Regardless of their variations, business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) influencer advertising and marketing share a number of key similarities.
Each audiences search worth, with a robust emphasis on belief, credibility, and social proof. They’re actively engaged on-line and reply nicely to related, high-quality content material. Efficient influencer advertising and marketing methods for each segments leverage this content material to handle particular wants and pursuits, driving engagement and fostering significant connections.
That is all to say that the various profitable techniques that work for B2C influencer entrepreneurs can work for these on the B2B aspect of issues, too. Sure, the objectives and audiences might differ however the basic ideas behind these techniques — constructing belief, leveraging content material, and fascinating authentically — are at all times related. By digging into these B2C techniques and adapting them for B2B, we are able to uncover methods that get outcomes. Let’s check out seven widespread B2C strategies that may be optimized for B2B influencer advertising and marketing.
1. Content material co-creation
- B2C: Influencers create content material that authentically showcases the model, usually integrating the product into their day by day life.
- B2B Adaptation: Co-create content material that aligns with each the model’s advertising and marketing objectives and the influencer’s experience and viewers.
- The Stat: 40% of manufacturers say creator and/or user-generated content material was crucial a part of their 2023 social media technique. (Supply: Wall Avenue Journal)
“What’s a sooner technique to join with a audience than constructing thought management from scratch? Working with influencers that have already got authority and credibility with the audience you wish to attain.” – Lee Odden, Board Advisor, TopRank Advertising and marketing
2. Genuine storytelling
- B2C: Influencers share private tales and experiences with a product to attach emotionally with their viewers.
- B2B Adaptation: Humanize your model by encouraging B2B thought leaders to share their skilled journeys, challenges, and the way your resolution helped remedy their particular issues. For greatest outcomes, make sure the influencers in your choice pool have huge expertise together with your model.
- The Stat: Conversions enhance by 30% when brand-influencer posts give attention to storytelling. (Supply: Sprinklr)
3. Product demonstrations and evaluations
- B2C: Influencers create charming short-form movies to indicate merchandise in motion.
- B2B Adaptation: Due to their typically intangible traits (suppose software program), showcasing a B2B product, service or resolution takes particular care. Depend on the influencer to share their POV on the providing, being certain to again it up with their trade experience, the worth proposition, their private expertise, and use instances.
- The Stat: 96% of B2B firms plan to make use of video product demos of their content material advertising and marketing over the following yr (Supply: RIVIA.AI)
“Influencers showcasing the sensible functions of B2B merchandise or offering genuine evaluations can considerably affect potential patrons. One of these content material aids in decision-making and boosts product credibility.” – Neil Patel, Co-Founder, Neil Patel Digital
4. Occasion partnerships and dwell streaming
- B2C: Influencers usually attend model occasions and live-stream their expertise to their followers.
- B2B Adaptation: Accomplice with influencers to live-stream trade occasions, conferences, or product launches. These kind of activations not solely improve your attain but in addition provides a layer of credibility when an trade knowledgeable endorses your model.
- The Stat: 68% of B2B entrepreneurs discovered that having influencers attend and canopy trade occasions considerably enhances model visibility and generates high quality leads. (Supply: Influencer Advertising and marketing Hub)
5. Lengthy-term partnerships
- B2C: Shopper-facing influencers kind long-term relationships with manufacturers, selling merchandise over a sequence of months and even years.
- B2B Adaptation: Flip your B2B influencers into model ambassadors. Recurring content material creation, thought management, and occasion appearances can construct sustained credibility and belief over time.
- The Stat: 56% of CMOs interviewed imagine that one of the simplest ways to optimize using B2B influencer advertising and marketing campaigns is to “construct long-term relationships that present true model advocacy.” (Supply: Warmly,)
“Influencer advertising and marketing within the B2B area can’t be centered on short-term techniques; it’s about constructing long-term relationships with key opinion leaders. These relationships can result in ongoing collaborations, the place influencers develop into advocates on your firm.” – Rafael Schwarz, CRO, TERRITORY Affect
6. Leveraging area of interest platforms
- B2C: Influencers usually interact with audiences on area of interest platforms like TikTok or Instagram, relying on the place their viewers is most energetic.
- B2B Adaptation: Determine and interact with influencers on area of interest platforms related to your trade, like TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, newsletters, and even Threads. These platforms may need smaller however extra engaged and related audiences for B2B manufacturers, permitting for extra focused influencer campaigns.
- The Stat: Instagram is the highest platform for influencer advertising and marketing, with 80.8% of entrepreneurs planning to make use of it in 2024. (Supply: Sprout)
7. Influencer-driven content material sequence
- B2C: Creators develop multi-part sequence to maintain their viewers engaged and the model on their radar.
- B2B Adaptation: Accomplice with influencers to develop a content material sequence that explores completely different points of a related trade subject. Examples embrace weblog posts, movies, or webinars that enable the influencer to offer insights on advanced topics over an prolonged time period.
- The Stat: B2B patrons interact with 3-7 items of content material earlier than speaking to a gross sales rep. (Supply: Kurve)
“As manufacturers, we have to 🛑 cease 🛑 constructing pay-per-post influencer campaigns.” – Justin Levy, Head of Social Media, Influencer Advertising and marketing and Neighborhood, ZoomInfo
Are you able to unlock the potential of B2C methods on your B2B group? Our workforce of award-winning influencer advertising and marketing consultants is right here that will help you each step of the best way, from technique improvement to execution. Contact us immediately.