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Influencer marketing isn’t anything new. 

Using everyday people to influence purchasing decisions is as old as marketing itself.

Just ask any mother who chose a certain cereal because “Mikey liked it.”

However, the term “Influencer Marketing” has become much more specialized. 

When you ask most people to define the term, they may mention people with tons of followers on popular social media channels like Instagram.

Our society has even coined its own term for it: Insta Famous.

Our latest guest on the Inner Edison Podcast with Ed Parcaut knows all the different incarnations of influencer marketing.

Since 2012, Justin Kline has been at the forefront of connecting everyday people to consumer brands to influence purchasing decisions of people all over the internet through his company Markerly. 

He spoke about his path into entrepreneurism and the state of influencer marketing. 

Justin’s Path to Markerly

Justin left college with a degree in Marketing and chose to follow his passion for music. He spent a few years touring the country, playing music to anyone who would listen before settling down into a career.

He cut his teeth in marketing while working for AddThis, where he learned all about optimizing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies. 

Kline worked with world-renowned brands like 1-800-Flowers, Hilton, Sony Pictures, and more. His experience in making custom-tailored marketing campaigns for top brands fueled his passion for starting his own company in 2012. 

So in 2012, Kline left AddThis to start Markerly. His agency helps brands, state and local governments, and non-profit organizations connect with influencers to drive their mission-driven values forward. 

When people ask what he does, Kline has a simple answer: I help companies make their advertising more human.

How Markerly Makes Advertising More Human

Markerly believes that true connection starts with authenticity. 

Surely, if you look at great advertising, you’ll notice one common theme that runs through it. 

People gravitate to an authentic voice. 

Consider Lily, the perky sales representative in AT&T commercials, or Flo from Progressive. 

They both represent everyday people with real and powerful influence. 

This is the kind of authenticity many influencers can provide when strategically utilized.

Markerly seeks to solve several problems in Influencer Marketing: 

1. Put Influencer Marketing at the strategic table
2. Give Influencers a voice at the strategic table
3. Allow Influencers the advantage to give back to the communities they target through their campaigns
4. Allow companies the chance to push forward their mission-driven agendas in a positive way to help others

Through these initiatives, Markerly has been able to add a more human element to campaigns for companies like: 

• Evite
• Dole
• Custom Ink
• Meow Mix
• Musselman’s
• And many more….

If you’re a company, non-profit, or state or local government entity looking to create more human campaigns, click here to get started.

Want to Be a Part of the Community? 

If you’re an influencer who would like to get involved with Markerly, you can! 

Here are a few things that Markerly looks for: 

• Quality over quantity
• Consistent content and follower growth
• Amount of followers vs. views your content receives
• A balance between shares and comments you receive

If you think you have what it takes, apply now!  

If selected, you’ll be matched with different brands that connect with your audience. 

The Future of Influencer Marketing

When asked what he thinks is the future of influencer marketing, Justin is quick to point out that he thinks the future is all about authenticity.

As more and more consumers witness shallow marketing campaigns, their meters are more attuned to what’s real and what’s not.

Markerly seems primed to position itself as the agency for authentic branded experiences online.

If your brand is looking to provide an authentic campaign that supports your mission-driven values, contact Markerly to see how to get started.

For more great interviews about business, entrepreneurship, and more, please follow tune in to the Inner Edison Podcast with Ed Parcaut.