Differences between macro-influencers and nano-influencers

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Difference between macro-influencers and nano-influencers

Hello. My name is Sakamoto, and I am a consultant.
An influencer is a person who is influential in a particular community or market and can be divided into various types depending on their size. Nano influencers and macro influencers are two of those types.
Nano-influencers typically refer to individuals with followers in the 1,000 to 10,000 range. Although their follower base is small, their engagement rates with followers are usually very high and they are deeply rooted in a particular community or niche market. As such, they can appeal to specific target audiences very effectively. They are also typically just starting out in their influencer careers and may therefore be more open to and cost-effective in partnering with companies.

Macro-influencers, on the other hand, are usually individuals with 10,000 or more followers, sometimes millions. They have a broad base of followers and generally high visibility. Therefore, partnering with them can be an effective way to reach a large audience. However, their engagement rates are generally lower than those of nano-influencers, and the cost of partnering with them tends to be higher.

Which type of influencer is more effective depends on the brand's goals, target audience, and available budget. Nano influencers are more effective at reaching specific niche target audiences and generating credible engagement, while macro influencers are more effective at significantly increasing brand awareness and reaching a broad audience.

Advantages of macro-influencers

Comparing macro-influencers and nano-influencers, macro-influencers have the following advantages

  1. Massive Reach: Macro-influencers have large followings. This allows you to communicate your brand message to a wide range of users through them. This is especially useful for brand awareness and for large-scale campaigns such as new product launches.
  2. High-quality content production is possible: macro-influencers are often professional content creators and can provide high-quality visuals and storytelling. This can enhance a brand's image and make a strong impression on consumers.
  3. Experience with brand partnerships: macro-influencers are, by and large, accustomed to working in partnership with brands. They understand how to get the most out of their brand partnerships and can provide appropriate reporting and communications.
  4. Broad Influence: Due to their popularity and influence, macro-influencers are often able to influence a specific industry or an entire market. This means they have the ability to create new trends.

Disadvantages of macro-influencers

When comparing macro-influencers and nano-influencers, the main disadvantages of macro-influencers are the following

  1. High cost: Macro-influencers usually demand high compensation commensurate with their large follower base and influence. This can be a hurdle, especially for companies with limited budgets.
  2. Potentially lower engagement rates: in general, macro-influencers tend to have lower engagement rates (user responses such as likes and comments) than nano-influencers. Nano influencers are usually more involved in a more specific niche community and have a stronger personal connection with their followers, so they often have higher engagement rates than macro influencers.
  3. Credibility and authenticity issues: macro-influencers are often in partnership with numerous brands, and as such, their recommendations may not be perceived as genuine and credible. Nano influencers, on the other hand, often have high credibility and integrity within their communities.
  4. Targeting accuracy: Because macro-influencers have a broad follower base, their messaging to specific target audiences may be less precise. Nano influencers, on the other hand, are more involved in specific niche markets and may be more direct and effective in their messaging to specific customer segments.

Advantages of nano-influencers

Compared to macro-influencers, nano-influencers have the following advantages

  1. High engagement rates: nano-influencers may have small numbers of followers, but their relationships with their followers are very strong. Their posts tend to be more personalized and receive more responses (likes, comments, shares, etc.) from their followers.
  2. Credibility and authenticity: because nano-influencers are deeply rooted in more specific communities, their opinions and recommendations have a high degree of credibility with their followers. This can have a significant impact on consumers' purchasing decisions.
  3. Cost efficiency: nano influencers are generally paid less than macro influencers, which is a significant advantage, especially for smaller companies with limited budgets.
  4. Access to specific niches: nano-influencers can provide access to specific niche target markets because of their strong involvement in a particular community or market.
  5. Open to brand partnerships: nano-influencers may not yet have attracted significant attention, so they are open to forming new partnerships.

Disadvantages of nano-influencers

When comparing macro-influencers and nano-influencers, nano-influencers have the following disadvantages

  1. Limited Reach: Because nano-influencers typically have a small number of followers, the reach of their messages is limited compared to macro-influencers. This is a disadvantage when the goal is to expand brand awareness to a wider audience.
  2. Lack of content creation skills: macro-influencers are experienced professional content creators, while nano-influencers may lack the professional skills and experience. Therefore, it can be difficult to expect content of guaranteed quality and consistency from nano-influencers.
  3. Lack of brand collaboration experience: nano-influencers may have limited experience partnering with brands and therefore may be unfamiliar with the collaboration process and industry best practices.
  4. Management difficulties: partnering with a large number of nano-influencers can add complexity, including communication and contract management with each influencer. This is time and resource intensive and can be difficult for larger organizations to handle.

Summary

Macro and nano influencers have different roles and benefits in influencer marketing. Which type of influencer is best for your brand depends on your brand goals, target audience, and available budget. To make a strategic decision, it is important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each and choose the influencer that best suits your objectives.

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