The Influencer Code: How to Unlock the Power of Influencer Marketing

Amanda Russell’s “The Influencer Code” is essential reading for brand marketers. “Influencer Marketing” has become the new catch phrase in the media plans of corporate marketers. The problem is most of them know what it is but don’t really understand it. Millions of dollars are being wasted on programs that don’t work.The irony is that those programs, with the right code, could be highly effective. Amanda shows how marketers can use influencers more strategically to market to their targets – everything from how to select influencers that are impactful for their brand, build trust based relationships with them, co-create compelling content, and more. The book helps you avoid common mistakes, e.g. distinguish between popularity and influence and not mix up advertising and social media marketing with influencer marketing.The Influencer Code also steps well beyond strategy into real-world tactics, from showing you how to manage your campaigns to how to write proper legal contracts with influencers. All of this works, because Amanda is not just an instructor, but also has, in fact, created her own successful activewear brand with influencer marketing and is a sought after influencer herself. She has been there and done it all!

This is the best influencer marketing book on the market today. A persuasive read, the book sheds light on what, precisely, an influencer is - definitely not reduced to social media or advertising, but an outcome achievable when following the roadmap/strategy that Amanda Russell brilliantly and clearly suggests. The book is a fun read and I recommend it highly. If you aspire to be an influencer, this book is a must read. If you are a marketing prof, you should adopt this book - much more fun reading than the required text and highly relevant to students. If you work in marketing, you should understand influencers and this book will give you all the knowledge that you need.

I started influencer marketing a week before buying this book I got no email replies and the people who replied loss interest in working with me and I did no why.This book showed why I was not getting replies and it basically showed me that I had the wrong mindset.I will start outreaching again once I finish reading the book. This book is a must for anyone who is in this industry“It is not about you it is about them” you will understand this quote once you read the book

I admit it. I sometimes used to eye-roll at the idea of influencer marketing. After reading the book, I know why. It's because I saw the same pattern: an attractive person (who I didn't believe) promoting a product online - a product I suspected they'd never use in real life.Amanda's book clears up the problem. It was a trust issue, and I wasn't seeing true influencers.The book outlines how influencer marketing is *not* social media, advertising, and vanity metrics. Someone is not an influencer just because they have a verified check mark by their name. "Influencer" is an outcome. It's not a job title. It's real influencer marketing when it's relevant - coming from a person who knows the audience well - and is trusted.I like how she goes over both sides: using it as a big brand, and also from the perspective of the influencer.There's a good section on User Generated Content. I also appreciated all of the specific examples. She didn't fill the book with platitudes from internet marketers. She put credible research and key points throughout. It's a valuable resource for all marketers to consider. She turned around this skeptic. Now I see that I've been influenced in this way many times. The thing is: I didn't realize it because it felt so natural.

In The Influencer Code, Amanda tackles the concept of using an often misunderstood strategy in marketing; using Influencers to grow your business. She walks the reader through a practical and easy to follow road map for using this powerful strategy successfully. She dismantles the misconceptions and educates the reader in a straightforward and fun to read way. I loved reading this and with each chapter, my wheels were turning on how to take her suggestions and apply them to my business. This is critical reading for any business owner or marketer looking to think differently about how to use Influencers in a way that really works.

It's quality not quantity that makes influencer marketing work, but how do you pull it all off right so that people actually buy a product? It's all in this book, which not only walks you through the how and why of influencer marketing but is also full of examples of both successes and failures in this approach to marketing a product, service, etc. A major theme in the book is the importance of relationships in reaping the really big rewards. You need the guidance in this book to know exactly how and why to build the types of relationships you need so that you can build the trust you need for long-term marketing success. There are no short-cuts to getting to the effectiveness you need for success, which is why you need this book.

In The Influencer Code, Russell's insights dramatically improved my knowledge on the oft misunderstood subject of influencers. One reason I thoroughly enjoyed it is that Russell is also a practitioner. She's an influencer having developed a personal lifestyle brand (that she eventually built so large she sold it as a business) and she teaches the business side of the equation as a Professor at the University of Texas. My top 3 takeaways:1. Define the right goal2. Connect with the right influencers3. Create the right connection (as Russell explains - this is critical!)This is essential reading for any business owner or marketer looking to think differently to influence their customers, partners, and stakeholders. The internet has made products commodities - they are too easy to replicate. The only way to standout is via communication, influence, and customer service. This book nails the influence part.

Before executing your next tactic stop and read this book! It’s a must read for any marketer who really wants to connect with their customers and see results.

Amanda has written an excellent resource for the beginner to the seasoned marketing veteran. Well done.