Top Influence Marketing News: History of Influence, Gaming & Automation

By Brett Henley

While it’s a relatively new kid on the block, the influence space is expanding at a rapid pace, which means thought leadership is expanding and starting to make its mark as well.

Picked fresh from the branches, we’ve compiled five articles representing different perspectives on influence. From the art of measuring influence to a deeper dive into the darker side of social influence scoring – these represent a diverse thought leadership on the role of influence in business and marketing.

So buckle up friends: This should be a fun ride.

Who Are the Real Online Influencers? [INFOGRAPHIC]

On the scale of fantastic infographics (and who doesn’t love these, honestly), this is a solid contender for the top end.

The infographic presents some rather compelling insights on the history of influence and how consumers are influenced by others (hint: they are influenced most by peers). For businesses trying to better understand influence marketing and how content spreads online, this is definitely worth a look.

Check out the infographic from Crowdtap on Mashable – Who Are the Real Online Influencers? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Klout scores feed a social media sickness

Mark Schaefer, author of Return on Influence and Executive Director at Schaefer Marketing Solutions, tackles a hot button issue:

A growing Web subculture devoted to gaining social proof by gaming online influence scores.

There is a definite need for balance between the former (who treat influence like a commodity) and the need to focus our efforts on understanding influence so that it directly benefits business growth.

As Mark says – “Let’s keep focused on business benefits.” We agree.

Read the full article – Klout scores feed a social media sickness

Discovery: Brands Should Aim At Social Influencers

Discovery Communications, the proud parents of Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and TLC, have tapped into their collective social media muscle (100 separate Facebook pages and nearly 40 Twitter accounts) and compiled a report on the importance of influencers in social marketing.

Based on research from a March survey of 400 casual-to-frequent Discovery viewers, the cable brand outlines a few key tactics for brands trying to engage influencers on social networks.

Read the full article – Discovery: Brands Should Aim At Social Influencers

Shopcade Switches On Social Influence And Gaming Features

Shopcade, a social shopping application integrated with Facebook, has recently scaled its platform in the US to allow shoppers to earn rewards as points redeemable for merchant offers.

New social influence and gaming features built into the site experience are being dubbed as a “Klout for shopping” where users can earn influence based on their shopping habits.

Read the full article on TechCrunch – Shopcade Switches On Social Influence And Gaming Features

Influencer Marketing: Should You Automate Your Influencer Program?

Amanda Maksymiw of OpenView Labs asks B2B brands:

Is “Set It and Forget It” your new influencer marketing mantra?

This article discusses the methodologies behind influencer marketing automation, the challenges of adding another marketing discipline to their mix, and reasons why B2B companies should consider implementing influencer marketing into their overall B2B marketing strategy.

Read the full article on Business Insider – Influencer Marketing: Should You Automate Your Influencer Program?

What are some of your favorite articles and thought leadership from the world of influence? What are your thoughts on these articles? Please share in the comments below.

Image credit: kandyjaxx