inspires action. Seventy-four percent of consumers say
word-of-mouth recommendations are key influencers
in their purchasing decisions.
It’s not surprising that “
influencer marketing content delivers 11X higher ROI
than traditional forms of digital marketing.”
If that hasn’t swayed you already, influencer marketing can also yield
other benefits:
-
New, original content creation
—
Influencers can create authentic content in the medium that resonates
best with their audiences, such as blog posts.
Product reviews are the most common type of content that we expect to see
from influencers for consumer brands, but many other formats are just as
persuasive. Stunning Instagram images, live video streams, and consistent
tweets can all drive social proof (even in for B2B marketers).
-
Quality audience reach
—
An influencer’s following is coveted because it is loyal, active and
engaged. What’re 100,000 impressions, especially if they’re from the
wrong demographic/firmographic and couldn’t care less about the
content? -
Authentic action —
The best influencers will be in tune with the needs, concerns and
wishes of their followers. An engaged follower will be primed to visit
a website, sign up for a newsletter, spread the word, or even make an
immediate purchase.
How can influencers shape events?
As an event organizer, think about your hallmarks for success. You probably
want to see attendance go up, booth space sell out, sponsorships increase
and panels expand—all while creating a memorable, productive experience.
Influencer marketing can help you check off all of those boxes.
Influencers can be your brand’s ticket to:
-
Local buzz
—
Whether your event is in Las Vegas, New York, or anywhere in between,
consider adding a local influencer to the headliners. Not only will
this help draw in more attendees from the area, but it can give you a
boost in local news coverage. Plus, if your event changes locations
each year or is debuting in a new city, a local influencer relationship
can help with rapport. -
Earned media —
If your event struggles to attract media attention or is looking for
new story angles, an influencer partnership can be the newsworthy
jumpstart you need. For example, involve the influencer in educational
event programming or other content tracks. This can generate pre-show
buzz about a core part of the show—bringing in larger crowds who will
benefit from the influencer’s perspective. -
Digital longevity
—
Face-to-face experiences are invaluable. However, an online component
can amplify those experiences and give them staying power.
Whether they do live blogging, streaming, or otherwise document and recap
the event through their lens, your event will take on new life. Bonus:
those who couldn’t attend will still get some exposure to the show,
whetting their appetite for next year’s event.
The best events are malleable; they evolve with the industry and are
receptive to changing audiences. Though you might be hesitant about working
with influencers, this tactic is not just for consumer brands—it’s for any
business that wants a stronger community.
In an industry that hinges on relationships, connections, and experiences,
influencer marketing is crucial to making trade shows even more personal.
Erienne Muldoon is a senior customer content specialist for Virtual
Press Office, PR Newswire’s trade show marketing solutions division. A
version of this article originally appeared
on the Cision blog.
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