While there is not a one-size-fits-all strategy for identifying and engaging with social media influencers, analyzing the dynamics of a high-school class can actually provide insight into the makeup of the players in the vast social media space.

The personas below should remind you of some of your friends past, but if you weren’t the Zack Morris or Kelly Kapowski of your high-school class — or you just prefer not to think back to those years — pop in your favorite John Hughes film or watch a rerun of an early '90s television show and it should do the trick.

The Popular Girl: Probably the most identifiable character of the high-school personas, the popular girl’s value lies mostly in her bragging rights to a large number of fans who very often hang on her every word. Quite the social butterfly, she has access to a broad network, and visibility among the masses. Those who follow and share what she says may do so based solely on her popularity (think today’s teen pop star) and not always because of the quality of the message; however, she is always in-the-know and can certainly make you ‘look’ good.

The Class President: The epitome of a leader, the class president has authority, a trusted voice, and is respected by many. Like the popular girl, the class president casts a wide net and is often sought after to get a message out. Equivalent to industry thought leaders, they can be the keynote speakers at industry conferences and often quoted online and in publications. They are a powerful player to have on your team, but hard to pin down since they are wanted by many.

The Artist: With a passion for expression, the artist is the active creator. While the artist may keep to a smaller circle, they are well-liked and definitely have a voice – usually adding a unique perspective to a conversation. These are your audience members who are the content creators. They will share when they find something relevant and interesting -- and they won’t just ‘like’ or ‘retweet’ verbatim, but add dimension to a message by incorporating their own ideas, layering it with new insights and spurring conversation.

The Nerd: Known primarily for his smarts and less-than-suave communications skills, the nerd is often overlooked by the majority as influential. However, when one is seeking last night’s science homework, the nerd climbs to the top of the call list. They are trusted to have accurate and thorough information. In today’s social space, the nerd is the niche expert, the one that is deeply knowledgeable about particular interests and impactful to smaller, more targeted, loyal audiences with similar interests.

The Newspaper Editor: An important character in the high-school class, the newspaper editor is a deciding factor in the stories that are highlighted for the mass consumption. Not surprisingly, the newspaper editor can be compared to today’s traditional journalists and bloggers, responsible for sharing and amplifying messages. These influencers range across industry and topic, but are strong connections to have and alert when you have big news to share.

The rest of the student body: The remaining individuals that make up the high-school class are the majority. Warming most of the seats in the classroom, this group flies under the radar and primarily mingles within their smaller, comfortable circle of friends. Although not always making their presence known, this group is taking in the information out there and finding their way, passing along messages that resonate to close friends and family. They probably make up most of the members of your social media network, but don’t mistake their silence for apathy; they can be your prime target and appreciate the constant flow of relevant information.

A high-school class composed of only one or two of these characters would be dull and ineffective. It’s the mixture of personalities, the unique perspectives and interests, and distinct reactions to situations that make the group vibrant and interesting. One influencer is not “better” than another, and a large following does not necessarily mean the right following. Rather, it’s important to find the appropriate blend of influencers for your brand, which will vary based on overall business goals -- and even from message to message. Ongoing, careful listening – and engaging with streams of content – is paramount.

Consider a few of these tips, and ask yourself some of these questions to drive you in the right direction of identifying and engaging your brand influencers.

Start by monitoring online conversations surrounding your brand and your industry, and review the messages that are being shared. Pinpoint your biggest fans and note who is leading and impacting these conversations:

• Who makes up your fans’ networks?
• Do they seem to fit the profile of your target audience?
• Where do they hang out online?
• Are they actively responding to and interacting with content?
• Are there trends in the types of content that seem to resonate more closely and motivate them to spread a message?
• Do their behaviors change across channels?

The content that drives action from the popular girl or class president may not do so from the artist or the nerd, as their level of passion and knowledge will vary, as does what they deem valuable or interesting.

Some may appreciate new research and statistical information, while others may like to share educational, how-to advice, product specs or broad thought-leadership content. Therefore, delivering content in a variety of multimedia formats, across multiple channels – and tailoring messages to appeal to different segments of your audiences to engage influencers -- is essential.

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