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Major Influencer Marketing Mistakes You Need to Avoid

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September 2, 2019

3 min read

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Nicole P. Dunford

Major Influencer Marketing Mistakes You Need to Avoid

Did you know that 39% of the accounts on Instagram that have over 15k followers are all influencers? Their niches and areas of interest are wildly different: from food to makeup to fashion to movies. What binds them together is their mutual desire to succeed as influencers. And the trick to being a successful influencer lies in not making any major digital marketing mistakes.

Some of these errors could be huge. Whereas some might be minute. But together, they can bring your influencer status down before you can even begin.

Influencer Marketing Mistake No. 1:

Not Having a Campaign Plan

Being an influencer with a considerable audience is only half the job. You also need to have a proper campaign plan chalked out for you, and we cannot emphasize enough how important this is. Before even beginning on your social media outreach, you should have a clear-cut campaign plan chalked out. Set goals for yourself that are achievable. You will have a direction and can thus look ahead with clarity.

Influencer Marketing Mistake No. 2:

Don’t Focus on Your Followers

Major Influencer Marketing Mistakes You Need to Avoid

As we’ve mentioned, accounts with over 15k followers are all influencing a large number of people in one way or the other. However, simply focusing on the number of followers is not enough.

The stats won’t really tell you how successful you are—if you have 5k followers who are dedicated to the product you’re promoting and are buying from the brand, you’re successful enough.

If you have 15k followers out of which only 1 thousand ever end up buying the product, you’re not really successful. It’s like counting the likes on your Facebook profile pictures: it tells you nothing about your self-worth.

Influencer Marketing Mistake No. 3:

Branch Out

While we know that Instagram is always the first and most obvious pick for all influencer operations, it’s never enough. The trick to developing a formidable social media presence and reaching out to a maximum number of people is by embracing multiple channels. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube need to be a major part of your campaign plan.

Influencer Marketing Mistake No. 4:

Not Honoring the FTC Rules

The FTC endorsement rules don’t just exist so that you can be honest about product placement. It’s the Federal Trade Commission that has set out these guidelines and if you don’t fully endorse the product you’re promoting you might be in big trouble. One of the biggest cons is possible penalization by Google as well as widespread social media sidelining.

Need More Resources?

If you’re just starting out as a social media influencer and have no idea how to grow, reach out to us at Afluencer. You can partner with important brands and improve your influencer resume with each passing day. Find out more about us here, and remember not to make any of the aforementioned mistakes!

Finally, here’s another article if you wish to learn about the mistakes influencers should avoid on Instagram.

Frequently Asked Questions

<details class="ih-faq"><summary>How many followers do you need to be considered an influencer?</summary><div class="ih-faq-a">According to the article, accounts with over 15k followers on Instagram are generally considered influencers. However, follower count alone doesn&#x27;t determine success. What matters more is engagement quality—having dedicated followers who actually purchase products is more valuable than a large but inactive audience.</div></details><details class="ih-faq"><summary>What are FTC endorsement rules for influencers?</summary><div class="ih-faq-a">The FTC has set guidelines requiring influencers to be honest about product placement and endorsements. Failing to comply can result in serious consequences, including penalization by Google and removal from social media platforms. Always fully endorse only products you genuinely support.</div></details><details class="ih-faq"><summary>Should influencers only focus on Instagram?</summary><div class="ih-faq-a">No. While Instagram is popular, successful influencers should embrace multiple channels including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Expanding across platforms helps you develop a stronger social media presence and reach a wider audience beyond Instagram alone.</div></details><details class="ih-faq"><summary>Why is engagement rate more important than follower count?</summary><div class="ih-faq-a">Follower numbers don&#x27;t reflect actual success. An influencer with 5k engaged followers who purchase products is more successful than one with 15k inactive followers. True influence is measured by audience dedication and conversion rates, not vanity metrics like total followers.</div></details><details class="ih-faq"><summary>What should an influencer marketing campaign include?</summary><div class="ih-faq-a">A solid campaign plan should include clear, achievable goals before you begin social media outreach. This gives you direction and helps you measure success. Planning prevents wasted effort and ensures your influencer efforts are strategic and focused toward meaningful results.</div></details>

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