7 Types of Influencers Based on Niche and Industry

Trendupp Africa
9 min readJun 11, 2024

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Influencers play a big role in today’s world, changing the way we shop and follow trends. Whether you are on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or TikTok, you will see influencers leading the way in marketing.

A recent report reveals that the industry is set to grow above $21.1 billion in 2023, highlighting their growing influence.

But all influencers are not the same. They come in different types based on their niche, expertise, and the industries they work in. From fashion and beauty gurus to tech and wellness enthusiasts, each type brings unique value and engagement strategies.

We will look at seven types of influencers in different niches, explain what they do with examples, and show how brands can use their power for successful marketing. This is a follow-up to our last post, where we explained influencer types based on their follower count.

7 Types of Influencers Based on Niche and Industry

Aside from the numbers, influencers can also be classified according to their industry or niches and we will be explaining in detail below.

1. Lifestyle Influencers

Lifestyle influencers create content that makes life look colourful and exciting. They post about restaurants, shopping, vacation spots, and more. People follow lifestyle influencers to dream, get inspired, or find new places to visit and shop.

This niche is broad, covering many aspects of life. Content creators can talk about various topics, such as fashion, beauty, parenting, and relationships. This freedom lets them reach a wide audience.

Brands can use lifestyle influencers to promote their products and services in a relatable way. Since these influencers cover many topics, they can seamlessly integrate brand messages into their content. For example, a lifestyle influencer could showcase a new clothing line during a shopping trip or highlight a new restaurant during a vacation.

One popular lifestyle influencer is Bella Okagbue. Bella shares her interesting life with her 900K Instagram followers.

On her page, you can see her travel adventures, vacation experiences, and relationship tips, along with “Get Ready With Me” (GRWM) style inspiration. Bella offers a glimpse into her exciting world without revealing too much about her personal life.

2. Fashion Influencers

Fashion influencers engage their followers by showcasing how to dress and influencing their wardrobe choices. They post about the products they buy, share reviews of their favourite clothes, and often set trends with their unique style.

Brands can use fashion influencers to promote their products authentically. These influencers have a keen eye for style and can seamlessly incorporate branded clothing and accessories into their daily outfits. By sharing outfit ideas, styling tips, and honest reviews, they build trust with their audience, making them powerful partners for fashion brands.

A great example of a fashion influencer is Nonye Udeogu, known as @thisthingcalledfashionn. Nonye shares a wide range of fashion content, from clothes and cultural attire to accessories.

Her posts include fashion tips, style inspiration, product reviews, “Get Ready With Me” (GRWM) videos, photo poses, and unboxing videos. Nonye’s balanced and aesthetically pleasing content makes her an influential voice for brands looking to promote their products stylishly and engagingly.

3. Beauty Influencers

Beauty influencers create content focused on makeup, haircare, and skincare. They review cosmetic products and influence what their followers buy. While many beauty influencers are women, men are also making their mark in this field. Male beauty influencers are hired by brands to promote their products and boost sales.

Brands can leverage beauty influencers to market their products effectively. These influencers provide honest reviews, tutorials, and skincare routines that resonate with their followers. By partnering with beauty influencers, brands can reach a wide and diverse audience, showcasing their products in everyday use and building trust through personal endorsements.

A notable beauty influencer is Adeoluwa Prince Enioluwa, also known as @enioluwaofficial or Lipgloss Boy.

He is a leading male beauty influencer in Nigeria with about 2.5 million Instagram followers. Enioluwa breaks the mould by showing that anyone can succeed in their passion. He not only influences the beauty industry but also impacts the fashion and food sectors. His content promotes positive change and inclusivity in the beauty space.

4. Business and Investment Influencers

In the past, learning how to grow your business, manage your finances, or start investing meant spending hours in the library reading finance books or consulting a financial advisor. Today, this process is much simpler thanks to blogs, YouTube, and Instagram channels.

Business and investment influencers share all kinds of valuable content, from sales and marketing tutorials to tips on investing and building passive income. They make complex topics easy to understand and help their followers make smart financial decisions.

Brands can leverage these influencers to market their products and services. By partnering with business and investment influencers, brands can reach an audience that is keen on financial growth and management.

A great example of a B2B influencer is Sola Adesakin.

Sola is a seasoned Chartered Accountant with extensive experience in personal and SME finance. She is also a Personal Finance Coach, Author, and a popular Conference and Seminar Speaker.

5. Health and Wellness Influencers

Health and wellness influencers inspire their followers to improve both physical fitness and mental well-being. They share workout routines, mental health tips, and wellness advice, making healthy living accessible and engaging.

Brands in the health and wellness industry can benefit greatly from these influencers. They can integrate products like workout gear, wellness apps, and nutritional supplements into their content, offering genuine recommendations that build trust and drive sales.

A great example is Egemba Chinonso Fidelis, known as @aproko_doctor on Instagram. With 1.7 million followers, he shares valuable health advice and tips, creating a dedicated community.

His content demonstrates how health and wellness influencers can build a loyal following by providing valuable information that directly impacts their audience’s lifestyle and well-being.

6. Photography Influencers

Photography influencers shine in their niche by capturing stunning images that tell a story. This niche is incredibly diverse, with photographers specializing in various fields:

  • Nature photographers capture the beauty of mountains, seas, and forests.
  • Urban photographers focus on the architectural designs of modern and historic cities and everyday life in big cities.
  • Sports photographers ensure that the most memorable moments of your favourite sports games are preserved.
  • Fashion photographers work with fashion influencers to showcase bold looks and stylish outfits.
  • Photojournalists tell compelling stories and report important facts through their photos.
  • Celebrity photographers capture the lives of famous personalities.

Brands can leverage the power of photography influencers to create visually appealing and impactful marketing campaigns. For example, a fashion brand could collaborate with a fashion photographer to create stunning images of their latest collection, while a travel brand might partner with a nature photographer to showcase beautiful destinations.

A great example of a photography influencer is Tolani Alli, known as @tolanialli. Tolani is a photojournalist who uses her photography to create documentaries, capture captivating moments, and tell compelling stories.

With over 97.7K followers, she is a micro-influencer who makes a big impact.

7. Tech and Gaming

Tech and Gaming influencers provide expert insights on the latest gadgets and video games, attracting audiences interested in the newest advancements in tech and gaming.

However — their appeal isn’t just limited to their niche. Due to the strength of their personal brands, they can effectively engage audiences across various interests, making them valuable for promoting a wide range of products and services.

Fisayo Fosudo is a key influencer in the tech space. With over 291K followers, he is well-known for his in-depth tech product reviews and analyses on YouTube and Instagram.

Many of the largest tech brands such as Apple and Samsung, often send him their products to review, and viewers typically perceive him as the go-to source for finding an honest review of the newest products.

Food and Nutrition Influencers

Food and nutrition influencers captivate their audience with cooking tips, restaurant reviews, and healthy eating advice. They connect brands with a diverse audience eager for food inspiration and wellness tips.

For businesses in the food industry — whether gourmet brands, innovative food services, or companies specializing in the latest kitchen gadgets — these influencers provide a tasty path for brand promotion. Their content appeals to both food lovers and health-conscious individuals, making them essential for marketing strategies focused on food-related products and services.

One standout food and nutrition influencer is Winifred Nwania of @zeeliciousfoods on Instagram. With 744K followers, Winifred is a healthy living advocate who shares vibrant, easy-to-make recipes and healthy eating tips.

Her success comes from making healthy eating appealing and accessible, transforming simple ingredients into visually stunning dishes that invite you to try them.

Travel Influencers

Travel influencers share tips on all things travel, from must-visit places to travel gear and the best hotels. They inspire their audience to explore new destinations and offer practical advice to help them achieve their travel dreams.

Brands can partner with travel influencers to promote travel-related products and services. These influencers create engaging content that showcases destinations, travel gear, and accommodations, building credibility through authentic recommendations.

An example of a travel influencer is Tayo Aina. Tayo is a passionate filmmaker who tells visual stories about his travels around the world. He keeps his Instagram and YouTube followers updated on his latest adventures and shares unique travel tips based on his experiences.

With 891K subscribers on YouTube and 744K followers on Instagram, Tayo’s engaging content and travel expertise make him a powerful voice for brands in the travel industry.

Entertainment Influencers

Entertainment influencers, often comedians, create content that makes people laugh and keeps them engaged. They can also overlap with lifestyle influencers, helping brands reach a broader audience with their fun and engaging posts.

Brands can leverage entertainment influencers to promote their products in a lighthearted and memorable way. By incorporating brand messages into their entertaining content, these influencers can create a positive association with the products they feature.

A perfect example is Maryam Apaokagi, known professionally as Taaooma. Taaooma shares comedy skit videos where she plays various characters and adds her unique twist to popular trends.

She has partnered with several brands across different niches and industries to promote their products, showcasing her versatility and wide appeal.

B2B Influencers

B2B influencers are key players in the business world, impacting decisions in large organizations. They are thought leaders in their fields and can significantly influence a specific, professional audience, even if they aren’t the ones making the final purchase.

Brands can use B2B influencers to reach decision-makers and professionals in a targeted way. These influencers share expert insights, industry trends, and valuable advice, which helps build trust and authority.

Nelly Agbogu, known as @Naijabrandchick. She is an entrepreneur and Instagram business coach with 355K followers. Nelly teaches small business owners how to use Instagram to grow their businesses.

Through her engaging content, she provides practical tips on marketing, sales, and building a strong online presence. Nelly’s expertise and large following make her a powerful partner for brands aiming to reach and support small business owners.

Wrapping Up

Influencers come in all shapes and sizes, each bringing unique value to their niche. From lifestyle and fashion influencers who inspire our daily choices, to B2B influencers who shape industry decisions, their impact is undeniable.

As an influencer, you have to understand the different types of influencers and where you belong to identify suitable brands to collaborate with and help them connect with people genuinely.

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