Connecting with other people via your favorite social media platforms has evolved from a mere niche activity to a trend which continues to capture the attention of internet users around the world.

Based on a study conducted by the Nielsen Company, over 67% or two-thirds of the entire online population would regularly visit “member communities” such as blogs and various social networking websites. A survey that was done by Variety magazine showed that six out of ten (or 60%) teenage correspondents are more likely to trust and buy products which are recommended by celebrities on YouTube instead of Hollywood stars. Finally, a survey campaign that was organized by Burst Media (a known digital agency) emphasized that adding influencers to a marketing plan will increase its chances for success.

So what is an influencer?

These people have the power to control the opinions of a particular audience because of their extensive reach, authoritative voice and huge network of viewers, readers or followers.

Their talents and “influence” are made use in a form of social marketing that is known as Influencer Marketing, where the marketers will make a list of these special individuals who made use of podcasts, video clips and blogs to propel themselves into celebrities in the world of social media.

Nice Article: "Influencers Aren't Born, They're Built." http://t.co/jABiZ2kj2i #influencermarketing

— Pratik Mohapatra (@mohapatrapratik) September 9, 2015

The moment these people have become so popular to the point that they have their own sponsors (these are advertisers who reimburse them so that they can position advertisements in their content), social influencers will then have the ability to inspire others who want to try doing what they do.

In the networking space of today, you have to make use of your time well and be careful with the people you choose to connect with. The internet is composed of two types of networkers: the seekers and the posters. Your target market is considered the seekers because they are usually online to look for a particular service or product.

On the other hand, your business is considered the poster since your brand utilizes marketing strategies like offers, guidelines and other resources of relevant information to help sell your products and services. The best places to find seekers include fan pages, online groups, forums and various discussion areas.

How can you help your brand grow with influencers?

To get started, consider creating profiles in the top three social media platforms: Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. These websites contain large online communities that are overflowing with potential influencers. It will be easy to find these high-level networkers since they are often online, with their detailed and completed profiles, and with more than 500 connections following them.

Examples of these people include the media, executives and the decision makers who have become the movers and shakers in their specific industry. Do not be discouraged from sending a connection request even if you do not know them personally, since your business can show them what it can do for them, not just what they can do for your brand.

Who aligns with your brand best? That's who to seek out re: influencer marketing. Let them speak for your brand. @davidbeebe #CMWorld

— Meagan Wade (@meaganwade) September 9, 2015

Another effective tactic used by social marketing is interacting with online users in forums, blogs or groups that express their interest in products or services like the ones your brand is offering. Feel free to send contact requests and inform your potential connections to expect these invitations. Tell them that they share your interests and that you want to continue developing your professional network. If no one or only a few users accept your request, have your social influencers endorse the brand, and watch your numbers go up!

Just how powerful is the influence of these individuals anyway?

When it comes to promoting your brand, why are these celebrities of social media taking center stage every time? The answer is simple: More people are glued to their electronic devices or computers instead of spending time in a movie theater or even the TV.

These are statistics we like to see! @ericsson http://t.co/Il0SBiZhvF #streamingvideo #mobile #videoondemand pic.twitter.com/PfqJAFrAiM

— Broadcast Venue (@BroadcastVenue1) September 9, 2015

The fact is that these gadgets are better suited to go with their outgoing lifestyle. This means that any business that wants the current target audience to trust its marketing has to get rid of traditional media and make use of consumer-to-consumer marketing or peer-generated content to drive trust.

Do you want to instantly attract potential customers to your brand using the social media platforms? Keep these tips in mind:

• Most of the social media users who are within the ages of 13 to 24 tend to stop and read rebellious messages (posts that and funny and gave them the impression that they did not have to grow up).
• A lot of people on social media respond well to posts from influencers that convey reflective messages (these posts made people feel like they were not alone when they experienced something or felt a particular emotion).
• Because many people have gotten used to finding content like these on their favorite social media platforms, they will most likely gravitate to a business that offers content like that. It is to your best interest to incorporate influencer marketing in your brand for it to succeed.

For breaking news story these days, where will you most likely go if you want that information in a snap? You might visit your favorite social media platforms and find highlights of it in your newsfeed, or you could browse major news websites for the whole story.

Whatever the event is, you can bet that digital channels will have real-time updates on the story and its developments. The fact is that Facebook and Twitter are leading the way, as applications for news consumption and lines of communication.

The industry of digital media has advanced to deliver information streams with the latest updates any time of the day. The problem is that conventional marketing models are still mostly planned in advance, and this will not do.

Individuals are used to getting content that is relevant, quick and brief. This is where real-time marketing comes in, which aims to immediately connect the target audience with the service or product they need. Rather than formulating marketing campaign in advance and implementing it based on a fixed schedule, this type of marketing is designed on a plan that centers on instant feedback from consumers as well as any relevant and current trends.

There are too many social and digital tools available for marketers to help discover what is currently important to their market. Brian Solis introduced the first Conversation Prism in 2008, giving marketers a curated overview of the most helpful tools for research and engaging with their market. By year 2013, the Conversation Prism was updated. It has 26 social media categories with at least six brands each. Various channels are classified by their function to the end user, like “photos”, “music” and “social curation”.

Why is this method of marketing considered important?

Marketing efforts are more effective thanks to the constant evolution of social media. As companies make use of popular social websites like Twitter and Facebook, they can collect the latest information about their customers. In a short span of time, this data can be turned into a marketing message or promotion that can be shared with other users.

A lot of people want to be a part of or know about the newest fad or latest trend. If the firms intentionally build their advertisements around a current craze or happening, the service or product they are trying to sell might attract more potential buyers.

The consumers of today are used to immediate satisfaction, so customizing a significant marketing message and directing it to the target audience at the right moment may entice them to make a purchase. This is because they will notice the instant benefit that they will gain from it.

How can you make this work for your brand?

Make use of real-time marketing in your social media activities to interact with your target audience, and then use it as a guide for your marketing strategies to reflect their interests. Here are additional valuable tips:

Listen to your target audience

Put up alerts in your social media platforms to know when your brand, the merchandise that is related to your brand, and the competition is mentioned. This is an opportunity to quickly plan your marketing and immediately provide the correct services or products that the consumers need.

Be familiar with your industry

Regardless of what your business is, there is a whole industry out there that encompasses what you do. Take some time to read the latest news and trends in your industry so your marketing materials can adapt to those trends. At the end of the day, your brand will be able to keep up with the latest trends through campaign materials that look timely and fresh. Being abreast of what’s up in your industry pays off.

Know your audience

Similar to any form of marketing, it is important for you to be familiar with your target audience. They will indirectly lead you to what kinds of services and products your business will provide, as well as the method you will use to increase consumer interest in your services or products.

Be ready for anything

Getting ready for your real-time marketing campaign is easy when you know how. Get the right technologies for the job, including social media apps, pop-up advertisements, email marketing technologies and remarketing technologies.

Be ready to observe the buzz or trend and quickly post a proper reaction to it. One thing that can help here is having a schedule or calendar of holidays and events that buyers might be interested in.

Build the material

Now that you have the technology, prepare the tools of the trade for any event. Utilize SEO (Search Engine Optimization), social media listening, Google AdWords, apps, banner advertisements, white papers and other forms of content marketing, PR, eBooks, Twitter, blogging and email campaigns to capitalize on the current trends and give sales a much needed boost.

Follow the tips and utilize real-time marketing plan in order to maximize the digital tools available at your disposal. If you continue to apply these strategies to your brand promotion, you will get a higher rate of conversion, a dramatic upsurge in lead acquisition, and more overall profit from sales.

Because you are making the effort of understanding your target audience and interacting with them to earn their trust and build a good reputation, these efforts will be rewarded in the end.