More than likely you’ve come across your favorite YouTuber dropping their favorite line, “this episode is sponsored by [Insert brand name here].” And while that tag might be an annoying sidetrack to the content you came for, there is something bigger at play with that message than what you see and hear on the surface, especially to the marketers who set up that sponsorship.

“The feel of your brand coming out of the mouth of somebody who has a respected audience is valuable. It's better than just appearing on a no-name editorial or piece of content. It's better if it touches them more. So that's the foundation. That's the underlying principle of why that potential reward is dramatically outsized. ... when you have a hit, you hit big.”

Those are the words of Daniel Conn, the CRO and Co-Founder of ThoughtLeaders. Daniel joined this episode of Marketing Trends to discuss why marketers are suddenly starting to look at sponsorship opportunities as a separate and valuable channel, and he breaks down why the right-partnership, paired with the proper voice, can have endless opportunities for your brand.

Main Takeaways:

• A Whole New Channel: Marketers and strategic planners are now beginning to look at sponsorships as a legitimate channel that is an important part of their media mix. No longer are sponsorships viewed as single tags at the end of a bowl game. Instead, they are fully-integrated partnerships paired with strategic partners who connect with a target audience better than other kinds of advertising.
• Authenticity Matters: Any brand and content creator can partner with each other. But when you are partnering with podcast hosts and YouTubers that already have built-in audiences, make sure their message and audience are authentic and connected to your brand. The power of influencers speaking for your brand on a daily basis is that they capitalize on the opportunity to connect with users in a way traditional advertising does not.
• It Sounds Simple, But It’s Not: Success rate is the metric brands have to rely on when measuring the value of a sponsorship. It seems obvious, but it’s true that you cannot put too high a value on the success rate, and what it means in terms of ROI.

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