The Future of Brand Marketing: Virtual Influencers

Over the past few years, the creator  economy has seen a dramatic increase in popularity. More than 50 million  people consider themselves to be content creators. Many people have  made a career out of a hobby they started in their bedroom. Influencer marketing is  a powerful tool in today's digital age. Its projected value is $16.4  billion by 2022. 68% of marketers plan to increase their influencer  marketing budget over the next 12 months, with 33% spending at most  $50K. With the advancement of technology, a new breed has emerged. There  are no real influencers. These fictional characters (Virtual Influencers) are used  by some of the most prominent names in fashion and tech, including  Nike, Balmain, and Samsung. They will be featured in Vogue, photographed  with Bella Hadid, and attend fashion shows with Prada. Luxury fashion  brands were the first to embrace virtual influencers as a trend.  Balmain's fashion army in 2018 included virtual models Margot, Shudu,  and Zhi. Fenty Beauty collaborated with Shudu Gram, who now has 231k  followers on Instagram.