What do Addison Rae, King Bach, and Liza Koshy have in common? These now-mainstream stars all came to fame as social media influencers. Let’s explore what exactly a social media influencer is, what they do, and the different types of influencers.
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Social media influencers are people who have used their skills, knowledge, and personality to gain a following online. They consistently create engaging content that fits their niche, whether it’s fashion, fitness, gaming, or anything else you can think of. Influencers interact with their followers, build trust, and often team up with brands for sponsorships, product promotions, and partnerships. While follower count matters, real influence comes from audience engagement, authenticity, and the ability to shape trends within their community.
What are the different types of influencers?
Influencers can be categorized by their number of followers and their area of expertise.
- Mega-influencers boast over 1 million followers and are usually celebrities or well-known individuals with significant impact across various demographics.
- Macro-influencers clock in at 100,000 to 1 million followers. They’re typically specialists in particular fields or industries who have cultivated a substantial and active following.
- Micro-influencers with 10,000 to 100,000 followers usually have a dedicated and focused audience within specific niche areas, making them valuable for brands aiming for tailored marketing.
- Nano-influencers have 1,000 to 10,000 followers and are everyday people who have intimate connections with their smaller but highly engaged audiences. Despite their limited reach, they frequently have the most genuine and direct influence within close communities.
Each type of influencer has a distinct role in the influencer landscape, aligning with different marketing approaches based on reach, engagement, and realness. If you’re an aspiring influencer, check out our comprehensive content creator and influencer job database.
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Though they may be similar, social influencers, non-influencers on social media, brand ambassadors, and content creators are all different.
What does an influencer do?
Influencers leverage their reach to sell products, services, or ideas—which differentiates them from your average user with tons of followers. These creators are always chatting with their audience and posting new stuff to promote brands. People trust them and listen to what they say, so they have a major impact on what’s hot and what people buy. They’re trendsetters, playing up the “just like you” angle and changing the game for digital marketing.
How is an influencer different from a brand ambassador or content creator?
Brand ambassadors are like the face of a company and represent it long-term, while content creators make original content and don’t always partner with brands to influence buying decisions. Influencers, on the other hand, mostly use their various platforms to promote multiple brands. Think about those beauty gurus with their own makeup lines, gamers scoring sweet brand deals, or fitness coaches with millions of followers—they’re all part of this influencer wave.
