Influencer Marketing Agency in Dubai How to Develop a Strategy

In today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives with nearly 4 million people worldwide using various social media platforms. With the rise of social media, influencer marketing has become one of the most effective ways for businesses to connect with their target audience. Currently influencer marketing is considered the most effective way of marketing your brand the reason why influencer marketing agencies in Dubai are in high demand.

Considering influencers’ ability to shape consumer behavior and drive purchasing decisions, it's no wonder that more and more brands are turning to influencer marketing strategy.

If you're a marketer looking to develop your influencer marketing strategy in Dubai, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know to get started and take advantage of this fast-growing trend in social media and digital advertising.

Statistics of influencer marketing

Here are some significant statistics to give you insights into the current influencer marketing landscape:

• 58% marketers ranked it as the most effective marketing strategy in 2021
• Instagram is the most popular platform for influencer marketing, while Facebook is effective for marketing campaigns
• 80% of marketers acknowledge influencer marketing is effective
• 89% marketers believe it works just as well as or better than other marketing channels
• Gen Zers trust influencers the most among all age groups.

Types of Influencers

There are broadly 5 major types of influencers.

1. Micro-influencers: Micro-influencers, like Whitney, have a small following of thousands or tens of thousands. They create relevant content for their audience, resulting in high engagement rates and a more intimate connection with their followers. This makes them appealing for businesses looking to develop personal relationships with their target audience.
2. Celebrity influencers: Celebrity influencers are famous individuals with millions of followers, renowned across various industries. Their vast recognition makes them highly effective at influencing a broad audience. Even if their fans don't entirely align with your target audience, their promotion or use of your product/service is a potent social proof. Their widespread appeal enables them to reach multiple audiences across different channels.
3. Blog influencer: A blog influencer is an individual who writes for their established blog and boasts thousands or millions of subscribers and readers. Their wide-reaching influence distinguishes them from other bloggers, as they're not solely writing for themselves or a small group of people.
4. Social media influencer: Social media influencers are individuals who are widely recognized on various social media platforms, including Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, and have a large following of thousands or even millions of people. They create and share content on various topics such as health, workouts, cars, diet, outdoor activities, travel, fashion, art, beauty, and interior design.
5. Key Opinion Leader (KOL): A Key Opinion Leader (KOL) is an expert on a specialized topic within a particular field. KOLs have a trusted voice and following within their industry, making them a great option for businesses looking to attract a very specialized audience. Whether it's makeup application or the Paleo lifestyle, KOLs have expert knowledge and a following invested in those subjects.

How to develop your influencer marketing strategy

Effective implementation of any marketing strategy requires proper planning and same applies to influencer marketing. In case of UAE-based businesses, there are specific digital marketing strategies that can be adopted. If you are also struggling to create an effective influencer marketing strategy, follow the steps and procedures outlined below.

1. Determine your goals

To effectively measure the success of your influencer marketing campaign, the first step is to create SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
When setting your goals, consider three key factors: reach, relevance, and resonance. 

• Reach refers to the ability to deliver content to your target audience through an influencer, improving brand awareness.
• Relevance is the level of connection your audience feels to your brand or product through the influencer's work, enhancing brand loyalty.
• Resonance refers to the ability to drive audience members to take action due to an influencer's content, increasing follower count, site traffic, and conversions.

To help develop your SMART goals, use a free template that aligns with your campaign objectives. For instance, you can track how many people on Instagram are viewing the influencer's content about your product to measure reach, or monitor how many users are clicking on the blog post link to your site to gauge resonance. By focusing on these key factors, you can create impactful goals that drive success for your influencer marketing campaign.

2. Define your target audience and market

To ensure the success of your influencer marketing campaign in Dubai, it is crucial to understand not only your target audience but also the market. By conducting thorough research, you can determine which types of influencer marketing strategies are suitable for your brand.
As you delve into researching your audience and market, consider asking yourself these questions:

• What are the current digital marketing trends in Dubai?
• Who is your target customer?
• What are their interests and priorities?
• What are their demographic characteristics?
• How do they typically use your product or service?

In addition to answering these questions, it is important to analyze user statistics on various social media platforms within your target demographic. To gain a better understanding of the influencer market, it may also be helpful to consider global revenue statistics.

3. Make a Plan

Before launching an influencer marketing campaign in Dubai, create a comprehensive plan that outlines your goals, target audience, content strategy, and metrics for success. This preparation will help you avoid pitfalls and ensure the effectiveness of your campaign.

Based on the plan, determine the type of content that will appeal to your audience and align with your brand. Consider the platforms and channels where your audience is most active, and identify the influencers who have the right following and engagement to reach them.

Once you have identified the influencers, establish clear guidelines for your campaign, including messaging, deadlines, and legal requirements. Finally, determine the metrics you will use to measure the success of your campaign and how you will evaluate the return on investment.

4. Choose and reach your Influencer

When choosing an influencer for your campaign, it’s important to consider your budget and the type of influencer that aligns with your goals and audience. Out of the five major types of influencers mentioned above, decide which one is best for your business. 

If you have a low budget, working with a micro-influencer might be a good option. On the other hand, if you have more resources, you can consider celebrity or KOL influencers. According to a survey, marketers typically pay between $501 and $10K for nano, micro, and macro-influencers, with budgets of $10K+ mostly reserved for mega influencers. 
Once you’ve identified the influencer type, you should review their work and engagement quality to determine if they are a good fit for your brand. Don't forget to ask questions about their audience, platform usage, and brand alignment to ensure a successful partnership.

5. Incorporate the Influencer into Your Campaign

After selecting the right influencer for your brand, it's time to incorporate them into your campaign. This involves working with your marketing team to establish the messaging for the campaign and the content that the influencer should create. 

Provide clear brand guidelines, including information about your brand voice and language, to ensure that the influencer remains on-brand with its content. Additionally, it's essential to determine if it will be the influencer creating content or you will provide them with content.

Finally, you should discuss how the influencer will help you boost traffic with their content and the expected target metrics per post or content piece. Remember, the influencer is still representing your brand, so it's crucial to equip them with the tools they need to do so accurately.

6. Managing Influencer Campaigns

Whether you're working with one or multiple influencers, it's important to keep track of all the campaigns to ensure they're delivering the desired results.

You can choose to directly communicate with each influencer or hire a digital marketing agency to manage all the campaigns. However, the decision should depend on your budget and the number of campaigns you're running simultaneously.

Remember that influencer campaigns are an investment, and you want to see a return on that investment in the shortest time possible. Therefore, it's essential to maintain a balance between your resources and your goals to ensure success as a business.

7. Evaluate Results and Improve Strategy

Once you've implemented your influencer marketing plan, it's essential to track its progress to assess its efficacy. Monitor metrics like audience reach, engagement, leads, and sales to gauge the effectiveness of your approach.
If the results don't meet your expectations, don't hesitate to pivot your strategy or try something new. Continually refining your approach is the key to finding a winning formula that aligns with your business goals.

To determine the return on investment (ROI) of your influencer marketing campaigns, compare your campaign expenses against consumer leads and product sales. This analysis will help you decide if your investment was worth it.

Industry research indicates that every dollar spent on influencer marketing generates $6.5 in revenue. If your ROI doesn't match up, you may need to reassess your approach. If you want to get the most out of your influencer marketing campaign then contact Icon digital, the leading influencer marketing agency in Dubai today.