If you think blogging and influencer marketing is dead, it isn’t. When I started blogging in 2016, I didn’t really know what I was doing. I just started writing, and I bumbled along for a few months, sharing my personal thoughts and opinions on life and any random topic that I felt like sharing my opinion on. I soon realised that hundreds and thousands of bloggers were out there, and these bloggers were creating a business for themselves, using their blogs as an income stream. And not just bloggers; blogging goes hand in hand with influencers. The rise of blogging and influencer marketing as an industry has grown over the past 24 years, with most people agreeing that the first blogs (weblogs) started back in 1997.
Disclaimer: This is a partnered post.
In 2021, there are many different types of blogs. From personal blogs as online diaries to fashion blogs, tech & IT blogs, and gardening blogs. Business blogs have become an important tool that businesses use to keep their websites fresh and share information that will hopefully attract clients to their services.
How Credible Are Bloggers?
Successful bloggers and online influencers are now an important arm of the digital marketing industry. With the sheer volume of information and data now available online, building a credible and trustworthy brand is key. Their followers and consumers generally trust bloggers to be honest when reviewing products, services and experiences. In recent years, brands work with bloggers to improve their services and gain exposure to the blogger’s loyal and trustworthy following. Most bloggers are self-owned, and as such, bloggers take pride in being authentic and trustworthy.
Credible bloggers only publish positive reviews. That’s not to say that they give dishonest reviews, but for every positive review you see on a blogger’s website, there are probably 4 or 5 that they turned down because they felt they couldn’t give an honest recommendation. It’s this validation that brands want to tap into.
The Growth Of Blogging and Influencer Marketing
There are many ways to work with bloggers and online influencers. The key is to make sure that your brand aligns with the blog and its target audience.
Here are 5 Interesting stats about influencer marketing in 2021.
- Influencer Marketing is expected to grow by $13.8billion in 2021. (Influencer Marketing Hub, April 2021)
- Video content saw a huge increase during Lockdown 1.0, which saw a shift from social media consumers to those consumers actually creating their own content on platforms such as TikTok, Twitch, and Instagram with a big focus on the live video features. (Influencermatchmaker.co.uk, 2021)
- Whilst TikTok & Instagram are still the main social media platforms for influencer marketing, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter are still consistently used. (Influencer Marketing Hub, April 2021)
- Businesses are making $5.20 for every $1 spent on influencer marketing! (Influencer Marketing Hub, April 2021)
- The main goal of influencer marketing is to increase and improve Brand Awareness, which is generally measured through impressions, reach and engagement. (Bigcommerce.co.uk)
What Comes After Blogging?
Blogging is often something that many people start as a hobby. Through the journey and learnings of blogging, many people discover hidden talents and interests that they might not have otherwise discovered. Bloggers can evolve and grow in many different directions, from becoming journalists or freelance writers to focusing on photography, graphic design, bloggers, podcasters, social media managers and course creators. Even those who build an entire business from their own influencer marketing package with success across the board from blogging to social media, publishing deals and six-figure salaries!
Whatever way you want to class bloggers, influencers and online public personalities, it would be foolish to dismiss the rise of blogging and influencer marketing as this industry continues to grow.
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