Over the last few months as the world has been confronted with the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, the social media influencer economy has been scrambling to come up with alternative solutions in order to continue to create content and collaborate with brands. With traveling and socializing out of the question, many influencers have turned to loungewear lines and home workouts to create relatable “quarantine content” to keep their followers engaged.
While it might seem like now might be the most difficult time to become an influencer, thanks to social media agency and platform Shadowbox, now is as good a time as any to break into the influencer game. Since social media has dramatically altered the way brands market their products to consumers, influencers have become huge players when it comes to social media marketing. In 2019, 17% of companies spent over half of their marketing budgets on social media marketing by way of influencers.
Developed by former securities broker George Forman, Shadowbox aims to revolutionize the path to becoming an influencer. With both brands and aspiring influencers in need of each other, Forman saw an opportunity to create a business, or rather an influencer agency that pairs the two together.
“We’re connecting the consumer with the brand and then the consumer is working for the brand, indirectly,” Forman says.
The Shadowbox model is simple. Users have the opportunity to sign up for a one-time subscription that gives them various benefits. By paying a low monthly fee, Shadowbox will facilitate brand partnerships and sponsored content opportunities for the “influencer” that will give them access to product and relationships. So for instance, an influencer with an appealing aesthetic for fashion might be paired with American Eagle Outfitters where the brand will send them product and or clothing to promote on their social media pages.
Since TikTok usage has skyrocketed over the past few months of quarantine, many influencers have taken to the new video social media platform to promote to their fans and followers. A few of the brands that Shadowbox has worked with thus far include the aforementioned American Eagle Outfitters, John Frieda, Beefeater London, Maybelline, and Ulta Beauty. Specializing in the brands that are associated with fashion, beauty, music and travel, Shadowbox has already managed to conjure countless relationships that have ultimately resulted in prosperous partnerships for both the brand and the influencer.
“At Shadowbox it’s real users using real products, producing real results for advertisers and influencers,” Forman says. “We also look to attract photographers and videographers to partner with influencers.”
Ironically enough, despite the fact that the economy fears an impending recession, countless influencers have managed to launch and grow their careers as influencers in such a time of uncertainty with the help of Shadowbox. To learn more about Shadowbox, visit their website at www.shadowboxdc.com.