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Client Overview
Estée Lauder, a global leader in premium cosmetics, sought to boost awareness of its Double Wear Foundation range among Chinese expats and tourists in Europe. The brand aimed to bridge cultural and digital divides by partnering with influencers who commanded influence on both Western platforms (e.g., Instagram) and Chinese social media (e.g., Xiaohongshu, Weibo). However, fragmented data across platforms made it challenging to identify creators with authentic cross-regional appeal.
The Challenge
Estée Lauder faced three critical obstacles:
Cross-Platform Visibility: Identifying KOLs active on both Chinese and European social media, ensuring content resonated with dual audiences.
Audience Authenticity: Avoiding influencers with inflated follower counts and prioritizing creators with high engagement among Chinese expats.
Campaign Speed: Streamlining negotiations and content approvals to meet tight launch deadlines.
Strategy & Execution
InfluenConnect deployed a unified, data-driven approach to amplify Estée Lauder’s cross-platform presence.
Holistic Cross-Platform Evaluation - As the only SaaS tool integrating data from 12 global platforms, InfluenConnect enabled Estée Lauder to analyze KOL performance metrics (e.g., engagement rates, audience demographics) on Xiaohongshu, Instagram, TikTok, and Weibo simultaneously. The AI identified 20 influencers whose followers included Chinese expats in Europe and locals interested in luxury beauty.
Transparent Pricing & Direct Negotiations - Pre-verified rate cards eliminated budget guesswork, while direct access to KOL contact details accelerated partnership confirmations. Estée Lauder bypassed intermediaries, reducing negotiation time by 25% and reallocating resources to creative development.
Seamless Collaboration & Content Localisation - Selected KOLs co-created tutorials and testimonials tailored to Chinese beauty trends (e.g., “glass skin” finishes) while emphasizing the foundation’s long-wear benefits for European climates. InfluenConnect’s platform facilitated real-time feedback, ensuring brand guidelines were met without delays.
Results
The campaign solidified Double Wear Foundation’s reputation as a global beauty staple:
65% Faster Influencer Search: AI tools slashed research time, enabling rapid campaign deployment.
500K+ Followers Reached: Content generated 25% higher engagement than industry benchmarks for beauty campaigns.
Brand Loyalty Boost: Post-campaign surveys showed a 40% increase in Chinese expats associating Estée Lauder with “trustworthy luxury.”