Have you heard the phrase “two heads are better than one” before? 👯 When it comes to influencer relationships, it’s totally true! Influencers can offer brands a variety of assets, like increasing brand visibility and authenticity, promoting products through engaging content, and much more.

But just like any relationship, there needs to be effort put in from both sides to make the partnership successful. When influencers and brands are concise and transparent with each other, it leads to better endorsements and a longer lasting relationship, a goal that many brands should start aiming for as we dive into 2024. 👀

Not sure where to start? No need to fear, Matrix Partners is here with three foolproof ways you can take your influencer relationships to the next level. 🙌📈

1. Creative liberty is key 🤌

After finding an influencer that aligns with your brand values and vision, you may ask yourself, “now what?” It’s important to clearly outline your campaign goals and deliverables, but after discussing these points, the key to a successful partnership is allowing the influencer to take the creative lead! 

Content creators have vast knowledge of the digital world and a great understanding of their audience, so allowing them creative freedom will result in genuine, more authentic output that resonates with consumers. Gone are the days of sending creators a stale script to read from word for word 🙅‍♀️, and influencers will appreciate your trust in them to follow through on the deliverables and campaign goals while still maintaining their unique voice!

Catfluencer Mickey.The.Ragdoll.Kitty shared their insights from a content creator standpoint, saying,
“We believe it’s so valuable when a brand is transparent with us about their campaign goals. This helps us creators get a good feel of the type of content the brand is looking for, but also gives us the opportunity to put our own little creative spin on it!” 

2. Give credit where credit is due 👏

Nothing is worse than doing a job well done and hearing radio silence in return…so when an influencer’s branded content performs exceptionally well, celebrate it! 🎉 An appreciative email, a complimentary DM, or a like and comment on their content is all it takes to show that you really care about an influencer’s work. 

Haley Hedge, the creator behind LeoLaniAndBane, shared this same sentiment with us when asked what her thoughts are behind receiving feedback from brands. She says, “As a content creator, it’s so important to me when a brand praises my work because that’s how I know I nailed it! Knowing that I made their vision come to life is exactly what I love to hear.”

Another great way to show recognition for your best performing influencers is to continue working with them on an ongoing basis. 84% of influencers seek long-term partnerships from brands. Plus, long-term partnerships create more customer touchpoints which lead to more conversions, so it’s a win-win for both your brand and content creators to stick together for the long run! 🤝 Petfluencer Haley agrees, mentioning “When brands want recurring content, it’s a great way to establish a long-lasting bond, as well as build trust and create a sense of community around the brand!”

3. Face to face meetings are where it’s at 🙋‍♀️

Although we live in the digital age where many conversations take place over email or DMs, in-person meetings often strengthen relationships that much more. Putting a face behind the name makes a huge difference in creating brand trust, so there’s much benefit to be seen from taking time to meet your influencers face to face whenever possible! And who doesn’t love a cute lil business convo over some coffee anyways? 💁‍♀️☕

One of the best ways to create in-person connections is by scheduling media tours at conventions related to the industry your brand specializes in. SuperZoo and Global Pet Expo are two major expos that pet industry experts like ourselves attend each year, meeting the human creators behind popular pet accounts that many know and love! Influencer-oriented events like PetCon are also a great way to touch base with your influencers and develop a more personalized, trustworthy connection. 👍

Momager of FloriDogs_, Nicole Novak, let us know her thoughts on the topic, explaining, “As a content creator, I want to make long-term partnerships with brands that I truly believe in. It’s even better when you get to meet the faces behind the screen at these events so you can deepen that relationship. When you become more comfortable with each other you can grow your communication and ensure both sides are happy with the results.”

With Global Pet Expo right around the corner, there’s no better time than now to put these tips to the test and build better rapport with your petfluencer community! 🐕🐈

Need help establishing your brand’s influencer program? We’re here for you – email 💌 us at hello@matrix1.com to learn more about our services.

Peace, love and good vibes!

Katrina