5 Ways to Spot Fake Social Media Influencers

5 Ways to Spot Fake Social Media InfluencersCredit Georgejmclittle/Shutterstock Social media influencers can do wonders for your small business. These individuals have a large and engaging following on social media. If you find the right influencers, they can legitimize your company, increase brand recognition and boost sales.Social media influencers include bloggers, experts in their fields, celebrities and more, said Justin Lavelle, chief communications director of Been Verified. Influencers write about your products or brand and are typically compensated with money or samples.However, not all social media influencers are genuine. Ratherbeibei than organically building a trusting following, some influencers buy followers, comments and likes. Business News Daily talked to social media experts about social media influencers and how to spot a fake. Heres what they said.Whats a social media influencer?From popular food bloggers to reality TV stars, it seems anyone can be a social media influencer. But the best influencers have a large following of people who care about what they say, use and recommend.Editors note Need social media managementfor your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information.A social media influencer is someone who has amassed a following via creative content and storytelling and can influence consumers through social platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc., often with the intention of affecting and influencing various purchasing decisions, said Beca Alexander, founder and president of influencer casting agency Socialyte.Brands pay social media influencers to create content and endorse their products or services. Social media influencers basically verify your credibility within your target demographic, said Lavelle. Traditional advertising doesnt build trust like social media influencers do, especially when talking to millennials.The most effec tive social media influencers are very active in their community, said Shellie Wass, social media account manager for Slice Communications and social media influencer for her dog, Oliver the Love Pug.Influencers are engaging with their commenters, they are participating in discussions around their endorsements, and they have their own personal aesthetics that can leverage a brand, she said. Companies should be seeking out influencers with a dedicated community that will help to expand their reach.How to spot fake social media influencersJust because an account has a lot of followers doesnt mean it has an influence over itsaudience. Unfortunately, fake social media influencers are on the rise and if you do business with a fake influencer, it could seriously damage your brand.A fake social media influencer is someone who acquires their followers and/or comments and likes in an inorganic manner (e.g., via purchase, loop giveaways, comment pods, etc.), thus lacking a genuine influence over their audience, Alexander told Business News Daily.Thankfully, there are ways to spot fake influencers from those with a genuine following. Heres how.Look for sudden spikes in followers or engagement. You can identify a fake influencer by observing a major spike in following/engagement, particularly overnight or within a short period of time, said Alexander.Is the influencer active on other social media platforms? Genuine social media influencers are visible across several social media platforms YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc., Lavelle told Business News Daily.Look at engagement. You can identify an influencer who buys his or her engagement by observing an excessive amount of non-engaging or redundant comments (e.g., emojis, comments from the same person, etc.) on most photos, Alexander told Business News Daily.Calculate the influencers engagement rate. Calculate their engagement rates this refers to the percentage of likes, comments or shares received on posts compared to the total number of followers, said Lavelle. Fake influencers pay for followers many whom are bots. These followers usually dont engage with content, and if they do, it looks like spam. Fake followers cannot have real engagement, so their comments look like spam, he said.Check for earned media. Check to see if they have any earned media, said Wass. Earned media shows that they have a large reach and not just a large follower count. Saige Driver Saige received her Bachelors degree in Journalism and Telecommunications from Ball State University. She is the social media strategist for Business.com and Business News Daily. She also writes reviews and articles about social media. She loves reading and her beagle mix, Millie. Start Your Business Business Ideas Business Plans Startup Basics Startup Funding konzessionsverkauf Success Stories Entrepreneurs Grow Your Business Sales absatzwirtschaft Finances Your Team Technology Social Media Security Build Your Career Get the Job Get Ahead Office Life Work-Life Balance Home Office Lead Your Team Leadership Women in Business Managing Strategy Personal Growth Find A Solution HR Solutions Financial Solutions Marketing Solutions Security Solutions Retail Solutions SMB Solutions About Us Contact Us Partner with Us Copyright Policy Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Personal Information Advertising Disclosure Sitemap 200 Fifth Avenue, Second FloorWaltham, MA 02451infobusinessnewsdaily.com Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) All Rights Reserved. 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How to Use LinkedIn Groups A Comprehensive Guide - Jobscan Blog

How to Use LinkedIn Groups A Comprehensive Guide - Jobscan BlogPosted on July 23, 2019July 17, 2019 by Landre Larouche LinkedIn is an essential tool for job seekers as it allows you to promote your personal brand, stay on top of your industry, and connect with people who share your interests. LinkedIn groups are a powerful way to do all these things at once, making your LinkedIn efforts as effective as possible.LinkedIn groups are particularly helpful to connect with people in your space, publish and read content related to your profession, and extend your reach beyond your connections. If you want to promote your personal brand to the right people, LinkedIn groups are instrumental. Groups are created for people to gather around a specific area of interest, allowing you to target a specific segment of LinkedIn users and grow your audience and engagement rate.If you are new to using LinkedIn groups, this guide will provide you with everything you need to get started and begin reaping the fruits of this feature.How to search for groups on LinkedInTo search for groups on LinkedIn, click the search bar on the top of your homepage. Type in one or multiple keywords related to your area of interest.The keywords may be an industry, a role, a product. For exampleMarketingAccount ManagerSoftware as a Service (SaaS)Then, hit the enter/return key.On the upper left menu bar, click more, then on groups. You are now able to see which groups exist for the specific keywords you have entered.How to join groups on LinkedInTo join a group on LinkedIn, visit the group page you are interested in and send a request to the groups administrators. Below the banner picture, logo, name, description, and number of members is a blue button that reads Request to join. Make sure to read the description and understand the groups rules before sending your request.Where are my groups on LinkedIn?Access your groups directly by going to linkedin.com/groups/.You can also see your LinkedIn groups on the left side of your homepage. Below your profile summary is a menu with your recent interactions, groups, and hashtags. Click any of these groups to directly access their feed. Click show more to open the list. Click see all to go to the page where you can see all your LinkedIn groups.How to create a group on LinkedInTo create a group on LinkedIn, go to linkedin.com/groups/ then click Create a new group.You can also access this page by clicking the work button located on the top right ecksto of your homepage.Once on the main group page, click create a new group on the top right corner of the page.Give your group a title, write up a description, and set the rules as well as the privacy settings.How to leave a LinkedIn groupTo leave a group on LinkedIn, first access the group by clicking on it on the left side menu of your homepage. Once on the groups feed, click the menu on the top right corner. Scroll down the list and click leave this group. A confirmation will pop up to confir m that you want to leave the group.How to use LinkedIn groups in your job searchLinkedIn groups effectively help you sort out the people you engage during your job search. An effective job search involves connecting and building relationships with people who work for companies where youd like to be employed, letting the world know that you are looking for a position, and accessing as many relevant job postings as you can especially those under-advertised.Look for the groups where you are the most likely to share common points with other members. Make sure you bring value to these groups and that you can become an integral part of the community. People are more likely to engage with you and help you if they relate to you. There are plenty of groups specifically focused on job postings. For example, if you search accountant jobs in groups, youll find tons of groups where you can see under advertised postings.What the experts say about LinkedIn groupsWhile experts agree that LinkedIn groups are not what they used to be 4 or 5 years ago, they say you can still leverage them to engage people in a way that will prove effective to your job search. Luiz Carlos de Oliveira Junior, director at WHY Consultoria in Brazil, says you need to focus on large groups with high engagement rates and to know your purpose.Luiz is a member of over 50 groups as his purpose is to increase his networks size. If you are a job seeker, he advises picking 1-to-3 groups that fit what you are looking for and participate actively. Publish content, interact with members who like and/or comment on your content, and show respect and consideration.Pick 1-to-3 groups that fit what you are looking for and participate actively.Luiz Carlos de Oliveira JuniorThere are two rules, Luiz says, be polite, be a giver.Bruce Johnston, a LinkedIn coach based in Ontario, Canada, suggests starting with your school alumni groups and to get into the areas that interest you from there.You can also send free message s to fellow group members, he says. So you should find someone interesting in the group and ask them a sincere question about what they do. He adds, There are few people who dont like talking about themselves Its all about active and targeted networking.Example Job Seeker LinkedIn GroupsThere are several LinkedIn groups you can join as a job seeker. Some are aimed at specific roles and positions while others are more general. Here are some examplesThe Job Seeker Networking Group Find a Recruiter (42K+ members)MBA Highway MBA Job Search Career Network (46K+ members)PHARMACIST CAREER NETWORK (14K+ members)Veteran Mentor Network (135K+ members)Facebook Commentswpdevar_comment_1 span,wpdevar_comment_1 iframewidth100% important