Virtual influencers are a rising trend in digital media. These computer-generated characters already have a fan base, especially on social media platforms. They are cost-effective, scalable, and can influence the audience creatively.
Even though they have unique personas and appearances, virtual influencers have another side that isn’t that apparent. So, if you are thinking of starting promoting with the help of virtual influencers, then you find this article at the right time.
Here, we are sharing the rise and risk involved in marketing via virtual influencers, which are common and that you should be aware of.
Rises of The Virtual Influencers
Whether to engage with your audience more effectively or to implement an innovative marketing approach, virtual influencers are the rising trend. But that’s not limited to that; there are the most common advantages you can yield when you implement virtual influencers the right way.
1. Cost efficiency in marketing campaigns.
If you think of implying virtual influencers only from a cost-saving approach, you’re on the right track. Most companies have this as the main reason to implement the VI in their promotional campaign. The research revealed that virtual influencers successfully can lower your marketing costs compared to the traditional approach.
2. Scalable promotions and content creation.
It is very easy to scale the virtual influencer over the real-life human influencer. Moreover, you can create a bunch of content in a shorter time and with minimal effort, as there are no more geographical and time limits. As well as you save your time researching the perfect influencer who can promote your brand, because it’s easier to train or develop virtual influencers.
3. Broader audience reach and growing popularity.
VI (Virtual influencers) are limitless. They come with a global reach and wider audience targeting. This offers the chance to promote your brand and products to a new demographic, new audience, and market, which is quite not possible in the case of the human influencer. because virtual influencers are beyond geographical and cultural limits.
4. Customization and complete control over the influencers’ persona.
Complete control over content practice and character appearances might not be possible for human influencers, but it is for virtual influencers. Here, you can customize their appearance as per your brand and content needs using some of the AI image generators. Also, they provide full control and customization, which allows you to apply a creative approach without having to adhere to standardized practice.
5. Innovative marketing approach.
In digital marketing, virtual influencers are a rising trend that offers a creative and innovative approach to promoting brands and products. They are also appealing and unique to the audience, which helps marketers get more out of their campaigns.
Potential Risks Involved in Virtual Influencers
There is no doubt that virtual influencers have shown progress over the last few years and have many benefits to brands and promoters. But along with that, you must be aware of the potential risks and downsides of marketing through virtual influencers.
1. Virtual means non-human influencers.
Having virtual influencers in the marketing campaign might be beneficial to the promoters and brands. However, the audience and customers have a hard time trusting the VIs. The computer-generated interaction with characters still has no decisive influence on the audience, which is the most common risk and downside to having in mind.
2. Concerns related to privacy and data security.
Virtual influencers have direct access to customer preferences to provide personalized products and services. This raises concerns about data security and privacy. Any break or attack on those data can lead to misuse, which eventually affects the brand’s reputation.
3. Reputational risk is a major issue with VIs.
Virtual influencers are computer-generated and due to their unrealistic and imaginative impression, this affects the brand’s reputation in the end. It affects the audience and existing customers’ perspectives and overall confidence in the brand. Compared to human influencers, virtual influencers might be cheap but lack the responsibility to serve the brand and the customers.
4. No genuine interaction and connection with the actual audience.
It’s challenging to keep the audience engaged with the brand when you use the help of a virtual influencer. While human influencers provide genuine connections and give confidence for stable connections, virtual influencers lack in these important areas. Overall, you can’t still rely on virtual influencers to make an emotional connection with your audience and customers.
Final Thoughts
Looking at the rising trend of virtual influencers, you might consider implementing them in your marketing campaigns. Indeed, there are many benefits involved, but you also look at the other side, which you probably aren’t aware of.
Over time, the technology and practices will undoubtedly improve on the limitations and risks we discussed here regarding virtual influencers. However, before implementing virtual influencers in your promotional campaigns, you must consider important key areas.
