It’s social media time. Do you know where your social influencers are?
Social influencers are not the “noisy” fans who ‘Like’, comment or share for the heck of it – they share with intent (and typically have large, attentive audiences).
So while your cat memes may get shared by 50 peeps, if your brand messaging isn’t shared at all or gets “crickets” (no response at all) you’re really not influencing your community to promote your brand.
Catch my drift?
The Three Types of Social Influencers
Jay Baer of Convince and Convert has done a nice job of drilling down and pinpointing who your social influencers typically are:
- Enthusiastic Employees: These are typically long-term employees whose motivation for sharing your brand messaging is PRIDE.
- Social Publishers: Normally these authority figures have high clout (and Klout!) in the social sphere; their motivation is to SHARE worthy content to their following of information hungry peeps.
- Passionate Customers: These aren’t your run-of-the-mill patrons. They most often have a history with your brand, or have had an exceptional experience. ENTHUSIASM is the motivator here.
How Do I ID My Social Influencers?
Enthusiastic employees and social publishers come down to grooming, management and luck. However, there are a few ways in which you can start to identify your potential passionate customers.
Look for these traits:
- Active online presence
- Already talking about your brand (‘Liking’, commenting and sharing your fun stuff AND your brand messaging)
- Are they active beyond Facebook & Twitter? (Think forums or discussion boards)
- Have they already given you some ‘social proof’ or a testimonial regarding your brand?
- What are their email behaviors like? (Opens and CTRs)
- *Note: Focus on past, not presumed, behaviors
Put Social Influencers to Work!
- First you must identify your influencers
- Next, approach these influencers about collaborating with the brand, or a project
- Have a ‘Give to Get’ for the influencer as a way to thank them for helping you
- Follow up and follow through
Are you working to identify your social influencers? Tell us how you’re doing and please share any tips or tricks you have for doing so below in the comments.
See you in the social sphere!
Latest posts by Brooke B. Sellas (see all)
- When to Let Go: Ensuring You Are Focusing On the Best Customers - November 29, 2023
- Optimizing Your ABM Strategy with Social Listening for Enhanced Results - November 15, 2023
- How To (Better) Appreciate Your Customer Experience Professionals - November 8, 2023
7 Comments. Leave new
This is really great! I’ve recently focused more on engaging in conversation with my influencers. Google+ has been a huge help in identifying more social influencers for me. I’ve been able to connect with them on Twitter and in various groups on Google+. Now I need to be more active on Google+ to develop those relationships.
Thanks for the insight, Shannon! It’s a lot of work, but I think the people and businesses who are *really* into social (or understand it) are doing these things and trying to get in “good graces” with their influencers.
It makes total sense, Brooke. I’m trying to do this a little more – thanking people (especially the ‘big guys’) directly on Twitter when I use some stat or quote from their site in a post. Hoping it’ll pay off. Plus, it’s just good manners.
Alisa Meredith recently posted…Social Media – Outsource or In-house?
Thanks, Alisa. And TOTALLY AGREE – it’s just good manners to say thank you. I’m big on that (and rant on it)!
Great article, Brooke! I’ve been working on this as well and have been loving G+ to do this. I’m also a great supporter of the golden words, thank you. You are right. It is just good manners 🙂
Thanks, Robin! It’s not an easy task, but an important one. And as always, manners seem to help. 🙂
[…] insightful B2BLOG. Today’s chat is topic is by the B2BLOG post of April 17. 2013 titled How To ID Social Influencers. Q1) What is your definition of a social media influencer? Q2) Where do social influencers come […]