Influencer Marketing for Small Businesses: How to Get Started

Influencer marketing can be a great way for small businesses to get noticed. By working with content creators, you can introduce your products or services to new people without spending a fortune.

In this guide, we'll explain what influencer marketing is, why it’s helpful for small businesses, and how you can get started!

Why Influencer Marketing Is Worth It

Influencer marketing is when businesses team up with popular online creators to promote their products. These creators, called influencers, have followers who trust their opinions.

For example, if a fashion influencer shows off your clothing line on Instagram, their followers might decide to check out your store. The goal is to connect with influencers whose followers match your target audience.

Influencer marketing is getting more popular every year. According to Statista, influencer marketing is now worth over $21.1 billion. This is why it is not surprising that many small businesses have been trying to launch their own influencer marketing campaigns.

Aside from this, there are also other strong reasons why influencer marketing can be a smart move for businesses like yours, such as:

• It helps people notice your brand - Influencers introduce your business to people who may not know about you yet.
• It builds trust - People are more likely to trust recommendations from someone they follow than from a regular ad.
• It’s budget-friendly - You don’t need to spend big money to see results. Micro-influencers (with smaller followings) often charge less and still have a strong impact.
• It connects you with the right people - Influencers often have a focused audience, which is great for reaching specific groups or local communities.
• It can boost sales - A trusted influencer's recommendation can encourage their followers to visit your website, buy your product, or follow your social media page.

How to Get Started with Influencer Marketing in 5 Simple Steps 

Influencer marketing can feel overwhelming for small businesses, especially if you’re unsure where to start or worried about costs. That's where Bulba comes in. Bulba makes influencer marketing simple, affordable, and effective — no big budgets or complicated campaigns needed.

If you run a restaurant, hotel, or attraction, Bulba can help you connect with influencers without spending extra on paid ads. Instead of paying influencers in cash, you offer free experiences like meals, stays, or tickets in exchange for content.

Here’s how Bulba makes it easy to get started with influencer marketing, even for small businesses on a tight budget.

Step 1: Create Your Campaign

Once you’ve signed up or logged into your Bulba account, the next step is to create a campaign. Bulba offers three different campaign types to suit your business needs:

Regular collaboration

If you want to welcome influencers on an ongoing basis, this campaign is a great fit for you. You can assign one influencer per time slot and create multiple slots to accommodate different visits. This option works well if:

• Your restaurant offers regular PR visits
• Your attraction hosts influencers during normal business hours
• Your shop or café wants to invite creators to visit throughout the week

One-off event

If you're planning a special event, this campaign lets you invite multiple influencers at the same time. This is perfect for:

• Concerts or live shows you're hosting
• Festivals or seasonal events at your venue
• Opening parties or product launches you're organizing

Recurring event

If you run regular events, this campaign helps you invite influencers to each one. It's a great option for:

• Puppy yoga classes you hold every Saturday
• Weekly menu tastings at your restaurant
• Fitness classes you run on a regular schedule

Step 2: Choose Your Collaboration Type

Once you've created your campaign, the next step is to decide what type of collaboration you want to offer. Bulba provides two options: Gifted and Paid campaigns. Each has its own benefits, depending on your goals and budget.

Gifted Campaigns

Gifted campaigns are a smart way for small businesses to turn empty seats, slow periods, or unused experiences into marketing value. Instead of paying influencers in cash, you offer them free products, meals, or experiences.

This method is especially helpful for businesses looking to connect with local micro-influencers. While larger influencers may be harder to reach, gifted campaigns allow you to partner with smaller local creators who have engaged audiences.

By working with multiple micro-influencers, your brand can still gain strong exposure — sometimes even going viral — without spending a large amount on influencer fees.

Gifted campaigns are ideal for:

• Restaurants looking to fill tables during quieter hours
• Hotels offering complimentary stays in exchange for content
• Attractions inviting influencers to visit during slower periods

Paid Campaigns

If you’re aiming to work with top-tier influencers, a paid campaign may be the better choice.

With Bulba’s paid campaigns, you can:

• Set your own budget and control what you're willing to pay each influencer
• Gain access to the top 1% of influencers who may have larger followings or specialized expertise
• Enjoy commission-free campaigns, as Bulba doesn’t take a cut of your payments

Many businesses find that launching paid campaigns through Bulba is more cost-effective than reaching out to influencers directly. In fact, some brands have saved up to 100% of their usual influencer costs using this method.

Both gifted and paid campaigns are managed through Bulba’s platform, and both count toward your monthly credits, giving you full flexibility to choose the best option for your goals.

Step 3: Add Your Campaign Details

After choosing your collaboration type, provide the following details to help influencers understand what to expect:

Specify Your Offer

Clearly describe what you’re offering to influencers. This could include:

• A free meal, drink, or full dining experience
• A complimentary stay at your hotel
• Free entry to your attraction, event, or experience

Be sure to mention any content preferences as well. For example, you might request a certain number of Instagram posts, TikTok videos, or Google reviews. Providing clear details helps influencers know exactly what you expect in return.

Locations

List the location(s) where your campaign will take place. This is especially important if you have multiple venues or branches. Selecting at least one location allows influencers to see which site they should visit.

Availability

Outline the available dates and times influencers can visit. Offering flexible time slots can encourage more creators to participate, especially if they have busy schedules.

Advanced Options

Bulba also provides advanced settings to give you extra control over your campaign. These options include:

• Dynamic extra guests – Allow influencers to bring guests with them for added exposure.
• Cooling period – Set a period after an influencer’s visit before they can request another collaboration. This helps manage repeat visits and keeps your campaign fresh.

Once you've filled up the form, you can simply click "Save and Activate" or save it as a draft to use later.

Step 4: Approve Influencer Requests

With Bulba, you don’t have to waste time chasing influencers. Instead, influencers request to visit your business.

Once you complete your campaign, influencers can now submit a request to collaborate with you. You can then use Bulba's web admin panel to:

• Approve the visit if they meet your requirements
• Decline if they’re not the right fit
• Reschedule if the proposed timing doesn’t work for you

You can also set rules like minimum follower counts or engagement rates, giving you full control over which influencers promote your business.

Step 5: Let the Content Roll In

Influencers are required to post content within three weeks of their visit. This way, you know exactly when to expect results.

Bulba’s content rights policy gives you full access to the content influencers create. You can use their photos and videos on:

• Your social media pages
• Your Google profile
• Your website
• Your printed materials

This added content saves you time and money on photography while giving your marketing a more authentic feel.

Get Started with Bulba — The Easy Way to Do Influencer Marketing

If you're a small business owner, you might think influencer marketing is too expensive or too complicated. But with Bulba, it’s simple.

No Cash Required

Instead of paying influencers, you offer free experiences — like a meal, a hotel stay, or tickets to your attraction. In return, they create content that promotes your business. No cash required.

Simple and Easy Process

Bulba makes the whole process easy. Influencers request to visit your business, and you can approve or decline with just a click. You’ll also get access to their social media data, so you can choose creators who actually reach your ideal customers.

Affordable for Small Businesses

Even better, Bulba’s pricing is built for small businesses. Starting at just £79/month, it's more affordable than other platforms.

If you want more customers, better content, and less hassle, Bulba is the way to go.

Sign up today and see how simple influencer marketing can be.

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FAQs About Influencer Marketing for Small Business

What are the 3 R's of influencer marketing?

The 3 R's are Reach, Relevance, and Resonance. Reach is how many people an influencer can connect with. Relevance is how well their content fits your brand and target audience. Resonance shows how much their followers engage. For small business influencer marketing, working with micro-influencers or nano-influencers often leads to stronger connections and better influencer campaigns.

What is the best strategy for influencer marketing?

The best influencer marketing strategy is to set clear goals, find relevant influencers, and build strong influencer partnerships. For small business marketing strategy, choosing micro influencers or nano influencers helps connect with potential customers. Focusing on influencer campaigns that feel authentic boosts success.

What is influencer marketing in business?

Influencer marketing in business is when brands use social media marketing to reach potential customers through influencer partnerships. Small business influencer marketing often relies on smaller influencers, like micro-influencers, who connect better with their target audience via various social media platforms. This type of influencer marketing work builds trust and drives sales.

What is the most effective platform for influencer marketing?

The best platform for influencer digital marketing depends on your audience, but Instagram and TikTok are popular for influencer marketing campaigns. For small business marketing, Bulba is a great influencer marketing platform that helps you find the right influencers without cash payments. It’s ideal for hospitality businesses looking to connect with smaller influencers and run cost-effective influencer campaigns.