Brands are shifting away from traditional ad-heavy strategies and turning to niche influencers whose authenticity and expertise are quietly reshaping consumer behavior across industries.
Social media intelligence is a powerful resource that can help businesses shape strategy, from understanding what their audience cares about and what drives interest and behavior, to early data signals about emerging risks, according to Storyful SVP of Intelligence Tara Naughton.
Fifty emerging influencers — 10 in each of five categories — are quietly reshaping industries from artificial intelligence (AI) and health care to retail, finance, and sports, often without the large followings and engagement brands typically rely on, according to a report released by Storyful Intelligence on July 30.
Unlike conventional influencer rankings that chase follower counts, Storyful’s Index excluded highly established names, instead surfacing voices with strong growth rates and emerging authority across industries. The report arrives as the industry faces a significant shift.
The Index is not another ranking of the usual suspects, according to Maria Pacheco, CEO of Storyful. The research cracked the code using the firm’s proprietary network mapping tool, Cosmos. Instead of counting likes, the Index measures network connectivity, thought leadership, and social influence.
