In fifth-generation communication, social networks have become worthy applications and infrastructures of people’s daily lives. Influencers have become popular due to some of the new social platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook accounts, and TikTok. According to the research, all these platforms have become a strategic utility within many firms’ marketing strategies for the past 3-4 years. However, with the development of the features, a new type of social media influencer is appearing on the web called the Virtual Influencer.
What are Virtual Influencers?
Virtual influencers are social media personas, which are done using Artificial Intelligence and 3D application tools. These digital personalities are also growing popular in social media and create content, interact with the audience and even work with the companies as the normal influencers. Virtual influencers work to their advantage because they do not have physical flaws and the boundaries of growing personalities.
How are Virtual Influencers Created?
To create AI influencers, there is a need to use creativity, technological skills, and Artificial Intelligence. An artist and designer collaborate on creating a character; they decide on their appearance, conduct, and aesthetics. AI technology enables these characters to post content, answer followers’ queries, and even have opinions or preferences. Virtual influencers, as mentioned, are clients who are constantly developing and changing due to the integration of AI and machine learning.
Virtual Influencers vs. Social Influencers: The Benefits
Virtual and social influencers have several benefits to brands and marketers in the following ways.
Cost Efficiency
Virtual Influencers: It doesn’t count for tour expenses and accommodation charges, hence cheap.
Social Influencers: For partnerships, a large amount must be spent out of pocket on travel, accommodation, and appearance fees.
Availability
Virtual Influencers: Preoccupied with making content, keeping constant interaction.
Social Influencers: These are limited to personal schedules, availability, and time zones that often interfere with the campaign timelines.
Control and Uniformity
Virtual Influencers: Full control over their appearance, behavior, and content ensures uniformity of brand message.
Social Influencers: Their personal opinions and behaviors sometimes lead to impulsive actions that do not align with a brand’s values.
Scalability
Virtual Influencers: It is easily scalable, where multiple personas can simultaneously target different demographics or markets.
Social Influencers: The necessity of coming up with scaling—one has to work with several influencers—adds intricacy and costs to the operation.
Further, virtual influencers can do this 24/7 by interacting with the fans and followers and advertising the products that are being sold in the market without getting tired.
How Do Virtual Influencers Impact Social Influence?
There is no answer to this question in the current literature, and hence, the following research question will be developed.
This means that virtual influencers are gradually altering and transforming the notion of social influence. These digital characters can influence other people and can be created not only for the local audience but also for the worldwide audience, with or without cultural differences.
AI and advanced technology have created them and have immensely influenced the way people interact with each other.
Virtual Influencers: The New Trend of the Future
That is why virtual influencers will be even more realistic in the future with the further progress of advancing technology. Consequently, brands and marketers will need to evolve and seek innovative methods of deploying virtual influencers in their sales promotion crusades. The use of artificial intelligence and social context in the advanced world is revolutionizing areas of internet promotion for a particular brand that targets a highly technological audience.
Conclusion
All in all, virtual influencers can be considered as AI applied to social media and the phenomenon of social influence. These digital personas also gradually transform consumer content consumption and overall branding strategies. Thus, it is expected that virtual influencers will be even more influential in social media marketing in the future. Those brands that grab this trend and make good use of Virtual Influencers will be in the right place to engage the consumers in the right and exciting ways.
