# Trust Sells: The Power of Influencer Marketing for Ecommerce Brands ## Create your store and start selling today. [Start Your Free Trial](https://www.bigcommerce.com/essentials/free-trial/) ## **Types of influencer marketing opportunities to explore** More businesses are [using social media to engage with consumers](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/omnichannel-retail/social-commerce/). As of 2025, over [5 billion](https://backlinko.com/social-media-users?utm_source=chatgpt.com) people, or nearly 69% of the world’s population use social media. The expansion of [social media](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/omnichannel-retail/social-media-advertising/) marketing has given consumers more options, making social media influencers essential to cut through the noise and genuinely connect with customers. ### **Sponsored content.** This type of content is favored because it's simple and effective. Sponsored content shouldn't feel like the influencer is selling something. It should be natural, tell a story, and offer useful information. ### **Affiliate links or discount codes.** Create a discount code and unique link for influencers to share with their followers. This content harnesses the influencer's audience to reach consumers and drive sales to your store. ### **Contests and giveaways.** Contests and giveaways create buzz. They excite potential customers and get them talking about your brand. Provide clear giveaway instructions and winner selection criteria. ### **Turn creator content into conversion content.** Promoting influencer blog posts and other content on your platform is a win-win for both parties. You're helping the influencer market their personal brand while driving their audience to your channels. ### **Partnering with brand ambassadors.** Brand ambassadors are long-term influencer partnerships. They build credibility, trust, and awareness for your brand. ## **Why influencer marketing continues to grow** When influencer marketing first appeared in 2006, it was perceived skeptically. However, today, it’s one of the most powerful ways ecommerce brands earn attention, build trust, and drive sales. ### **The number of influencers is growing — fast.** Social networks and blogs have traditionally been influencer's chosen forums, but with more platforms emerging, there are now numerous opportunities for creators to break into the influencer marketing industry. ### **Influencer marketing agencies are growing in popularity.** These agencies can help ecommerce brands connect with the best influencers for their strategies. ### **Influencers for every niche.** If it’s a topic, there’s likely an influencer for it, from lifestyle to technology, helping connect with leads daily. ## **How ecommerce stores use influencer marketing to scale** Referrals are among the most effective marketing tools. Influencer marketing allows brands to capture new audiences from a single content creator. ### **It’s all about brand visibility.** Influencers can share your brand story and appeal to their follower's emotions, increasing brand awareness and engagement. ### **Share user-generated content.** Partner with influencers to source content for your page. Followers value the opinions of influencers over that of the brand. ### **Trusted testimonials.** Adding testimonials from influencers to your store site can ease a customer's apprehension during purchase. ### **Offer a promotion to an influencer.** This strategy can drive conversion rates as followers feel they're getting a deal unavailable to the broader customer base. ### **Work with micro-influencers.** Micro-influencers can have significant engagement rates and loyal follower bases. Collaborating with them may result in more effective influencer marketing. ## **Connecting with influencers to find the best fit** Finding the right influencer isn’t about chasing follower counts — it’s about alignment with your brand's story. ### **Upfluence.** Eliminate the need for spreadsheets by using Upfluence to discover relevant influencers and build relationships. ### **Klear.** Klear helps you find influencers with historical data and allows you to manage and track campaign performance. ### **Aspire.** Aspire connects brands to the largest sponsorship marketplace and offers various campaign management features. ### **Awario.** Awario monitors social growth and customer sentiment, enabling enhanced reputation management. ### **Modash.** Modash helps identify creators with real audiences and filters out fake followers. ### **TikTok Creator Marketplace.** This marketplace connects brands with creators directly on TikTok. ### **Instagram Creator Marketplace.** Discover creators within Instagram based on interests and past brand partnerships. ## **The rise of video-first influencer marketing** Short-form videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels have become powerful discovery engines, driving real-time purchase decisions for ecommerce brands. ## **The final word** Successful influencer marketing isn’t about chasing reach, it’s about earning trust at scale. With the right strategy, influencer partnerships can transform into a growth engine. ## **FAQs about influencer marketing** ### How do I find the right influencers for my brand? Start by defining your target audience and identifying the platforms they use. Research influencers whose content aligns with your brand values. ### How can I measure the success of an influencer marketing campaign? Track key metrics such as engagement rates, website traffic, and conversions tied to the campaign using tracking links or discount codes. ### Which social media platforms are most popular for influencer marketing? Instagram and TikTok are leading platforms for influencer marketing. YouTube also plays a significant role in reviews and tutorials. ### What legal requirements or disclosure guidelines should I follow when working with influencers? Influencers must disclose paid partnerships using terms like #ad or #sponsored. ### How can small ecommerce brands afford influencer marketing on a tight budget? Small brands often work with micro-influencers or use affiliate links and product gifting campaigns to keep costs low. ### What’s the difference between affiliate marketing and influencer marketing? Affiliate marketing is performance-based, while influencer marketing focuses on awareness and brand storytelling.