Many companies underestimate the major impact that influencers can play in a successful marketing campaign, but partnering with the right Creator can help boost brand awareness, grow customer loyalty, and even increase sales. 

Small businesses have vastly different priorities than large enterprises. They may not have a dedicated in-house marketing team or strategist, and likely have a smaller budget to work with. How can small businesses partner with the right influencers without exhausting their marketing budgets? 

What is a Small Business Influencer? 

There are currently more than 33 million small businesses operating within the U.S. A major contributor to the U.S. economy, small business employees make up 46.4 percent of the total U.S. workforce as of 2022. There are more small businesses than many people realize. More than 99 percent of all businesses located in the U.S. are considered small- to medium-sized enterprises. 

Small business influencers are Creators who use social media networks like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and more to establish themselves as experts in specific fields. Unlike macro influencers, Creators who work with small businesses likely won’t have millions of followers. However, they are typically regarded as voices of authority within certain fields, such as beauty, fashion, home, fitness, and more. 

Small businesses choose to partner with influencers to help build trust in their brands. A Creators audience will likely take their product recommendations seriously, and their suggestions and recommendations offer social proof to potential customers. 

Two Things to Consider When Working with a Small Business Influencer

There are two important factors any small business should consider before partnering with an influencer.

1. What are your marketing goals?

Before partnering with a Creator, take the time to set some well-defined short-term and long-term goals:

• • What do you hope to accomplish with this partnership? 
  • Do you plan to develop a seasonal campaign to grow brand awareness?
  • Do you prefer a long-term collaboration with a specific type of small business Creator? 
  • What specific sales goals do you hope to achieve? 
  • What’s your budget? 
  • What type of small business Creators do you want to work with? 

2. What type of audience do you want to reach?

Make sure to take a close look at the audiences of any influencers you hope to partner with. Audience demographics like age, location, income, and gender should be considered before partnering with a Creator. Not sure how to get started? An influencer marketing platform like LTK Connect can help small businesses find the most effective Creators to work with. 

If you’re partnering with a Creator for the first time, it’s important to take small steps and remain willing to make mistakes. Getting your product in front of the right people may take time. Stay patient and allow LTK Connect to help you partner with the right Creators for your business. 

What Should I Look for When Choosing a Creator for my small business?

Here are a few things you should consider: 

• Audience: Not all Creators need to have millions of followers. A smaller audience of even a few thousand can help boost brand awareness and convert sales. More importantly, have they established a trustworthy presence on the social media platforms used by your target audience? 
• Online persona and reputation: Make sure to partner with influencers who are reliable, trusted by their audience.
• Area of expertise: Look for Creators who use products similar to yours. Will their audiences believe them when they recommend your products? 

Start Partnering with the Right Influencers

Set yourself up for success by partnering with the #1 influencer management platform in the world.  LTK Connect helps companies find the most effective influencers to partner with to support your goals and initiatives.

LTK can help develop your influencer marketing strategy to increase engagement and boost sales. Contact us to start growing your small business today!