Research is continuing to show that consumers care more about those they identify as leaders in a segment than about celebrity endorsers.
Television ad campaigns now running that use the power of celebrity endorsers such as Zaxby’s Chicken ads with Terry Bradshaw and Luke Wilson in AT&T’s ads demonstrate that real influence that causes people to purchase products comes from someone who is influential among the people who use the product.
This insight coincides with research showing that women respond to connectedness and relationships.
How does this translate into your marketing plans?
This may mean that rather than an up and coming author doing book signings at a bookstore, they meet with well established book groups interacting with members. Whatever the interaction is that derives from listening and developing relationships, it must be natural, unforced and authentic. No broadcasting. Only natural growth of the audience. It’s not viral, it’s long-term, sustained, organic growth you want.
So many have sought to be the next viral product video, but really, when the end of the day comes, do you really remember the contents of a viral campaign for a product?