Although the world of social media is nothing new, the way that bloggers and influencers hold power over their audience certainly has. For those old enough to remember some of the first online social media platforms know that the original power of social media was all about who was in your top 8 friends on MySpace or who you would give your like to each day on Bebo. Long gone are those days and now both influencers and bloggers are a viable source of adverting for so many brands. I started by blogging and influencer life almost 7 years ago or so now and it really has changed, to be honest, it’s an entirely new industry!

What’s Changed?

The way we access social media has changed which is why people have adapted their content to suit their audience. Advertising boards, printed magazines and TV adverts are all good, but they’re planned well in advance and often taken a big effort of change. Over the last 12 months, the world has changed drastically and social media has allowed brands to keep up. By working with bloggers and social media influences, brands can instantly share new messages with their audience, perfect for keeping up to date with marketing trends and world-leading new events. Online platforms have become the go-to for everything from product reviews to personal experiences.

People Are Wanting More

In general, people are much more aware of the media their consuming and know that mainstream media don’t do enough. There is a big call for advertising showing people their audience can relate to, which means showing a diverse range of bodies with different abilities. As much as mainstream media might want to keep up with this, there is only so much print space available and it is a hard task.

When people follow social media influencers they get a tailored version of the advertising they consume and everyone’s version is different. This allows people to see the type of bodies, abilities and influences that they want – much more so than in a magazine where a printed advert is much more limited.

Remember that it’s still not too late, if you want to get in on the action. The platform you choose is usually dependent on the type of content you plan to share. If you prefer video formats, YouTube or TikTok might suit you. If writing and images is more suited to your needs, Insta might make more sense. Once you decide, make an action plan, use a username generator Instagram to find the ideal handle and get posting.

Product Advertising Becomes Relatable.

Not only does advertising online allow brands to use a range of people, but it puts their products out there in a much more relatable way. By working with people such as Daniela Titiun, a Tea Sommelier or myself, a plus size fashion enthusiast brands get to put their products out there in a much more relaxed way. Audiences can see the products being used by everyday people and this means that they are much more likely to be able to picture themselves using it. The good news for both brands and people consuming social media is that there is a vast range of people putting themselves out there on social media. This means that whatever you’re looking to read about or want to know more about online, you’ll be able to find it.

For brands, advertisers and PR companies the way that social media continues to grow and adapt is an incredible source of reaching their audience and one that they will no doubt continue to make use of. There’s so much more to it. If things have changed this much in the last five years I can’t imagine where we’ll be in another 5!