One of the most effective things you can do for your organisation is to engage in influencer marketing. It’s a great tool for expanding your customer base, finding new leads, building rapport with your target demographic, boosting brand loyalty, and ultimately, closing more business deals.
And that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. BusinessWire found that although 61% of individuals believe recommendations from influencers on social media, just 38% trust brand recommendations.
The rise in influencer marketing you may have noticed in your feed is, in fact, supported by statistics.
Although B2C companies are more frequently connected with influencer marketing, B2B has lately seen some potential development in this technique. Let’s take a look at the inner workings of B2B influencer strategy and see whether it’s something your company might benefit from.
Influencer marketing: what exactly is it?
Let’s start out by discussing what influencer marketing is. A kind of advertising in which a “influencer” or other reputable individual promotes a product instead than the advertiser directly.
Recommendations are the driving force behind the majority of sales for any product or service. Even more so in the B2B sector, where recommendations and referrals account for a stunning 91% of all sales.
What is the process of a B2B influencer strategy?
Aligning the ideas and goals of influential people in your sector with those of your brand is at the heart of any successful business-to-business (B2B) influencer strategy.
You need more than fleeting mentions from unimportant influencers to succeed. You’re not in the market for a fast buck. To build trust and authority in the eyes of B2B buyers, you should employ a B2B influencer strategy that associates your brand with thought leaders and experts in the field.
If this is the plan, then why?
This is due to the lengthier buying cycle that B2B customers often have compared to B2C customers. Researching, reading reviews, comparing different items, and checking specs often takes three to six months.
In addition to being larger and more sophisticated than B2C goods, B2B products typically include more than one person in the decision-making process. There is no tolerance for impulsive purchases, therefore having a credible B2B influencer endorse your offering is crucial to moving prospects quickly through the sales cycle.
Why is a B2B influencer approach advantageous?
Raise the profile of the brand:
Most influential people already have a sizable, devoted fan base. You may boost recognition of your brand by engaging with them.
But, it is far more vital to have a receptive and enthusiastic customer base than to just have a large number of people who are potentially interested in your products. It’s a good thing that B2B influencers have both of these qualities.
Acquire New Viewers:
Business-to-business offerings often target a certain demographic. If you use influencers, you may be able to reach people you haven’t thought to target previously.
Boost your sales by:
As was previously noted, the vast majority of sales are driven by word-of-mouth. By by talking about or mentioning your brand, influential people may promote sales of your product or service.
Acquire Excellent Material:
One of the hallmarks of a B2B influencer is enthusiasm and expertise in one’s field. As a result, you’ll be able to produce content that is both interesting and relevant to your target demographic.
Strengthen your brand’s reputation:
One of the best ways to increase your own credibility and authority is to form partnerships with other influential people in your field. This is because the general public looks to these figures for advice since they are held in high esteem and are considered experts in their fields. In addition to having access to the networks and connections themselves, these influencers may also introduce you to other decision makers.