Social media influencer marketing is word-of-mouth advertising that directly impresses upon specific interests.
Traditionally, these roles are held by third-party contact-based employees. However, the need to look in-house for talent is on the rise.
Daniel Sanchez from Forbes Magazine shares that in-house influencer marketing gives brands the opportunity to train their employees and develop unique strategies. At Saint Mary’s College of California, this is the type of experience we offer to our student employees.
We have launched the opportunity to work as a Fitness Influencer in order to motivate and encourage students to walk through the facility doors.
What is a Fitness Influencer at Saint Mary’s?
We have hired four students to specifically work as Fitness Influencers. They will:
- Display confidence, originality and are interactive online through their personal social media accounts.
- They will tag and share with the department’s accounts.
In addition, our Fitness Influencer employees will add videos and images related to working out at the Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center that promotes a healthy lifestyle and encourages the campus community to walk through the doors. Digital content will also include:
- Tips for local hiking trails.
- Favorite spots to eat healthy on campus.
- Trying a new fitness class.
While promoting a healthy and fit lifestyle to our users, the student employees will gain the needed experience for digital content development and strategy.
Content development is a building block for a digital media strategist and is attractive to digital media job opportunities. Providing this opportunity in relatable work skills allows us to tap into tender professionals that are encouraged to excel in their interest among their peers.
At Saint Mary’s, we continue to flourish a community of creative thinkers. For example, we allow student employees to offer their expertise and interest to the work environment. We cultivate employee relationships and allow for students to have specific experience in career options.
EXTRA CREDIT: The marketing team is your friend. Here are several ways to help them tell your story.
Yes, the challenges from managing students in this aspect might not be familiar, but what is familiar is the ability to set goals, meet deadlines and set expectations for student employees. All of these are building blocks to the well-rounded employee that is attractive to the workforce.
If a brand is not using social media influencer marketing as a strategy to better attract its target audience, now may be the time for the company to start evaluating their advertising strategy.
In summary, we are eager to see the direct influence from these roles and will encourage the organic nature of the connections to help motivate use of the facility.
