You are a retailer and ready to spread the word about everything from your products and sales to being part of the community and top-notch customer service. You’ve got great brick-and-mortar and online stores and use social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube as promotional tools.

Let’s say a business owner has a few hundred followers on Instagram or YouTube. That’s great, and there’s a ripple effect: someone who follows a person that likes your page may explore what your store is all about.

There is also a way to gain tens of thousands of clicks, if not hundreds of thousands, and dare we say more. Get a social media influencer excited about your business and you have a good chance of going viral, the ultimate marketing campaign.

Attracting the attention of a game-changing influencer is much easier said than done. However, there are advantages for retailers right off the bat. Influencers are drawn to independent business owners. They are often looking for something new rather than promoting chain stores. Convincing influencers that your store is an ideal fit for their platform can seem daunting, if not insurmountable. However, it is an achievable goal through hard work and strategic planning.

Start by scanning influencers’ followers. Post links to your establishment on the influencer’s platforms and find methods to gain their notice. If an influencer lives close to your store, personally invite them to visit your treasure trove of items.

Having influencers look your way is an active pursuit. It is not enough to simply follow the influencer’s page and like their posts. Retailers should engage in conversations and establish a relationship with the influencer, start by exchanging messages. By communicating appreciation for their content and brand and explaining how your establishment would be a great fit for their platform, you just may spark an ongoing collaboration with both the influencer and their devoted followers.

Do not be afraid or intimidated by seeking an influencer’s feedback on your ideas. Merchants should also feel comfortable with an influencer’s advice and knowledge. You are going to be letting them make decisions about how to best promote your establishment to their very loyal followers. They are experts in the field.

You may want to employ the services of an expert, influencer marketing consultant. In addition, check out platforms such as Aspire, Later and Popular Pays. These sites give you an insider’s advantage and invaluable marketing strategies. Realize also that engaging with an influencer is a two-way street. Compensation contracts may be part of an arrangement. There are costs involved but consider the return on investment of going viral.

Retailers can attract influencers and differentiate themselves from the sea of “look at me” pitches. Research and due diligence are necessary. Sincere and thoughtful efforts to build relationships is an essential part of the package. An influencer’s seal of approval is a vastly powerful and hard-won tool. Their collaboration is a tremendously powerful asset. Attracting an influencer is well within your reach when taking tactful steps to win the day and the accompanying, soaring revenues.