influencer and celebrity endorsements can play a big role in promoting a brand, but sometimes the difference between the two is confusing. While it's true that celebrities can become influential online celebrities on social media - and regular online celebrities can become online stars - there are huge marketing differences between online celebrities and celebrities, which can affect not only the way they deliver their messages, but also the way fans the way the message is understood. Influential netizens and celebrities both have large followings on social media platforms, which makes them of different value to brands that want to appeal to a specific audience. Understanding what each one does and how this affects their audience may be part of the strategy in deciding whether to choose an internet personality or a celebrity for your branding. influencer vs. celebrities: what's the difference? As the name implies, influential weblebrities can help guide or influence their fans' buying decisions through the services or products they recommend on their social media channels. Most of the online celebrities who have risen to fame through the use of social media platforms have expanded their audience by creating content that is relevant to a specific niche. Today, there are influencer KOLs in almost every conceivable vertical; they can focus on health, food, business, fashion, music and lifestyle, among others. Because they focus on specific niches, their fans trust their advice and look to them to discover new products, trends and services. Celebrities also receive attention from social media followers, although their path to fame is very different from that of social media netizens. Celebrities can be actors, musicians, athletes, writers or top talents in other professions who have risen to fame by excelling in a specific field. In most cases, they first become famous through television, radio, movies, etc., and then get noticed on social media because their fans enjoy what they have to say about their lives outside of the spotlight. One difference between celebrities and influential netizens is the way they interact with their fans. Because online celebrities are usually "regular people" with followers, they are often perceived as more relatable. They know what their fans want and expect, and are happy to provide them with that experience. However, celebrities have a different appeal to their audience, and much of the appeal of celebrities is that they showcase a life that most people can only hope to live. While fans like to get an "insider's perspective" on their lives, they can also appear distant or aloof; their images and messages are often carefully crafted to portray their public image. And, in general, their endorsement of products is very different from that of influential weblebrities. When a celebrity endorses a product, the weblebrity knows that while the celebrity is the face of the brand, the message behind it comes from the brand itself. It is driven by the marketing team and the carefully written content creates the message that the brand wants to deliver. influencer marketing takes a completely different approach; the influencer KOL and the brand decide if the product or service is right for his or her fans, and then the influencer blogger creates the content. They own the process and the rights to write, create and edit the video or post and distribute the content. Because they know what their fans want, they are careful to present it in a way that is consistent and authentic to their personal voice and style. Benefits of Marketing with influencer KOLs While celebrities have big name appeal and large audiences, they may not always be the best choice for brands. While they may have millions of followers, these fans represent a variety of ages, geographic locations, incomes and other demographic factors that can drive brand marketing decisions. Therefore, while they can be effective in reaching a large number of people, it is more difficult to ensure that they reach the specific demographic that a brand wants to reach. While influential netizens may not have the same reach as celebrities, they bring word-of-mouth and bandwagoning power that is critical to brands, as well as fan loyalty and trust. Influential weblebrities have an advantage when seeking to reach a specific market segment. This means that brands can find influencer that fit their product and already engage with their target audience. Of course, influencer KOLs have a different marketing role than celebrities. A good brand should develop both a influencer marketing strategy and a long-term brand strategy of celebrity endorsement. About IZEA Global influencer Marketing IZEA Worldwide, Inc. ("IZEA") is a marketing technology company that provides software and professional services that enable brands to collaborate and transact with the full range of today's socially influential influencer KOLs and content creators. The company is a pioneer in the evolving commercialization of content, enabling self-publishers to create value through their content, creativity and influence. IZEA launched the industry's first influencer content marketing platform in 2006 and has since facilitated nearly 4 million transactions between online brand buyers and influencer content creators. Leading brands and agencies worldwide have partnered with IZEA to drive social media engagement rates, diversify brand voice, expand content production and drive measurable return on investment. ...