Results You Can Expect From Leveraging Influencer Marketing in Your Marketing Plan for 2025
Are influencer collabs a priority in your social media strategy? 👀Strategic influencer marketing is the key to reaching multiple goals: conversions, awareness, follower growth, etc. With constantly evolving algorithms, a familiar, trusted face that already speaks to your target audience is a sure-fire way to boost your marketing efforts.
Not convinced yet? Let’s break down the real results you can expect when you leverage influencer collaborations in your marketing strategy. 👇
WHY INFLUENCER COLLABORATIONS ARE PROVEN TO WORK IN 2025
Influencer collabs continue to thrive in 2025 — and for a good reason. As traditional advertising slowly creeps its way into the digital void, consumers are leaning heavily into content that feels more personal, authentic, and relevant to their daily lives. Enter influencer marketing, where creators act as trusted guides rather than salespeople.
According to the Marketing Report, the global influencer marketing industry is projected to grow 32% year-over-year, with the industry being valued at $24,076 million in 2025. Furthermore, earlier this year, 80% of influencer marketing agencies confirmed they planned on increasing or maintaining their influencer marketing budgets. Why might that be? Because influencer collabs WORK! 👏
And the proof is in the pudding… 61% of consumers trust influencer collaboration recommendations over brand-produced advertising. To build on top of that, 3-in-10 social media users say they have purchased something based on an influencer collaboration or recommendation. If you ask us, those odds are in our favor. 🤑
At the heart of every successful influencer collaboration is trust. Audiences follow creators who align with their interest, values, and aesthetic — often creating practically parasocial relationships that create even deeper trust. When a product is shared by someone they trust that deeply, it feels a lot less like an advertisement and much more like a friend’s suggestion.
The rise of strategic social media marketing has only amplified this effect. Brands that consistently leverage influencer collabs thoughtfully —rather than treating it as a one-off, cash-grab tactic — are seeing stronger engagement, higher ROI, and solid long-term brand reputation.
To make a long story short: influencer collaborations are no longer just a trend, but rather a cornerstone of any winning digital marketing strategy in 2025.
SOCIAL MEDIA METRICS THAT MATTER MOST IN INFLUENCER COLLABORATIONS
The proper influencer collab can do more than just generate temporary buzz online; it can move the needle on metrics that actually signal success. Here are key metrics we aim to watch for and move when we partner with influencers on behalf of our clients or brands we manage:
Increased Reach:
With influencer marketing, “reach” refers to the number of unique users who see a brand’s collaborative content. The scope of a profile’s reach depends on the creator the brand chooses, and while follower count can play a role in how reach plays out the content’s niche, format, and how well the audience aligns with the brand will truly determine the success of the partnership.
In a recent influencer campaign our team managed, Homemade Social selected Arcadia locals when promoting the grand opening of Derma Health Skin & Laser’s newest clinic. In doing so,we were able to speak directly to an audience of wellness-forward women in the iconic Phoenix neighborhood.
Increased Engagement:
High engagement in influencer posts and partnerships often signals that a campaign is resonating beyond just going viral. This plays a major role in why we prioritize creators with strong engagement rates over huge follower counts. Our go-to strategic social media tactics (like giveaways and comment-driven CTA’s) help deepen connections and spark conversions.
While promoting Derma Health Skin & Laser’s Arcadia location, our influencer partnership strategy included comment-driven CTAs that led to an average of 8.1% engagement rate — well above the industry average of 3.5% 🫣 — proving that strategic social media tactics paired with authentic storytelling and CTAs drive real connection within your social media community.
Increased Followers:
When influencer partnerships are done right, the result isn’t just a moment; it’s momentum. 🏃♀️ These efforts can lead to steady, sustainable follower growth and – even better – growth in engaged followers who eventually become loyal community members. We often recommend tactics like “follow-to-win” giveaways or collaborative Instagram posts to ensure your influencer’s postsprompt a follow.
In the same Derma Health Skin & Laser Arcadia Grand Opening campaign, we utilized giveaways and collaborative posts within our influencer strategy and saw a 32% increase in IG followers in just over 2 months!
A PICTURE OF SUCCESS IN INFLUENCER COLLABORATIONS
We know a thing or two about crafting a successful influencer collab 💅 — and we’re no strangers to a humble brag. So let’s dive into our campaign with Episcope Hospitality, shall we?
Our goal was to help Episcope Hospitality launch two new concepts nestled in the Esplanade of the Biltmore District — a hub for on-the-go business pros. The strategic influencer concepts were outlined to feature:
☕️ Perks: a grab-and-go style coffee shop that also carried various travel-ready goods and tech necessities. In their space, they also boasted several reservable focus rooms, conference rooms, and even a fully-equipped podcast-recording studio!
🥂 Hearsay: an elevated restaurant offering a variety of delicious bites and drinks. Whether you’re looking to take it slow and dine-in or take your lunch to-go, Hearsay offers options for any convenience. They also featured a luxurious conference room and Arizona’s first-ever vinyl listening room.
We tapped in to coordinate influencer partnerships that matched their elevated, business-focused vision. We scouted a curated list of influencers, touching in the niches of business professionals, AZ foodies, and Biltmore locals to ensure we reached our target audiences.
We incorporated giveaways in our strategy to boost engagement and were able to generate 2.2 million in reach through our collabs. They also helped to grow @hearsayphx’s following by over 800% in just three months. That’s what we like to call a buzzworthy, successful launch! 👏
HOW TO INCORPORATE INFLUENCER COLLABORATIONS
A successful influencer partnership isn’t just a one-off post — it should be a strategic move that can spark action in every stage of your marketing funnel. At the top level, influencer partnerships can help boost awareness and create buzz. In the middle of the funnel, they help build trust through educational content and storytelling. Finally, at the bottom, they can help convert — especially when paired with limited-time offers, exclusive codes, or other incentives.
In 2025, strategic social media means thinking beyond a single platform. We recommend repurposing influencer content as UGC in paid advertising, integrating creators into lead-generating efforts (such as email list-building giveaways that require a follow), or drive in-store foot traffic through branded events and popups with your influencer partnerships.
In short, when influencer partnerships are woven into your broader marketing plan in a strategic and intentional way, you craft campaigns that are cohesive, compelling, and help you reach your goals — whether that be conversions, awareness, or more!
Are you looking to build your next viral-worthy influencer campaign? You came to the right place. Inquire about our influencer management services today!
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Xx,
The Homies
