In the great, big world of digital marketing, businesses have more marketing options than ever before. Influencer marketing and affiliate marketing are two big ones that often get mixed up. They seem alike, but they’re different and bring different results for brands. Today, your favourite East London digital marketing agency is here to shed some light on these marketing superpowers and what makes them so vastly different from one another. First up to bat, influencer marketing.
What is influencer marketing?
Influencer marketing is like having someone you look up to recommend a product or service to you. It’s all about partnering with reputable people with a significant online presence and a large following. These influencers use their credibility to vouch for your product or service and suggest their followers try it out for themselves. A knowledgeable digital marketing agency can get you in contact with the right people to promote your brand using their niche and targeted audience.
What is affiliate marketing?
Unlike influencer marketing, affiliate marketing works more like a performance-based partnership. Businesses can work with a reputable digital marketing agency to team up with affiliates who push their products or services from their own platforms using affiliate links. Affiliates get a cut of the sales or conversions they make. It is a win-win deal where both the brand and the affiliate come out on top. Now, let’s dig into what makes these strategies different.
How are they different?
Aside from the contrast in what they actually are, there are a few key differences to consider when deciding whether to use influencer or affiliate marketing to grow your business. Let’s take a look.
Relationship
The first thing to consider when discussing the differences between affiliate and influencer marketing is the overall nature of the relationship. Influencer marketing is about building genuine connections between the influencer and their followers. It’s about trust, loyalty, and relatability. Meanwhile, affiliate marketing is more about the money. Affiliates solely promote your product or service to earn commissions, and their main goal is to make sales.
Control and Creative Freedom
Ownership and control levels vary between these two similar yet oh-so-different strategies. In influencer marketing, brands usually let influencers do their thing and promote products in a way that fits their audience. This keeps things honest but might lead to different messages from different influencers. With affiliate marketing, brands have more say in the content since affiliates are motivated by sales rather than loyalty.
Audience
Last but certainly not least, let’s talk about the audience. Influencer marketing is excellent for reaching niche audiences with particular interests. By teaming up with the right influencers, brands can tap into what their followers like. On the other hand, affiliate marketing casts a broader net, targeting potential customers across different online spots. It can be challenging to figure out which marketing strategy is right for you, and that’s where the knowledge and support of experienced marketers come into play. So, why should you opt to work with a digital marketing agency?
Why work with a digital marketing agency?
Digital marketing agencies are full of people who eat, breathe, and sleep all things marketing. They are key players in running both influencer and affiliate marketing campaigns. They have the skills and tools to find the right influencers or affiliates, work out deals, track how things are going, and tweak things to get the most out of the campaigns.
In the end, while influencer and affiliate marketing share some similarities, they couldn’t be more different. While both can prove to be beneficial, they serve different goals. Knowing the ins and outs of each is crucial for businesses looking to make the most of their marketing. Whether you’re looking to boost your brand with influencers or drive sales with affiliates, picking the right approach for your goals and audience matters most. Contact us today if you’re looking for a knowledgeable digital marketing agency to help take your business to new heights!
