6 Influencer Marketing Lessons Marketers Can Learn from Journalists

6 Influencer Marketing Lessons Marketers Can Learn from Journalists

While I wore many hats during those days—from reporter to managing editor to social media maven—building strong community connections was probably the most important hat of all.

Truly, the people I engaged with were more than connections. They were lifelines. They represented untold stories, interesting perspectives, inside scoops and friendly gateways to new sources, allowing me to craft quality news pieces that people actually wanted to read, share and talk about.

Now as a digital marketer, my community connections and sources often go by a new name: influencers.

Influencer marketing is booming—and it’s not hard to see why. Influencers lend authority and credibility to your content, and connect you with new audiences. In addition, influencer marketing content delivers 11 times the ROI than traditional forms of digital marketing, according to a 2016 study by TapInfluence and Nielsen Catalina Solutions.

But the secret in the sauce here is that your strategy, content and the influencers you choose have to be quality and relevant to your audience.

Thankfully, there’s a few pointers marketers can take from journalists to ensure that quality and relevance is there.

Let’s dive in.

26 Essential Digital Marketing Statistics to Make Your Marketing Pop in 2017

My new favorite joke about the New Year:

“I want to start a gym called Resolutions. The first two weeks it will have fitness trainers, workout equipment, everything. Then on January 15th, we turn the whole thing into a bar.”

I love that joke because it hints at an unfortunate reality: Only 64% of people keep their resolution past one month. At six months, less than half of us stay resolved.

Many marketers are starting out the New Year with resolutions. We want to know our audiences better, take control of our data, use content more effectively, and more. Statistically, only 46% of us have a chance at beating the status quo.

It takes more than willpower to make a resolution stick. You need a well-informed, strategic plan.

To help you reach your goals in 2017, use these statistics to guide you.

Mobile Marketing

• 84 percent of mobile advertisers believe they’re providing a positive experience. Less than half of consumers report their experience was positive. (Unlockd)4
• We have reached the mobile tipping point: All new data consumption is coming from mobile (TechCrunch).
• Over a third of email subscribers read their newsletters exclusively on mobile devices (Informz).
• 61% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site after a negative experience. 40% will go to a competitor’s site (MicKinsey & Company).