What is an Influencer ?

The internet is saturated with social media influencers who have a strong online presence and loyal followers, so it can sometimes be challenging to be aware of the different existing influencers that are active online. It is then important to understand that not all influencers are the same, as their follower numbers and the type of content that they specialise in can vary greatly. We want to break down exactly what an influencer is and the different types of influencers that exist.

What is an influencer?

What is an influencer? An influencer can be defined as a person who affects the purchasing decisions of an audience due to their social status, knowledge or relationship with their audience. An influencer is typically an expert in their chosen field. From lifestyle and beauty to food and travel, influencers are currently dominating social media.

What are social media influencers?

What are social media influencers? Social media influencers are recognised for being impactful to their audiences which explains why they amass a devoted fan base. They generally have expertise in a niche category or field, which is how they are able to substantially grow their follower numbers, appealing to those with shared interests. Social media influencers usually post content across a number of social media platforms and are also considered authentic and innovative in terms of the content that they produce. 

Social media has seen a rise in the number of social media influencers due to the fact that everyone, everywhere actively uses social media. Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or TikTok, billions of people around the world have social media accounts. This is why social media influencers are in high demand and are ideal for brands who are seeking partnerships for their marketing campaigns. Essentially, influencers have such a large reach that they are able to increase user engagement and product sales for brands.

What are the different types of influencers?

It is crucial that you understand the types of influencers that exist, especially seeing as different influencers appeal to different demographics. From nano-influencers to mega-influencers, there are so many types of  influencers out there who are positively affecting their fans. There is also a common misconception that all influencers are celebrities. However, not all influencers need to be celebrities in order to positively affect their audiences. 

Here are some examples of the different types of influencers:

1. Micro-influencers 

Micro-influencers are most likely to be recognised for their dedication to producing content that belongs to a niche topic. They are experts in fields ranging from food, travel, beauty and lifestyle, and have a genuine interest in their chosen topics. Micro-influencers have anywhere between 1,000 and 100,000 followers on social media. 

Micro-influencers are a popular choice for brands to collaborate with as they receive much higher rates of user engagement than the likes of celebrities. This is because their content is deemed more authentic and transparent, which is favourable to most brands. Their smaller followings mean that they are able to communicate more with their audiences which makes them more relatable. Many of the most successful micro-influencers are also Instagram influencers as the platform allows them to connect with their audiences on a personal level. 

2. Macro-influencers 

Macro-influencers are popular social media influencers who have risen to fame solely through the internet. They are known for having knowledge on the fields that interest them, which is why they typically have between 100,000 and 1 million followers online. They are also known for being creative individuals, which explains why they are often pioneers for the niches that their content belongs to. 

3. Mega-influencers 

Mega-influencers are among the types of influencers with massive social media followings. They normally earn a minimum of 1 million followers online. Several YouTube influencers are considered mega-influencers due to the fact that they appeal to millions of people across the globe. Mega-influencers can also be considered as celebrities despite the fact that several of these influencers have received their fame due to their prominence on the internet.

FAQ’s

What is an influencer?

What is an influencer? An influencer can be defined as a person who affects the purchasing decision of an audience due to their social status, knowledge or relationship with their audience. An influencer is typically an expert in their chosen niche field.

What does an influencer do?

Influencers create content online and regularly post their content to social media for their loyal fans to like, comment, and interact with. They are also known to partner with brands to promote their products and services to their large followings. 

Who are the top 10 influencers on social media? 

Social media is filled with influencers, so it can be hard to decide who the top social media influencers are. Generally speaking, the top influencers are determined by their follower numbers as well as their engagement rates. Here are some of the top social media influencers: 

1. 1. James Charles
   2. Kylie Jenner 
   3. Patricia Bright 
   4. Charli D’amelio 
   5. Lilly Singh 
   6. Logan Paul 
   7. Bretman Rock 
   8. King Bach 
   9. Chloe Ting 
   10. Zach King

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