The rise of influencer marketing as Google acquires Famebit [#ChartoftheDay]

Influencer Marketing is on the rise. Are Social Media Star's part of your strategy for the year ahead?

Earlier this week Google announced that it had acquired FameBit, a technology platform company that specializes in connecting creators and brand for sponsorships and paid promotions.

In light of this acquisition, I thought we could look at the growth of the term influencer marketing in today’s Chart of the Day. There is no denying that the term has experienced incredible growth over the last 2 years and it doesn’t look like it will slow down anytime soon. And with a suggested bid of £5.73 per click and a competition score of 0.76 in Google AdWords, competition from influencer marketing platforms and Agencies looking to connect brands with Social Media stars is increasingly ferocious. As you can see from the chart below, there has been a 1000% rise in people searching for influencer marketing solutions or advice over the past two years, demonstrating the massive rise in its popularity recently.

But, Why do influencers matter?

Influencers can help your business by enabling you to reach audiences well beyond your existing customer base. Where your target audience can be suspicious of the claims you make in your marketing, an influencer is seen as more impartial and therefore more credible. These influencers will often be early adopters of the platform so as well as being able to reach more of your target audience, they will be able to provide valuable insights into how you can suitably adapt your communications to appeal to your target market in a more effective manner.

There are many ways you can find influencers to promote your services including:

• Platforms like Famebit & ReadyPulse – These do come at a cost though
• Research your preferred individual and contact them directly via social media
• Use Outreach software like Buzzstream or NinjaOutreach to find and contact
• Utilize your own connections you might be suprised who is a friend of a friend

• Source: Google Trends
• Smart Insights Member resources: Influencer Outreach Guide