Having a clear brand identity is becoming increasingly essential for sportsbetting companies. In a competitive marketplace, having a brand that is clearly defined and that knows its audience can help you stand out from broader sports books that fail to distinguish themselves.

A key element of building a brand identity is choosing the right people to work with. There is a rush from operators to snap up celebrity endorsements, often with little to no consideration for what it says about their brand. This is where micro-influencers can help.

Micro-influencers are experts at creating a brand identity. They have to build a carefully curated image and brand to connect with their audiences. Authenticity is key to everything that they do, and this helps them create the communities that, in turn, propel them to success.

Where a lot of sportsbooks go wrong is that they approach big influencers that do not align with their brand. Posting an ad to 100,000 people is great, but if only 2,000 are those who are interested in the sport or team you are promoting, then it is just a misuse of advertising resources. This is where micro-influencers become a much smarter and more cost-effective option. They might have 10,000 followers, but all 10,000 of them follow them for a specific reason, and that is often to do with sports.

For example, if a brand is operating in Ohio, it can be matched up with a micro-influencer that is based in the area that has a direct link to the Cincinnati Reds or the Cleveland Browns. This is much more effective than using a big influencer just because they have more followers, it provides operators with a direct line to the people that they want to attract. Ultimately, the number of followers is not as important as the demographic and quality of the followers.

Authenticity also has a direct influence on conversion and retention rates and that is why it is essential to match the right brands with the right influencers. Long-time followers of a micro-influencer will spot a disingenuous ad straight away, as such, we must ensure that micro-influencers are matched with sportsbooks that fit their demographic and values. SGG Media works with over 1,450 micro-influencers, and between them, we can find an influencer for every major and minor sports team and sport you can think of.

Creativity and engagement are also essential in that respect. Putting faith in influencers to be creative with their ads will reap rewards in the long term. They know their audience much more than the sportsbook does, and they understand what type of content they want to see. The most successful campaigns are the ones that provide value to the influencer’s audience and content. It merges into their content instead of feeling like it has been curated specifically to sell a product. A synergy between an influencer and an operator is very palpable, and a genuine endorsement from a micro-influencer is much more effective than an aimless ad when someone is scrolling through their feeds.

On that point, engagement should also be a focus. Audiences do not want to just feel as though everything they see from a sportsbook is an ad. Influencers should engage with their followers and make the content involving. This not only fosters loyalty and shows audiences that the endorsement is genuine, but it can also be a great way of managing communities and generating more followers, which, in turn, is beneficial for everyone involved.

If you are considering using micro-influencers for your advertising, then you need to make sure that you are working with the correct one for your brand. Using the correct social media influencer can be hugely beneficial to all involved and can help operators get the exact kind of audience they are looking for. It supplies operators with a direct link to their target demographic, ensuring a better ROI and better customer retention rates.

Author: Troy Paul – Co-Founder and CEO at SGG Media