There are now beyond celebrity influencers. With TikTok reign in short-term video gaining ground, another phenomenon is micro-influencersācontent creators who have between 10K and 100K followers. They bring greater engagement, brand loyalty, and return on investment for brands.
Numerous American brands have thus changed strategy and partnered with a TikTok influencer agency in an attempt to capitalize on this new influence. In this blog, we delve into why micro-influencers have such significant impact and why American brands have been using them so effectively, in large part due to TikTok's use of affiliate marketing for TikTok, user-generated content, and long-term partnerships.
What Is A Micro-Influencer?
A micro-influencer is an influMicro-influencers are ordinary people who have specialized in nichesābeauty, fashion, fitness, food, tech, etc. They do not have large numbers of followers, yet they possess highly engaged viewers who enjoy what they share.
Authenticity: Micro-influencers feel closer and more familiar than celebrities or macro-influencers and build stronger bonds.
Influence Conversion Rate: They also possess an immense likelihood to take an action based upon product recommendations, rendering them extremely useful for promoting brands for TikTok.
Niche Reach: They have niche content for niche audiences and can enable brands to reach them.
American Companies Target Micro-Influencers Today Because:
1. Increased Participation Rates
Micro-influencers are at least 60% more influential than those who have millions of followers. They have followers who share, comment, and recommend content created by someone to whom they relate.2. Low Cost Strategy
It can cost an influencer thousands, yet giving similar to micro-influencers can give brands greater reach as well as diverse content.Collaborating with an influencer marketing agency for TikTok allows companies to achieve this for an array of influencers without compromising affordability.
3. Increased Audience Trust and Credibility
Audiences see micro-influencers as peers, not marketers. When micro-influencers promote brands, micro-influencers do not appear to do so for marketing purposes, especially when in conjunction with anecdote and testimonial.4. Improved TikTok Algorithm Performance
The TikTok algorithm likes raw, entertaining content rather than highly produced commercials. Micro-influencers produce this content organically, so they have better chances of becoming viral and trending in the For You page.How American Brands Use Micro-Influencers in TikTok
Affiliate Marketing for TikTok Shop
Micro-influencers have also sold products through TikTok's affiliate marketing program in which they get a commission for each sale they generate.Case Study: A US skincare brand partnered with 20 micro-influencers for its TikTok shop setup and grew its sales 200% in 60 days.
Sponsored Content Partnerships
Brands give out free items or compensate creators for product review, creating tutorials, or initiating hashtag challenges. Such campaigns generate user content promoting credibility and brand recognition.Brand Ambassadorships
Rather than one-time deals, brands now sign micro-influencers for long-term partnerships. American fashion and tech brands sign long-term deals through TikTok influencer marketing partnerships to attain current success and seek long-term exposure.How to Discover and Work with the Most Effective Micro-influencers
Leverage TikTok's Creator Marketplace
The TikTok Creator Marketplace is TikTok's platform for allowing brands to find authorized creators, by niche, location, and content.Measure Engagement, Don't Count Followers
A 20K engaged follower influencer is better than another influencer who has 100K non-engaged followers. Look for comments, video likes, and share numbers per post.Offer Creative Freedom
Let them be themselves. Micro-influencers know who to talk to. Rigidity can destroy authenticityālet them share your message in terms they use.Conclusion
Micro-influencers have moved beyond being another strategyāthey have become the future of TikTok marketing for brands. Micro-influencers' authenticity, affordability, and interactivity within communities have positioned them as ideal partners within today's evolving digital era.American brands, in obtaining long-term ambassadorships beyond sole one-time sponsored posts, and product placements, have to align themselves with an experienced TikTok influencer agency in an effort to get the best out of such creators. Whether creating TikTok stores or running an influencer campaign, the key to ROI is in authentic relationshipsāone creator at a time.