In today’s time Virtual Influencers are the trend on the internet world. Historically, sci-fi cinema sparked people’s fear of robots taking over the world. Radical developments in science, engineering, and artificial intelligence have transformed it from a far-fetched ambition to a plausible reality today. 

For quite some time now, digital marketing has been dominated by the influencer craze. However, as the landscape changes, it is likely to eliminate the role of actual human influencers.

Most likely humans will walk among robots in public places, run into them in the gym, or dine near them in restaurants many years from now. H2R (Human to Robot) interactions are reshaping social media at a rapid pace.

Like celebrities of the olden days, social media influencers bear a striking resemblance to actual celebrities. In the ‘crowd of social media influencers,’ the inspirational/aspirational influencers are usually the cream of the crop. 

It gives viewers the chance to experience life vicariously. It’s like the Jersey Shore, but a little less fake — designer fashion, luxury cars, exuberant parties. 

So, Who are these Virtual Influencers?

Virtual influencersVirtual influencer

Virtual influencers are also called CGI influencers, and they possess the characteristics, features, and personalities of real humans.

In the influencer marketing industry, they’ve become a real force to be reckoned with, with new brands choosing this unconventional form of advertising and more of them showing up every week.

Digital Influencer company Brud is the first agency of its kind to have made it big in the digital space. These companies have created a portfolio of lifelike influencers that get a lot of attention on Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms.

How do Virtual Influencers work?

Behind each of them are smart creators, some big, some small – who have a keen eye for technology.

Instagram users have to figure out how to grow their accounts and make their avatars into the international brands they’re becoming.

Instagram users decide what to wear, treat each other, who to hang out with, date, fall out and collaborate with. 

Most importantly, these influencers will keep the money they make on behalf of brands.

Then, they edit their influencers and use any backdrop they wish. Thus, if they choose a type of influencer that loves to travel, then they can add a high-resolution backdrop image of some far-away destination to their virtual influencer’s bucket list.

Teen fashionista and liberal issues advocate Lil Miquela is the biggest star in the Brud crew. As a result of her work, she has garnered over 3.0 million Instagram followers in three years from magazines, luxury brands, and others. 

Additionally, she has a Wikipedia page of her own. Currently, the company website redirects to a Google Docs document, which has been valued at more than $125 million.

How Virtual Influencing is beneficial for brands?

Brands who are looking to stay ahead of the curve and reach out to a whole new type of audience must be more aware of this trend than anyone.

As people continue to be fascinated with virtual influencers around the world, several of the most famous have already surpassed the million follower milestone. 

It is no surprise therefore that 54% of UK consumers also find virtual entities appealing at some level.

The same benefits that brands receive when choosing to work with real-life influencers can be experienced when partnering with virtual faces.

Also noteworthy is the brand’s flexibility. A virtual influencer gives brands more control over their collaborations. 

In the case of real-life influencers making mistakes, it could be difficult to resolve the mistake, and as a result, the campaign’s launch could be delayed. Virtual influencers can be undone and corrected within minutes when making a mistake.

Many companies are dipping their toes in the water of this futuristic way of marketing. 

In its latest television ad, global automotive brand Renault introduced us to their very own virtual ambassador, Liv, a move which many will surely copy soon.

 These brands have also partnered with upcoming virtual stars, such as Dior, Balenciaga, and OUAI among others.

Birth of V-tubers: 

The term V-tuber stands for virtual YouTuber, a type of content creator in which they present themselves using two- or three-dimensional avatars. 

In order to control these avatars, motion capture (mocap) and other virtual reality devices are typically used. 

Ai Kizuna, the first Japanese vlogger, coined the term.

V-tubers are the next big thing in live streaming. Due to lower prices and simple virtual reality setups, motion capture rigs have become more widespread.

End Note:

Virtual influencers and computer-generated characters offer excitement for marketing executives. 

Virtual influencers have their appeal partly because they’re mysterious. It is hard to find the hows, whats, and whys of the characters. 

Our knowledge of their strategies and financial data to support their profitability is limited. Virtual influencers that have become mainstream in recent years are unclear as to who they are, and the mystery will vanish when the practice goes mainstream.