An influencer marketing campaign timeline is essential for effective campaign management, yet it’s often overlooked or underutilized. It plays an important role in ensuring a campaign runs smoothly. It holds all parties accountable by adding structure and efficiency to the process.
Here are varying reasons as to why a campaign timeline is a must:
Deadlines and Accountability
Setting deadlines for each stage of the campaign holds each party accountable for their responsibilities. It allows for each party to plan accordingly and integrate the campaign with their already busy schedules. It’s a way to ensure all are working towards the same goals.
Coordination and Planning
A timeline helps to ensure all aspects of the campaign are well coordinated and executed in a timely manner. Without a timeline, tasks may overlap or be delayed, leading to a domino effect of delays and setbacks.
Quality Control
A timeline specifies when content is due. This allows for talent to plan out and create on-brand, high-quality content. Without pre-communicated dates, content creation may be rushed, leading to lower-quality output.
Resource Allocation
A timeline allows you to allocate resources and budgets accordingly. Knowing when and where these resources are needed leads to better budget management.
Adaptation & Optimization
A timeline is used throughout a campaign to gauge progress. If notable delays are occurring, you can make real-time adjustments to optimize the overall success of the campaign.
Consistency
Consistency is the foundation of any influencer marketing campaign. A timeline helps to maintain a consistent posting schedule and messaging across social platforms. Consistency is key for building brand recognition and trust with audiences.
Measurement & Evaluation
Having a timeline allows you to set benchmarks: a clear structure for collecting data and evaluating the campaign’s impact.
Communication
There are often several parties involved in an influencer marketing campaign; the brand, influencers, agencies, and influencer marketing partners such as Find Your Influence. A timeline acts as a communication tool for all stakeholders. It ensures everyone is on the same page regarding campaign progress and deadlines.
Post Campaign Analysis
After the campaign wraps up, the timeline is a great tool to gauge actual execution dates and results within the expected timeline. Making it a great reference point to identify areas for improvement for all future campaigns.
The importance of turnaround time
Now that we know why a timeline is so important, let’s chat about the importance of the appropriate turnaround time in mind for each stage of an influencer marketing campaign:
- Campaign Planning: 3-4 weeks duration
- Influencer Outreach: 2-3 weeks duration (depending on the season, this can be extended for holiday-themed campaigns!)
- Content Creation: ~2 weeks
- Campaign Launch: predetermined date (real-time)
- Engagement and Promotion: During the campaign
- Campaign Review and Wrap-Up: 1-4 weeks post campaign
While each timeline can vary, it’s never a bad idea to add buffer time for those unforeseen circumstances. Here at Find Your Influence, we build out our timelines to provide all parties with a seamless transition between tasks.
In summary
Don’t forget, each campaign may have its own measurement, it’s important to plan out an ongoing strategy in terms of what KPI’s you’re looking for to deem the campaign a success. By executing campaigns through an established timeline, you create a flawless experience for the influencers, thus building long-term relationships that can be beneficial for future campaigns.
Find Your Influence is an influencer marketing solution for brands, agencies and creators. We offer a self-service solution and our managed services, white glove services. Contact us today to book a Demo or Discovery Call