By Sarah, the influencer marketing guru

Are you new to influencer marketing and feeling uncertain about the best practices? Or, have you been using influencer marketing for a while, but struggling to see the results you want? Fear not, dear friend! I’m here to guide you through the most common mistakes that even the most experienced marketers make in their influencer marketing efforts. By the end of this post, you’ll be equipped with the know-how to avoid these mistakes and make your influencer marketing campaigns a success!

Mistake #1: Not Defining Goals and Metrics 📈

One of the biggest mistakes in influencer marketing is not defining clear goals and metrics. What do you want to accomplish through influencer marketing? Increased brand awareness? More sales? Improved engagement with your target audience? Remember, goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Once your goals are defined, don’t forget to set metrics to measure the success of your campaign. Metrics could include reach, engagement, impressions, conversions, and more.

A woman holding a piece of paper with the words "Goals and Metrics"

Mistake #2: Not Choosing the Right Influencers 🤔

Choosing the wrong influencer can lead to a campaign that falls flat. To avoid this, research your influencers extensively and ensure that their content and values align with your brand. Look at their engagement rates, reach, and demographics to see if they match your target audience. A mistake often made is only looking at their following count without considering if their audience is relevant to your brand. Remember, quality over quantity is essential when it comes to influencer marketing.

An image with a magnifying glass over different influencers

Mistake #3: Being Too Controlling 🤯

Working with influencers means giving them creative control. It’s important to trust their process and let them create organic content. It’s also important to give them some creative freedom, so they can showcase your brand in their unique style without feeling like they are just promoting a product. Make sure to set clear guidelines and goals, review the content before posting, and provide constructive feedback when needed.

A woman giving a thumbs up to a content created by an influencer on a laptop screen

Mistake #4: Not Building Relationships 🤝

Just like any other marketing tactic, influencer marketing should be used to build long-lasting relationships with your audience and your influencers. This is where trust-building comes in. Engage with your influencers even when you’re not running a campaign. Tap into their audiences to grow your own followers and keep your brand top of mind. Not building relationships with your influencers is a huge missed opportunity!

A picture of two people shaking hands with smiley faces

Mistake #5: Not Disclosing Paid Partnerships 💸

Transparency is key in influencer marketing. Not disclosing paid partnerships is both unethical and a legal requirement in most countries. Paid partnerships can be disclosed in many ways, including hashtags, captions, image overlays or in the video. Make sure you work with your influencers to ensure that they are aware of the disclosure requirements.

A picture of a hashtag with the words "paid partnership" in it

And that’s it, folks – the top 5 common mistakes to avoid in influencer marketing. Remember to define clear goals, choose the right influencer, give some creative freedom, build relationships, and always be transparent. With these tips, you can create a successful influencer marketing campaign that drives results!

A picture of a group of people - influencers and brand representatives - all standing in a circle with thumbs up and big smiles