Research Perspectives on Social Media Influencers and their Followers argues that the brands that find the most success on social media are the ones that acknowledge the real key to social media marketing-it's all about the followers. This collection, edited by Brandi Watkins, explores how social media has shifted power dynamics away from brands and to the consumers themselves, the social media users who choose to like, share, and engage with brands online. This dynamic has paved the way for the rise of the social media influencer (SMI)-while the influencers have the platform, the products, and the content, the followers are what keep them relevant and appealing to brands as a marketing strategy. Contributors discuss emerging trends in research related to the SMI and their followers; as the influencer marketing industry continues to grow and evolve, they argue, so too should our understanding of the influencer-follower relationship that makes this marketing strategy successful. Each chapter of this collection presents a variety of research perspectives, questions, and methodologies that can be used to analyze this trend. Scholars of media studies, communication, technology studies, celebrity studies, marketing, and economics will find this book particularly useful.
Brandi Watkins is associate professor in the School of Communication and Digital Media at Virginia Tech.
Acknowledgments List of Figures and Tables Introduction Brandi Watkins, Ph.D. Chapter 1: The Science of Social Media Influencer Marketing Kelli S. Burns, Ph.D. Chapter 2: #FitnessGoals and Brands on Instagram: Influencers and Digital Dialogic Communication Alison N. Novak, Ph.D. Chapter 3: #MarketingFaith: The Megachurch Pastor as Social Media Influencer Elizabeth B. Jones, Ph.D. Sydney O. Scheller Nathan Vick Chapter 4: Become an #AcademicInfluencer: A Blueprint for Building Bridges between the Classroom and Industry Carolyn Kim, Ph.D., APR Karen Freberg, Ph.D. Mitchell Friedman, Ed.D., APR Amanda J. Weed, Ph.D., APR Chapter 5: Social Media Influencers in Africa: An Analysis of Instagram Content and Brand Endorsements Wangari Njathi Nicole M. Lee, Ph.D. Chapter 6: It's a Whole New World: The Impact of Social Media Influencers on Type-1 Diabetics' Attitudes About, and Behaviors Regarding, Insulin Pump Therapy Corey Jay Liberman, Ph.D. Chapter 7: You "Can't Put Concealer on This One": Crisis Management in an Influencer Context Chelsea Woods, Ph.D. Chapter 8: Ethical Responsibilities for Social Media Influencers Jenn Burleson Mackay, Ph.D. Chapter 9: The Case of Dina Tokio: Using Symbolic Theory to Understand the Backlash JoAnna Boudreaux Chapter 10: Connecting via Social Media for Weight Loss: An Exploration of Social Media Influencers in a Weight Loss Community Carrie S. Trimble, Ph.D. Nancy J. Curtin, Ph.D. Chapter 11: Influenced by My Lifestyle Net Idols (#Contentcreators): Exploring the Relationships between Thai Net Idols and Followers Vimviriya Limkangvanmongkol, Ph.D. About the Contributors
