Moms say recommended product posts from a friend are 16% more influential than those from a brand, and posts from other moms are 55% more influential than posts from a brand.

FORBES: Mother's Day By The Numbers

Because images are easy to produce, consume, share and collect, they democratize influence and breed a new tribe of highly engaged brand advocates and influential users.

FORBES: D-Commerce And The Pixel Web: The Future Of E-tailing

According to Gensler, there is value in the idea of a brand or individual striving to be an influential force in their respective field.

FORBES: Selling The New Cool: Inside The World Of 'Influencers'

In fact, in the automotive, finance and health sectors, the internet has now surpassed TV as the most influential media for generating WOM brand conversations.

FORBES: Word of Mouth is Still a Valuable Marketing Tool

Watson, who jumped onto the music scene in the early 1960s, is considered influential among folk musicians for his brand of bluegrass, blues, country and gospel music.

CNN: SHARE THIS

Next trick: finding influential customers willing to showcase the Bionic brand.

FORBES: Magazine Article

This is a great problem for Knopf and its authors to have, and it points to how influential a designer can be in the identity of a brand.

FORBES: Hilarious: Design is Serious, Tie-Wearing Business, Just Ask Book Coverist Chip Kidd

Where do the ideas of influential urbanists like Richard Florida, Edward Glaeser, Steward Brand and Geoffrey West fit in?

FORBES: An Organization Design Renaissance

Rob Sheard, brand director at Breville, confirmed that consumers are looking for the appliances they see influential chefs using.

WSJ: Keeping Up With the Vikings | Free Decorator

This does not mean badger them with calls and emails but rather take the time to learn about them and why they are influential, then open up a dialogue by engaging with their content in ways that are relevant to your brand.

FORBES: 4 Tactics To Build Your Word of Mouth