Just because you know influencer marketing works doesn’t mean it’ll work for you…
Influencer marketing is still a new concept but one that has proven time and time again that it produces high conversions at the fraction of the cost compared to traditional marketing.
HOWEVER….
Just like anything that you spend your money on, if it’s not tailored to YOU as a customer then it’s function will never work for you. Money may not be the complete issue when it comes to the investing/buying into something new because if it’s a failed investment that you can’t return, then of course you’ll find it irritating.
Here is a different way to look at influencer marketing for your brand so you don’t have an urge to give up and abandon the idea as a whole…
Here is a different way to look at influencer marketing for your brand so you don’t have an urge to give up and abandon the idea as a whole…
Paying an influencer for a post on their social media is not the only way for an influencer to work with your brand and this is something that we share with our clients often at Refluence®.
First let’s get into the 3 things can influencers can do for your brand. They can:
Bring awareness to your brand
Often via paid posts chatting about your business or “collab” posting with you.
Boost your sales
Often via affiliate posts, sharing a discount code via their post, or doing a giveaway.
Improve and give credibility to the overall appearance of your brand
Often via paid posts, in person reviews at an event, reviews of PR/products/your services
As you can see there are so many possibilities for influencers to be a part of your main marketing strategy but let’s speak to the cost side of things because that’s what most businesses want to figure out to continue the conversation.
Agency Resource Guide
Influencer Marketing
Investment Breakdown
A clear-eyed look at costs, reach, and deliverables across three core influencer strategies.
| Factor | 📸 Sponsored Post | 🎉 Influencer Event | 📦 PR Package |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Cost | $50 (nano) → $250K+ (mega) | $5K (micro) → $300K+ (large) | $25/pkg → $150K (100-unit campaign) |
| Guaranteed Deliverables? | Yes — Contracted | Mostly — via invite brief | No — Organic only |
| Content Volume | 1–3 posts per influencer | 20–80+ posts (all attendees) | Variable — 20–60% post rate |
| Expected Reach | Influencer's audience only | 500K–10M+ combined | Per influencer, unpredictable |
| Engagement Quality | High — targeted & relevant | Very high — live + FOMO effect | High — organic credibility |
| Lead Time | 1–2 weeks | 4–12 weeks | 2–4 weeks |
| Usage Rights | Negotiable (6–12 months typical) | Brand-owned recap content | Must be pre-arranged in writing |
| Best For | Product launches Conversions | Brand awareness Relationship building | Seeding Reviews Discovery |
| ROI Predictability | Medium — trackable via UTM/codes | Low–Medium — hard to isolate | Low — no guaranteed output |
| Key Watch-Out | Content can feel scripted if over-briefed | High logistical overhead | No posting obligation unless paid |
I often times recommend that my marketing clients engage in an event + pr distribution pairing first before they pay for influencer posts all because as you can see above? The ROI is more attractive then hoping that one influencer for the equivalent of an event budget will produce the results that you’re needed as a business.
Trust me I’m all in favor of all aspects of marketing but I just had to be honest with you as a marketing agency owner. Our goal is for you to see the results you’re looking for, not to recommend the trendiest and flashiest thing.
Have a topic that you want to see discussed or a general marketing question? Email us social@thereluencecreatives.com
