From its humble beginnings as a DVD-by-mail service to its current status as a premier content producer and streaming service with over 200 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix has demonstrated an uncanny knack for staying ahead of the curve.
Part of Netflix’s success can be attributed to its strategic and innovative marketing approaches, with one of them being the adoption of influencer marketing.
This article aims to explore how Netflix has integrated influencer marketing into its business model. We will delve into Netflix’s influencer program, and how it has impacted its growth, audience reach, and brand perception. Let’s get started.
A Quick Overview of Netflix Marketing Evolution
With the launch of its streaming platform in 2007, Netflix started focusing on digital advertising, utilizing platforms such as Google AdWords and social media ads to reach a broader audience base.
They also heavily invested in data analytics to deliver personalized recommendations, creating a unique, customized experience for each subscriber.
However, the true game-changer arrived when Netflix ventured into influencer marketing. As the digital landscape transformed and social media began to dominate the way consumers interact with brands, Netflix identified an untapped opportunity.
Recognizing the power of influencers to reach specific audience segments and build trust, the company started partnering with influencers across various platforms — from YouTube and Instagram to TikTok and Twitter.
This represented a paradigm shift in their marketing approach, focusing not only on broad visibility but also on authenticity and community engagement.
With the rise of its original content, Netflix saw the dual value influencers could bring — promoting its brand as a whole while also spotlighting individual shows or movies.
The use of influencer marketing became particularly pronounced during the launches of new series or seasons, where influencers played a key role in generating buzz and driving initial viewership numbers.
This approach underlines Netflix’s adaptability and constant search for impactful ways to connect with its audience. In the following sections, we’ll delve deeper into the specifics of these campaigns, revealing the breadth and depth of Netflix’s influencer marketing efforts.
Netflix’s Influencer Marketing in Action: 3 Examples
Netflix has masterfully harnessed the power of influencer marketing to drive anticipation, viewership, and conversation around its original content. Here, we delve into three distinct examples — ‘Stranger Things’, ‘The Witcher’, and ‘Bridgerton’ — which showcase the platform’s versatility and innovation in leveraging influencers.
These case studies highlight Netflix’s ability to connect with different demographic groups, utilize the influence of celebrities in unconventional ways, and create a cultural phenomenon that extends far beyond the small screen.
Stranger Things
One standout example of Netflix’s successful influencer marketing campaigns can be traced back to the release of the much-anticipated third season of ‘Stranger Things’. In this campaign, Netflix partnered with a diverse range of influencers, spanning from lifestyle and beauty to gaming, each boasting a unique demographic reach.
The company sent out a specially designed ‘Stranger Things’ kit to influencers, loaded with themed merchandise, and sneak peeks that the influencers could share with their followers.
Notably, fashion influencer Aimee Song posted a sponsored Instagram photo with her ‘Stranger Things’ kit, garnering hundreds of thousands of likes. This campaign resulted in a surge of social media conversations and anticipations about the show, contributing significantly to the record-breaking viewership of the season’s launch.
The Witcher
Netflix took a slightly different approach to influencer marketing with the release of its high-fantasy series, ‘The Witcher’. Instead of conventional Instagram or YouTube influencers, Netflix targeted influencers within the gaming community, given the series’ origins as a popular video game.
By inviting gaming influencers and streamers to early screening events and providing them with exclusive content to share with their followers, Netflix ensured a huge initial interest from the gaming community worldwide.
One influencer who played a significant role was ‘CohhCarnage’, a popular Twitch streamer, who hosted an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ live stream about the series on his Twitch channel.
This targeted marketing not only led to high viewership numbers but also resulted in a renewed interest in the original ‘Witcher’ game, exemplifying a cross-industry impact.
Bridgerton
The campaign cleverly capitalized on the existing fame of one of the most influential makeup artists in the world, Pat McGrath, turning traditional celebrity endorsements on their head.
McGrath collaborated with Netflix to create an exclusive makeup collection inspired by the regency-era theme of ‘Bridgerton’. This collection brilliantly reflected the show’s aesthetic, featuring regal symbols and sophisticated packaging, fully aligning with the show’s ambiance and color palette.
The campaign’s success lies in its novel approach to influencer marketing, moving beyond mere promotion to create a whole cultural moment around the show. This strategic blending of celebrity endorsement, product collaboration, and viral social media trends illustrates Netflix’s continued ability to innovate and adapt in the realm of influencer marketing.
Common Elements of Success
Analyzing these three case studies, it becomes apparent that the success of Netflix’s influencer marketing lies in its careful selection of influencers who resonate with the targeted audience of each specific show.
Moreover, providing influencers with exclusive content encourages authentic and personalized content creation, which results in higher audience engagement. Netflix’s ability to recognize and capitalize on these aspects showcases its strategic acumen and understanding of the digital marketing landscape.
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How Netflix Has Benefited from Influencer Marketing
Now we’ll see that influencer marketing has proven to be a potent tool for Netflix, having a substantial impact on the company’s subscriber growth, retention, and brand perception.
Impact on Subscriber Growth and Retention
Netflix’s robust growth over the years can partially be attributed to its successful influencer marketing campaigns. As of Q2 2024, the company has a whopping 238 million paid memberships globally, a significant increase from its 167 million subscriptions at the end of 2019.
While it’s challenging to attribute this growth solely to influencer marketing, there’s little doubt that their innovative campaigns have played a role in attracting new subscribers and retaining existing ones.
Improved Brand Perception
Netflix’s influencer marketing strategy has also positively impacted its brand perception. A survey undertaken among U.S. consumers in April 2022 revealed that influencer marketing negatively influenced the brand perceptions of 29% of participants.
In contrast, 21% of those surveyed reported that influencer marketing positively shaped their views of the brands being endorsed. With Netflix consistently curating successful influencer partnerships, it has managed to maintain a strong brand reputation among these critical demographics.
Conclusion
Influencer marketing has contributed considerably to Netflix’s growth strategy, enhancing its reach, strengthening subscriber numbers, and positively impacting its brand perception.
The data underscores not just the company’s skillful application of this marketing technique but also the increasing relevance of influencer marketing in today’s digital and social media-dominated landscape.
