Working with social media influencers can be a recipe for success if the right person is chosen. And trust here is key.
Trust, not only in the direction of consumer to influencer, but also from brand to influencer too.
In 2018 we saw some influencers come under fire for misleading fans, using natural disasters to promote themselves and failing to fulfill advertising contracts. They are only human after all.
To mitigate any risk and remove the stress of choosing the right influencer for the job, KFC created every brand’s dream-come-true in the form of a virtual Hipster-Colonel-Sanders.
With silver hair, well-manicured beard and chiseled abs, the CGI Colonel was designed to wow followers and create a buzz on social media.
The virtual influencer took over the KFC Instagram account, posting satirical captions on photos which showed the ridiculously good-looking man living his best life; eating fresh vegetables, riding a horse through a sunlit meadow and posing in the desert.
In addition to the 1.4million people who follow the KFC page, the famous chicken chain increased its reach by tapping into the following of other brands.
Stylishly dressed in the iconic colonel clothes, the handsome digital version won’t just endorse KFC on his channels; Dr. Pepper, TurboTax and Old Spice are among the brands showcased on his Instagram – the first to enjoy the benefits of a faultlessly cool influencer.
Each post bore the hashtag #SecretRecipeForSuccess; a nod to KFC’s famous blend of herbs and spices.
The colonel didn’t stop at brands when it came to partnerships. Teaming up with influencer Lexi Hensler, Sanders posted a photo of him and the Instagram model in the desert, with a tongue-in-cheek caption mimicking the tone of her usual posts.
The parody campaign embraced the world of social influencers right down to the bio, which was humorously written to capture the style which many influencers adopt.
His fun-loving and quirky personality was further developed through Instagram stories using the popular tool ‘Ask me a question’, allowing fans to get to know the new face of their favourite fast-food brand.
The interactive campaign allowed fans to build a strong relationship with the brand and encouraged brand love by creating a personal connection.
The Colonel is a strong part of the brand’s identity and has been at the heart of previous campaigns like the Colonel Strongman Challenge and the outlandish Colonel Cat Climber.