We’re a technology company that has some talented individuals; each play a huge role in bringing our tech, service, brand and vision to life. Our regular monthly feature aims to introduce you to some of the incredible people at Webfluential.
Today we’re featuring one of our sales rockstars here on #TeamWebfluential. Meet our Junior Sales Rep, Ayanda!
Hi Ayanda! Tell us a little about yourself.
First and foremost, I am a child of God. I’m also a bit of a drama queen, a newborn health freak and gym junkie, a family-over-everything kind of person, and a traveller at heart who has a massive phobia for cats. Overall, I’m a lover of life!
What inspired you to come work with #TeamWebfluential?
I’m a brand fanatic. I enjoy building and moulding brands to make them top of mind for consumers. Webfluential stood out for me because it’s a fun environment and an appealing business model. What makes Webfluential unique is how it tells different stories through real people. For me, that’s a brilliant concept. I also wanted to learn more about influencer marketing and how it contributes to the marketing mix as a whole.
What’s the one thing you want to tick off your achievements list in the next 5 years?
*Moment of silence* I never think that far! Plans have a way of reformatting every now and then. I rather think short-term. I will have my Masters Degree in Brand Intelligence in 5 years, that’s for sure.
If you could have dinner with any three people in the world, who would they be and what would you order?
Michelle Obama
Tyler Perry
Shonda Rhimes
I’d first want to know who’s making dinner and what their speciality is. Otherwise, if it’s a regular menu, then mixed seafood pasta or a prawn curry makes my belly happy.
As more and more brands turn to digital creators, social influencers and rising internet stars as a trusted source of advertising we’re starting to see some great lessons flooding the internet. As with any new(ish) trend, the brave brands venture out and help the rest of the industry define the rules and best practices for the future. Over the last year I’ve watched hundreds of brands be brave, and reap the great rewards as a result.
One lesson stands out: influencer marketing campaigns get the best results when the brand and the influencer are a good match.
Take a look at the Australian launch of Netflix in 2015, where influencer Troye Sivan live-tweeted his way through a couple of episodes of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – it was a sublime pairing of brand and influencer, and his tweets reached over 90 million people in one hour.
How does a brand find its influencer soul mate? It´s a bit like dating, actually. There is more than one way to find your perfect match – over the last year i’ve managed narrow down three ways to deliver that perfect match.
Option one:
You go out and find The One! Back in the day this meant standing at the bar, spotting someone you think you´ll get along with and offering to buy them a drink. These days, it´s a lot simpler. I´m talking apps like Tinder. Matchmaking made easy in the technological age. Likewise with finding the right influencer for your campaign. Where once you had interns scouring the web, cataloging blogs, stats and contact details, platforms like Webfluential have made finding influencers a snap, you just register as a marketer and use the Search function to filter through our 10,000-strong database of accredited influencers.
Option two:
You could also find your perfect match The Bachelor style. Let the influencers pitch their best ideas to you based on a brief, and pick the one that really gets you. This option works best for marketers who know they need to get some traction in the market, but maybe don’t have the perfect picture on how to do that. Smart marketers are simply asking the most influential people in their target market for help!
Option three:
But what if you´re not looking for a ´swipe right´ kind of relationship? You want something deeper, you want to know that you are both into Star Wars and cat memes? In the past, a safe bet would be to ask your mates to introduce you to someone they know you have something in common with. Brands, now you can do this too: approach influencers you know are already talking and tweeting about your brand because they are fans. Or, they are talking to an audience you have your eye on. Tools like Discovered by Webfluential allow you to listen in to the conversations, and then invite these influencers to work with you.
Example: Justin Bieber and Calvin Klein. Whether Justin is on stage, or on social, or on a sponsored photoshoot he has an affinity for the brand. I would bet on the fact that he’d outsell any online store in no time if he Tweeted a link to purchase product – it would be poetry in motion.
As an industry, let’s make a stand to be better. However you find your perfect match, remember, you can’t fake a relationship between a brand and an influencer – their audience can always tell. Long-term brand-influencer partnerships work the best, so if you like it, put a ring on it and be exclusive.
This month we’re showcasing influencers whose personalities really shine through in their Webfluential media kits.
I AM ELLA
24-year-old Ella shares snippets of her busy life, living and working in London and travelling around the world. Her love for fashion resonates throughout her blog, where readers get a glimpse into her very bright and fashion-forward wardrobe. Ella and her unique style has represented top brands such as Converse, Manhattans Cosmetics and Pepsi. Click here to see Ella’s media kit.
Mark Jackson
Mark is a talented photographer who shares his work on Instagram, showcasing breathtaking images of his travels, wildlife encounters and beautiful landscapes. As Mark explores the world, he shares images of his journey with his audience. His creativity and hunger for adventure show in every moment he captures. Click here to have a look at Mark’s media kit.
Marie Sheffield
Marie Sheffield is a London-based writer, marketer and food and travel blogger. Being a foodie, Marie naturally writes about restaurants she has been to while travelling, as well as sharing her own culinary tips and tricks with her audience. So if you are travelling and want to know which restaurant is worth visiting, or just want to spice up your dinner menu visit Marie Sheffield – The Food and Travel Blogger. See Marie’s media kit here.
