* Texas DIR The Power of YouTube Influencers April 11, 2019 - 10:00am -- -- Social Media Online Marketing YouTube Influencers' Power - Jennifer Alvord Author Jennifer Alvord -- -- Social Media Specialist Many of us know that Social Media Influencers have been on the rise since the early 2010’s, but maybe not all of us know how powerful these -- since the early 2010’s, but maybe not all of us know how powerful these influencers have become -- specifically YouTubers. It seems everyone has jumped on board with partnering with Instagram Influencers, but we don't often hear about YouTube Influencers. YouTubers are now considered to be celebrities. We can debate that if -- -- technology, travel, cooking, conspiracies, cats, etc. You name it and there is a 99.9 percent chance there is a video on YouTube about it, just waiting for you to watch. Now, this is where the Influencers come in to play. YouTube has become a full-time career for so many creators, and of course, they have to earn their living somehow. YouTubers profit -- -- their audience in order to make it. YouTubers Influence Purchasing Behavior Celebrity endorsements have been around for a very long time, and -- -- Celebrity endorsements have been around for a very long time, and they’re still here to stay, but now YouTube Influencer sponsorships can be found left and right. These social media influencers are typically much more affordable for businesses and have a greater return on investment than a traditional celebrity endorsement, or even a -- -- traditional paid advertisement. Unlike traditional celebrities, YouTubers feel more accessible, relatable and authentic to consumers. By being a “friend” to their viewers, they have the power to influence consumers’ purchasing behavior. Influencers often make brands feel more trustworthy because of the relationship they have built with their audience. 70 percent of Millennial and Gen Z YouTube subscribers say -- -- trustworthy because of the relationship they have built with their audience. 70 percent of Millennial and Gen Z YouTube subscribers say they relate to Influencers more than they do celebrities, and 4 in 10 subscribers say their favorite Influencer understands them better than their friends. -- -- not alone in this, because studies have shown that viewers are changing products they were originally going to purchase to one a YouTuber recommended. When an Influencer builds up trust with their audience, trust for the brands and companies that an Influencer speaks highly of comes easily. -- -- comes easily. Investing in YouTube Ads and Influencer Marketing If reading everything above has not made you start thinking about how -- -- more readily on YouTube than they do Facebook. If you want to dabble in the Influencer marketing world, collaborating with YouTubers by sponsoring videos is an effective way to boost brand -- with YouTubers by sponsoring videos is an effective way to boost brand awareness. Influencer marketing also has the power to generate leads, drive conversions and generate a high ROI since your target audience -- drive conversions and generate a high ROI since your target audience will trust an honest testimonial by an Influencer over a paid advertisement. -- -- advertisement. YouTube and its Influencers aren’t going anywhere any time soon, and are only on the rise. The most common “dream job” for children these days isn’t to be a veterinarian or astronaut, but to be a YouTube star, -- -- taken. Putting your advertising dollars into YouTube is a good investment for your business, and if you need help setting up your YouTube ads or connecting with Influencers, feel free to reach out to the Texas Creative Social Media Team!