As someone who has managed influencer marketing campaigns for attractions for years, I’ve seen firsthand how effective this strategy can be.
But recently, I had the chance to sit down with full-time social media influencer Alyssa Faigen on The Marketing Attractions Podcast, and her perspective gave me a few fresh takeaways—ones I think every attraction marketer should hear.
Here’s what stood out the most.
1. Influencer Marketing Is Word-of-Mouth at Scale
During our conversation, Alyssa said something that stuck with me:
“I’ve spent years curating a relationship with my audience. My audience chooses to watch my content because they want my recommendations on how to spend their leisure time around town.”
That, in a nutshell, is word-of-mouth marketing. Except it’s amplified through social platforms, video, and visuals.
Her audience doesn’t just trust her—they seek her out.
As marketers, we’re always trying to build that kind of relationship. With the right influencer partnerships, we can.
2. “I Am My Audience” Changes Everything
When Alyssa said, “I am my audience,” my thoughts immediately turned to representation.
Influencer marketing allows us to work with people who are the audience we’re trying to reach—people who look like them, speak their language, and understand their preferences. This creates authenticity that’s hard to replicate with traditional marketing efforts.
It’s also efficient.
By partnering with influencers who reach different audience segments, we can micro-target various communities without needing to produce separate ads for each one.
3. Use Influencers to Reveal Hidden Gems
One of my favorite moments from the interview was when Alyssa talked about visiting her local history center:
“Everyone knows the history center is here. But did you know they had a petting zoo?”
That’s the power of influencer storytelling.
It’s personal, unexpected, and memorable.
These kinds of content pieces are often more engaging than a 15-second commercial or a static display ad—and they give people a reason to visit again, not just for the big headline attractions, but for the smaller, special details.
Why This Matters
Influencer marketing gives attractions something traditional marketing often struggles with: authenticity and flexibility.
The content doesn’t feel like an ad—it feels like a friend giving you a great recommendation.
For nonprofit attractions with limited budgets, that’s a major advantage.
