NOTES: I am a member of WOMMA and serve as WOMMA’s “WOM Enthusiast.” Portions of this post were originally posted on the All Things WOM blog.
The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) recently published a MEASUREMENT & METRICS GUIDEBOOK sharing practical insights into quantifying offline and online word of mouth. WOMMA Members have access to a free download of the paper. A bound version of the Guidebook is available for everyone.
Idil Cakim, VP of Interactive Media at GolinHarris, authored an article, “The Influence Factor,” detailing how brands can engage, monitor, and measure influencer marketing programs.
Idil recently appeared on a WOMMA Brands Council Jam Session webinar and shared her views on what constitutes offline and online influence, how to find influencers, and some do’s and don’ts of Influencer Marketing. The following SlideShare presentation includes snippets from this recent webinar.
BONUS COVERAGE:
This short Q&A with Idil Cakim will give you more perspective on designing and delivering Influencer Marketing programs.
1. What constitutes influence offline and online?
Idil Cakim (IC): “The fundamentals of offline and online influence are the same: perceived knowledge of the influencer, credibility and hence trust. In the offline world, we have more access to visual, cultural and social clues that help us assess the influence factor. Meanwhile online, we have more third-party resources and published statements that can help us assess a given source's influence and authority. Whether online or offline, influencers are experts who know how to spread their messages either through peer-to-peer conversations, organized activities or publications.”
2. Any pitfalls to Influencer Marketing?
(IC): “The most common pitfall is sharing an idea or a product with too few influencers and expecting to move the needle. An influencer is bound to take the message further than the average person. However brands may need to engage hundreds of influencers at a time to have quantitative results that show the impact of their efforts.
Another point for consideration is that not all influencers are equal. Brands and organizations first need to determine what constitutes influence in their respective fields and research thoroughly when identifying their own set of influencers.
Lastly, thinking in terms of campaigns with limited times for outreach undercuts the value brands/organizations can derive from influencer relations. Spot outreach is fine, but there needs to be ongoing communication between the brand and its influencers, just like any healthy relationship.”
3. What are three steps a brand should take to design a better influencer marketing program?
(IC): First, determine your own influencer criteria and make sure you can recruit enough influencers who can create noticeable change.
Second, as you design your program, think of your communication goals and clarify what will determine success. Is it only increase in awareness or change in some type of behavior? Make sure that your program is designed to reach these goals.
Third, plan for ongoing engagement. Sustain authentic communications and continuously offer value to your influencers through news, information, first-to-try types of offers.” [SOURCE]
Cakim makes several references to maintaining ongoing communication for a healthy relationship with influencers. Ongoing communication seems to be the "six-pack abs" of marketing in the 21st century. Everyone wants a rock solid tummy, numerous sources claim to know a shortcut for achieving the look, and very few are willing to do what it actually takes (which is generally the opposite of whatever shortcut is being sold).
Posted by: Tracy | March 03, 2010 at 01:18 PM