Analysis of UK Instagram influencers reveals that while many influencers do post sponsored content, it constitutes only a small fraction of their overall posts, with an average of just 2% being sponsored. Despite concerns about ad saturation, consumer fatigue may stem more from misalignment between content and influencer values rather than the volume of sponsored posts.
Published On: October 18, 2018
With recent articles popping up on how much influencers are paid to generate sponsored content, it may explain why it may seem like our feeds are increasingly looking like a steady string of ads.
Taking a deeper look at Instagram influencers in the UK, we pulled a sample of content creators who have posted sponsored content between January and September of this year to identify the proportion of content that was sponsored.
We found that the 90% of influencers who post sponsored content have between 0 and 5% sponsored content. So only 1 in 10 influencers who post sponsored content have >5% of their feed containing sponsored ads. On average only 2% of an influencer’s posts were sponsored.
This is interesting given the recent conversation around Influencer ad saturation. For instance, Bazaarvoice commissioned research into the attitudes of consumers and found that 47% of consumers felt “fatigued” by repetitive sponsored posts. It’s no secret that placing a strong emphasis on authenticity and relationship-building is key to finding success in influencer marketing. Users may not be tired of sponsored content but rather content that does not align with the influencers brand and beliefs.
Keep informed with the latest trends, reports, and case studies from the world of influencer marketing.
Both influencer marketing and traditional advertising can achieve broad reach and foster trust—yet they do so with different strengths and challenges. Influencer marketing builds trust through personal, authentic endorsements that resonate with targeted audiences, often leading to higher engagement and a sense of community. Traditional advertising, on the other hand, leverages the credibility of established platforms and can quickly raise brand awareness across a wide audience.
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