Influencer Marketing

Even though influencer and affiliate marketing involve creator commissions, compensation models are different. Depending on the marketing objectives and budgets brands may choose one or another.

Influencers are great for creating brand awareness and increasing web traffic, or cold lead generation. As their name states, they can influence their audience into buying something and have deep knowledge of specific topics. The compensation model for this channel includes commission, gifts, flat rate fees, or a combination of all the aforementioned.

Affiliates, on the other hand, are mostly used because they drive traffic to the brand’s website to complete a transaction. They are deeply trusted by their audiences, experts in their niche, and have relevant industry insights. This is the type of channel brands should invest in when in need of a bottom-of-the-funnel strategy. They are only paid for conversions, which gives brands more control over their online marketing spending.

Do you recall the last time you made an important purchase or decided to try a new technology product? Chances are, you either heard about it from a friend or family member, an influencer or content creator you follow on social media, or you went online in search of reviews.

Data shows that consumers read an average of 10 online reviews before feeling able to trust a local business. 72% of customers won’t act until they read reviews and 91% of millennials trust online reviews as much as friends and family.

So, while you can’t directly control what people may say about your brand, you can use your marketing strategy to help shape the narrative by working with influencers that are trusted voices in their communities.

• People are more inclined to listen to third parties that seem to have a more objective voice—that’s where the success of influencers lies.
• So how do you incorporate this channel into your broader marketing mix? Keep these key success factors in mind:
• Set clear goals
• Set goals that are realistic, measurable, and attainable. Have open discussions with your influencer partners and have defined metrics of success, such as the volume of opened accounts from a campaign.
• Have a clear value proposition
• Think about what makes your bank’s products attractive. How do you stand out from the crowd and your competitors?
• Make the journey to becoming a customer easy
• Ensure that your account opening process—or whatever you’re offering—is timely and accessible. Users appreciate efficiency and rapidness. Be able to measure those goals you set
• Make sure you can measure end-to-end, from the first click to opened account. Partner with the right tools and technology to access the data and analytics that will show you the success of your marketing campaign and how to better allocate your budget.