HOW TO SPOT FAKE FOLLOWERS AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT INFLUENCER FOR YOUR CAMPAIGN
Are you a business owner who wants to try influencer marketing but aren't sure what kind of influencer fits your brand? Don't worry, we’re here to help guide you based on your marketing goals.
When it comes to influencer marketing, picking the right type of influencer for your campaign can make all the difference. Whether you're looking to spread brand awareness, generate leads, convert sales quickly, or launch a new product with a bang, choosing wisely can accelerate your growth. Below, we'll walk you through which type of influencer works best for each goal, and share some easy tips to ensure their followers are authentic.
1. Want to Boost Brand Awareness Faster?
Go Big with Mega or Macro Influencers
If your goal is to get your brand noticed fast, you need to go big. Mega and macro influencers (with 500K+ followers) are your go-to here. Think of TikTok stars or Instagram celebs like, these influencers have the power to make your brand explode overnight, reaching millions in just one post.
Why They Work: Their massive followings give your brand immediate exposure, and since they’re known for creating viral content, your product could be the next big trend.
How to Check if Their Followers Are Real:
1. Engagement Ratio: Check if their likes, comments, and shares match their follower count. A huge number of followers but minimal engagement can be a red flag.
2. Growth Spikes: Use tools like Social Blade to spot any sudden jumps in followers, which could indicate they've bought fake followers.
3. Genuine Comments: Look for real, meaningful interactions rather than just emojis or generic comments like “cool.”
2. Looking to Generate Leads?
Micro and Mid-tier Influencers Are the Sweet Spot
When it comes to generating quality leads, bigger isn’t always better. Micro (10K-50K followers) and mid-tier influencers (50K-100K followers) often have niche audiences that trust them deeply. Think about Instagram food bloggers who inspire healthy eating or finance gurus. Their communities are engaged and actively look to them for recommendations.
Why They Work: Their smaller but highly engaged following means their audience is more likely to be interested in your specific product or service, making them perfect for generating leads.
How to Check if Their Followers Are Real:
1. Consistent Engagement: Look for influencers whose posts consistently get likes and comments across different content.
2. Follower Insights: Ask for their audience demographics. Make sure their followers match your target market.
3. Real Conversations: Check their comments section. Are people asking questions and engaging in meaningful ways?
3. Need to Convert Sales Faster?
Nano and Micro Influencers Have You Covered
If you need to convert sales quickly, nano (1K-10K) and micro influencers are your best bet. These influencers have small but tight-knit communities, and their followers trust their recommendations like they would a friend’s. Think local fitness trainers, beauty bloggers, or niche interior design accounts.
Why They Work: They have personal connections with their followers, which leads to higher trust and faster purchasing decisions. Their audience feels more like a close community, so when they recommend something, their followers act on it.
How to Check if Their Followers Are Real:
1. Authentic Interaction: Nano influencers often reply to comments and engage directly with their audience. Look for this level of involvement.
2. High-Quality Engagement: It’s not just about the number of likes—check for saves, shares, and detailed comments, all signs of real followers.
3. Demographics Check: Ensure their audience fits your target customer profile by reviewing their follower base.
4. Launching a Product?
Go with Macro Influencers or Niche Experts
When you’re ready to launch a product, you need someone who has both reach and credibility. This is where macro influencers (100K+ followers) or niche experts come in. For example, if you’re launching a tech product, influencers like Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) are perfect because their audience trusts their expertise. In the beauty space, someone like Huda Kattan (Huda Beauty) can generate serious excitement around a new launch.
Why They Work: These influencers are trusted authorities in their niches. Their reviews carry weight, and they can introduce your product to a large, engaged audience all at once.
How to Check if Their Followers Are Real:
1. Follower Interaction: Check how their audience reacts to past product launches. Are there real discussions and excitement, or just generic praise?
2. External Tools: Use platforms like BuzzSumo or Traackr to see their performance in past campaigns.
3. Successful Launches: Look at their track record with previous product launches. Did their posts generate buzz and sales?
Quick Tips to Spot Fake Followers
1. Engagement Rate: For most influencers, an engagement rate between 1-6% is standard. Anything significantly lower or higher might be a sign of fake followers.
2. Use Tools: Platforms like HypeAuditor, FakeCheck.co, and FollowerAudit can help you dig into an influencer’s follower quality.
3. Growth Patterns: Sudden follower spikes can signal fake followers. Steady growth is a better sign of an organic following.
4. Content Consistency: Look for influencers who post regularly with consistent engagement levels.
By choosing the right influencer for your campaign goals and ensuring their followers are real, you can supercharge your brand’s success. Whether you're aiming for awareness, leads, sales, or product launches, there's an influencer out there who can make it happen. Just be sure to verify their followers so your efforts hit the mark!
Did you know that you can check for fake followers of an influencer yourself?
