What Are Virtual Influencers And How Do They Work?

In a world where influencer marketing is a must-have, a new kind of creator is emerging to capture the attention of millions: the virtual influencer. 

These digital personas are not just fleeting trends. They are a significant shift powered by artificial intelligence and advanced technology that marketing agencies need to understand.

So, what is a virtual influencer? 

In the simplest terms, a virtual influencer is a computer-generated fictional character created to look like a human and designed to interact on social media. 

They post, comment, and engage with followers, all with the goal of building an audience just like any other influencer.

How Virtual Influencers Are Made

Demystifying the process for agency owners is crucial. Virtual influencers are built using advanced computer graphics, motion capture, and AI technology. 

These digital characters can be highly realistic, human-like personas or take on non-human forms. They are brought to life through a blend of human creative teams and sophisticated AI.

This brings us to a key question: what is a virtual AI influencer? A virtual AI influencer is an avatar whose persona and actions are powered by artificial intelligence. 

AI can be used to generate their content, write their captions, and even manage their interactions. 

This makes them more dynamic and responsive than a static character, allowing them to engage with their audience at an unprecedented scale.

The Strategic Advantages for Brands and Agencies

For marketing agencies, working with a virtual influencer offers several compelling advantages that solve common client problems.

• Total Creative Control: Unlike with a human influencer, brands have absolute creative control over every piece of content from start to finish. This eliminates the risk of a creator going off-brand, ensuring perfect alignment with the client's marketing goals.
• No Limits: Virtual influencers are not limited by geography, time zones, or physical constraints. They can appear in a new city every day, create content in any season, and even work 24/7, offering a new level of creative freedom.
• Perfect Brand Alignment: Because they are fictional characters, a virtual influencer's persona can be meticulously crafted to align perfectly with a brand's values, reducing the risk of a partnership going wrong due to a personal misstep.
• Targeting a New Generation: Virtual influencers have proven to be particularly effective at reaching a younger audience. Studies show that 58% of consumers follow at least one, and 35% have purchased a product promoted by one.

The Risks and Challenges

While the benefits are clear, agencies should be aware of the risks involved. 

Without a strong strategy, the brand can face potential backlash from an audience that values authenticity above all else. Consumers may view overly fabricated or inauthentic content as a brand misstep. 

Additionally, the human creative team behind the persona must be managed carefully, as the brand has little control over the persona created by the human team behind the avatar.

Conclusion

Virtual influencers are a powerful new tool that can help agencies solve key client problems. 

They offer a unique blend of creative control and scalability, allowing you to create compelling campaigns that reach new audiences.

But a successful virtual influencer campaign requires a strategic approach that balances creativity with authenticity. 

The right platform can help you manage these partnerships by providing a comprehensive content calendar, scheduling tools, and analytics to track your campaigns.

Ready to explore a new kind of influence?

Start a free trial of Cloud Campaign today.