The marketing landscape is constantly changing; however, influencer and KOL marketing have remained popular marketing trends. Many brands struggle to make KOL marketing a long-term investment that positively impacts their sales. Much like influencers in the West, KOLs are a crucial marketing approach in China. As a leading KOL marketing agency, we know we can help.
Whether you need an influencer marketing agency in the UK or an influencer marketing agency in the US, our global offices can assist you in creating powerful influencer campaigns that have lasting impact.
Socially Powerful is a KOL marketing agency that guarantees results that outperform traditional marketing channels. By acting as an extension of your team, we are able to design and activate bespoke macro and micro KOL marketing programmes. Our KOL marketing agency also provides complete social media services—from social video production, content distribution, community management, social commerce, to talent management. Alongside end-to-end social agency services, from strategy and creative to activation and operations, we can also deploy one-off activations and long-term KOL programmes.
Our approach is platform and channel agnostic activating global KOL marketing campaigns on YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Weibo, WeChat and more. Through our data and insights team, we are able to guarantee results based on our years of data collection and previous campaign performance. We’re that confident, if we don’t hit the agreed KPIs, you don’t pay us.
Whether you’re looking to build your brand, connect to new audiences, drive traffic, downloads, or sales, we reverse engineer from the agreed outcome to make informed decisions. KOL, creatives and platform decisions are supported with data, metrics and performance analysis, to develop long-lasting business impact.
Key opinion leader (KOL) marketing is where brands partner with individuals who are experts within a specific subject or niche. The niche is usually related to the brand’s product offerings or services or is a topic that interests the brand’s target audience. The majority of KOL marketing occurs on social networks. However, some KOL marketing occurs on popular niche blogs that KOLs have built themselves.
Not all KOLs have built their popularity and reputation with online activity. KOL marketing was active before the internet, and it’s often considered a subset of celebrity marketing. As long as experts have existed, so has KOL marketing.
While KOL marketing and celebrity marketing are linked, it’s important to identify the differences. KOL marketing uses the knowledge, understanding and expertise of an individual to promote a brand or product, whereas celebrity marketing relies on an individual’s popularity and reach.
The most common use of KOL marketing is the use of academic professionals and scientists within marketing. However effective KOL marketing requires more than simply using an expert. The KOLs chosen need to be able to influence their audience’s behaviour. Having expert knowledge isn’t entirely helpful if said expert can’t influence anyone’s opinions or behaviours.
This means KOL marketing is a pure form of influencer marketing. In theory, all influencers should be KOLs. Unfortunately, not all influencers have the expert knowledge in order to be a KOL, even if they are experts at communicating.
KOL marketing is most effective in China. Creating a KOL marketing campaign in China is far more common than a traditional influencer marketing campaign. You can find Chinese KOLs in almost any field. They are particularly popular in topics encouraging instruction or guidance; some popular KOLs in mass interest niches have millions of followers.
Many Chinese consumers are wary of information broadcast through traditional advertising mediums. Using KOLs adds a layer of trust.
KOLs gain respect. As genuine experts in their niches, their followers listen to what they have to say and KOLs are capable of leading conversations in their field. When working with a reputable KOL, this expertise is shared with brands.
When a KOL mentions or uses your brand, their followers consider this a positive endorsement for your brand. Many KOL audiences will decide to try out your products, and if they like them, become regular customers.
Working with KOLs not only creates a considerable buzz around your brand, but positions your brand as an industry leader and professional favourite. KOLs often use innovative techniques to influence and educate their audiences, including competitions or TikTok Hashtag Challenges.
KOL marketing can lead to an incredibly high ROI compared to traditional marketing channels. When using KOL marketing, you need to set clear goals before activating. These goals could be to increase sales, generate brand awareness or improve click-through rates.
KOL marketing can introduce you to your target audience directly, with authority. KOLs target your audience in their native feeds and social platforms, in a communication method that they resonate with. If you find a KOL who has influence over people who will have an interest in your brand, you can access an audience of like-minded, relevant people. This is where using a global KOL marketing agency can prove beneficial—we’re the KOL agency for you.
The main secret behind successful KOL engagement is trust. KOLs are relied on for expert, honest recommendations that are shared on their websites, video channels, social channels and social statuses. Audiences of KOLs respect their opinions, and in turn, trust any brands working with the KOL. Audiences believe what KOLs say and are more likely to take action when they see a trusted KOL use a product.
KOL engagement is important because it is viewed differently to traditional advertising. Chinese consumers are wary of traditional advertisements—whether an actor is used as a professional on TV, radio, billboards or any other traditional source, these ads are viewed as artificial.
When presented with an ad through a KOL influencer, consumers understand the product must be worthwhile and worth the risk of trying themselves. KOL marketing is similar to word-of-mouth, but the audience hearing the message is significantly larger.
Using a KOL marketing agency can ensure your brand is partnered with relevant and influential KOLs. Socially Powerful is a KOL marketing agency that can discover, vet and brief KOLs that are aligned with your brand values and messaging, to create content that inspires. We will get your target audience talking and acting.