For those living in a world where print ads are the ultimate advertising medium, you may be shying away from using influencers based on several common, easily disprovable myths.
For example, you may think that influencers are a fad and aren’t worth the investment. However, according to the Digital Marketing Institute, businesses earn $5.78 for each dollar spent on influencers, with some seeing as much as $18. What’s the ROI of the ad media you’re using?
It’s 2025, so maybe it’s time to stop believing in ideas that may have been true ten years ago but certainly aren’t true today.
Here’s a list of easily disprovable influencer myths that you may still believe:
Myth #1:
Influencers are too expensive.
Influencer fees can differ depending on things like how many followers the influencer has, what they’re asked to do for the brand, how long the contract is, and if they’re exclusive. There are influencer solutions for all budgets, so influencer marketing is a great option for small brands and startups.
Influencer marketing is an investment, not a waste of money. If you’re on a tight budget, consider a simple campaign with newer influencers and see if you can pay them with product instead of pay. It might not be the greatest campaign you’ve ever planned, but it’s a good starting point. You can always refine your influencer strategy as you gain experience.
An agency like McFadden/Gavender can find influencers that fit your budget and your goals. We’ll provide influencers that are aimed at your target audience, whether they’re nano, micro, macro, or mega influencers, we’ll find one that meets your needs.
Myth #2:
Influencers are only effective for beauty or fashion brands.
Every industry uses influencers today and successful brands recognize that partnering with the right influencer can expand their audience and increase brand awareness. An influencer can educate, demonstrate, and drive action on a very personal level.
Here’s an eclectic list of brands that rely on influencers for successful marketing strategies:
- Fiji Water
- NordVPN
- La Roche-Posay
- Dunkin’ Donuts
- Topicals
- Air Wick
- Warby Parker
- The Met Gala
It doesn’t matter what you’re trying to sell, there’s an influencer who knows your brand, and speaks to your target audience.
While it’s true that finding the right influencer on your own can be a bit of a crap-shoot, agencies like McFadden/Gavender can offer invaluable help.
Our expert social media team begins by compiling a list of influencers who align with your goals. Utilizing influencer marketplace platforms, they conduct a comprehensive search for influencers based on factors such as niche, content style, follower count, content type, cost, and more.
Additionally, our team employs organic search methods to identify influencers who resonate with a specific brand. They actively explore social media platforms to find potential influencers or creators who would be a good fit. Subsequently, they conduct a thorough analysis of each influencer’s account to ensure they meet the brand’s requirements, considering factors like their style, audience demographics, niche, engagement rate, follower count, and other relevant metrics.
Myth #3:
We don’t need creators; our content is fine.
Some people or businesses still believe that promoting their products or services through creative individuals is not a valuable or necessary marketing strategy. However, this is a misconception, as influencer marketing has emerged as a powerful and effective tool for companies of all sizes.
Traditional advertising often lacks the relatability and authenticity that influencers, particularly micro and nano-influencers, bring to a brand. Influencers develop a strong rapport and trust with their followers, which translates into genuine and impactful endorsements.
Influencers are adept at creating visually appealing and captivating content, such as videos, photos, and Reels, that resonates with their audience. This helps capture attention and can improve brand perception.
Companies that disregard the significance of creative influencers risk falling behind in a marketing landscape that increasingly emphasizes genuine connections, engagement, and content creation.
At McFadden/Gavender, we can work with your marketing team to find influencers that supplement your current marketing plan.
Myth #4:
Influencer content isn’t authentic.
It’s a common misconception that influencer content lacks authenticity. However, the truth is that most influencers strive to create genuine and trustworthy content for their audiences.
Here are a few ways influencers convey authenticity:
- Find influencers who are genuinely passionate about the products or topics they promote, as they are often perceived as more authentic.
- Influencers who maintain a consistent voice, style, and messaging across platforms build credibility and reinforce their genuine persona.
- Authentic influencers actively interact with their audience, responding to comments and incorporating feedback.
- Good influencers choose partnerships that align with their personal brand and values, making their opinions more genuine.
Myth #5:
Micro influencers aren’t worth it.
Micro-influencers, influencers with smaller, often niche audiences, are frequently dismissed as unworthy of investment in influencer marketing. However, a closer examination of their benefits reveals that this notion is often unfounded.
According to Listrak, micro-influencers boast higher engagement rates compared to influencers with larger followings. Their audiences perceive them as more authentic and trustworthy, fostering stronger connections and more impactful recommendations. Moreover, they cultivate a sense of community and loyalty among their followers, resulting in increased brand visibility and reach for brands they collaborate with.
Micro-influencers excel in reaching highly targeted niche audiences. Their followers are typically passionate about specific topics, making them highly receptive to content aligned with their interests. This precision targeting ensures that marketing messages are both seen and valued by the ideal customer base, leading to more effective campaigns.
McFadden/Gavender can find the perfect micro-influencers in the exact geographic area you’re targeting and that align with your ideal audience.
If you’re still hesitant to use influencer marketing to promote your brand, you shouldn’t be. You have a team of social media experts at McFadden/Gavender that will help you every step of the way. Contact us and we’ll help take your marketing campaign to the next level.
