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2021: The Year of the Influencer

A few reasons why 2021 has become the year of the influencer.

By Regina ThomasPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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Let's face it. Human beings have always had a strong desire to communicate, and social media has evolved into the ideal vehicle for establishing personal connections at scale. It is no wonder then that influencers play a major role in how people engage today with their mobile devices. The great influencers are the ones who can develop and nurture relationships with customers, drive the business forward, add power to brands and boost income.

Celebrity Influencers

If there is one group that can attain a huge demographic in followers, it is the celebrity influencer, which makes them a unique brand ambassador. Fans love stars and look at them as trustworthy, full of knowledge, and upon the latest trends.

Instagram seems to be the jackpot of social media for celeb and non-celeb influencers for 2021. It's quite impressive hands down!

Here are the top stars:

10. Justin Bieber (177 million followers)

9. Beyonce (185 million followers)

8. Lionel Messi (217 million followers)

7. Kim Kardashian West (228 million followers)

6. Selena Gomez (236 million followers)

5. Kylie Jenner (240 million followers)

4. Ariana Grande (243 million followers)

3. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (245 million followers)

2. Cristian Ronaldo (297 million followers)

1. Instagram's Official Account (391 million followers)

The Micro-Influencer

This isn't just a lucrative game for famous folks. The micro-influencer factor is growing in leaps and bounds, and 2021 appears to be the year of break-out successes.

A micro-influencer is an individual who has between 1,000 to 1,000,000 followers on social media and is considered an expert in their field.

Adding in the right influencer marketing platform, and the sky's the limit for surpassing competitors in terms of growth.

Branding professionals are predicting that in 2021, micro-influencers will be rivaling celebrity influencers in the new decade because "regular" people or non-celebs see themselves as peers. They are more accessible with more personal interaction, and micro-influencers can also respond to questions or comments in a faster manner.

New Platforms

People are using apps now more than ever when it comes to seeking relatable content. Social entertainment has become a great escape, especially following a very difficult global pandemic year.

Marketers are finding that dabbling on different platforms can be a very good thing for maximizing their investment.

You've seen the rising power of TikTok alone and how short-form videos continue to expand in popularity. Authentic, real-time entertainment is hot at the moment and a new way to attract viewers. Video marketing isn't going to disappear anytime soon. In fact, video marketing was already a $135 billion industry in 2020, according to statistics.

Facebook and other traditional social networks, for example, are more serious platforms where photos and links to articles are shared, etc., and can be negative. TikTok users, on the other hand, create content to entertain their audiences as their primary mission.

The Game-Changers

Times have changed, and marketing is continuing to evolve rather rapidly thanks to the amazing technology available today. Social platforms are modern game-changers that have lessened the marketing impact of traditional media.

TV, radio, newspaper, and magazine revenues used to reign supreme several years ago, but it would appear that those days are over.

Social media has provided access to important information about consumers, such as their spending habits, shifting cultural dynamics, and demographics. This helps to build better brand awareness and to help generate leads for particular services or products.

Your Core Audience

In 2021, it is key to remember that different platforms attract different audiences and to know where your core audience is already active.

For instance, Pinterest appeals mainly to women and is a powerful platform for social shoppers.

YouTube and Facebook are considered excellent online sites mainly because of their high-earning user bases.

Of course, engaging social content is extremely important for refining your goals and brand identity. Showing your human and/or authentic side should be the cornerstones of your marketing strategy in 2021 as we continue emerging from COVID-19.

Social media can be both competitive and complex, but it is the modern way of communicating and establishing global personal connections. It is the year of the influencer and an exciting time for building your brand!

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