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Jun 24 Why Hire Influencers for Your Virtual Event?

When you're planning a virtual event, it's important to make sure that you have the right mix of speakers and presenters. But what about influencers?
 
In a world where we are increasingly reliant on social media for our news and entertainment, it should come as no surprise that influencers have become an important part of the marketing mix. When it comes to virtual events, influencers can also be a vital asset. 
 
Influencers can help to engage participants and keep them excited about the event. They can also help to promote the event and bring in new attendees.
 
If you're looking to add some excitement and buzz, we've taken our expertise here at Carusele and outlined the benefits of working with influencers for your next event. 
 

How to Use Influencer Marketing to Promote Your Event

You've finally done it — you've envisioned the perfect virtual event. But now, you need to promote it and get people engaged. Influencer marketing is a great way to do just that. 
 
By finding the right influencers for your virtual event, you can get the word out more personally and engagingly. But how do you find the right influencers to work with? And how do you get them on board?
 
We've outlined that below. But first, let's discuss the benefits of working with influencers.
 
You can also read more on our Ignite Blog here on:
Getting Started with Social Media Marketing for Virtual Events
 

The Benefits of Hiring Influencers

What is it really that influencers bring to the table? 
 
When it comes to hosting a successful virtual event, influencers can be your secret weapon. They can bring a boost in attendance, help you market your message more effectively, and even drive post-event engagement. 
 
Here's more.
 

Help reach a larger audience.

If you're looking to reach a larger audience for your virtual event, hiring influencers can be a great way to get the word out. 
 
By working with influencers who have already built up a following, you can tap into their network of fans and followers to help promote your event. 
 
In addition, influencers can also help generate excitement and interest in your event. Their endorsement can help build buzz and get people talking about your event. This can be especially valuable if you're trying to attract media attention or secure sponsorships.
 

Create more engaging content.

Never worry about content. whether it's pre-event, during the event, or post-event — you can rely on your influencers to provide that for you. 
 
This is one of the advantages that come with working with an influencer. Not only can they help generate awareness for your event, but they can also create engaging content that will get people excited about attending. 
 
This can include everything from blog posts and social media updates to video content and even live streaming from the event itself. 
 

Get more leads and build community.

If you're looking to boost attendance and generate more leads, working with an influencer can be a great way to do it. 
 
Influencers can help spread the word about your event and get people interested in attending. In addition, they can also help build a community around your event. This is especially valuable if you're trying to launch a new virtual event or attract a specific audience. 
 

Potential connection with other professionals and speakers. 

When you engage with an influencer, you also have the potential to connect with other professionals and speakers. This can be a great way to get introduced to new contacts and expand your network. 
 
In addition, working with an influencer can also help you secure high-profile speakers for your event. By partnering with an influencer, you can tap into their network of contacts and get access to the people you want to speak at your event.
 
By then, you're ready for your next virtual event. 
 

How to Promote an Event with Influencers

Now, the exciting part — promoting your event with influencers on social media. How do you it with the help of influencers? 
 
Here are a few things you can keep in mind.
 

Find the right influencers.

The first step is to find the right influencers. It's important to partner with influencers who have a relevant audience and who align with your brand. 
 
Think about the type of event you're hosting and the message you want to promote. Then, look for influencers who can help you reach your target audience and promote your message effectively. 
 
In a recent Aldo Shoes campaign, they paired with their best-fit influencers to promote its #StepIntoLove social media campaign. According to Nielsen InfluenceScope data, it garnered 5 billion views and it increased awareness by 2.5%. With these stats alone, we can say how much a certain influencer can make your campaign successful — you just need to find the right ones to work with. 
 

Set objectives and expectations.

Now ask yourself — what are your goals for the campaign? How do you want influencers to promote your event? 
 
It's imperative that you are clear about what you want to achieve and make sure you communicate this to the influencer. This will help them understand your objectives and create content  that is aligned with your goals. 
For example, if you're looking to generate awareness for your event, you might want the influencer to post about it on social media or write a blog post about it. 
 
If you're looking to generate leads, you might want the influencer to include a call-to-action in their posts or include a link to your event registration page. 
 
Whatever your objectives are, make sure you communicate them clearly to the influencer and agree on what kind of content they will create. 
 

Create an engaging campaign and let them be involved.

Now it's time to get creative. 
 
Work with the influencer to come up with an engaging campaign that will get people excited about your event. Think about what kind of content you want them to create and how you can make it exciting and share-worthy. 
 
For example, if you're hosting a virtual event, you might want to create a social media challenge or host a giveaway. Make sure you involve the influencer in the creative process and get their insights on what kind of content will work best. 
 
And if that doesn't work — you've got Carusele to cover your back!
 

3 Types of Influencer Marketing Strategies for Events 

When it comes to influencer marketing, there's no one-size-fits-all approach. The best way to use influencers to market your event will depend on the type of event you're running and your goals for the event. 
 
And we will walk you through with that. 
 

1. Pre-Event Hype

To achieve your event registration goals and get leads to your audience, you must let your people know that the event is happening. Thus, it’s vital to implement an effective event marketing strategy to create a great pre-event hype that lets you sell your event faster. 
 
Few ways to partner with an influencer to successfully promote your pre-event are: 
  • Populating pre-event content around your hashtags.
  • Sharing event banners on their social media channels.
  • Driving their network to the event landing page registration.
  • Hosting event ticket giveaways.
 

2. Event Coverage 

If you want to generate excitement and build hype for your event, then consider partnering with an influencer to cover your event live. Event coverage is a great way to show people what they're missing out on and get them excited about attending your event in the future.  For the right influencer, consider making them a speaker as well. You'll get good content and it gives the influencer a more personal connection to promote. 
 
It's also a great way to build credibility for your event and show potential attendees that your event is worth their time and money. 
 
Few ways to get an influencer to cover your event are: 
  • Post-real-time videos and photos of the event 
  • Highlight speakers and activities
  • Event take-over on breakout rooms
  • Allow them to engage with their networks during the event

 

3. Post-Event Recap

After your event is over, it's important to keep the momentum going by sharing a post-event recap. This is a great way to show people what they missed out on and get them excited for your next event.  
 
You can enlist influencers to talk about the event and mention specific highlights on their channels. Brands can also leverage influencers for branded content on their site or social channels through guest blogs, videos, or other creative content that will extend the life of the event and its engagement.
 
It's also a great way to build credibility for your event and show potential attendees that your event is worth their time and money.  
 
Don't forget to use all this imagery to promote next year's version of the event. 
 

The Bottomline

There you have it.  
 
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to using influencer marketing to successfully promote your event. 
 
If you want to work with the best-fitting influencers on your next event, we have a track record of success in influencer event marketing and can deliver you 100% success every single time. Contact us today to know how. 
 
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