The Different Types of YouTube Influencers: Pros, Cons, and Examples

A collage of images of different types of YouTube influencers.

YouTube has become one of the most influential social media platforms, with over 2 billion monthly active users. For brands looking to tap into YouTube's massive reach, partnering with YouTube influencers has become an extremely popular and effective marketing strategy.

But not all YouTube influencers are created equal. There are several major categories of YouTube influencers, each with their own pros, cons, and use cases. Understanding the different types of YouTube influencers is key to finding the right fit for your brand's campaigns and objectives.

The Main Types of YouTube Influencers

When partnering with YouTube influencers, brands have a few main options:

Mega Influencers

Mega influencers are the top dogs on YouTube, with subscriber counts in the millions or even tens of millions. Some examples include PewDiePie, James Charles, and MrBeast.

Pros:

- Massive reach and influence

- High production quality content

- Existing relationships with top brands

Cons:

- Very expensive (minimum 6-7 figures)

- Less likely to do branded collaborations

- Content not as niche or tailored

Mega influencers are best for large brands seeking general reach and awareness campaigns. For smaller brands, mega influencers may not be the most accessible or cost-effective option.

Macro Influencers

Macro influencers have between 100,000 to 1 million subscribers. Some examples are Simply Nailogical, The Try Guys, and Emma Chamberlain.

Pros:

- Large, targeted audience in a specific niche

- High production quality

- More affordable than mega influencers

Cons:

- Still relatively expensive (mid-high 6 figures)

- Limited engagement and interaction

Macro influencers strike a nice balance between reach and relevance. They can be a good option for mid-sized brands targeting a specific niche demographic.

Micro Influencers

Micro influencers have 1,000 to 100,000 subscribers. Some examples are Devinsupertramp, Chessbrah, and Fluencer Market's diverse network of talented micro-YouTubers.

Pros:

- High engagement and connection with audience

- Affordable (low 4 figures on average)

- Often open to creative collaboration

Cons:

- Narrow, niche audience

- Lower video production value

- Less brand recognition

Micro influencers excel at driving real engagement and conversions around specific interests. Fluencer Market specializes in providing micro-influencer campaigns tailored to each brand's unique needs and budget.

Examples of YouTube Influencer Campaigns

To illustrate how brands can effectively leverage different tiers of YouTube influencers, here are some real-world examples:

- Mega Influencer: Samsung partnered with casey Neistat to create an action-packed video for the launch of their new Galaxy S7 camera. His cinematic style and millions of tech-savvy subscribers were a perfect match.

- Macro Influencer: HoneyBook collaborated with Sara Dietschy to produce branded content around small business tools and tips. Her audience of female entrepreneurs fit HoneyBook's target demographic.

- Micro Influencer: Dollar Shave Club worked with 10 micro influencers in the men's lifestyle niche to authentically showcase their subscription shaving products. The micro influencers drove strong engagement and sales.

Finding the Right Fit for Your Brand

As you can see, there are unique benefits to each tier of YouTube influencers. The ideal partner depends on your campaign goals, target audience, and budget. The key is identifying influencers whose content style, niche, and engagement metrics align with your brand's needs.

Here at Fluencer Market, we make it easy to find and collaborate with YouTube micro-influencers for affordable, tailored campaigns. Our network of over 10,000 micro-influencers spans every niche so you can find the perfect fit. Learn more about our ready-made campaign bundles at Fluencer Market.

Let us know if you have any other questions! Our team of experts is here to help you succeed on YouTube.