The difference between celebrities and influencers and its impact on marketing is becoming more challenging to recognize. It is easy to understand why there is confusion, given that both have major roles in advertising and each generally have a large social media following.
Influencer marketing is having such a significant impact that companies are now targeting these third-party audiences. However, savvy marketers must understand that not all influencers are celebrities, and not all celebrities are influencers.
Defining Celebrities and Influencers
Celebrities:
A celebrity is a person who gets fame or recognition from traditional media sources, such as acting, singing, or sports.
A company can reach a worldwide audience through celebrity marketing by surpassing time, location, and language barriers. Many celebrities are admired internationally and can connect with a wide range of people. However, despite their general popularity, celebrities typically fail to connect with niche audiences.
A celebrity is not a source when seeking out more about the brand’s information; they are only the public face of a brand. As a result, the company creates the concept for product promotion, with the celebrity only playing a supporting role.
Influencers:
An influencer can help in many marketing situations. Influencer marketing took off with the rise of YouTube talents and their respective large followings. After noticing brands collaborated with bloggers to develop their brands, the trend took off. Influencers are “normal” people who create an online personality. Because their audience sees them as authentic, they can bring in a large following. Generally, an influencer is seen as a particular field or industry leader. They have significant knowledge in that area, and their social media feeds tend to reflect that.
Differences between Influencers and Celebrities
Celebrities typically don’t need to be experts in the industry to promote a product. However, influencers usually have deep knowledge of their particular topics.
Unlike influencers, celebrities are typically not involved in the marketing campaign creation process. Meanwhile, influencers usually manage every step of the campaigns on which they work with brands. They take part in both the strategic and creative aspects of going live.
Engagement and Credibility
Celebrities often have a wide range of demographic followers, which gives them significant visibility. This can work incredibly well for firms trying to build a presence in several markets. However, it could be seen as less genuine. For example, when Kim Kardashian, an American reality TV star and businesswoman promotes a product, her fans may wonder whether she only promotes the product for the money.
Influencers specialize in niche markets, like travel, fitness, or beauty, to grow their followings. This allows brands to target particular populations more accurately. Influencers usually create a feeling of community and trust among their followers. For example, when Louis Cole, an influencer known for his adventurous spirit and global travels, shares travel gear, his followers trust his recommendations because they see him as an authentic source of information.
Celebrities vs Influencers: Which is better?
The goals and objectives of your campaign will determine whether influencers or celebrities apply more in your digital marketing strategy:
Celebrities work well to achieve broad visibility and brand awareness and reach a multitude of audiences. Influencers, however, are more proper in niches targeted explicitly for building trust and essential levels of engagement.
Marketers can improve their digital marketing efforts by using the advantages of influencers and celebrities and being aware of these distinctions. Think about this for your upcoming marketing campaigns!
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