As the school year rapidly approaches for many students and teachers, brands are reaching out to influencers to promote back-to-school products. These education influencers have an incredible variety of follower count and niche categories- with pre-k to high school, brands can leverage influencers to connect with the right audiences.

Electronics, paper products, and even fashion are among the different brand categories these influencers collaborate with, providing great engagement and ROI for campaigns. Using the Tagger platform's affinity, discovery, and mentions toggles, we found these 15 education influencers working with a wide range of brands!

1. Krystal L. Smith (@the_renewed_teacher) - A fourth and fifth-grade math and social studies teacher, Krystal L. Smith’s following has grown into a micro-influencer size, almost edging into 10k followers. With over 3% growth on all platforms, Smith’s profile “The Renewed Teacher” is for educators and students alike. Sharing her favorite resources and ideas for teaching, Smith has engaged with brands such as Post-it, Microsoft, and Trendy Teacherz fashion.
2. Tyler Tarver (@tylertarver) - Creator of Tarver Academy, Tyler Tarver is a social media maven who has created a teaching empire online. With over 100k TikTok followers and almost 60k Youtube subscribers, Tarver has made video content work well across multiple platforms. Tarver’s influence is only likely to grow with a podcast and more educational content coming every day.
3. Alex John (@thekindergartenconnection) - Alex John is the influencer and Transitional Kindergarten teacher behind The Kindergarten Connection, John’s widely popular blog and social media platform. With almost 50k followers on Instagram, John’s following is growing at a 22% rate. Branded mentions feature partnerships with Learning Without Tears, Miracle-Gro, and Trendy Teacherz.
4. Vera Ahiyya (@thetututeacher) - Kindergarten teacher and author Vera Ahiyya’s platforms dubbed “The Tutu Teacher” have brought in partnerships with a wide variety of brands. Crayola, Michaels, and Kleenex are some of the long-term partnerships that Ahiyya has landed, bringing a potential reach as high as 277k on specific sponsored posts.
5. Theresa (@truelifeimateacher) - Education blogger behind “True Life I’m a Teacher,” Theresa is quickly approaching 60k followers on Instagram, having collaborated with Amazon, Michaels, and Erin Condren.
6. Rebekah Poe (@lessons_and_lattes) - Rebekah Poe is a special education teacher turned influencer, with just under 100k on her Instagram. Poe has partnered with a variety of brands including Cricut, Staples, Freshly, and VIP Kid.
7. Tell Williams (@mrwilliamsprek) - Tiktok and Instagram influencer, Tell Williams is a pre-k teacher whose following has exploded. Williams Instagram has grown at a rate of over 100% in the past 90 days and their TikTok has boomed past 1M. With sponsored posts on Instagram from Dollar Shave Club and Into the AM, Williams has also forayed into TikTok partnerships with Casetify.
8. Samantha Henry (@mrshenryinfirst) - At over 100k followers, Florida teacher Samantha Henry has worked with multiple brands in various ways. Her partnerships have included giveaways with Educational Insights, Amazon affiliate links, and collaborations with Homeschool Outdoor.
9. Kimicia Byrd (@pretty_in_primary) - Second-grade teacher and micro-influencer Kimicia Byrd focuses on sharing diverse books and resources on her Instagram. With just over 10k followers, Byrd has an incredible engagement rate of nearly 5%. With almost a new book every day, Byrd has brought awareness to some lesser-known books, authors, and illustrators with her posts.
10. Ben Landers (@thepespecialist) - Known by his blog “The PE Specialist,” Ben Landers is a Physical Education teacher, influencer, and resource creator for PE teachers. With 31.9K subscribers on Youtube and 17k on Twitter, all of Landers’ profiles are growing at a steady rate. Landers has an amazon storefront and has featured several other PE and education brands on his profiles.
11. Monica J. Sutton (@monicajsutton) - Monica J. Sutton is an early childhood educator and child behavior specialist. With over 32k Facebook followers at a growing rate of 96.46%, Sutton has landed partnerships with some great education brands. Blocks Rock!, Kid Made Modern, and Epic for Kids are just a few of the brands Sutton has worked with, featuring a variety of other categories as well.
12. Kathleen Ashley (@misscraftymathteacher) - Kathleen Ashley is a high school math teacher turned influencer. Kathleen has already worked with several brands, including Teacher Style Box, Cricut, and Office Depot. With almost 30k followers on Instagram and an average engagement rate of around 3%, Kathleen is not only an excellent resource for teachers but an excellent investment for influencer marketing campaigns.
13. Esther Brunat (@estherbrunat) - High school math teacher and self-dubbed “Gen Z pop culture specialist,” Esther Brunat’s funny personality shines through her social media, connecting with students and teachers alike. Brunat has partnered with Rosetta Stone, Republic Services, and Texas Instruments.
14. Gerry Brooks (@gerrybooksprin) - Gerry brooks is a veteran educator with over 20 years of experience as both a teacher and administrator. Brooks has a wide variety of motivational and educational content on his profiles, featuring brand deals with Google Home, Amazon, and Michaels.
15. Meghan Mayer (@thecrazycreativeteacher) - A middle school teacher based in Florida, Meghan Mayer has amassed over 800k on Tiktok and continues to grow on all platforms. Mayer has 25 brand deals on her page, featuring partnerships with Walmart, Vera Bradley, and Microsoft.

If you'd like to see how Tagger's platform quickly and efficiently finds the perfect influencers for every need and category, schedule a live demo; we're happy to show you how we do it!

Today's post is from guest author Elsie Obat.

Fashion and Beauty are two of the most successful- and two of the most saturated- verticals using influencer marketing today. It's a high-stakes space and brands should waste no time optimizing their influencer campaigns for success.

Here are 7 marketing tips for fashion and beauty brands, and the influencers who work with them.

Engagement > Follower Count

In today's world, the most successful influencers are the ones with a strong online presence. Trends can live and die at the whims of these online experts. Social media has a strong potential to reach a larger audience, and at the same time, keep that audience engaged with your brand.

With the right tactics and marketing tools, you can be confident that social media will serve you well in making your brand name known. And remember, it's "social" media, so start socializing!

Engage back!

Don't make the mistake of thinking that your social media is just a bulletin board for your products. Engage with your audience through likes, comments, and shares.

Don't just like every single comment you come across; like the comments and reply to those that truly stand out to you as supportive of your brand.

On the other hand, if your audience has certain problems with your brand, make sure to reply to them as promptly as allowed. "Seenzoning" your customers is a big no-no if you want to be on good terms with them.

Many social media posts become cursed by comments such as "why won't they respond to me?!" or "bad PR, bad product" if their questions are always ignored.

Engage with your customers and let them know that their voices are heard. Familiarity is the first step to brand loyalty

Be Real

Customers are less likely to be open to your brand if it doesn't feel "authentic". Some people make the mistake of starting a brand that does not fit their style or energy. When you start a brand, make sure that the brand truly encapsulates you.

Your followers will be more receptive to your brand if you wear it wherever you appear, for example. Not only that, make sure you aren't too "corporate" when you sell your brand. It's a given that you want people to try out your brand. What isn't a given is why they should try it in the first place.

Authenticity to your consumers can help them find out the "why" for themselves.

Make it Easy To Buy or Learn More

With online shopping becoming the norm, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, making things easy for your customers is crucial. If your customer wants your product, make the process as efficient as possible. You'd be surprised how many people stick with a brand due to convenience.

For example, they see a post with one of your lipsticks. The link on said post should lead directly to the product. From there, the product page should have everything they need to know. Does it ship to their location? Is it the right color? Is it even available?

To figure out the exact details of what needs to be "easier", do a trial run of how people might buy your products. Note any hiccups in the process. Nip these logistical issues in the bud before you start going big. This makes it easier not just for your customer, but also for you.

Lean Into Video Content

Videos are a fantastic medium to showcase your brand. The closest your clientele can get to see how your brand looks in action is through video. The videos can range from DIY Home Tutorials to professionally made runway videos. What matters is that your customers know your brand is real, and it looks "real good".

For makeup, people gravitate towards the DIY "home feel" type of videos. After all, people tend to do their makeup. Authenticity gives the viewers that feeling of familiarity. That feeling is what'll keep them coming back to you.

Alternatively, vlogging is a great way to give the audience a "crash-test" of your brand out in the “wild”, so to speak. There’s no better showcase of your product than a day-to-day video.

Wearing your brand in a casual setting gives them confidence that your brand looks good everywhere, even if they aren't in professionally lit studios.

Collab

Collaborate with people who have established audiences to reach other established audiences. Take a look at what your demographic is, and see if any other influencers have the same as yours. People love crossovers, and that kind of hype can mean big buzz for your brand.

For example, if your brand is a fashion line for winter clothing, perhaps look around for a cooking blog around Christmas time to give your brand a shout-out. In return, post a comfy picture of someone enjoying the Christmas feast recipe from that cooking blog on your social media. For double brand points, have them wearing your brand as well.

Brand Ambassadors

Take your collabs one step further. After a successful collab, you can offer them to become ambassadors for your brand. Ambassadors act as the "faces" for your products. Ambassadors should be people whose values, content, and general vibe match your brand's identity.

In addition to acting as the face for your brand, they will also have a hand in its digital marketing. Through social media posts, they can showcase the day-to-day look of your line. You can attract possible ambassadors through a variety of means, including:

• Free samples of your merch so they can showcase it to their audience
• Invitations to popular social events that can expand your brand's reach
• Custom discount codes that they can share with their followers
• Sponsoring the video content they want to make in exchange for an ad-read in their video

A friendly face can go a long way in making your brand appeal to people.

Influencer Marketing = Digital Networking

Marketing as an influencer is a master class in networking. You have to learn to connect not only with your audience but also with other influencers. Despite the difficulty, there's no denying that influencers can sway the market like no other.

If you’ve paid attention to the news at all over the past few months, you’ve likely heard the word “cryptocurrency” floating around. With constant changes in the marketplace and recent investments from big brands, crypto experts are ready to share all they know about the industry. One of the biggest places we are seeing this news is social media- from Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency influencers.

Whether they are a founder of a cryptocurrency company or have been sharing news on the industry since 2017, crypto influencers of all knowledge levels and investment levels are online- working with some of the top crypto brands.

Using the Tagger platform’s Cryptocurrency category, growth rate, and engagement rate toggles, we found these top crypto influencers to light a path toward this new potential investment!

1. Lea Thompson (@girl_gone_crypto) - Lea Thompson is a top bitcoin and crypto-currency influencer on all major platforms. Thompson’s TikTok features over 30k followers where her Instagram and Twitter come in at 19.2k and 139k, respectively. Besides regularly updating her followers on everything in the cryptocurrency space with her weekly videos “The Crypto Minute,” Thompson also has partnered with brands including Unstoppable Domains.
2. Omar Bham (@crypt0snews) - With his ever-growing youtube channel, Omar Bham is also known as Crypt0- a daily news fix for crypto-currency enthusiasts. At 122k subscribers, Crypt0 has grown into a massive crypto resource. Bham has collaborated with some of the top crypto news sites and is featured in many interviews on the topic with his own youtube channel reaching views as high as 18k.
3. Ben Armstrong (@bitboy_crypto) - BitBoy Crypto is one of the leading crypto resources and communities online for those interested in the topic. Led by influencer Ben Armstrong, his informative and welcoming content has grown immensely in the last 90 days- by 83.6% on Facebook, 23.06% on Instagram, and 24.96% on Twitter. Though Armstrong includes brand mentions on his profiles, his website has an actual database of all of the affiliate codes and discounts he offers in the crypto space.
4. Bitcoin Zay (@bitcoinzay) - Author of #1 bestseller “Bitcoin & Black America”, Bitcoin Zay has amassed a major following on all social accounts following the publication of his book. Zay has twitter engagement of .18% compared to a benchmark of .04%, really solidifying his account’s prominent place in the crypto community.
5. Preethi Kasireddy (@iam_preethi) - Entrepreneur and influencer, Preethi Kasireddy has been a part of major crypto companies and startups in recent years. Her presence on social media features just under 100k on Twitter, her most popular platform. With a cryptocurrency course for beginners and an Ethereum course, Kasireddy’s knowledge has helped thousands of followers. Partnerships include Chorus One, Polygon, and Superpumped- notably, all of these brands offered scholarships for Kasireddy’s cryptocurrency classes.
6. Charlie Lee (@SatoshiLite) - Creator of LiteCoin, Charlie Lee has been behind-the-scenes of the crypto industry for many years. With his most engaged tweets reaching over 3k retweets, Charlie Lee’s 1M follower base has some great engagement. Lee also returns this engagement, answering questions and really conversing with followers. This is valuable for building audience trust and loyalty.
7. Crypto Jannie (@crypto.jannie) - One of the leading news sources in cryptocurrency, Crypto Jannie’s audience of 55.7k is growing at a rate of 11.4%. Her daily news updates on everything having to do with crypto have been ongoing since 2017, drawing engagement rates averaging at 2%. Jannie has collaborated with cryptocurrency brands Tradedog and Cryptonews multiple times, establishing a long-term partnership with them.
8. Scott Melker (@scottmelker) - Scott Melker is a cryptocurrency expert and the host of “The Wolf Of All Street podcast. Melker has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, and multiple other publications for his expertise on cryptocurrency, and regularly discusses all crypto companies on his Youtube, reaching as high as 80k views.
9. Layah Heilpern (@layahheilpern) - Host of The Layah Heilpern Show, this bitcoin influencer is an experienced broadcast journalist-turned crypto expert. Heilpern has over 80k TikTok followers and a growing Youtube following of 9k thanks to her podcast. Among other collaborations, Heilpern has worked with Exodus Crypto Wallet on educational content for the brand about the crypto industry. With TikTok engagement soaring through the roof, Heilpern has reached as high as 20k likes on the platform.
10. Matt Wallace (@mattwallace888) - With almost 250k followers on Twitter and nearly 270k on YouTube, some of Matt Wallace’s favorite crypto topics include Elon Musk’s Doge Coin. Wallace’s Youtube features as high as 50k views and a 20 minute documentary on the future of cryptocurrency. Considering the current buzz around cryptocurrency, it’s no surprise to see Wallace’s Twitter has grown by over 3k in the past two weeks.
11. Crypto Wendy O (@cryptowendyo) - Offering Crypto news, product reviews, technical analysis and more on her platforms, Crypto Wendy O has become essentially a knowledge base of crypto currency discussion. Wendy has over 155k TikTok followers, only being beat in competition by her Twitter following at 161.8k. With daily videos and a weekly podcast, Wendy’s main brand partnership is eToro, who sponsors the show.
12. Vitalik Buterin (@VitalikButerin) - Writer, programmer, and one of the co-founders of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin is at the forefront of crypto news. Mainly featuring thought pieces and cryptocurrency information, Buterin has over 2M Twitter followers that have grown at a rate of over 20% in the past 90 days.
13. Rachel Siegel (@cryptofinally) - Reaching nearly 170k followers on her twitter, Rachel Siegel is the face of Crypto Finally- a website where Siegel is a vocal advocate for the blockchain space. Featured in Forbes, MTV, NBC, and Nasdaq, Siegel has made bitcoin accessible in creative ways over the years, even making viral music video parodies with an educational purpose.
14. Willy Woo (@woonomic) - Willy Woo is an on-chain analyst, providing market forecasts on his platforms and general industry expertise. Woo has a Twitter audience of nearly 700k which has been growing at a rate of over 7% with no signs of slowing. With commentary and industry specs on nearly all crypto brands and facets, Woo is an all-around source of industry knowledge.

If you'd like to see how Tagger's platform quickly and efficiently finds the perfect influencers for every need and category, schedule a live demo; we're happy to show you how we do it!

Over the past year, brands have been investing more in long-term influencer partnerships. A long term partnership can be defined as multiple campaigns over a period of 3+ months.

So why are we seeing this new trend in the influencer marketing industry? It comes down to increased ROI.

Over the past decade, the social media marketing industry has matured considerably. Just a few years ago, it was considered common practice to hire many influencers for just one or two sponsored posts. One-off campaigns still might happen around a special event or product launch, but the data shows that one-off campaigns don’t drive the same level of engagement.

Now brands are finding that they’re having more success in their social media marketing strategies by developing long-term partnerships with fewer, high-value influencers.

Finding high-value influencers often takes more in depth analysis of behind the scenes social data than manual research can provide. Having access to the right technology that can filter influencers not just by their own demographics and affinities, but by the demographics and affinities of their audience has become a key indicator of influencer marketing success.

By using technology, marketers can anticipate whether an influencer’s audience has a high affinity for their brand or product.

Then, they can form a valuable long term alliance with that influencer, gaining repeat access to their dialed-in audience; an audience that is much more likely to engage with and trust their brand.

These long-term partnerships can be a much better investment for brands. When looking for content creators to hire, ask whether you can see that influencer delivering value again and again over a long period of time. If the answer is yes, consider offering them a long-term contract that spans 6 months rather than just offering to pay them for a handful of posts.

Want to know how Tagger helps marketers discover influencers with the highest value audiences and affinities? Request a demo and we'll show you how it works.

Finding the right influencers to promote your brand is an excellent marketing strategy, but keeping them coming back to collaborate on more campaigns is even better! While you might have your influencer search down to a science, many brands don’t have a strategy for nurturing influencer relationships in the long-term.

One of the quickest ways to alienate influencers is through lack of payment plan or strategy. Luckily, your brand doesn’t need a six-figure influencer budget to cultivate strong or long-lasting relationships- these are developed over time and with clear and timely communication. That’s why it’s worth knowing all the different creative options you have when compensating influencers. This ensures you’re choosing the right level of payment for each unique creator and relationship.

An influencer’s audience is entirely unique to them, so the first step to success is to stop treating your influencer marketing strategy as a one-size fits-all. To help you make the best decision for your brand, we’ve broken down five unique and creative ways to pay influencers in order to build a healthy, ongoing relationship.

1. Gifted Products - Who doesn’t love a ‘free’ gift? When starting an influencer marketing campaign, the most common first choice of compensation is gifted products. Jewelry, a test run of a subscription, or even a free visit to a restaurant are enough compensation for many micro and macro-influencers, requiring a post on social media for brand promotion. If an influencer’s post performs well, it might be worth working with them on other promotions.
2. Affiliate Programs - Following gifted products, many brands up the ante with affiliate programs. By allowing influencers to receive commissions from links on their promotions, an incentive to get audiences excited about a brand might be higher than previously. Brands of all sizes have successful and high-paying affiliate programs, simply because they are a great return on your ROI.
3. Discount Codes - If you’re ready to advance beyond affiliate programs, try discount codes. Commonly you might find an affiliate program and discount codes working in tandem, but there is one defining difference- actual discounts for influencers’ followers. Discount codes allow influencers to earn commissions while affiliate programs offer no discount- if your brand has the budget to offer discount codes, this is a great way to get more sales!
4. Pay Per Post - The most lucrative and desirable payment option for influencers is payment per post. Payments per post can be based on a whole combination of factors from follower count to experience level. Not sure how much to pay a creator for a particular campaign? Check out this blog article + video where we break down how much you should be paying influencers in 2021!
5. Long-term Partnerships or Contracts - If you want a commitment over a longer period of time from an influencer you have been working with, it might be time to introduce a long-term partnership or contract in your negotiations. Contracts allow your brand to purchase more content from influencers who are delivering value to your brand again and again with their promotions. If you find success working with one influencer, it may be more worthwhile to invest in a partnership over a longer period of time - 6 months, for example - so you are getting the best bang for your buck.

Helpful Tools that can organize, track, and execute influencer payments

Pay via Platform - Whether paying an influencer per post or for a long term partnership, it is essential to your brand and your future influencer relationships to have a streamlined payment method. Some influencer marketing platforms have an integration allowing brands to pay influencers upfront. These third-party options can be great for platform payment or even if your brand is not using a platform.

Unfortunately, third party platforms still pose issues for timely compensation. In response to the issues we’ve seen with other payment options, Tagger not only has an integration with PayPal that allows brands to pay influencers around the globe in a multitude of currencies, but we’re very excited to announce a new payment feature called Tagger Pay launching market wide very soon. This in-platform payment tool will allow brands and agencies to reimburse creators immediately via a secure digital wallet, all handled by Tagger.

If you want to see how Tagger incorporates influencer search, analysis, outreach, and payment into one all-inclusive platform, request a demo.

One of the most frequently asked questions we get at Tagger surrounds how much brands should be paying influencers for their services. It’s a delicate question with a complicated answer, so we thought we’d break down a few key elements that will help you decide how much you should be paying creators to promote your brand on social media.

In short, brands should consider:

Influencer’s audience size + Engagement Rate + track record + time and effort required to produce content + length of partnership + proposed budget...

All these factors affect how much you should pay creators. Let’s go through these elements one by one and show how they can help you determine fair payment.

Your Budget & KPIs

Before running a talent search, it’s vital to plan ahead and decide on a few key factors, including a budget, and KPIs. When creating a new influencer marketing campaign you should have a clear understanding of how much you’re willing to allocate for your influencer marketing efforts. This will help you in negotiating rates with agencies and influencers because it will allow you to see how much you can afford to spend on each campaign and how many influencers you have the resources to hire.

After you decide on your budget, it’s time to determine your KPIs, or Key Performance Indicators. These are the 5 KPIs we suggest knowing before you do a talent search; conversions, referral traffic, audience & list growth, reach and brand awareness, and engagement.

If you’d like to see our video where we walk you through the specifics of the influencer campaign planning process, click HERE.

Audience size & engagement rate

Now that you know how much money you have to spend and what your campaign goals are, it’s time to start thinking about how many influencers you’d like to hire and how much you’re going to pay them.

First, it’s helpful to take into account the influencer’s audience size. The standard tiers of influencers are categorized as follows:

• Nano-influencers: 1,000 – 10,000 followers.
• Micro-influencers: 10,000 – 50,000 followers.
• Mid-tier influencers: 50,000 – 500,000 followers.
• Macro-influencers: 500,000 – 1,000,000 followers.
• Mega-influencers: 1,000,000+ followers

Many brands find that Micro and even lower-Mid Tier influencers tend to have higher engagement rates with their followers. But landing a partnership with a Macro or even mega influencer can give your brand clout and prestige in the online community, making it more likely that other influencers will want to work with you in future.

In general, the payment you offer should correlate with both the size and reach of that influencer’s audience, as well as your campaign goals. If your goal is to gain prestige and authority in your brand vertical, you’ll most likely pay more for an upper-tier influencer. If your goal is to reach more engaged followers and drive sales, spreading out your investment among a greater number of micro influencers is an excellent strategy.

Experience level of the influencer

In addition to an influencer’s audience size, it’s important to take into account their level of expertise when it comes to working with brands. If an influencer is able to share a proven track record of past campaign results and successes, they will most likely require a higher rate.

Let’s illustrate this point with a hypothetical example. Say Influencer A has an audience of 60K and while they have a high engagement rate, they’re relatively new to brand partnerships. Then, say Influencer B has a smaller audience of 20K, but has more experience working with brands and has a proven history of being able to drive sales. You’ll most likely pay influencer B a higher rate than influencer A for the same type of post.

Effort required to create content

Perhaps the most important factor in determining an influencer’s rate is how much effort it will require on the influencer’s part to create, edit, and post the sponsored content. Whether it’s an in-feed photo, a long-form video, a story, a blog post, or an ongoing series, brands should keep in mind the amount of time, effort, and resources that go into creating the content representing their interests.

Remember, influencers are an all-in-one marketing expert, art director, talent, writer, photographer, videographer, and editor. When determining an influencer rate, estimate how long it may take an influencer to plan, stage, execute, edit, and post the content they’re providing. An hour’s work will obviously cost less than something that takes a full day.

Also keep in mind, will they have to hire outside help like a photographer or editor to produce the quality content you’re hoping for? Will they need to travel? Rent equipment or a studio? If so, bake that into their rate.

Length & terms of the proposed partnership

One way brands can maximize ROI is by offering long-term influencer partnerships. These work well for both brands and influencers. For influencers, a long term partnership means ongoing support to continue to create content for their audiences. For brands, it usually means your price per post will be lower (since you’re paying for more posts over time) and it also means repeated exposure to an engaged audience.

It’s also worth noting that the time of year you’re looking to partner with influencers will have an effect on their rate. If you’re wanting holiday content for example, even in a long-term partnership you can expect to pay a premium.

The terms and proposed usage rights for the content the influencer creates will also affect the price tag. If you’re looking to re-purpose their photos, videos, or other content for use on your brand’s site or social media, that will be reflected in the influencer’s rate.

And finally, if you’re hoping for exclusivity (as in the influencer can’t run promotions for any other brands while they’re working with you) that will also add onto your total.

Respect the influencer and/or agency’s quote

It’s ultimately the influencer who sets the final price for their time, content, expertise, and access to their carefully cultivated audience. Influencers are reasonable human beings who expect some negotiation in order to ensure both parties get what they need from a partnership. A seemingly small action of simply respecting their original quote and not straying too far off the mark goes a long way in developing a mutually beneficial relationship.

No matter the final cost, working with an influencer is going to be much more cost-effective and give you a higher ROI than traditional advertising, digital or otherwise.

Remember that influencers are people who are experts at creating content that appeals to a very specific online audience. If you make the effort to conscientiously partner with creators whose content and audiences align with your brand, you’ll be able to grow your reach, increase brand awareness, and drive sales in a meaningful way.

Want to see how Tagger can help you discover and connect with the perfect influencers for your campaigns? Book a free demo & we’ll walk you through the platform.

While travel has certainly changed over the last year, brands have been increasingly creative in their marketing strategy. Influencer marketing has been a significant aid in promoting travel destinations and services, providing great ROI!

Whether traveling within their country or jet-setting across the globe, we found these 24 international travel influencers helping vacation rentals and services. It’s never been easier to find influencers on the Tagger platform- toggles such as engagement rate, mentions, and categorization allow for a streamlined experience finding influencers to promote your brand!

1. Emily Jones (@ohyeahem) - Based out of Orlando, Florida, Emily Jones’ platform features tons of travel content, including partnerships with VRBO, Marriott Anaheim, and Disney. Jones is a Disney regular, partnering with the brand and its’ theme parks for long-term partnerships and promoting travel to the Orlando area.
2. Milly Kenny-Riley (@millykr) - Food and travel writer/photographer Milly Kenny-Riley has become the UK travel expert. Whether audiences want to learn more about international travel or just travel within the UK, Kenny-Riley has a travel book on each subject. Travel partnerships include Airbnb, Air France, and Taste of London, among 15 others.
3. Chris Fynes (@wethefoodsnobs) - Based in Sydney, Australia, Chris Fynes is not only a travel influencer but a photographer, videographer- it’s no surprise his social is full of high-quality images and videos for brand partnerships. Using the Tagger platform’s category toggles, we found that Fynes has partnered with Airbnb, Destination NSW, Park Hyatt, and even the Sydney Opera House- all brands or destinations in the Travel category.
4. Amber Mamian (@global_munchkins) - Known for her travel blog “Global Munchkins,” Amber Mamian shares her worldly and cost-effective travel tips with five kids. Mamian began traveling with her family in 2010 and has mastered the art of savvy travel. With over 1K sponsored mentions, Mamian has collaborated with travel brands Expedia, Visit California, Holland Cruises, and 50+ more.
5. The Curly Coopers (@thecurlycoopers) - Run by mom Duana Cooper, The Curly Coopers are a family sharing their daily life and more in vlogs and on every other platform. It’s important to note that although the coopers fall into a “Lifestyle” category on the Tagger platform, they have still solidified three partnerships with VRBO. These posts have engagement rates approaching 4%, showing the versatility of travel influencer marketing. Cooper’s account has a growth rate of 48% on Instagram currently, and with over 120k followers on their Youtube, the family’s growth shows no signs of slowing.
6. Jesse Coulter (@jessecoulter) - Jesse Coulter is a lifestyle and family blogger based in Austin, TX but her travels include all over the US. Partnerships with VRBO, Fairmont Hotels, and even Texas waterpark Schlitterbahn. Coulter’s engagement on these partnerships hovers above 2% and will likely increase with her positive growth rate.
7. Paco Nadal (@paconadal) - Madrid-based explorer and travel influencer Paco Nadal’s Instagram and Twitter are hotspots for adventure travelers and adventure/travel brands. Featuring VRBO and Vueling airlines, Nadal has partnered with both brands on his Twitter. Nadal’s multi-platform presence helps to reach different audiences and extends his content to new eyes.
8. Chelsea Dickenson (@cheapholidayexp) - Known more popularly by her handle “Cheap Travel Expert,” Chelsea Dickenson’s love for travel has helped countless others learn to travel on a budget. Dickenson’s growth rate of 30% on Instagram is as impressive as her consistent engagement rate of 6%. Partnering with Airbnb is only the beginning as Dickenson gains followers and subscribers on her Youtube.
9. Marion Bernard & Maxime Vallée (@noscurieuxvoyageurs) -Marion and Maxime of Nos Curieux Voyageurs are french travel bloggers, reaching almost 100k on Instagram. The couple has partnered with Airbnb twice over the past few months, reaching 3-4% engagement rates on each post. With regular travel giveaways with other brands on their account, the couple has rates as high as 13%.
10. Ashlyn George (@thelostgirlsguide) - Founder of “The Lost Girls’ Guide,” Ashlyn George’s Instagram has grown beyond 30k followers, her other social media profiles not far behind. George is a Saskatchewan-based influencer and adventure traveler with a penchant for extreme activities. The daredevil has partnered with numerous travel destinations, including Explore Canada, Airbnb, and Banff & Lake Louis Tourism, among 20+ others.
11. Alex Zouaghi (@a_ontheroad) - London-based travel and lifestyle blogger Alex Zouaghi has brought incredible engagement and attention to the brands he has established partnerships with. Zouaghi has partnered with many destinations and hotels, including Majestic Aberdeenshire, Airbnb, Penta Hotels, and The Pilgrim Hotel. These most recent partnerships have potential reaches of over 250k.
12. Lean Timms (@leantimms) - Lean Timms is a photographer and travel influencer, her profile rapidly approaching 50k followers. Timms has partnered with Airbnb nine times, partnering with travel destinations the Faroe Islands and Copenhagen Tourism. With photo engagement as high as 6%, Timms’ content will help boost any travel brand.
13. Clo & Clem (@cloetclem) - Travelling all over Europe and Asia in their van, couple Clo & Clem have turned their travel adventures into a popular blog and social media pages. The couple is from France originally and has partnered with several travel brands since their journey began over five years ago. These collaborations include Airbnb, Tour France, Lonely Planet, and Explore France, all with a potential reach of over 55k.
14. Claudia Padgett (@zeebalife) - Claudia Padgett is a luxury travel creator based in Dubai. Padgett has worked with Baha Mar Resorts, Airbnb, and Tulum, Mexico Travel Guide within the travel category. These are just a few of Padgett’s many partnerships on her platform, but narrowing it down by category shows Padgett has worked with various categorized brands.
15. Richard Lee Massey (@richardleemassey) - Richard Lee Massey is an influencer and founder of APT dining experiences. Massey is based in London, but travel destinations include a partnership with Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and Taste of London. Massey has also partnered with Airbnb since 2016, with six partnerships in the years since. These posts also have a potential reach of over 75k.
16. May Pham (@mayandtravel) - May Pham is a travel blogger featuring her journey of Van Life with her husband. Since transitioning their van into a camper in the past few months, the couple has partnered with multiple brands to promote remote living. Specifically, Pham recently partnered with Airbnb to promote their remote living contest, bringing in a 4% engagement rate on these promos.
17. Gareth Leonard (@traveldeeper) - With a steady growth rate on all platforms, Travel influencer Gareth Leonard is always sharing a new travel tip or destination. Hawaii, Big Bend National Park, and VRBO are a few of the partners Leonard has highlighted on his social, bringing a reach of 88k on his latest collaborations. Leonard also has a significant Youtube following approaching 450k, his most popular video reaching 600k views.
18. Ruth Mendes (@havekiddoswilltravel) - Ruth Mendes is a family and travel micro-influencer. Despite her 2.4k following, Mendes has already established several significant brand partnerships with travel brands. Shenandoah National Park, Vrbo, and Sunday River are a few of the travel brands and destinations Mendes has collaborated with, bringing in 4-5% engagement rates.
19. Renee Hanel (@reneeroaming) - It’s safe to say that Renee Hanel is a US travel expert- the Seattle-based travel influencer has even written a book sharing her expertise called “Roaming America.” Hanel has grown her platform to over 600k and included several brand partnerships along the way. Uber, Vrbo, Springhill Suites, and Reno Tahoe are some of the multiple brands Hanel has highlighted, reaching almost 500k viewers with many of them.
20. The Bucket List Family (@thebucketlistfamily) - Following Derek and Jessica Gee, The Bucket List family is the couple’s travel journalism blog and social profiles sharing all of their travels. The family of 5 is currently posting from Zimbabwe, but their location frequently changes, highlighting numerous great destinations. Working with travel brands such as Airbnb, Disney Aulani Resorts, and Norwegian Air, the family has established multiple long-term partnerships that continue to have over 2M in potential reach.
21. Becky van Dijk (@beckyvandijk) - Co-founder of We Are Travel Girls, Becky van Dijk has amassed almost 100k followers as a travel influencer. Van Dijk has partnered with Travel + Leisure, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Luxury Retreats, among multiple other brands.
22. Daniel Keating (@daniel_keating) - With an impressive growth rate of over 12% at the moment, Daniel Keating’s platform will likely soon surpass 40k. Keating is a photographer, adventurer, and travel influencer with photos that will make anyone envious of his travels. Working with Vrbo, Southwest Airlines, and Lonely Planet, Keating has established long-term partnerships with a wide variety of brands and brought engagement as high as 13%.
23. Nina Tekwani (@tekwani) - Nina Tekwani is a creator in Phoenix, AZ, covering lifestyle, fashion, and travel topics. Tekwani has partnered with several travel brands like Delta, Jetsetter, and Forbes Travel Guide, steadily bringing in over 150k impressions. With these metrics, Tekwani’s audience of 125k is highly engaged and sharing her content.
24. Dana Berez (@danaberez) - Dana Berez has scaled her platform to 119k, drawing in significant brand partnerships and one specifically catered to travel. Vrbo, Booking.com, and Las Vegas are a few of the travel brands Berez has featured, bringing in 5% engagement rates. Berez also has a successful Youtube platform, with her highest viewed videos reaching 132k.

Want to know how Tagger uses our end-to-end platform to discover amazing accounts, profiles, and creators like these? Request a demo and we'll show you how!

When someone says “bitly” these days, you immediately know what they’re talking about, right? URL shorteners are mainstream. They’re understood. Right?

...Then why aren’t you using them in everything you do as an influencer or brand?

URL shorteners are an excellent additional tool to leverage when you're tracking links.

When running multiple campaigns, it's imperative that marketers and influencers alike know how much traffic they're generating and from what sources. Tagger's platform allows its users to integrate UTM and pixel tracking, letting them pull key performance insights from their influencer campaigns into existing analytics tools. A URL shortener is an excellent additional tool that makes it as easy as possible for audiences to remember and use your campaign links.

But, there are some common mistakes people make when shortening URLs...

Here's how every influencer and brand can leverage URL shorteners to increase ROI

It’s easy to tell when someone isn’t using a URL shortener well. There’s actually a Good-Worse-Worst litmus test. And here it is:

• Good: The URL is something like https://jason.online/listenup
  You’re using a custom URL shortener (YAY!). Your brand is reinforced with the base domain. The rest is easy to remember so you don’t have to look it up, write it down or force other people to do the same
• Worse: The URL is something like https://jason.online/3CdO3xY
  You’re using a custom URL shortener (Kudos!) and reinforcing your brand. But who will remember the rest in the event you need to tell someone the link over the phone? Or remember it to type it in a text?
• Worst: The URL is something like https://bit.ly/3iqZkDd
  You’re using a URL shortener, but it’s just like the ones everyone uses. And again, who the heck is going to remember that link if they don’t have it handy? (You’ll remember the site you find when you click, though. Try it.)

URL shorteners (like bit.ly, snip.ly, and Twitter’s t.co) are supposed to make sharing links easier. But when the character string after the domain is a gobblety gook mess of characters, you’re limited to using it as a hyperlink only.

By customizing the tail of the URL to something memorable, you make your new web address easy to use, regardless of where or how it’s delivered.

Why Use a Custom URL Shortener in your Influencer Campaign?

As we’ve discussed, a custom URL shortener reinforces your brand. Instead of promoting Bit.ly or some other domain company in every link you share, you’re promoting you.

When I share links online, either to my website or even to other people’s content, I share using jason.online. Want to find me on any social network quickly? Just type in jason.online/ and the name of the network.

No, remembering twitter.com/jasonfalls isn’t hard. But I don’t have enough subscribers for a custom YouTube Channel. So my URL is jason.online/youtube.

For Cornett, the agency where I work, we make it super easy for people to find our client case studies. Type in cornett.online/ and the client name and you’ll probably find a good one. (Cornett.online/visitlex will show you the awesome tourism work we do for Lexington, Kentucky’s CVB.)

With every link we share, we reinforce where the person got the link and keep our firm top of mind as their trusted resource.

How to Use Custom URL Shorteners

On the internet, a link is a link is a link. But when you need to remember, type or even tell someone a URL verbally, the custom URL shortener becomes your most valuable tool.

Recall

I like using custom URLs to quickly recall important links to share with anyone I may hope visits my important content online. As I explained above, I can quickly send people to:

• jason.online/linkedin
• jason.online/instagram
• jason.online/getthebook
• jason.online/audiobook

You guessed it! Those links are, in order, to my LinkedIn profile, my Instagram account, the Amazon page to buy my latest book and the Audible page for the audio version.

I don’t have to remember a long URL and can type it in a text, email or even in the middle of an article I’m writing for Tagger without slowing down to look it up.

Pass Along

Custom short URLs also make it easy for you to point people to your online assets or ideas verbally. So when you’re talking to a collaborator or sales lead on the phone or even at an in-person networking event, you can say, “Just fill out the form at myname.online/info and I’ll send you a free sample!”

The short, memorable nature of the link will help you drive more offline people to connect with you online.

Pay Dirt

Then you can get strategic, complex and smart with custom URL shorteners. You can build short links to not just your website or social handles, but to any page or asset on the web. And you can build different short links for URLs with UTM parameters added for measurement purposes.

So, if I’m an influencer or a brand who wants to be able to measure granularly how a particular campaign is performing, I can take the URL where the traffic should go and kick out custom short links to divvy up my measurement.

For example, let’s say all the traffic should go to www.manthiswebsitenameislong.com/buy-this-product-now. I’m going to put that URL on every social channel, email newsletter, print advertisement, TV advertisement and billboard I can, but it’s too long. And, I want to be able to measure the effectiveness of all those channels.

First, I use UTM parameters to create multiple links to the same page. So these links:

• www.manthiswebsitenameislong.com/buy-this-product-now?utm_source=print&utm_medium=advertising
• www.manthiswebsitenameislong.com/buy-this-product-now?utm_source=email&utm_medium=advertising
• www.manthiswebsitenameislong.com/buy-this-product-now?utm_source=billboards&utm_medium=advertising

Will be used exclusively on any communication for the campaign on:

• Print ads (see the “utm_source=print” ?)
• Email marketing
• Billboards

Now, I get a URL shortener. Let’s say the domain is short.store. I then connect that short domain to Bit.ly’s custom domain feature.

Now I can assign custom, easy-to-remember URLs to each of those. So on my print, email and billboard activations, I use:

• short.store/print (or any other unique word, like “offer” or “deal” or “magazine”)
• short.store/email
• short.store/billboard

What this does is allows people who see and remember your URL on a billboard to be counted in your website analytics as having come to the page from seeing it on billboard (source) advertising (medium). All they have to do is remember short.store/billboard (or whatever trailing word you wish to use) and you’ve got them segmented in your data.

Now you can open up analytics and actually answer the question, “How many people came to my site after learning about it on a billboard?” And “How much revenue did we drive from people who learned about us from our billboards?”

(Did I just invent a way to measure the ROI of billboards? I think I did!)

Custom URL Shorteners Are All About Measurement

Whether you’re an influencer or a brand, a custom URL shortener makes it easier for people to remember how to find not just your website or social channel, but the specific landing page you wish to send them to. Leveraging other tools like UTM parameter-rich links and website analytics means you can better measure the value of the people who do visit.

With the demands on influencers and on brand managers to better illustrate the value of influencer marketing, social media and all other forms of marketing, you’re almost a fool to not leverage them.

Have questions about custom URL shorteners? Maybe you need more help understanding UTM parameters? Jump in the comments and I’ll do my best to help.

Jason Falls is a content partner and guest contributor to Tagger. He is also the author of Winfluence - Reframing Influencer Marketing to Ignite Your Brand and the host of Winfluence - The Influence Marketing Podcast.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association ruled on July 1, 2021, that student-athletes could finally make money off their name, image, and likeness. This rule has been a matter of controversy for years, but finally, student-athletes can leverage brand partnerships and become influencers!

While the Cavinder twins made the first brand deal in collegiate NIL history with Boost Mobile, smaller brands and micro-influencers are also finding success! Local ‘college-town stores and D2C clothing brands are also a top hit among these influencers, seeing engagement rates averaging around 15% for this entire list!

We found these top student-athletes with incredible potential for influencer marketing using the Tagger platform’s engagement, brand mentions, and growth toggles. If you’d like to learn more about the billion-dollar industry this ruling has just created, read our past blog!

1. Paris Johnson Jr (@parisjohnsonjr) - Paris Johnson Jr. is an Offensive tackle at Ohio State University. Since the NCAA ruling passed, Johnson has already partnered with Culture Kings and is on Cameo. Johnson’s posts regularly attract over 7% engagement, some even reaching as high as 30%.
2. Haley Cavinder (@haleycavinder) - One part of the Cavinder Twins TikTok page (with over 3M Followers), Haley Cavinder is on the Fresno State Women’s Basketball Team. Cavinder’s Instagram page has grown by over 37% in the last 90 days, with an engagement rate averaging 30%. Cavinder is a GoPuff partner, and her first two influencer deals were with Six Star Nutrition and Boost Mobile. Both of these partnerships brought in more than 13% engagement rates each.
3. Hanna Cavinder (@hanna.cavinder) - Haley’s counterpart and teammate Hanna Cavinder has just as bustling a following as her twin. Hanna landed the same partnerships with Six Star Nutrition and Boost Mobile as her sister, driving incredible engagement rates! Peaking at 30% engagement, Cavinder’s partnerships have only just begun.
4. Chet Holmgren (@chet_holmgren) - Center for Gonzaga’s Men’s Basketball team, Chet Holmgren has over 320k followers on Instagram, showing a consistent growth rate and activity. Holmgren is only a freshman but will undoubtedly be a student-athlete influencer to watch- the basketball player is featured by Gatorade and Playmaker HQ on social media and named MVP at the FIBA U19 world cup.
5. Sean Clifford (@seancliff14) - Quarterback for Penn State, Sean Clifford is only beginning to leverage his platform for influencer marketing, announcing his first partnership on August 2nd. Partnering with a Penn State student store, Clifford’s influence shows the potential of partnering with local and small businesses.
6. Olivia Dunne (@livvydunne) - Olivia Dunne is a gymnast for Louisiana State University with over 1M Instagram followers and over 4M TikTok followers. Despite this large following, Dunne’s engagement rate is incredibly high despite this large following, at 28% on Instagram and 23% on Twitter.
7. Spencer Rattler (@spencer_rattler) - The quarterback at the University of Oklahoma, Spencer Rattler has already partnered with several brands since the NIL passing. Vowing to donate a part of any earnings he receives to help underserved people and communities, Rattler has spread awareness of college athletes’ opportunities with NIL. Some partnerships so far include clothing and shoe stores such as Retailboyz and Chesler Customs.
8. Master Teague III (@masterteague) - A running back for Ohio State, Master Teague has recently created a Cameo since the NIL ruling. Teague has an over 8% growth rate and a nearly 15% engagement rate.
9. Masai Russell (@masai_russell) - With over 150k, The University of Kentucky Track and Field star’s platform is multiplying. Masai Russell’s Instagram account has a current growth rate of over 16%, featuring new brand partnerships with clothing brands like Bo and Tee. This specific brand partnership (shown below) drew in an engagement rate of over 13%.
10. Chris Olave (@chrisolave_) - Wide receiver for Ohio State, Chris Olave has over 100k followers and an 18% engagement rate. Olave has already partnered with Raising Cane’s Chicken as a part of their #CaniacAmbassador program.
11. Breanna Beal (@breabeal) - Breanna Beal is one of the highest-followed players on the University of South Carolina’s Women’s Basketball team. Beal has over __ IG followers and draws a 16%+ engagement rate per post. Her Twitter engagement is just as impressive, with 12% among 10k followers. Beal is on Cameo and Youtube, featuring workout videos and tons of other content.
12. Sam Howell (@sam7howell) - University of North Carolina Quarterback Sam Howell has amassed over 60k followers in his two years at UNC. Howell has an engagement rate of 23% and is growing by 13%- look for these numbers to continue spiking as Howell participates in brand partnerships. As his first partnership, Howell is working with the non-profit organization Table and combined this partnership with North Carolina fast-food favorite Bojangles for long-term partnerships.
13. Collin Gillespie (@collin105) - Men’s basketball player for Villanova University, Collin Gillespie came out with custom-designed merchandise with The Player’s Trunk just days after the NIL rule passed. Gillespie has since been named a Barstool Athlete and is a brand ambassador for PSD Underwear. The basketball player’s profile has kept a steady 10% growth rate in recent months.
14. Ziyah Holman (@ziyahleigh__) - Ziyah Holman is a University of Michigan and Team USA athlete, running track and field. Holman most recently partnered with Play Booked, a specific NIL company for athletes. With her engagement rate hovering around 10%, Holman’s content health shows engagements as high as 7k per post.
15. Derek Stingley Jr. (@derek_stingley) - Louisiana State University Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. has already partnered with multiple brands since the NIL possibility became a reality. Stingley is another Raising Cane’s #CaniacAmbassador, his post representing the brand drawing in an engagement rate of 14%.
16. Bryce Young (@bryceyoung) - A Sophomore at the University of Alabama, Bryce Young is a standout quarterback with significant social media influence. Young has already partnered with CashApp on Twitter, promising future partnerships with the brand. Snowballing on Instagram and Twitter, this growth will likely increase with the coming 2021 football season.
17. Alana Walker (@alanawalker14) - Though graduated Northwestern, Alana Walker is playing one last season of eligibility at the University of Virginia’s Women’s Volleyball team. Walker has already established a Cameo page and has been named a Barstool Athlete. Walker most recently partnered with Lollapalooza Music Festival, attending and featuring the festival on her Insta. As her page continues to grow at a rate of 14%, watch for Walker partnering with more brands/events!

Want to know how Tagger uses our end-to-end platform to discover amazing accounts, profiles, and creators like these? Request a demo and we'll show you how!