In today’s hyper-connected, social media-powered world, you don’t always need a social agent to have a close relationship with another person to create an all-important introduction. Social Agents that are very active on social media networks and have established very large networks wield a great deal of online power.
While they may not be able to maintain strong relationships with more than 150 people, they can maintain weaker, yet still persuasive, relationships with far more than 150 people.
Impact of social agents through social media
Whether it’s something as general as a person asking for a restaurant recommendation or as specific as a person asking for opinions of one company versus another, online selling moments are happening every day.
Although the receiver of the recommendation might not have a personal or close relationship with your agent, that person might consider the agent’s opinion valuable and act based on the recommendation provided. In fact, legions of companies are spending a lot of time and money trying to identify Social Agents and Influences alike.
The Difference Between a Social Agent and an Influencer
The key difference lies in motivation. Social Agents don’t just offer a network you can tap. No, the power of agents is that they want to help you tap into their network. They want you to do well. They’re rooting for you—sometimes even if you’re the competition.
Influencers on the other hand are usually more concerned about financial reward or in learning how associating with you is going to help them. In return if a better deal comes their way then jump boat.
The financial or overall gain in a business relationship most times blurs the line. That’s why it’s so important to investigate your network (offline and online) and begin identifying as many Social Agents as you can. Once you’ve done this, create a plan to empower these agents.
As a brand often than not try and make friends because in friendship comes empowerment and net worth. Remember team work makes the dream work.
