Sprout Social has announced the launch of a new mentorship program for social media and marketing professionals via its virtual community platform, The Arboretum. The program will match participants with a mentor or mentee based on their networking goals and shared interests for one-on-one mentorship. The Arboretum also offers educational opportunities, access to exclusive events, and daily peer discussions. The platform is open to all marketers at no cost.

The 7-Week Influencer Marketing Strategy Template from Sprout Social is designed to help marketing teams effectively navigate influencer collaborations, hashtag campaigns, and content creation. It emphasizes the importance of having a clear strategy to avoid wasting time and resources. The template outlines a flexible seven-week plan that includes milestones for defining goals, identifying target audiences, and measuring campaign success. The first week focuses on establishing a solid foundation by identifying high-level goals and specific, measurable objectives. This step is crucial for tracking progress and ensuring that marketing efforts align with broader business objectives. The template encourages brands to analyze customer feedback to identify areas for improvement and tailor their goals accordingly. In the second week, the strategy development phase begins, where teams determine their budget and select influencers based on campaign fit. The budget should reflect where the target audience spends their time, and the selection of influencers should prioritize authenticity and alignment with brand values. Weeks three and four are dedicated to planning and content development. This includes creating a campaign brief to align expectations and facilitate collaboration with influencers. Initial outreach to influencers is essential for building relationships, and the template suggests engaging with their content to establish rapport. Coordinating content creation allows influencers to leverage their understanding of their audience while ensuring brand messaging is effectively communicated. The fifth week is focused on launching the campaign, which involves final checks, approvals, and ensuring all technical details are in place. Engaging with influencer content during the launch helps amplify reach and build connections with the audience. Finally, weeks six and seven are dedicated to reporting and analyzing the campaign's performance. Monitoring key metrics such as reach, engagement rates, and conversions is vital for understanding the campaign's impact. Sharing insights with the team helps refine future strategies and improve overall effectiveness. The template concludes by highlighting the importance of flexibility in influencer marketing, encouraging brands to adapt based on performance and emerging trends. It also promotes Sprout's influencer marketing toolkit, which includes expert insights and templates to streamline campaigns.