The 5 Tiers Of Influencers And What They Each Offer

Katelyn Beery
posted on November 28, 2020November 28, 2020
2 Comments

If you’re a brand, navigating the various tiers of influencers can be a challenging task since each offers its own advantages and disadvantages.

Because of that, it’s important to think about the factors that are most vital to your brand’s success.

Ask yourself some questions:

How large of a reach do you want the influencer to have?
What kind of audience are you trying to reach?
Do you want high engagement or a large following?

Once you know what you’re looking for, you will know which tier of influencers to look into. In this article, we break down each of them.

1. Nano-influencer

Influencers in this tier usually have around 1,000 to 10,000 followers.

However, remember that power is not just in followers. Engagement is just as important, if not more so, and nano-influencers have higher levels.

They can interact directly with a larger number of their followers. Therefore, their followers are more likely to comment or like posts.

A closer connection grows a deeper sense of trust, which makes followers more likely to buy whatever the influencer suggests.

It may be easy to set your sites on influencers with higher numbers of followers but be sure not to underestimate people who fall under this tier.

You’ll likely be surprised at the increase in traffic and sales you could see as a result of working with nano-influencers.

Additionally, this tier tends to be the most affordable with lower rates.

These influencers are a great choice for startups and small businesses who are looking to get their brand and product out there without spending lots of money.

2. Micro-influencer

Moving up a tier brings us to the micro-influencers. This group includes influencers who have between 10,000 and 50,000 followers.

Similar to nano-influencers, they are close with their followers and focus on a specific niche.

When you think about an influencer or see a sponsored ad for a brand, they are likely a micro-influencer.

They do a wonderful job of increasing brand awareness and know what works best for their target audience.

In turn, this means your company will benefit from their expertise in content creation.

Many see micro-influencers as trustworthy and knowledgeable, so they go to them when they want advice or product recommendations.

It all boils down to Connection + trust = loyal customers.

3. Mid-tier influencer

Moving up yet another of the tiers, we reach influencers who have anywhere from 50,000 to 500,000 followers.

A large portion of influencers you see will likely fall in this category.

We know what you’re thinking—it’s a large range.

And you’re right, but that means there’s more variety in what you gain from working with different influencers in this group.

They have more experience with growing their following and likely worked with a few brands before.

This makes them the perfect option for a brand that has a higher marketing budget that also wants to appeal to a large audience.

4. Macro-influencer

The next tier consists of those who have 500,000 to 1 million followers.

At this level, not all of them started their journey by wanting to become an influencer. Many are just well-known names.

While they usually have lower engagement rates than other tiers, they tend to have greater reach. Many also utilize outside management or other help for their content so their page can look more professional.

Unfortunately, with this more professional look and approach also comes higher prices.

Despite their prices not being anywhere close to what mega-influencers are, they still cost a pretty penny.

For brands with higher spending, this isn’t a problem and macro-influencers are often the best bet to get the most bang for your buck.

However, these influencers may not be as affordable for smaller businesses. That doesn’t mean all hope is lost though, lower-tier influencers can bring your brand just as much success.

5. Mega-influencer

And finally, there are the mega-influencers who have over 1 million.

Or also known as celebrities.

They can reach a wider audience with such a high number of followers, but this can also decrease their success for specific brands.

If your brand is tailored for a particular audience, a mega-influencer isn’t your best choice.

Because of their high price tag, the brands they promote are well established and successful. This sometimes can be off-putting to their followers who may not be able to afford a product they promote.

Therefore, influencers at lower tiers have their followers listen to them more for brand and product suggestions than celebrities are by theirs.

Since they are in the public eye so much, it’s easier for them to develop a negative reputation. Because of this, many might not be as transparent as brands would like.

While it’s easier to reach out to the first influencer you come across, it’s important to do research to find which of the tiers would lead to influencers who suit your brand the best.

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Katelyn Beery is a blogging intern at LadyBossBlogger.com. She majors in writing at Ithaca College and hopes to pursue a career in either technical or professional writing. She can usually be found cleaning, listening to music, or gazing at clouds.