In marketing, it is common for companies to try and use influencers as a way to promote their products. But what exactly do these people have that makes them so special? What sets them apart from the average person on the street? And how can you go about pitching your product or service to an influencer in order to get some exposure for yourself? All of this information will be covered below.

The word ‘influencer’ has been defined by many different sources as someone who has “the ability or power either because of social position, personal qualities, or professional qualifications, to affect people’s thinking or behavior.” In other words, they are able to influence others around them with their own beliefs and perspectives. This might not seem like a big deal, but influencers have been proven to be very powerful within society. In fact, it has been shown that “81% of consumers value the opinions of other people over brands’ claims.” This means that people will trust what their friends and acquaintances say above anything else.

So how can you pitch your marketing proposal to them so they are likely to accept?

Well, it all has to do with knowing what makes them tick. In order to get someone’s attention, you have to understand their motivations and behaviors. It is said that there are five main types of influencers:

• The “empathizer” – Someone who wants to help others be the best they can be
• The “connector” – An individual who loves meeting new people and making friends
• The “networker” – A person who manages many different groups and thrives in busy areas with lots of activity
• The “disruptor” – A person with a knack for creativity and thinking outside-the-box
• The “civic leader” – Someone who cares about making a difference and is passionate about the community

Each of these influencers has different traits and ideals. For example, empathizers like helping others , connectors like making connections with people , and civic leaders care about making a difference.

So how can you pitch your product or service to them? Well, it all depends on which type of influencer you are attempting to market yourself to. Of course, this will require some research beforehand so that you have an idea of what exactly they are interested in. The more you know about them, the easier it will be for you to provide information that relates back to their interests. You see, people do not just want to buy random items without knowing why they should invest in them. They want assurance that they will get a return on their investment, which is why it is important to understand what someone cares about and how they think.

1. Do your research

Before you even think about pitching your product or service to an influencer, you need to do some research on who they are and what they care about. This will help you understand their motivations and behaviors, which will be essential in getting them interested in what you have to say.

2. Tailor your pitch

Once you have a good understanding of who you are pitching to and what they care about, it’s time to tailor your pitch to fit their interests. Remember, people want assurance that they will get a return on their investment, so make sure to focus on how your product or service can benefit them.

3. Be clear and concise

When pitching to an influencer, it is important to be clear and concise. Since influencers are busy people, you need to make sure your proposal is easy to understand so they won’t waste time trying to decipher what you are trying to say.

4. Give them a good reason why they should listen

Influencers are not just going to take your word for it; they want proof that what you have to offer is valuable. If possible, give them some sort of case study or statistics that shows how effective your product or service can be in order to prove yourself as someone who knows their stuff.

5. Get creative; think outside the box

Can’t seem to find an influencer? Why not create one yourself? Make up a like “Jane Doe – The Fashionista” and make her an influencer on your website or create a Facebook fan page with her face. The more creative you are, the better!

6. Follow up

Influencers are people just like everyone else; they have busy schedules and don’t always get to things right when they should. So if you can, follow-up about two weeks after sending out your proposal to show that you still care about what they think even though some time has passed.

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That’s it! I hope you have been inspired to market yourself the right way to the influencers of today. They are the key in getting your product or service out into this world, so it is important that you get them interested in what you have to offer. Good luck!