As you already know, startups face a myriad of challenges in their quest for success—ranging from securing funding to gaining market traction. Amidst this landscape, the role of influence has emerged as a powerful catalyst for growth and expansion. Of course, this isn’t even remotely a surprise; influencer marketing is getting stronger, and this is something that more and more startups are trying to leverage.
With that said, however, you don’t always need to hire influencers to get your business where you want it to be. In fact, influencer marketing is more of a new concept. But what not instead work on being an industry leader? Think of Steve Jobs, for instance; in this way, people rave about the guy. In a way, he was an influencer for his own business, his own industry, really.
So why not something like that? Honestly, one thing that not a lot of startups are doing is focusing on how to be the influencers themselves. So, how can you even do this? Better yet, how could this even make a real impact? Well, here’s exactly what you need to know!
Ideal for Building Up Awareness and Visibility
In the crowded marketplace, establishing brand awareness is essential for startups to stand out and attract attention. As an influencer, you possess a built-in audience and platform, providing a valuable opportunity to amplify your startup’s message and reach. By strategically leveraging your influence through content creation, collaborations, and endorsements, you can significantly enhance your brand’s visibility, generating buzz and curiosity among potential customers and investors.
You Need Trust- It’s Easier to Obtain
Honestly, it just doesn’t even matter what industry you’re in; you need trust. You need people to personally trust you, personally trust your brand, and feel assured that nothing sketchy at all could possibly happen. Of course, it’s not just about obtaining followers; it’s about getting customers and even retaining talent. On top of that, people need to look good, and if you’re trying to recruit talent and your business screams “sketchy,” well, they can kiss their digital marketing careers goodbye or any career that they have.
So, you need to be trusted, but in order to be trusted, you need to be known. You immediately come off as a human, a normal and relatable person (for the most part). So being an influencer can usually mean that it’s easier to build trust and people see you as you, not just some face of a company.
It’s Easier to Get Engagement
You should really keep in mind that influencers have this unique ability to drive customer acquisition and engagement through authentic storytelling and recommendation. Again, it’s reminded that influencers are human, normal people. Just by being yourself, you can leverage influence to spark interest, generate leads, and drive conversions for your startup.
It’s Easier to Collaborate with Other Influencers
So this is incredibly hostile to say and think, but a lot of influencers and content creators have next to no interest in collaborating with people that they see as “nobodies.” Again, it’s not ideal, and it can make the barriers to entry challenging. Think about podcasts for a moment; it’s always a “somebody” who’s a guest like these, right?
Think about YouTube interviews, too; they’re always “somebodies,” as well. The same goes for articles and so on. When you are well known, they’ll start coming to you for collaborating, so you won’t get ignored or rejected. Therefore, it’ll become easier to get your brand known out there.
There Might Be More Investor Interest
If you really think about it, you just might be able to get some investor interest without having to shoot through hoops. There isn’t entirely a guarantee, but there is at least a chance that it can become a bit easier. So think of it this way: influence can also play a pivotal role in attracting funding and investor interest for your startup.
Usually, investors are increasingly recognising the value of startups with a strong brand presence and engaged customer base. If you’re already “established,” then they’re going to feel like they have nothing to lose. So, just being an influencer and representing not only yourself but also your startup, it’s going to be much easier to showcase what you have.
It’s going to be easier to showcase your startup’s traction, growth potential, and potentially even some endorsement from other influencers in the industry (that you’ve already collaborated with). Basically, you’ll be able to enhance its perceived value and attractiveness to investors, increasing your chances of securing funding and fueling further expansion.
It’s the Best Way to Humanise Your Brand Story
Generally speaking, with the exception of the ultra-rich influencers (the ones that are essentially celebrity status), you’re meant to be relatable. After all, influence is rooted in authenticity and relatability—qualities that humanize your brand story and resonate with consumers on a deeper level.
As an influencer, you have the platform to share the behind-the-scenes journey of your startup, including the triumphs, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. Just by transparently showcasing the faces and stories behind your brand, you create an emotional connection with your audience, fostering trust, empathy, and loyalty that transcends transactional relationships.
Innovation and Iteration
Influence isn’t just about promoting existing products—it’s a catalyst for continuous innovation and iteration. A lot of businesses don’t really get this feedback (or they might reluctantly get it at best). So you’re going to have a major headstart, especially when it comes to your competitors!
Seriously, just by actively engaging with your audience and soliciting feedback from your community of influencers and customers, you gain valuable insights into their needs, preferences, and pain points. This feedback loop empowers your startup to adapt, evolve, and refine its products or services in real time, ensuring alignment with market demand and maintaining a competitive edge in an ever-changing landscape.
Nurturing Long-Term Relationships
At the end of the day, it’s all about nurturing relationships that can stay long-term, something that not a lot of people can say they can do. Influence isn’t just about short-term gains—you cultivate a loyal community of customers who view your startup as more than just a transactional entity.
