How do LinkedIn influencers find India brands for collaboration?

In South Africa, LinkedIn is fast emerging as an ideal alternative platform for influencers that want to engage clients without the widespread drama found on Instagram and TikTok.

The platform boasts a professional audience that resonates with a more serious buyer persona, making it the preferred choice for B2B brands targeting the lucrative Indian market.

📈 LinkedIn marketing statistics

According to LinkedIn’s own statistics, the platform is “27% more effective than Facebook and Twitter for B2B leads”.

In addition, “LinkedIn users are 15 times more likely to engage with content than users of other social media platforms”.

These statistics show that LinkedIn is a great place for influencers to showcase their prowess in the South African influencer marketing landscape.

😯 Why target Indian brands?

India is a major player on the world stage and is projected to become the world’s largest economy by 2025.

It is also a major destination for South African exports.

In a recent report, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition confirmed, “India has consistently been one of South Africa’s top trading partners over the past decade. 

Total trade between South Africa and India increased from R56 billion (2020) to R70 billion (2021) and R97 billion (2022)”.

With this level of trade activity, it is only wise to tap into the Indian market for influencer marketing campaigns.

📢 Why LinkedIn?

Unlike Instagram, where influencers have to dance and lip-sync to stay relevant, LinkedIn allows influencers to showcase their professionalism.

LinkedIn is a professional social media platform, meaning that it attracts a more serious crowd than Instagram.

This is especially important when targeting Indian brands because they are more likely to respond positively to a more serious approach.

1. Showcase your expertise

The best way to market yourself to Indian brands is to showcase your expertise and thought leadership.

Share valuable content that can help Indian brands understand the South African market and how to navigate it.

For example, share articles about the best times to visit South Africa or what tourists should avoid.

2. Share case studies

Another way to attract the attention of Indian brands is to share case studies that highlight successful marketing campaigns you have executed.

For example, you can showcase one of your previous influencer marketing campaigns that delivered exceptional results.

3. Leverage your network

Another way to attract the attention of Indian brands is to leverage your network.

If you know anyone who works for an Indian brand, ask them to refer you to their marketing department.

If you do not know anyone, leverage mutual connections to get an introduction.

This can be done by checking your connections on LinkedIn to see if anyone is connected to someone who works for an Indian brand.

📊 Local influencers in India

According to a report published in eMarketer, “India ranks second in the world in terms of active social media users.

The number of social media users in India is expected to reach more than 500 million by 2025.”

With this level of social media saturation, it is only natural for Indian brands to start leveraging local influencers.

1. Fashion

Indian fashion influencer, Jannat Zubair Rahmani is leading the way with 41 million followers on Instagram.

In addition, she has over 17 million followers on TikTok and a growing audience of over 1.5 million on YouTube.

2. Entertainment

Sandeep Maheshwari is one of India’s leading motivational speakers and entrepreneurs.

With 27 million followers on Facebook and 27 million subscribers on YouTube, he has been able to reach a massive audience.

3. Lifestyle

Kritika Khurana is the founder of the popular blog, That Boho Girl, which focuses on fashion, beauty, and lifestyle.

She has amassed a following of over 1.5 million on Instagram and has received several awards for her influence.

4. Tech

Gaurav Chaudhary is a tech influencer and entrepreneur who is best known for his YouTube channel, Technical Guruji.

He has over 25 million subscribers and has become a leading voice in the tech space.

These influencers highlight the need for South African influencers to step up their game if they want to attract Indian brands.

💡 Approaching Indian brands

Now that you know why you should target Indian brands and how to go about it, let us discuss how to approach them.

1. Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator

Using LinkedIn Sales Navigator can give you an advantage over your competitors.

This premium tool allows you to search for leads and accounts that match your ideal customer profile.

With this tool, you can filter your search to focus on Indian brands.

2. Optimize your LinkedIn profile

Ensure that your LinkedIn profile is optimized for lead generation.

This includes having a professional headshot, a compelling headline, a well-written summary, and a complete portfolio of your previous work.

3. Use relevant hashtags

Using relevant hashtags can increase your visibility on the platform.

Some popular hashtags to use include #influencermarketing, #influencer, #influencers, and #linkedin.

4. Engage with leads

Engagement is key to building relationships on LinkedIn.

Be sure to engage with potential leads by liking, commenting, and sharing their posts.

5. Use InMail

If you cannot connect with a lead, use InMail to send them a direct message.

This feature allows you to send messages to people who are not in your network, increasing your chances of connecting with decision-makers.

In conclusion, LinkedIn is an ideal platform for South African influencers to engage Indian brands for collaboration and marketing campaigns.

With an increasing number of Indian brands seeking to enter the South African market, there has never been a better time to leverage your LinkedIn account to attract these brands.

BaoLiba will continue to update South Africa’s influencer marketing trends, stay tuned with us.