Influencer Marketing Platforms: Navigating an IG Marketplace

Advertising doesn’t look like what it used to. Now, we have Instagram creators promoting products to users instead of commercials. If you want to use an influencer to market your product, you must know how to navigate influencer marketplaces. Your influencer marketing efforts will be in vain if you don’t know how. 

We can give you all the information you need to know about influencer marketing platforms. It could be a great option for your brand, so let’s discuss it!

What Are Influencer Marketing Platforms?

Many people are asking, “What are Influencer marketing platforms?” We will discuss the meaning of this marketing platforms. But first, we should talk about what this type of marketing is. You know what an influencer is. They’re all over your Instagram feed. They make content and promote products to their followers under the instruction of brands.

WhyInfluencer Marketing Works So Well 

When brands utilize the power of Instagram influencers to promote products, they’re engaging in marketing. Ideally, it’s a reciprocal relationship between two parties. Here are the reasons this arrangement works:

• The brand wants to access a particular target market: The influencer ideally has a following full of members of that target market. Since the brand wants to secure customers in the target market, the influencer leverages their influence. This reduces the burden on the brand to establish credibility with its target audience.
• Influencers do not advertise traditionally: If they do it correctly, it is in a very personable manner. They give the impression that they are friends with their followers as opposed to a huge company. Instead of giving the impression that they are selling something, their followers perceive it as a recommendation from a friend.
• There is flexibility in the prices that influencers charge: This is because influence has come in many different sizes. Because the rate of investment for this marketing is competitive, brands are willing to invest.

This Is How the Marketing Platform Comes In

These platforms can serve many different purposes. They can provide a forum for brands and influencers to meet. Choosing the perfect brand or influencer can be difficult; this platform cuts out some of the work. Brands will also love that these platforms help create strategies and track results. It’s typical to find these in a software format.

The choice to use an influencer is a very progressive one. If you’re going to do it, we suggest that you do it right! A good marketing platform could put you way ahead of the competition.

You Can Pick From Some of the Top Influencer Marketing Platforms

Let’s be honest. You will have your pick when it comes to these platforms. There are many options out there for entities of many shapes and sizes. We will do our best to inform you about some existing ones. You can decide the top influencer marketing platforms for you and your brand from that list.

1. Brandwatch

If your business is on the larger side, listen up. Brandwatch Influencer Marketing Software could be the right fit for you. If you don’t mind the namedropping, we’ll tell you they have clients like Samsung and Glossier. These are brands that regularly collaborate with influencers to market products.

If you use this option, just know that you will not lack in any aspect. This brand is active from the beginning and walks you through the entire process. Use this tool to find the influencers in the first place. Think of your niche and your overall objectives, and let this platform help you make the match.

With millions of creators to choose from, this platform reduces how overwhelming it can be. They even easily put all the relevant contact and payment details in one place.

Next, you’ll benefit from intensive relationship management between the brand and the influencer. For the sake of the brand, you’ll want to ensure that there are no instances of miscommunication. There need to be clear explanations about the expectations on either side.

2. Upfluence

Your business may not be big enough to warrant such a huge company. We can recommend an entity that specializes in businesses of all sizes. Upfluence still has bragging rights to brands like Marriott and Amazon. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t able to cater to your specific brands’ needs.

Hopefully, you have time to learn the ropes of this platform. You will have access to influencers across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, to name a few. It will be up to you to search through this platform for the influencer that can supply your marketing needs. The platform treats you to a lot of information about each influencer. You’ll have to ensure you have the time available to sift through.

This is great for the hands-on brand that still wants to choose who they partner with. The platform will provide you with all the information you need. It’s simply up to you to make the right choice. 

The platform still lets you track the progress of each influencer and the relevant campaigns. And there is also a chat GPT assistant to boot. With built-in payment tools, you can feel secure when investing your money.

3. Impact.com

Do you want to work with a marketing platform that boasts clients like Adidas and Ticketmaster? If so, impact.com is for you. No matter the size, you will benefit from the platform’s ability to facilitate lucrative partnerships. Benefit from access to millions of potential influencers for your brand. They come in many shapes and sizes, so you will have much to choose from.

You don’t have to feel alone at any point. There are influencer marketing tools to aid in every stage of the process. This starts with finding creators and keeping track of their performance.

There Are Free Influencer Marketing Platforms You Can Try 

You already spend so much money on the right equipment to create content. You are going to have to pay the influencer when you find them. That will dent the budget. Being an aspiring influencer is a very involved process; you should cut costs when possible. If you can locate some free influencer marketing platforms, that would make a difference. 

Do those exist? Isn’t something that sophisticated going to attract the cost? Well, maybe not. We can share some cost-effective options that you can consider.

Ainfluencer 

Amazingly, you can use this platform as much as you want and not worry about excessive charges. Not having this weighing you down frees you up to spend time searching for your ideal influencer. Create your influencer marketing campaign the way you want without limitations with Ainfluencer.

The process is quite intuitive. You can filter results using gender, follower count, and location. You’ll have the option of over half 1 million influencers, so these filters will come in handy. As a brand trying to find the ideal partnership, you can send many invitations to pursue that.

You can even enjoy seamless conversation right there on the app. The escrow payment system safeguards your money while using the app. While you won’t have access to YouTube or Facebook influencers, you’ll find your ideal Instagram one. They may have platforms and other social media apps anyway.

Tribe

Let’s talk about a partially free option. If you are currently experiencing a headache finding your online tribe, try the Tribe platform. While it’s not fully free, you can use a free app version.

Instagram and TikTok influencers looking for a partnership can see brand campaigns. They can create content that they feel suits the campaign. Then, it is up to the marketers to choose the campaign that best aligns with them. Brands and creators strapped for cash should be able to use the free features.

An Alternative to Influencer Marketing Platforms for Small Businesses 

Is the idea of using a marketing platform too much? You could always take the route of reaching out to these influencers on your own. Use Instagram fully without leaving the app; we can help you. 

The learning curve for influencer marketing platforms for small businesses can be steep. If you want to take regular steps to find your ideal influencer, you can do that, too. We can explain how to do it.

1. Reach Out With a Template

In the beginning, you may have to cast a wide net. We’re not saying you should message every influencer with the prospect of a collaboration. No, you should always be selective because your brand deserves it. You can narrow down your search to a few. You can send out Instagram messages incrementally so you aren’t overwhelmed.

How could you not feel overwhelmed by the idea of sending batches of messages? The trick is to use a message template when reaching out to creators. 

Plixi has the resources to help you formulate the perfect message to get their attention. You can do other things after spending very little time reaching out to influencers. We can get into the next step after you’ve secured some interested creators.

2. Negotiate Using Their Engagement Rate

At first, the size of a platform is intriguing. We get it. You see the huge following, and they must be impacting many people. We don’t want this number to mislead you. The figure that should be dominating your thought process is the engagement rate. This shows how much they’re able to influence their audience. It takes into consideration likes, comments, and shares across the platform. 

This is how you know that your creator will respond to the messages concerning the product. This is how you can learn how much people care about what they share. You shouldn’t disregard the micro-influencer or nano-influencer. They have the respect and trust of their target audience. 

If that’s the target audience you’re trying to reach, this may be the influencer for you. However, you have to know how to negotiate. They will be gunning for the best price, and you should, too. 

3. Iron Out the Details

There needs to be a clear understanding between the brand and the influencer regarding what they will each deliver. Social media is a very time-sensitive industry. You should make it clear to your influencer that late submissions are unacceptable. 

Get clarity on the tone of voice you want them to use when responding to comments. Remember that this is your brand; one wrong move could ruin everything you’ve built.

4. Get Regular Updates

You need to know that you’re spending your money wisely. These influencers will have access to their Instagram insights. There, they will have all the details on their progress. They should tell you how much reach and engagement their posts are achieving. Make sure there is transparency when it comes to talking about the numbers.

Plixi Is Still a Great Option for Growth

At the end of the day, you’re still trying to secure growth for your brand. That’s the whole reason you are considering using influencer marketing platforms. Still, it doesn’t have to be your main method. A growth site like ours can help you to connect to your ideal audience. 

Plixi is an impressive growth site with a track record of results. We have an in-house platform of Instagram influencers ready to help. Our propriety AI targeting algorithm makes things easy, too. You can start growing and gaining Instagram followers today!