INFLUENCER MARKETING

A Beginner’s Guide to Influencer Marketing For Luxury Brands in 2024

Alexandra Kazakova

By Alexandra Kazakova
13 min READ | Oct 30 2024

Table of contents

According to a survey, nearly 50% of Gen Z luxury shoppers make online purchase decisions based on influencers' ratings and reviews.

Millennials followed closely, with 41% acknowledging influencer marketing as a driver of online sales for luxury brands.

This statistic reveals the importance of influencer marketing within the high-end market.

Wondering how you can leverage this strategy to grow your luxury brand?

Well, we're here to show you the right way!

In this blog, we’ll cover:

  • An overview of luxury influencer marketing
  • Does influencer marketing work for luxury brands?
  • Key strategies for partnering with influencers
  • Real examples of successful luxury brands' influencer collaborations

P.S.: Want to collaborate with high-quality influencers? Check out inBeat.co, a search engine designed to find micro and nano influencers in seconds. With our spam-checked influencer database and powerful search filters, you can easily discover suitable profiles to create buzz around your brand. Plus, our comprehensive free toolkit helps you find the perfect match for your luxury brand.

Book a FREE Demo Now!

TL;DR:

Influencer Impact on Luxury Sales: Nearly 50% of Gen Z and 41% of Millennials rely on influencers for luxury purchase decisions.

Luxury Influencer Marketing Overview: Focuses on collaborating with select influencers who align with the brand’s exclusivity and values.

Top Strategies:

  • Genuinfluencers: Partner with authentic influencers across different follower tiers for credibility.
  • Content Value: Prioritize storytelling, quality content, and behind-the-scenes insights to enhance luxury appeal.
  • Multi-Platform Reach: Tailor content for various platforms to engage different age groups.
  • User-Generated Content: Encourage exclusive user contributions to boost brand credibility.
  • Social Commerce: Use shopping tags, affiliate programs, and Instagram Stories for direct social media purchases.
  • Exclusivity: Maintain luxury appeal with tiered pricing, VIP events, and limited releases.
  • Performance Monitoring: Use KPIs, analytics tools, and A/B testing to optimize campaigns.

Successful Collaborations: Examples include Rolex with Roger Federer, Cunard’s Arctic cruise with DOOH, and Gucci with TikTok’s Francis Bourgeois.

Tools for Luxury Brands: Platforms like inBeat.co provide a database of vetted influencers, search filters, and performance analytics to streamline influencer campaigns.

Key Takeaway: Choose genuine influencers, create engaging content, monitor metrics, and adapt strategies to maintain luxury exclusivity while reaching broader audiences.

What Is Luxury Influencer Marketing?

Luxury influencer marketing involves collaboration between luxury brands and social media influencers who align with the brand's image and values.

The end goal is to promote the brand’s products while maintaining its exclusivity and prestige.

In recent years, the dynamics of luxury influencer marketing have evolved significantly.

While celebrity endorsements were once the go-to strategy, many luxury brands are now opting to work with mid-tier influencers for their campaigns as they often build more genuine, engaged communities.

Currently, 40% of luxury brands are choosing mid-tier (10K-100K followers) influencers to work with for luxury brand campaigns.

Key aspects of luxury influencer marketing include:

  • Exclusivity: Unlike mass-market influencer campaigns, luxury brands work with a few handpicked influencers whose lifestyles and values resonate with the brand’s image to maintain their exclusivity.
  • Quality over quantity: Luxury brands prioritize engagement rates and audience quality over follower numbers. Influencers with an engaged, well-off audience are their ideal partners.

9 Key Influencer Marketing Strategies For Luxury Brands

Influencer collaborations have emerged as a powerful tool in luxury marketing for reaching affluent consumers.

Brands that strategically harness the influence of high-profile personalities can create authentic connections and amplify their reach.

Let’s explore nine key strategies from our inBeat experts that you can implement to maximize your influencer marketing efforts for your luxury brand:

1. Select the Right Influencer (Genuinfluencers)

For luxury brands, selecting the right influencer is essential to maintaining authenticity and credibility.

A rising trend is the collaboration with ‘genu influencers’, individuals who share advice and spread unbiased information, often with minimal sponsorships.

Here’s how you can handpick such high-profile influencers:

  • Collaborate across tiers: Combine creators from different tiers, like macro, micro, and nano categories. While macro-influencers provide broad visibility, micro and nano-creators have engaged communities. You can use tools such as inBeat.co to find influencers with varied numbers of followers that offer deep engagement.
  • Evaluate engagement metrics: Review how actively the influencer's followers engage with their content by using platforms that offer insights into engagement and authenticity metrics. For instance, inBeat.co offers a free toolkit with the following tools to help you evaluate these factors:
  • Engagement rate calculator
  • Fake follower checker
  • Participate in events: Attend industry events to network and discover influencers who align with your brand's values and aesthetic. When you engage face-to-face with such creators, it allows for building genuine relationships, which can lead to more authentic collaborations.

Pro Tip: When finding genuinfluencers for luxury brands, focus on those who naturally incorporate high-end products into their lifestyle without appearing overly commercial.

2. Prioritize Value-Driven Content Creation

In luxury influencer marketing, your content must speak to the consumer's desire for exclusivity and quality, not just promote a product.

This will help create meaningful connections with your audience and differentiate your brand from competitors chasing quick impressions.

To deliver value-driven content through influencers, you may consider these tips:

  • Incorporate storytelling: Encourage influencers to share personal stories that connect them authentically to your brand. Storytelling evokes emotions, which makes your luxury offerings more relatable and desirable to consumers.
  • Collaborate on high-quality content: Partner with influencers to create informative content such as how-to guides, tutorials, or style guides related to your products. For example, influencers could share tips on maintaining luxury handbags or the intricacies of high-end jewelry craftsmanship.
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  • Showcase behind-the-scenes content: To enhance your brand's authenticity, give followers a glimpse into the creative process behind your products. Influencers can share stories about the craftsmanship, design, or ethical sourcing of your offerings, which allows consumers to appreciate the care and effort behind each piece.
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Pro Tip: Leverage influencer content to showcase the longevity and timelessness of your luxury products. Have creators highlight how your products retain their value and quality over time, which positions them as investments rather than mere purchases. This approach appeals to luxury consumers who seek enduring value.

3. Expand Reach Through Multi-Platform Approach

Did you know that Instagram is the most preferred platform among 78% of Gen-Xers, while millennials mostly stick to Facebook?

To reach both age groups, you must employ a multi-platform influencer marketing strategy.

Some effective tips related to it include:

  • Platform-specific messaging: Adjust your content to align with the unique characteristics of each platform.

For instance:

  • Instagram is highly visual and works well for showcasing luxury aesthetics
  • LinkedIn may require more professional, thought-leadership content related to your brand’s craftsmanship or heritage
  • TikTok, on the other hand, could be used for behind-the-scenes glimpses into exclusive events or collaborations
  • Cross-platform content: Repurpose influencer-generated content across different platforms to reach broader audiences without losing the essence of your message. For example, a glamorous Instagram post can be transformed into a TikTok video that showcases a unique product feature.
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  • Experiment with new platforms: Stay ahead of trends by exploring new or emerging platforms like Threads, BeReal, or even innovative spaces within established platforms. Early adoption can position your brand as forward-thinking and accessible to younger audiences while retaining a luxury image.
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Pro Tip: inBeat experts use data analytics tools to track performance across platforms and fine-tune your strategy. Identify which platforms and influencer collaborations drive the most engagement and conversions for your luxury brand. This data-driven approach allows you to invest more resources into high-performing channels.

4. Encourage User-Generated Content

As per a report, user-generated content (UGC) impacts the purchasing decisions of 79% of consumers.

Through influencer partnerships, you can spark UGC creation to drive sales and enhance brand credibility without diluting its exclusive image.

You can do this by following these tips:

  • Exclusive UGC invitations: Invite followers of influencers to share their own experiences with your luxury products but maintain an exclusive, high-end feel. For example, you can encourage followers to showcase how they style or use a limited-edition item in their lifestyle under a branded hashtag.
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  • Offer incentives: Instead of generic discounts, offer exclusive rewards like early access to new collections, personalized shopping experiences, or invitations to private events. This motivates customers to create and share content without diminishing your brand’s high-end appeal.
  • Share top UGCs: Highlight the best user-generated content on your social media platforms and website, but be selective. Choose content that mirrors your brand’s aesthetics, as it’s important to maintain your brand’s prestige. This also creates an aspirational experience for both content creators and your broader audience.

Pro Tip: To find high-quality influencers who create luxurious content, you can get in touch with an expert talent agency. For instance, inBeat.co’s sister platform, inBeat Agency lets you find the top 2% of influencers skilled at creating engaging UGC clips such as product reviews, unboxing videos, and recommendations.

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5. Incorporate Social Commerce

Social commerce enables luxury brands to sell their products directly on social media platforms.

This approach is highly effective, as 27% of users prefer exploring products on social media instead of any other medium.

Consider these steps to integrate social commerce into your luxury influencer marketing campaign:

  • Implement shopping tags: Encourage influencers to use shopping tags on their Instagram or Facebook posts so that their followers can tap directly into products and reach your e-commerce site for an easy purchase. This approach increases the chances of conversion and also boosts website traffic.
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  • Create an influencer affiliate program: Establish an affiliate program where influencers earn a commission for each sale generated through their unique referral links. This model encourages influencers to promote your luxury brand’s products more consistently, as they directly benefit from driving sales.
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  • Leverage Instagram stories: Use influencers to reveal exclusive product launches through Instagram Stories, a visually captivating and time-sensitive format. This creates urgency, which enhances your brand’s prestige. Also, incorporate swipe-up links to drive immediate purchases and create buzz around your luxury offerings.
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Pro Tip: Add personalized shopping experiences through social commerce by using influencers to offer exclusive product recommendations or curated collections tailored to their audience. This approach adds a personal touch that aligns with the nature of luxury brands and enhances the shopping experience.

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6. Maintain Brand Exclusivity vs. Accessibility

When doing influencer marketing for luxury brands, maintaining a balance between brand exclusivity and accessibility is crucial.

You want to create an aura of rarity while ensuring your brand reach.

To help you achieve this balance, we’ve mentioned some actionable tips below:

  • Implement tiered pricing: Offer products at various prices to attract a broader audience while maintaining your brand’s luxury appeal. For example, marketing your entry-level items can introduce aspirational customers to your brand, while flagship products, such as high-end watches, preserve exclusivity through their premium prices.
  • Organize VIP and private events: Invite top-tier influencers and high-net-worth customers to exclusive events that reflect the sophistication of your brand. These experiences, such as a behind-the-scenes tour of your showroom or a private dinner with a designer, can deepen relationships and build loyalty.
  • Limit product availability: Release limited edition items or seasonal collections that are only available for a short period and emphasize the urgency through influencer marketing. This practice allows customers to feel that they are purchasing something truly unique,  which reinforces the perception of luxury.
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Pro Tip: inBeat experts advise balancing engagement with selectivity. Instead of casting a wide net, choose influencers who appreciate luxury and can authentically communicate this to their followers. For instance, instead of working with general lifestyle influencers, focus on fashion-forward creators to stay exclusive in the market.

7. Monitor and Optimize the Campaigns

Monitoring and optimizing the campaigns is crucial to maximizing the success of your luxury brand influencer marketing efforts.

This strategy helps you identify what works and what doesn’t so you can make real-time adjustments for enhanced performance.

For this, you may consider the following steps:

  • Define clear KPIs: It's essential to choose metrics that directly align with your campaign goals for your luxury brand. For example:
  • Engagement rate - Useful for brand awareness campaigns
  • Click-through rate - Important for driving traffic to a website
  • Conversions - Critical for sales-focused campaigns
  • Use analytics tools: To test how the crucial metrics are performing, you can use analytic tools that monitor them in real-time. For instance, inBeat offers paid marketing calculators for this purpose, through which you can evaluate key parameters, such as CTR, CPM, ROAS, etc.
  • Conduct A/B testing: Experiment with varying content formats, ideal posting times, and collaborations with high-profile influencers. Analyze the performance of each campaign to determine which approaches most effectively engage your luxury brand’s target audience to ensure alignment with their values of exclusivity.

Pro Tip: For A/B testing, many websites offer dedicated tools that let you preview your influencer marketing ads in different formats and test their effectiveness for various social media platforms. One such example is inBeat’s mockup ads generators for LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.

Real-life Examples of Successful Influencer Collaborations

Many premium brands use influencer marketing to reach a wider audience while still maintaining an exclusive image.

Let’s have a look at some of them:

1. Rolex

Rolex's influencer marketing strategy is demonstrated through its long-term partnership with tennis legend Roger Federer, which began in 2006.

Federer frequently wears Rolex watches during major events, including his victories and public engagements.

This offers consistent exposure to the brand at high-profile occasions like Wimbledon and the Laver Cup.

In addition, his massive social media following has also helped Rolex reach a wider audience as he posts pictures of him wearing timeless pieces such as Daytona and GMT-Master II.

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2. Cunard

Cunard implemented influencer marketing and added exclusivity with Digital Out of Home (DOOH) screens to promote its Arctic Circle cruise aboard the Queen Elizabeth.

Four influencers on the cruise shared real-time Instagram content, which was also displayed across DOOH screens in ten shopping malls nationwide.

The content included premium dining, leisure activities, and the beautiful scenery of Narvik and Haugesund.

This approach combined the reach of social media with the impact of dynamic physical advertising and created a luxury experience for audiences both online and in person.

Consequently, the following results were achieved:

  • 50% increased web traffic
  • 16.5% higher engagement rate than expected
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3. Gucci

Gucci and The North Face sought to create a unique and engaging campaign for their collaborative outdoor-inspired collection.

For that, they partnered with Francis Bourgeois, a TikTok trainspotting sensation known for his authentic, joyful content.

Gucci integrated him into their collection’s narrative by casting him as a train conductor in their advertisement.

The campaign allowed Bourgeois to maintain his signature style, which included his iconic fish-eye camera angle and infectious laugh.

In addition, behind-the-scenes and lifestyle content during his trip to Milan was also posted on platforms like TikTok and Highsnobiety to capitalize on his social media influence and engage millions of viewers.

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Streamline Your Luxury Brand Influencer Marketing Campaign with inBeat.co

Influencer marketing has become an essential strategy for luxury brands aiming to connect with their target audience authentically and effectively.

Through meaningful collaborations, luxury brands can enhance their visibility, build customer loyalty, and drive engagement.

Key takeaways:

  • Select influencers (genuinfluencers) whose values and lifestyles align with your brand to maintain credibility and exclusivity.
  • Engage a mix of micro, mid-tier, and macro influencers for broader audience reach and impact.
  • Target potential customers at all stages of the marketing funnel—awareness, consideration, and conversion.
  • Adapt content for different social media platforms to effectively reach diverse demographics.
  • Encourage customers to share their experiences with your products.
  • Create limited edition products and exclusive events while ensuring broader customer access to maintain luxury appeal.
  • Continuously track performance metrics and adjust strategies in real-time to enhance campaign effectiveness.

If you want to simplify your influencer marketing efforts, inBeat.co can help. Our vast influencer database and user-friendly search filters allow you to pinpoint high-quality influencers that resonate with your luxury brand. Book a FREE Demo Now!

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