6 Alternatives to Social Media Takeovers for Influencer Marketing

To explore innovative alternatives to social media takeovers for influencer marketing, we asked digital marketers and founders this question for their expert suggestions. From implementing affiliate-marketing programs to hosting influencer-led webinars, here are six specific alternatives these professionals recommend.

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Implement Affiliate-Marketing Programs

One alternative to social media takeovers in influencer marketing is the implementation of affiliate-marketing programs. This involves influencers promoting your products using unique affiliate links that track sales originating from their audience. Influencers earn a commission for each sale made through these links, which incentivizes them to create compelling content that resonates with their followers. 

This method benefits brands by driving direct sales while providing measurable ROI from specific influencers. Furthermore, it motivates influencers to align their promotional strategies with your brand’s objectives, as their earnings are tied directly to performance results. Leveraging affiliate marketing in lieu of takeovers can yield sustained, trackable engagements and foster long-term partnerships with influencers.

Kartik Ahuja, Digital Marketer, kartikahuja.com

Host Exclusive Live Q&A Sessions

An effective alternative to social media takeovers is hosting exclusive, live Q&A sessions with influencers. We discovered that these sessions foster a genuine connection between the influencer, their followers, and our brand. This real-time interaction allows influencers to share authentic experiences with our product and address audience queries on the spot, enhancing trust and credibility. 

For instance, during a live session, an influencer can demonstrate how they integrate our tools into their daily routine. This method provides practical insights and showcases real-world applications, creating a more impactful, personalized engagement compared to typical takeovers. We found that these live interactions lead to more meaningful connections and higher conversion rates, as the audience appreciates the transparency and direct engagement.

Dinesh Agarwal, Founder, CEO, RecurPost

Engage in Collaborative Content Creation

The answer is collaborative content creation! Instead of handing over control of a brand’s social media accounts to an influencer, this approach involves working closely with influencers to produce co-branded content that appears on both the brand’s and the influencer’s channels. This method allows for more control over the messaging while still leveraging the influencer’s audience and credibility.

Collaborative content can take various forms, such as joint video productions, co-authored blog posts, or specially designed product collections. For example, a cosmetics brand might partner with a beauty influencer to create a limited-edition makeup palette, with both parties promoting the product through their respective channels. 

This strategy not only maintains brand consistency but also creates a sense of exclusivity and authenticity that can drive engagement and sales. Also, it allows for longer-term partnerships and multiple touchpoints with the influencer’s audience, potentially leading to stronger brand loyalty and more sustained results compared to one-off takeovers.

Tom Richards, Director and Founder, Adbetter

Launch Influencer-Driven Challenges

Influencer-driven challenges or competitions make for an exciting alternative. These campaigns involve influencers prompting their audience to participate in a challenge that highlights the brand’s product or service. We’ve seen great success with this strategy by incorporating gamification elements that drive audience participation and content virality. 

For example, a design-software company could have influencers challenge their followers to design something using the software, with winners receiving prizes or recognition. This method not only boosts engagement but also encourages user-generated content, extending the campaign’s reach and impact.

Marc Bishop, Director, Wytlabs

Develop Brand-Ambassador Programs

Implementing a brand-ambassador program can be an effective long-term alternative to one-off social media takeovers. In this model, influencers become long-term representatives for the brand, continuously integrating the brand’s products or services into their regular content. At our company, we find that brand ambassadorships create sustained engagement, allowing influencers to weave a more natural and convincing narrative about the brand over time. 

This ongoing relationship builds authenticity and can influence purchasing decisions more effectively than transient campaigns. Additionally, it ensures that the influencer’s followers are regularly reminded of the brand, keeping it top of mind.

Jason Hennessey, CEO, Hennessey Digital

Host Influencer-Led Webinars

A compelling alternative to social media takeovers is hosting an influencer-led webinar or live event. This method allows for deeper engagement and provides valuable content to your audience. 

For instance, we collaborated with a well-known nutritionist to host a live webinar on healthy eating habits. This not only enhanced our brand credibility but also provided our audience with practical, actionable advice. The live format allowed for real-time interaction, which built a stronger connection between the influencer, our brand, and the viewers. 

To implement this, select an influencer whose expertise aligns with your brand values. Promote the event across your platforms and encourage pre-event engagement with teasers and Q&A submissions. This will ensure you’re tapping into the influencer’s audience while providing meaningful content that resonates with your own. 

Webinars offer a richer, more interactive experience compared to the fleeting nature of social media posts, fostering long-term engagement and trust with your audience.

Keira Rumble, Founder, Krumbled Foods

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