Opinion leaders within specific social or professional groups can become long-term investments, serving as advocates or ambassadors for your brand. The funds spent on promoting with the help of industry thought leaders can yield remarkable results. It would be regrettable if you lost the favor of these individuals and ceased doing business with them due to carelessness. Establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with opinion leaders is not an easy task.
The Huffington Post once published an article where marketers themselves listed and commented on mistakes made when collaborating with thought leaders. Taking into account their valuable insights, ChainPeak has compiled a comprehensive list of everything you need to know to build close relationships with influential agents.
Mistake 1: You Don't Offer Cross-Purpose Collaboration
Opinion leaders can provide numerous exciting and profitable suggestions for your brand, but they expect something in return for their help. Companies often underestimate their work and offer them the lowest possible compensation.
As marketing becomes more popular and practical, thought leaders have more choices. If your proposal only considers your interests and benefits you alone, they are unlikely to consider working with you.
Only 25% of micro-influencers believe that brands understand the true value of high-quality influencer marketing programs.
How to Avoid It:
Mistake 2: You Keep Changing Your Marketing Plan
This can be a tedious topic for marketers. Sometimes, your marketing plan might change suddenly, causing you to lose the interest of some partners.
Opinion leaders working with you need to understand your marketing agenda so they can create an effective content plan: images, blog posts, videos, or reviews.
If you continue to change your marketing plan frequently, it could jeopardize your relationship with them in the long run.
How to Avoid It:
Influencers need to know your marketing plan: