January 30, 2019 9:48 am
Published by Mikyron Padayachee
2018 saw the rise of virtual influencers. The subject of Virtual Influencers has rocked the influencer landscape leaving both marketers and influencers a bit confused. What is a virtual influencer? Are Virtual Influencers a fad or are they here to stay? How will Virtual Influencers affect me?
In 2018 the demand for influencer marketing increased significantly. The World Federation of Advertisers reported that 65% of marketers are looking to scale their use of influencers in the next 12 months. While the influencer industry has risen, so have the machines! With audiences in the millions, some virtual influencers have already collaborated with heavyweight brands like Prada and Gucci.
What is a virtual influencer?
A virtual influencer is a computer-generated avatar that uses artificial intelligence to operate on social media channels in the same way a human influencer would. Much like a human influencer, virtual influencers can gain popularity and collaborate with brands who want to use their influence to communicate the brand’s story with an audience. One of the most popular virtual Influencers is Lil Miquela, a “19 year old” computer generated model with over 1.5 million Instagram followers. Miquela has worked with fashion brands Prada and Channel. Another example of a virtual influencer is Shundu, the world’s first digital supermodel. Shundu collaborated with Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty lipstick. The collaboration went viral.
Human influencers come and go, however, IP lives forever
Human influencers have a ceiling to their potential. Virtual IP has almost unlimited potential. There are companies such as SuperPlastic, a designer toy company turned digital agency for virtual influencers, who are exploring possibilities of using AI and technology platforms to revolutionize entertainment and social media. They can do this by creating interactive games and using trends created by virtual influencer to influence a certain way of life.
The company behind virtual influencer Lil Miquela, Brud, is now worth at least $125 million after a new round of financing the company is currently closing. Investors are backing virtual influencer companies mainly because they are creating content that is free from the personalities and scandals that has defined a generation of social media stars.
Fad or are we living in an episode of Black Mirror?
For the foreseeable future, virtual influencers are not going anywhere. The success of virtual influencers like Lil Miquela and the incredible amount of venture capital that is being invested in virtual influencer companies means that we should all be prepared to see many more virtual influencers on our timelines. While virtual influencers may be fake, their audiences are real. According to managing director of Kantar, Gagan Bhalla, “What matters is not whether something exists or not, rather how creatively can a story be built around it – take Marvel or DC superheroes. They don’t exist, yet movies based on them are huge box-office grossers.”
What does this all mean for human influencers?
Human stories that are aspirational and inspirational will always be relevant. Brands will still want their stories to be associated with human stories that are in line with their identity and vision. After all, it is humans who will be buying their products. With this being said, more than ever, human influencers have a huge responsibility to uphold an appropriate image and follow FTC guidelines at all times while creating content that is engaging and authentic. As an influencer, you are now not only competing with other humans but also with technology.
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January 9, 2019 9:10 am
Published by Mikyron Padayachee
“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”- Malcolm X
Are you a marketer or an influencer? Do you want to sharpen your expertise in Influencer Marketing, understand the latest trends in Influencer Marketing, stand out from your peers, become an asset to the brands or agencies you work for and receive recognition from your skills and Influencer Marketing intuition which will support movement in your career path, business or as an influencer?
We have produced a course on Influencer Marketing for brands, entrepreneurs and influencers who want to maximize this media channel.
Introduction to Influencer Marketing by Murray Legg on Vimeo.
Being such a new discipline, the landscape of influencer marketing can be tricky to navigate. The success of every influencer campaign can hinge on a marketer or influencers knowledge about influencer marketing principles and how best to execute these principles. Most institutions are yet to include influencer marketing into their syllabuses, leaving most marketers and influencers in the dark about how best to run and contribute to an influencer campaign.
But do not fear! We have created a course for digital, social media and online marketers interested in influencer marketing strategy, fundamentals and campaign success, as well as for Influencers who want to become proficient and professional at working with brands and agencies.
By completing the course, you’ll have gained knowledge of the following:
- Be fluent in the fundamentals of Influencer Marketing
- Be able to formulate an effective influencer marketing strategy and roll out a plan
- Be aware of the typical use cases for influence marketing, including awareness, growth in your brand’s social capital, and sales
- Understand how Influencer Marketing fits into a digital media strategy
- Know the influencer archetypes and where best to use them
- Appreciate the model of Shared Value between brands, audiences, and influencers
- Compile campaign targeting for a specific audience, media channel, and budget
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December 18, 2018 4:59 pm
Published by Mikyron Padayachee
In the age of the Influencer, most influencers ignore the importance of a Media Kit. After all, everything a brand needs to know about your body of work is on your social channels, right?
What these influencers don’t realize is that Media Kits have a very specific focus and purpose beyond what your channel can convey. In essence, your Media Kit is a packet full of information about you as an influencer. Traditionally your Media Kit is sent to brands to encourage them to use your influence in a potential campaign, and also to brands you are currently working with.
Creating a Media Kit on Webfluential will give you access to unique and striking features. Brands will be able to view your body of work and information about you and your audience. Brands will also be able to begin a collaboration with you straight from your Media Kit.
Your Webfluential Media Kit updates in real time to reflect your changes in audience, as it grows, as well as your top performing content.
Here are some of the features that are shown on your Media Kit:
- Links to your channels and blog
- Your Audience’s demographic and geographic details
- The markets you operate in
- Your IBM Watson personality insights
- Featured posts
- Brands you have worked with
- A collaboration form for brands to fill in if they want to reach out to you
Sharing your Media Kit with brands and your audience can be a great tool for getting noticed and booking your next influencer campaign.
Take a look at some great media kits from influencers on Webfluential:
Candace Hampton
Candace is a Dallas based fashion, lifestyle, beauty and travel blogger with over 300,000 in following across social platforms.
Christian Collins
Christian is an artist, entrepreneur, and social media influencer. His aim is to spread a positive message through his content.
Karisma Collins
Karisma is a beauty, fashion and lifestyle influencer who loves to create positive inspiring content for people to watch and see.
Many Of Many
Man of Many is one of Australia’s leading men’s lifestyle sites with over 500,000 unique visitors and 880,000 page views per month.
Nicola Marleen
For Nicola Fashion is so much more than buying clothes and being trendy. It’s about expressing herself to the outside world!
Josh Devine
Josh is a drummer for One Direction and ZFG.
Thandolwethu Tsekiso
Thando blog’s about all things food, fashion, music, travel and lifestyle events.
Cristina Petrini
Cristina is an Italian lifestyle, foodie and travel blogger with a unique perspective. She describes herself as a “witch blogger”.
Melonie Graves
Melonie is a lifestyle influencer with a love of all things home decor, family, food, and wine.
Sarah Funk
Sarah is a travel storyteller. She creates engaging, high-quality videos and photography that is shared on her channels.
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