Influencer marketing campaigns are like running a marathon of marketing, as they accelerate your brand’s image and expose it to new audiences to gain substantial returns on investment(ROI) in the form of trust, sales, and a devoted customer following.

It’s no point of wonder that influencer marketing is effective in driving real results. Not sure why to believe it? Because the statistics say so!

46% of consumers have bought products based on influencer recommendations. Consumers are listening to what their favourite influencer is saying and there’s no way brands can turn a blind eye to this phenomenon.

Influencer Marketing Vs Paid Ads

As cool and revolutionary as it sounds, can influencer marketing take the lead/ beat the digital/paid advertising that actually birthed the influencer economy?

Meta ads, search ads?

We don’t deny the effectiveness of paid ads but when we’re talking ROI (return on investment), influencer marketing is the clear winner!

So much so, that influencer marketing generates a whopping 11 times the ROI of paid ads. And is that’s not enough proof, 92% of consumers trust influencers more than paid ads. There you have it – the perfect equation for choosing influencer marketing over ads!

Still contemplating how to start your journey? Get inspired by these 5 brands that took influencer marketing seriously and made it big on sales and online presence.

Perfect Examples of How to Influencer Marketing

Glossier –  #RegularWomen

In 2014, Emily Weiss launched Glossier, a beauty and skincare brand based out of New York. It quickly embraced the clean beauty movement and effectively utilized social media marketing to grow. Ten years later, it is valued at over a billion dollars, credit due for its innovative approach to influencer marketing!

Weiss capitalized on social media early, building a strong following through her beauty blog that attracted millions of clean beauty enthusiasts. Instead of relying on traditional celebrities, Glossier turned its passionate customers into influencers. By partnering with models on Instagram and encouraging fan participation, they generated a steady flow of user-generated content.

Glossier handpicked 500 of its most engaged customers to serve as brand ambassadors, creating a personalized marketing buzz that turned the brand into a household name. By sharing real customer photos on their Instagram, which now boasts 3 million followers, Glossier not only expanded its reach but also cultivated a tight-knit community. This strategy of authentic endorsements helped strengthen their customer relationships and highlighted the power of user-generated content in building a brand’s image and community.

Sprint – #LiveUnlimited

You can’t ever promote a telecom company creatively – Back in 2017, when Influencer marketing had a run for success, Sprint debunked this myth completely and hit update on their marketing strategy. The brand raised its bet by targeting the young and repositioning itself as a young brand. 

Sprint pushed its influencer marketing strategy and launched the #LiveUnlimited campaign, changing the marketing playbook for the telecommunications industry.

Sprint tied up with influential personalities spanning across niches to communicate their brand message to Gen Z more naturally. The brand partnered with internet personalities like Lele Pons, Prince Royce, Bradley Martyn, Rachel Cook, and Gerard Adams and not traditional celebs.

Using cross-cultural influence and covering categories including, lifestyle, stunts, music, entrepreneurship, fitness, and inspiration, Sprint did a complete makeover to its image in the industry and realised the power of content. They went a step ahead and enhanced their product at the core, offering unlimited data plans and offering free subscriptions to music streaming services matching Gen Z interests.

Fiji Water – #BodyWoreWhat

What happens when a brand is self-aware about its goals, placement, and audience? It brings the strategy to life through its marketing initiatives. Just like, Fiji Water! 

Fiji Water rebranded and reached its consumers with enriching content that they appreciate. Fiji Water launched the “BodyWoreWhat” campaign in collaboration with Instagram Fashion & Lifestyle influencer, Danielle Bernstein and crafted one of the most powerful campaigns of 2K17.

Bernstein goes by her pen name We Wore What and a viewership of 1,50,000. Fiji Water found its perfect brand ambassador in Bernstein and pulled an exciting and innovative campaign to reel in its prospective customers.

In the campaign video, Bernstein shared a series of eight-minute workout videos with her personal trainer and hydrated with Fiji Water throughout the video. This campaign aligned Fiji Water wide and wide in association with health, wellness and fitness, the growing interests of Bernstein’s audience.

It generated substantial buzz online and broadened the market for Fiji Water beyond public spaces.

Old Navy, Alex Rodriguez & The Boys & Girls Club of America

2017 was a standout year. Influencer marketing reached its peak. Old Navy teamed up with Alex Rodriguez, the renowned baseball player, to elevate donations and support for the Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA). (P.S. Rodriguez is an alumnus of BGCA)

Rodriguez tweeted encouraging people to spend their dollars on Old Navy Socks, and each dollar spent would be matched with an equal donation – up to $1 million.

He also contributed $1 million personally. The results? A substantial amount of donations for the organization.

This campaign highlights that influencer marketing can do much more than just commercials. Alex’s positive image helped harness the halo effect, extending the positive influence to the brand.

It’s triple-fold of positivity – Old Navy effectively connected with consumers on an emotional level, boosted BGCA’s social cause, and reinforced Alex’s personal brand. This affirms that influencer marketing can be a potent tool for driving both brand engagement and social good.

Let’s wrap this up! 

Throughout this blog, we’ve explored innovative influencer marketing campaigns. These brands have gone beyond the ordinary and pushed creative boundaries, setting new standards for other brands entering the creator economy.

Glossier capitalized on user-generated content, and Sprint reshaped its brand identity to resonate with the younger audience. They met their strategic goals, all while harnessing the unique power of influencers.

Rightly targeted influencer partnerships demonstrate how clear goals and understanding of one’s audience can lead to impactful marketing moments. 

These success stories affirm that influencer marketing is not a one-size-fits-all approach but a versatile strategy. Tailor your goals as per the needs and adjust your strategy accordingly. Each campaign we’ve covered provides actionable insights for your brand. 

If you’re contemplating how to jumpstart your influencer marketing journey, draw inspiration from these groundbreaking examples. Embrace it as these brands have, and you may find your own success story featured in the next list of best influencer marketing campaigns.