Influencer marketing is valued at over $24 billion in 2025. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, it was $1.7 billion in 2016, marking a 14-fold increase within nine years. What began as simple social media trends has become a core element of modern marketing strategies, with no signs of slowing down.
Working with an influencer can greatly help you in achieving your business goals. But with trends coming and going in a flash, keeping up can be a challenge. You can always hire a social media marketing agency to help you navigate the ever-evolving world of influencer marketing with cost-effective solutions, or you could take a close look at the following five influencer marketing strategies that will undoubtedly keep you ahead of your competitors.
1. User-Generated Content or Employee-Generated Content
User-Generated Content (UGC) and Employee-Generated Content (EGC) are two authentic ways to build trust and strengthen the bond with the audience. According to LTK’s Creator Journey 2024™ Shopping Trends Report, almost 75% of the general population watch influencers' videos because of how they genuinely convey products and services through personal and relatable everyday life stories.
UGC, such as customer reviews and testimonials, also acts as social proof, providing further evidence of a product's quality. When the audience sees others, especially those they look up to, using a product, it can encourage potential customers to make the same purchase. An authentic connection with the audience can lead to higher engagement and conversion rates.
EGC presents your team's daily lives and experiences. It could give them a sneak peek into the work culture or feature humorous videos to trending audio. When the audience sees the real people behind your brand, it forges a strong human connection that traditional influencer marketing can't replicate.
2. Long-Term Partnerships
The idea of hiring an influencer with a massive following for a one-off campaign is a thing of the past. Influencers and brands now prefer dynamic, long-term collaborations instead. This can be achieved by extending the partnership to six months or a year and planning promotional events or content throughout this period. This allows the influencer to reach a wider audience and build a community through sustained efforts for your brand.
Influencers can also be onboarded as creative consultants to provide input on your brand's marketing, using their industry experience and connections to refine your strategies. These long-term partnerships enable brands to make the most of the influencer, allowing both parties to benefit mutually and opening up opportunities for more strategic collaborations in the future.
3. Part of the Development Process
Influencers are now moving beyond creating content, attending meet-and-greets, and hosting shows to work much more closely with the team behind the brand. They are shaping brands' business strategies by influencing product development, testing and reviewing product samples, and leading initial marketing efforts.
More and more brands are utilizing influencers' skills and experience by involving them in the planning and development stages to set themselves up for success. This can boost confidence in your products, knowing they are in capable hands.
Influencers benefit as well, as they gain a sense of ownership, compelling them to recommend those products and services to their audiences. The audience can see that this deeper level of involvement means the influencer genuinely cares about the product and isn’t just promoting it for a paycheck.
4. Live Events Are Back!
Live events such as pop-up stores, meet-and-greets, exclusive access events, and other in-person promotions are making a strong comeback in 2025 after being completely shut down during the pandemic. Influencers have become so popular that they are now a regular presence on the red carpet at movie premieres, the Cannes Film Festival, the Met Gala, and more.
Dressed to the nines, an influencer goes live at these events, takes photos with celebrities and fellow influencers, meets with fans, and promotes products or event sponsors on camera. These moments are broadcast on TV or shared online, generating buzz about product launches, success parties, and brand collaborations. When audiences see influencers looking glamorous and having the time of their lives, they engage by discussing fashion choices, sharing their favorite moments, and, in turn, indirectly promoting the brands featured at these events.
5. LinkedIn’s Rising Popularity
LinkedIn offers a highly targeted audience, a benefit that is difficult to find on other social media platforms. As engagement on the platform rises, influencers are flocking to LinkedIn to help businesses generate high-quality leads through informative content.
Meanwhile, Threads' active user base has declined by more than 80% since its launch, and TikTok is banned in India with an uncertain future in the US. Given these shifts, it's important to utilize viable platforms to maximize your brand reach. Now is the time to tap into LinkedIn’s potential for your business while staying alert to emerging platforms.
Wrapping Up
If you don’t recognize the value that influencer marketing can bring to your business, you will miss out on opportunities that may not come your way in the future. However, simply signing any influencer will not guarantee success.
To make the most of your investment, you must set clear objectives and make sure your goals align with your influencer marketing strategy. Choosing the right influencers is crucial because they should share your values and fit within your budget. Authenticity should be a priority since influencers with a large bot following will not provide real engagement or value. Selecting the best platform for collaboration is also essential to maximize reach and effectiveness. Transparency is key, so both parties should follow content delivery agreements and payment terms. By taking these steps, you can expand your brand’s presence on a global scale through influencer marketing.
