You know how you trust a friend’s recommendation more than an ad? This same concept has turned virtual influencers into powerhouse brand ambassadors.

These digital and social media stars use their relationships with their audience to promote products and services. This strategy has proven to be highly effective. After all, you benefit from influencers' trust and admiration with their fans.

Of course, it’s not enough to simply pay an influencer to promote your product. Today’s buyers know a sponsorship when they see one. Your chosen influencer must appeal to your target audience and capture your brand’s voice. And to make the partnership seem authentic, you need a good grasp of digital storytelling, plenty of data, and a solid dose of intelligence. Otherwise, you risk repelling customers or wasting money on ad campaigns that fall flat.

Let’s look at some of the most popular virtual influencers out there today and how they’ve helped businesses reach a wider audience.

Neil Patel: Digital Marketing Guru

Virtual influencers use several channels to connect with their audience, such as videos, podcasts, and social media posts. But Neil Patel leans on blog posts. In fact, one of his blogs earns him over $380,000 a month. It’s no surprise that he’s regarded as an influencer marketing expert and authority in the field.

Some of the biggest brands in business—Amazon, eBay, and Hewlett Packard—have come to Patel for help curating content that engages with their audiences. His strategies are clear:

• Identify who your customers are and where they hang out.
• Understand what content your customers are sharing.
• Don’t just outsource; learn how digital marketing works.

Salt Papi: The Comedic Sensation

Salt Papi rose to fame through viral online content that found popularity on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. His relatable yet humorous approach to content creation quickly drew in views, especially among younger audiences. Brands were quick to partner with him for a shout-out or product placement.

He has now pivoted into the world of influencer boxing. It’s just as it sounds: online content creators exchange a few blows in a boxing ring. Brands sponsor these matches, which are often aired on pay-per-view. As a result, influencer boxing has been effective in raising money for charity.

MrBeast: Charitable Content Creator

You can gauge the reach of virtual influencers by assessing the size of their following. For instance, nano-influencers have 1,000–10,000 followers, while macro-influencers have 500,000–1 million followers. Few reach the highest echelons and become mega-influencers. But with 177 million subscribers on YouTube alone, MrBeast is firmly in this category.

Much of his content has him spending ludicrous amounts of money on silly stunts. But his latest project, Beast Philanthropy, showcases the star’s passion for giving back. Videos include “We Brought Water to Kenya” and “I Helped 2,000 Amputees Walk Again.”

Philanthropic online influencers like MrBeast can ensure your brand is associated with charity and goodwill.

Brian Dean: The SEO Guru

Understanding search engine optimization (SEO) is vital for your online content to reach a wide audience. It’s not easy to make sense of, and best practices change often. Fortunately, there are virtual influencers like Brian Dean.

Dean is the founder of Backlinko, which offers exclusive SEO resources. He’s made himself an authority in the field by providing useful and effective tips for boosting SEO. Blog posts such as “Google’s 200 Ranking Factors: The Complete List (2023)” are easy to both comprehend and digest.

Shroud: The Gaming Enigma

If you want to grab the attention of the gaming world, Shroud is possibly the biggest influencer in that realm. He specializes in streaming eSports and other popular games such as “PUBG” on Twitch.

Shroud has turned his hobby into a very lucrative career. He’s built a following of more than 10.6 million on Twitch by streaming consistently for hours each day. He further grew his brand by posting engaging content on Instagram and Twitter. Businesses like Logitech have already capitalized on his friendly personality and sense of humor.

Doctor Mike Hansen: The Medical Educator

There are also influencers in the medical field, such as Doctor Mike Hansen. A pulmonologist from Indiana, he gained much of his following by providing reliable and easy-to-understand information about COVID-19.

By debunking common misinformation and educating the public on how to stay safe, he’s gained a reputation as a trustworthy expert. Virtual influencers like Hansen are ideal for health-related brands and organizations. Their product or service requires a high level of trust from customers.

Lisa Miller: The Voice in Spirituality and Cognition

Everyone wants to bring more happiness into their lives and connect with their true selves. This paved the way for virtual influencers focusing on spirituality and awareness. One of the most prominent figures in this field is Lisa Miller.

Like many other influencers, Miller has written bestselling books, including The Awakened Brain and The Spiritual Child. And as with any author, the success of her books has depended on good content and effective book marketing.

Pat Flynn: The Entrepreneurial Guide

Pat Flynn is the host of the Smart Passive Income and AskPat podcasts, in which he shares valuable insights and business strategies. Together, they’ve amassed over 70 million downloads. His goal is to empower aspiring entrepreneurs.

In addition to being a frequent keynote speaker, Flynn is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author. He’s also an expert in lead generation and building online audiences.

Gary Vaynerchuk: The Digital Visionary

Better known as GaryVee, Gary Vaynerchuck is a social media influencer mostly known for his YouTube show Wine Library TV. Coming from humble beginnings, his family owned a wine business in Belarus. But he quickly recognized the power of the internet. After launching winelibrary.com in 1997, the business’s revenue rose to $20 million.

GaryVee is a sought-after public speaker, thought leader, and digital pioneer. He’s also known for his forward-thinking insights about digital trends.

Does Your Brand Need Virtual Influencers?

Consumers are online more than ever. Regardless of your industry, there’s likely a vibrant online community surrounding it. Figure out who the virtual influencers are and which ones can project a strong brand voice for your business. Then, watch your reach grow.

Online content creation and artificial intelligence (AI) content generation can further help you build an online presence. For instance, with Daily.ai, you’ll have constant fresh content for your customers.

Through the Daily.ai platform, you can produce AI-generated newsletters that drive email open rates to 40–60%. Simply select which sources and thought leaders the AI should draw from to reflect and enhance your brand voice. You don’t have to write a word. What’s more, this solution is cost-effective and easily scalable for growing businesses.

Book your demo today to learn how to boost your business’s reach through the power of AI content generation.