Influencer marketing is a powerful tool, but it is not without risks. An influencer’s reputation can be tarnished in an instant, causing immediate and often long-lasting damage to the brands they represent. Common mistakes include:

1. Poor Crisis Management: When things go sideways, immediate and decisive action is necessary but often, brands, either underestimate the seriousness or are ill-prepared, making the situation worse.

2. Lack of Due Diligence: This takes two forms – not sufficiently vetting influencers before working with them and neglecting to monitor their content and online behavior during the partnership.

3. Ignoring Audiences’ Feedback: Brands often fail to respond appropriately and timely to feedback from the audience – both positive and negative.

To mitigate these risks, proper planning and preparation are key:

1. Have a Crisis Management Plan: Just like any other marketing strategy, your influencer marketing should include a plan for handling unforeseen crises. This should cover timely and appropriate responses and steps to mitigate the damage.

2. Perform Comprehensive Vetting: Use platforms like Flinque to thoroughly vet potential influencers. Look at each influencer’s past content, public persona, and engagement rates to determine if they align well with your brand and its values.

3. Monitor Influencer Content and Behavior: Keep a close eye on the influencers you partner with to promptly catch and address any inappropriate content or behavior.

4. Responsive Engagement: Brands need to listen, understand, and respond to their audiences’ feedback. This involves acknowledging and addressing legitimate concerns while weeding out irrelevant or inflammatory ones.

5. Promote Transparency: Brands must ensure their partnerships are clear and transparent as per the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines.

Resolving crises in influencer marketing takes insight and flexibility. It’s about finding a balance between protecting your brand’s image and taking responsibility when things go wrong.