Influencers – 1853 Communications

The Power of Influencer Marketing in Public Relations

In the world of public relations, making real connections with people is important. Since social media has now become a huge part of our everyday lives, influencers play a crucial role in shaping public perceptions. This kind of marketing is beneficial because it allows more people to be reached and engages them in a way that clicks with today’s consumers. Teaming up with influencers helps PR professionals tell stories that attracts specific audiences. It is important to understand why influencer marketing matters in PR for any business wanting to build a strong brand presence. Now lets dive in to the specific advantages of influencer marketing in public relations.

Authenticity and Credibility

Influencers tend to be authentic and relatable individuals to their followers. When they endorse a product, brand, or service, their audience is more likely to trust their recommendation and buy what they are selling. This contributes to increased credibility for the brand when viewed by the public.

Reach and Exposure

Influencers typically have larger followings across their social media platforms which means that they can reach a wider audience. By partnering with influencers, PR professionals are able to expand their reach to specific demographics and opens up opportunities for them to tap into communities that may be hard to reach through traditional PR channels.

Storytelling Through Content Creation

Creating compelling and attractive content is what influencers do best. By including influencers in PR campaigns, brands can utilize their storytelling skills to effectively communicate key messages to their audiences. This strategy can enhance the overall portrayal of a brand and make it more relatable.

Able to Adapt to Different Industries

Influencer marketing is very multifaceted and can be applied to a variety of industries. No matter what you are promoting, from fashion to technology, there are influencers with diverse expertise and interests. Because of that, this a flexible strategy for PR professionals across all different fields.

Measurable Results

A campaign is only beneficial to a business if its results are measurable. Influencer marketing campaigns can be tracked and measured. This provides PR professionals with insightful data on reach, engagement, and its impact on the business. Analyzing these metrics permits a data-driven approach to evaluating if a campaign is successful and determining if these strategies should be implemented in the future.

Building Long- Term Relationships

PR professionals can build long term relationships with influencers beyond specialized campaigns. This opens up the door to establishing brand loyalty and creating ongoing brand endorsements that can be beneficial for supported PR efforts.

The public relations field is always evolving and influencer marketing has become a crucial component in shaping brand narratives. The benefits we just explored, ranging from authenticity and reach to adaptability and measurable results, highlight the important role influencers play in increasing PR effectiveness. Understanding the relationship between influencer marketing and public relations is necessary for businesses who are looking to present themselves in an authentic and relatable way. Not only does influencer marketing allow businesses to convey messages but also leave a lasting impression on their intended audiences.

Dubai with Tarte

Recently my for you page on TikTok got flooded by content creators, also referred to as “influencers,” posting videos highlighting their lavish excursions in Dubai, an all-expenses paid 3-day brand trip hosted by Tarte Cosmetics. Tarte flew out beauty and lifestyle creators with millions of followers, such as the Mian twins, Monet McMichael, Alix Earle, Meredith Duxbury, and over 40 more, with their plus ones to stay in luxury villas at the Ritz-Carlton. Followers of these creators were excited to see some of their favorite influencers together in one place. However, the trip itself left many viewers with a bad taste about brand trips, and in this case, all eyes were on Tarte Cosmetics.

Tarte Cosmetics is a high-end makeup brand that is no stranger to the brand trip scene, as they have become well-known for the hashtag they created, “trippinwithtarte.” Before Covid, brand trips were popular in the beauty and lifestyle industry. Makeup brands would invite beauty and lifestyle content creators to a luxury destination, typically right before or after releasing a new product. The attendees were allowed a plus one but would not get paid to go on the trip. Instead, they signed a contract where they agreed to publish a set amount of content for the brand, whether through Instagram or YouTube at the time, usually both.

Many viewers saw makeup brands turning to brand trips compared to traditional forms of marketing as a smart move. Similarly, brands use “brand deals” where they partner with content creators who they believe have the audience they want to be influenced to buy the product their favorite creator gets paid to speak highly about. For the content creator with a significant number of followers who can charge an absorbent amount of money for a brand deal, the partnership becomes a mutually beneficial relationship, which is what the brand seeks to build. In contrast, brand trips allow the brands to cut the cost of spending a lot of money on deals with individual creators by paying less for the trip itself. In turn, brands are still getting their products talked about to their target audience and building positive relationships with creators. Brands also intend to utilize trips for building these relationships in hopes influencers will like the products and continue posting about them after the trip because they want to be invited back for the next trip.

Due to Covid, it has been a while since the internet has watched brand trip content, and after TikTok blew up during the pandemic, what used to be watching your favorite YouTubers post about these trips switched to seeing popular TikTokers posting TikToks about the Tarte Dubai trip. What is noteworthy about the Dubai trip, which differs immensely from previous brand trips, is that many viewers of the TikTok videos posted by the attendees noticed the lack of Tarte products used by the influencers. As a result, many began speculating if creators had to sign contracts to go on the trip. In the past, you would only see attendees using makeup products of the brand hosting the trip. On Tarte’s end, this could be a new strategy for developing relationships with content creators. Although, the question remains whether or not it was the right decision to get their target audience to buy Tarte products if their favorite influencers are not even using them.

While the Dubai trip has the internet talking about Tarte Cosmetics, many are referring to Tarte’s decision as “tone-deaf,” given the current state of the economy. TikTok videos have gone viral from creators who do not fall into the beauty and lifestyle category talking about brand trips, explicitly highlighting how beneficial they are financially for the brand. For an expensive makeup brand like Tarte, which many cannot afford, it is unknown whether or not the brand deems this trip a success and how it will impact them moving forward.