You can see celebrities endorsing products if you turn on the TV or check Facebook. This is a very popular marketing tactic that has been used for decades. It has gained more popularity in today’s social media-driven world. Social media has made it possible for many people to keep in touch with their favourite celebrities on a daily basis. This is in addition to the fascination that our culture has with celebrities and their lives. A celebrity can now share their lives on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as well as other social media networks like Snapchat and Instagram. They can also promote their beliefs and products.
Many businesses still believe that celebrity endorsements are too costly to justify, or not within their budget. This was true in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. However, depending on who the celebrity is, it may cost less than what small businesses spend on PPC campaigns for a few months, or on a billboard in Boston that lasts 4 weeks. Although every business is unique and each company has different marketing goals, it’s worth looking into whether a celebrity endorsement might be right for you.
Celebrity endorsements via social media networks are not only affordable but also offer a host of benefits over traditional social media marketing. Reach is the most important aspect. It’s very possible that celebrities who endorse your products or companies have more followers than your company. Facebook is a social network that allows us to post to our networks, but not to all of them. Instead, we only reach a certain percentage of people, at most, without having to pay to boost the post. Although most people will not pay for celebrity endorsements, the message will still reach more people.
What about the people you’re going to reach? These people are actively following celebrities, so they pay attention to what is being said. This is not an advertisement, it’s part of what they post, which puts it in front of their followers. Many of these people take the opinions of celebrities they follow into account when making decisions. Celebrities have long been endorsed large businesses, politics and charities.
When choosing the celebrity to endorse their product or company, there are other important factors that you should consider. Although price is a factor that most people will consider, it’s not the only thing that will determine your success. It’s great to have a million subscribers. But, after speaking with Bob Cefail (owner and CEO of CshopTV), I discovered three important points.
First, consider whether the celebrity is the right fit to your product. Second, is your product suitable for the celebrity? It’s not possible to sell diamond necklaces at a golf shop, and it’s also not possible for a young female celebrity to endorse men’s health products via social media. Bob Cefail told me that celebrities would use a product when I asked him about product endorsement. They want their followers to know more about them, so they would use a product that is interesting. It loses its impact if it feels like it’s simply promoting a product.
Second, is this your demographic? A celebrity with 5 million followers will almost certainly have at least one that matches your target demographic. However, if the number is not large enough, it may be worth rethinking the celebrity you choose to use. These are the usual factors that you need to consider when marketing. However, with celebrity endorsements via social media you can get great numbers up front to help make the right choice for your company.
The last and most important aspect of celebrity interaction with followers is probably the most important. Some celebrities post only to maintain their social media presence, while others work to establish a relationship with followers via social media. Stephen Amell, a fan of “Arrow” on the CW, is a great example of how social media can be used to build relationships with followers. He hosts live Q&As and updates on all things important to him. However, he also updates his life regularly and posts goody photos. He responds to comments and posts videos while on the convention tour. Stephen Amell’s followers (and other CW show casts) are genuine and engaged in the future. Bob Cefail told me this when I spoke to him. “There’s nothing better than a celebrity who is actively engaged.” It is clear that celebrities’ followers find it easier to relate to them on some levels than just seeing them in the spotlight.