10 Influencer Marketing Trends To Up Your Affiliate Marketing Game

Have you ever wondered how some affiliate marketers make it big while others struggle to get by? It can be quite a challenge to navigate the rapid-changing landscape of influencer marketing. Fortunately, you can succeed - by staying ahead of the competition and keeping up with the latest influencer marketing trends. 

That's why we've put together this article where we'll explore 10 proven influencer marketing trends to help you up your affiliate marketing game. From building strong personal brands to leveraging social media platforms, we’ll explore all the trends making a real difference in influencer marketing. 

By the end, you will have the insights and tactics necessary to stand out amidst the crowd and increase your ROI. 

So, let's dive in.

Influencer affiliate marketing is a type of marketing where businesses partner with influential people in their niche to promote their products or services. 

These influencers, who have a large following on social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, share their honest opinions and experiences about the products they're promoting with their audience.

The key here is that influencers receive a commission when their followers purchase through their unique affiliate link. Marketers who have used this type of marketing for affiliate programs have found it to be effective, with 81% reporting success. T For every 1$ spent on influencer marketing, businesses earn an average of $5.2 in media value. 

It's a win-win situation for both the business and the influencer. The business gets exposure and sales while the influencer gets paid for promoting products they love and believe in.

With that in mind, let’s dive into the current trends for the influencer marketing platforms that you don't want to miss out on. 

Influencer marketing is a constantly evolving landscape, and staying on top of the latest trends is crucial for success. So, which trends should you incorporate into your influencer network to achieve optimal results? 

You can think of micro-influencers as your secret weapon in influencer marketing. Essentially, these influencers have smaller follower content than their macro counterparts (between 1,000 to 100,00) instead of millions of followers.

But why the rise of micro-influencers? Well, for starters, they have been shown to have higher engagement rates than larger influencers. This is because micro-influencers typically have a more niche following, which means that their content is often more relevant and personalized to their target audience. 

Furthermore, micro-influencers often have a more loyal fan base and authentic connections. They are viewed as real people rather than just influencers or celebrities.

Think about it - when was the last time a celebrity endorsement inspired you? On the other hand, when a micro-influencer you follow recommends a product, you may be more likely to trust their opinion and make a purchase. 

Consumers are savvy and can spot inauthentic endorsements from a mile away. This has led to a shift from traditional influencer marketing tactics on social networks like sponsored posts and product endorsements to a more authentic approach that builds trust and credibility with followers.

Hence, as an affiliate marketer, it's important to work with influencers who genuinely believe in your product or service and can communicate that authenticity to their followers. Essentially, this means creating content that is honest, transparent, and in line with the influencer's brand.

 

An excellent example of the importance of authenticity in influencer marketing is Selena Gomez's partnership with PUMA, as shown below.

As a brand ambassador, Selena has shared personal stories and behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life, while promoting PUMA's products. However, what sets this collaboration apart is the way Selena has used her platform to promote a cause that is important to her - mental health awareness. 

By sharing a personal story and promoting this cause, Selena's partnership with PUMA feels more authentic and genuine, reflecting a shared set of values between the celebrity and the brand, rather than just a paid endorsement.

Another important aspect of building customer trust and credibility is providing excellent customer service. In this case, suppose you are an affiliate marketer promoting products on Shopify. Access a robust helpdesk system that can provide timely and effective customer support. 

Working with influencers who can attest to the quality of your customer service and helpdesk for Shopify can be a powerful way to build this trust and credibility with potential customers.

Overall, when you create a more loyal community with influencers, you can leverage that relationship to achieve even greater success. 

3. Video Content Dominates

Have you noticed how video content is taking over social media networks? It seems like everyone is incorporating it into their marketing strategies, from Instagram Stories to YouTube videos. As an affiliate marketer, take advantage of this trend to boost your business. Additionally, consider leveraging engaging video content to attract more YouTube subscribers and Instagram followers.

You can do this by creating your video content with the help of a video editor tool to engage your audience and increase your visibility. For example, if you’re a marketing agency for a company that sells high-quality inflatable paddle boards, you can create a video that shows the ease of use and portability of your products

In this case, you can film yourself inflating and deflating the paddle board, packing it up in a backpack, and taking it on an adventure. When you’re posting a video, nailing a cool intro is key to grabbing your viewers’ attention right off the bat. Using an intro maker can really make things easier, helping you whip up awesome intros that not only bump up your video’s professional vibe but also let your brand shine and stick in your audience’s memory. You could also highlight the durability and stability of the paddle board by demonstrating how it handles various water conditions.

By showcasing the unique features and benefits of your company’s inflatable paddle boards through video content, you can attract and engage potential customers and increase your affiliate revenue.

Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. Collaborating with social media influencers with a strong video presence in the outdoor and water sports niche can amplify your message and promote your products and interactive content to their audience. 

Brands are realizing that collaborations between influencers over a longer period are incredibly powerful. 

Think about it – when you work with an influencer for long enough, you have the opportunity to build a stronger relationship and a deeper understanding of their audience. They become an extension of your brand, sharing your message with their followers in an authentic and impactful way.

It’s no surprise, then, why there’s been a shift towards ongoing partnerships between brands and influencers. They can also help you tap into the full potential of an influencer's reach and influence and establish a community of loyal fans who trust and believe in your brand.

Of course, building these relationships takes time and effort. It requires a genuine connection between your brand and the influencer and a commitment to mutual growth and success. You can implement strategies to engage them better like collaborating with them to respond to their online comments. 

Alternatively, you can try more elaborative tactics such as playing niche-based online word games with them. Either way, developing effective strategies to engage with your influencers is key to building long-term relationships and maximizing the benefits of influencer marketing. 

To help you get a clearer picture, let’s say you're an affiliate marketer for puppy training classes, you might consider partnering with influencers who specialize in dog training or pet care. These individuals can then share their experiences with your puppy training, showcase the skills and techniques they learned, and offer their honest opinion. 

By collaborating with them long-term, you can create a consistent and authentic message that resonates with their audience and promotes the benefits of your classes. Over time the partnership can evolve to create more engaging and creative content, such as sponsored videos or social media takeovers. 

Ultimately, this type of content can provide a more immersive experience for the influencer’s audience and further promote the benefits of your class. 

5. Emphasis On Diversity & Inclusion

It’s no secret that people want to see themselves and their experiences represented on social platforms. So, many brands are now working to make their influencer marketing strategy more diverse and inclusive.

This trend isn't just a passing fad either – consumers are seeking out brands that prioritize diversity and inclusion on their social channels and blog posts. 70% of social media users take a brand's diversity and inclusion efforts into account when making purchasing decisions. 

So, how do you focus on increasing this in your influencer marketing efforts?

For starters, you can partner with influencers that come from different backgrounds and show a wide range of experience. In this case, suppose you’re a luxury hotel brand looking to attract high-end travelers. You could collaborate with influencers who specialize in reviewing elite luxury hotels around the world.

By working with these influencers, you can showcase your brand in front of a highly engaged audience that values luxurious experiences and high-end accommodations while also reaching a wider audience. It's a win-win situation for both brands and consumers.

Creating content is one of the superpowers of influencers. As the creator economy continues to grow, more and more brands are turning to influencers and UGC creators as a key part of their marketing strategy. Essentially, user-generated content (UGC) is a form of content that users rather than brands or companies create. 

Content creators know how to capture the perfect shot, write a compelling caption, and engage their followers like nobody's business. As a result, more brands are turning to influencers to get the valuable content they need to thrive in the social world.

Influencers also have a way with words, crafting captions that draw in their followers and make them feel connected to the brand. Essentially, you can rely on them to make their content relatable and tell its story perfectly to help you succeed in today's crowded social media landscape.

We have witnessed an uptick in the number of brands collaborating with their brand ambassadors to launch new products or collections. This trend is gaining momentum as it highlights the strong connection between the brand and the influencer, giving the creator's audience a glimpse into their favorite influencer's preferred products.

One example of this is the partnership between fashion brand Reformation and influencer Aimee Song. The two worked together to create a sustainable clothing collection that reflects Song's style and values while also aligning with Reformation's mission to create eco-friendly and ethical fashion.

Social proofing involves leveraging other people's opinions and actions to influence our thoughts or decisions. In the realm of influencer marketing, this means using an influencer's opinions and actions to sway their followers' purchasing decisions.

So why has social proofing gained so much popularity in the influencer marketing industry? Firstly, consumers have become increasingly suspicious of traditional advertising methods. 

In contrast, influencers are viewed as more genuine and reliable. They've earned a following of people who admire and trust them, and their followers are more likely to believe their opinions and product recommendations than a brand's advertising.

Moreover, social proofing allows you to reach larger audiences. When any influencer promotes a product, their fans are likely to do the same. 

This can cause a ripple effect where a single endorsement from an influencer can reach thousands or even millions of people. It's a powerful tool for marketers looking to get their message out to a greater audience size.

Cross-device tracking refers to tracking user behavior across multiple devices, such as a laptop, smartphone, or tablet. With the widespread use of multiple devices, it has become increasingly important for marketers to track and understand how users interact with their brands across all platforms.

Influencer marketing is no exception to this trend. Cross-device tracking has become a crucial tool for brands to measure the success of their influencer campaigns. By using data analytics solutions to track user behavior across devices and social media apps, you will gain a more comprehensive view of how users are engaging with your content and how they are influenced by your chosen influencers.

For example, if a user clicks on an influencer's Instagram post on their smartphone but then makes a purchase on their laptop later that day, cross-device tracking can help to attribute that sale to the influencer's post. 

This is especially important for measuring the effectiveness of influencer campaigns, as it allows you to see the full customer journey and the impact of each touchpoint.

Now more than ever, brands are leveraging the power of data in their influencer marketing campaigns. 

By digging deep into their customer data, brands can gain valuable insights into their audience's preferences, behaviors, and interests. This, in turn, helps them to identify the right influencers who can help them reach their target market more effectively. So, how can you tap into these data-driven techniques? 

One tactic is audience segmentation where you divide your customer base into smaller groups based on shared characteristics like age, location, or interests. This can help you create more targeted campaigns that are more likely to resonate with each group.

Another way is through personalized content. By analyzing your customers' data using data pipelines, you can create content tailored to their preferences and behaviors.

It's like having a personalized shopping experience. For instance, if a brand like Spartacus MMA knows that you're really into live combat sports, they might partner with an influencer who specializes in martial arts and create content that showcases their upcoming live events, exclusive interviews with fighters, and behind-the-scenes footage of training camps. 

By doing so, the brand can create a more engaging and personalized experience for you as a customer, increasing the chances that you'll attend their events and become a loyal fan.

The use of first-party data in influencer marketing also has the added benefit of being compliant with data privacy regulations. Brands can ensure that they collect and use data on platforms like Facebook, Tiktok, and Instagram responsibly, which builds trust with their customers. Additionally, leveraging first-party data allows brands to personalize their campaigns further, enhancing engagement and driving conversions. This personalized approach fosters authentic connections with audiences, ultimately leading to higher engagement metrics such as TikTok views and Facebook & Instagram likes.

From understanding the importance of relationships with influencers and niching down to investing in interactive content and embracing diversity, there are plenty of ways to stay ahead of the game.

With the future of influencer marketing evolving, it's important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices. By incorporating these tactics and insights into your affiliate marketing strategy, you will see greater results and drive more conversion rates. Influencer marketing is projected to reach $21.1 billion

Remember, influencer marketing is all about building authentic relationships and providing value to your audience. Focus on these principles and you will be on your way to success in the world of affiliate marketing.

If you're looking to take your affiliate marketing to the next level, join Refermate. With over 24,000 brands to choose from and a unique referral link for every product, you can start earning for every successful purchase made through your links. With no follower count required, it's easy to get started and start making money right away.