Beyond Human Influence: How Virtual Influencers are Reshaping Brand Engagement
Andrea Luigelli, MBA
Marketing Professional | Branding | Digital Media | Product Management | Business Management | Marketing Automation & Growth | Project Manager | Web3 Enthusiast | Consultant
Imagine a world where your favourite fashion icon never ages, eats, or sleeps. Welcome to the realm of virtual influencers - the synthetic darlings revolutionizing digital marketing.
Meet the new AI-driven Trendsetters
In the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, a trend worldwide is the rise of synthetic or virtual influencers. These computer-generated personas aren't just a fleeting trend; they represent a paradigm shift in brand-audience interaction. But what exactly are synthetic influencers, and why should they be on every marketer's radar? Let’s explore this fascinating development.
Virtual Influencers?
Virtual influencers are computer-generated characters designed to engage with real people on social media platforms. Unlike traditional influencers, they are free from human limitations and can be programmed to consistently maintain a specific brand image. They are powered by a team of humans to ensure their persona aligns perfectly with brand objectives.
But the really scary part is that In the not-so-distant future, they could become "AI-conscious" entities, available 24/7 in the metaverse. These digital creations will start exhibiting a mind of their own, and impersonate avatars of real-life celebrities.
As consumers spend more time online and grow sceptical of traditional ads, virtual influencers offer a novel and relatively controlled approach to brand promotion. For them, mimicking human-like qualities is crucial for engagement and trust, a key factor in influencing consumer behaviour, which is built by enhancing these human-like traits.
Who Are the Top Virtual Influencers?
Here are a few notable ones:
领英推荐
What About the VTubers?
As virtual influencers rise, so does the industry's diversity, with VTubers carving a niche in virtual YouTube content. Originating in Japan, virtual YouTubers like Houshou Marine and Gawr Gura are gaining global popularity, offering a more interactive experience through live streaming. This reflects advancements in AI and animation technologies, opening new potential partnerships for brands.
Why Brands Should Embrace Virtual Influencers?
A staggering 58% of individuals surveyed follow a virtual influencer, underscoring their significant impact. Virtual influencers offer a unique value proposition: they are scandal-free, highly customizable, and can produce content round-the-clock. This makes them particularly appealing to Gen Z and Millennials.
The virtual influencer market is expected to grow robustly from 2023 to 2030. As AI technology advances, we can anticipate an era of even more engaging and realistic virtual influencers.
Besides the growing trend, there are 10 specific reasons why Brands should try Virtual Influencers today:
The Bottom Line
Virtual influencers are a disruptive force in digital marketing, redefining how brands interact with their audiences. As we delve deeper into the digital age, their relevance only grows. Whether seen as a gimmick or a game-changer, virtual influencers are undoubtedly here to stay.
Embracing the future of digital marketing means staying informed and open to innovative trends like virtual influencers. Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don't forget to hit the "Like" button if you found this insight valuable!
#digital #marketing #influencers #future #trends
HR Operations | Implementation of HRIS systems & Employee Onboarding | HR Policies | Exit Interviews
6 个月Great share. Alessio Garofalo has expanded Stephenson's Metaverse definition into a comprehensive concept: a three-dimensional, fantastical, or real environment where avatars transcend physical constraints, enabling users to experience, participate, and interact. Metaverse, an extension of Extended Reality (XR), holds significant potential to reshape industries after 2035 with the advent of 6G technology. Ten sectors poised for transformation include gaming, virtual estate, advertising, retail, fashion, sports, events, workplaces, fitness, and healthcare. Notable developments include virtual land transactions in Decentraland, in advertising using AI-driven virtual influencers, and in XR enhancing virtual events. Metaverse is anticipated to revolutionize remote workspaces, fitness experiences, and healthcare through Digital Twins capturing patient data for AI-driven decision support. While Metaverse applications may take 15 to 20 years to mainstream, its impact on diverse sectors is projected to be profound. More about this topic: https://lnkd.in/gPjFMgy7
Senior Vice President, International Business Development.
12 个月Il tema dei virtual influencer è molto interessante, sebbene rappresentino ancora una piccolissima fetta della creator economy è sicuramente un trend da tenere d'occhio. Devo ammettere che non ci capita spesso di fare campagne con virtual influencer, nel 2019 abbiamo gestito l'attività di cui si è parlato molto con KFC, mentre di recente abbiamo promosso il film "The Creator" attivando una campagna solo con virtual influencer. Personalmente credo che i virtual influencer stiano ai creator come i cartoni animati stanno al cinema. Da sempre esistono "attori virtuali", basti pensare a tutti i personaggi dei manga o dei film di animazione. Ed è evidente a tutti che anche se sia possibile utilizzare attori disegnati, il ruolo degli attori in carne ed ossa rimane fondamentale: il cinema non è stato ucciso dall'arrivo dell'animazione digitale, per quanto sia realistica. Sono due realtà che sicuramente vivranno assieme per i prossimi anni...