If you’ve ever experienced a long day of no sales or weeks upon weeks without any sign of gigs and your inbox so silent, you can almost hear the insects chirping, you’ll agree with me that every business needs customers to survive. That’s just how important visibility is. Luckily, social media came to our rescue, and to be specific, brand influencing.
But Can we be honest?
Collaborating with influencers as a small or medium business often feels like crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. You do your research, reach out to someone you think aligns with your audience, pay the fee, wait for the post to go live… and sometimes, crickets. No clicks. No conversions. Just vibes.
As someone who’s worked on both sides of the table; creating content and helping brands grow, I know how frustrating that can be.
That’s why I was genuinely excited when I discovered TrendAI. It’s not just another influencer platform. It’s a smart, AI-driven tool that actually understands what both creators and brands are looking for—and makes sure they find each other for all the right reasons.
In reality, influencer marketing is a risky game of chance.
Let’s say you sell fashion bags and you partner with a creator who has a massive following, but their content is all about fast food and restaurants. Sure, their followers are engaged, but not interested in you. That’s a misalignment in tone, audience, and values.
Why this happens more often than we care to admit is because most tools don’t go beyond follower count or engagement rate. They don’t ask: “Does this creator actually match the brand’s voice, mission, or customer psychology?”
This is the gap that Trend AI is stepping in to close.
What is Trend AI and How Does It Work?
At it’s core, TrendAI is an influencer platform that helps SMEs and African Creators grow through verified creator campaigns which can be launched instantly, tracked in real-time and paid for at their convenience. In simple words, it helps brands identify the best creators to collaborate with and know if their investments are actually worth it.
It was founded in 2023 by Evalyn Oloo and Co-founder Ross Franks, having identified this problem for brands and content creators and understanding what is expected of each other.
They provided this platform for GenX creators to gain visibility for brands to work with them, and equally, brands, with the right content creators for their campaign and advertising needs.
Trend AI’s focus on authentic partnerships is it’s crown jewel. Creators aren’t just randomly paired with brands; by analyzing a creator’s content, audience behaviour, engagement patterns, and even psychographic data, they’re matched with businesses whose mission, voice, and vibe they genuinely resonate with. That way, both parties are invested and audiences can feel the difference.
Features That Set Trend AI Apart
This is probably not the first AI marketing tool you’ve heard of but it’s a force to reckon with. Apart from AI-powered matching and Audience alignment, it stands out in other unique ways:
- Performance Analytics
No more flying blind. The platform offers **real-time performance tracking**, so you can monitor impressions, engagement, and conversions as your campaign runs. If something isn’t working, you know early. If it’s exceeding expectations, you know where to scale.
Marketing Director, FoodCo Kenya, Sarah N. confirmed this when she said;
“TrendAI revolutionized our marketing strategy. We’re reaching the exact audience we need with authentic voices that truly represent our brand. Campaign ROI increased by 215% since we started!”
- Global Creator Network
From micro-influencers to rising stars, Trend AI gives you access to a global pool of African creators who have been vetted for authenticity, audience quality, and content impact. Whether you’re a local bakery or a tech startup, you’ll find influencers with the right reach and relevance.
- Content Library
Ever struggled with campaign inspiration? It also offers a searchable content database so you can see what has worked for similar brands. You get access to past campaigns, creative directions, and even content performance that is perfect for guiding your own storytelling.
What’s in it for African Creators?
Imagine there was an AI that could easily and effectively connect you with your most potential clients without any stress at all. I mean, wouldn’t it be so nice if the case were reversed and clients came looking for you instead…
I’m sure you know where I’m going. As a Creator, you get access to “brands that already resonate” with your values and content tone. This makes for more natural storytelling and stronger partnerships. Trust me, it’s easier to work when you love your job. In the words of David M., a Tech Creator in Nairobi, Kenya;
“ Before TrendAI, I struggled to find paid partnerships. Now brands come to me! I earned enough in 6 months to quit my day job and focus on content creation full-time.”
Also, Micheal, Michael, a Fashion Creator, in Lagos, Nigeria added;
“As a creator, TrendAI has been life-changing. I’m making consistent income every month from brands that actually fit my content style. The AI matching is scary accurate!”
Creators also benefit from:
•Direct campaign offers (no cold pitching!)
•Real-time analytics on content performance
•Transparent payments and clearer expectations.
Are There Any Downsides to TrendAI?
I almost wouldn’t call these downsides but there are a few things you need to note as an SME or a Creator;
First of all, it’s not free, but very affordable: With as low as $25, you can launch a campaign and get started on improving your visibility.
Additionally, as a creator, you only get paid if your content is approved: This is to ensure everybody plays fair with creators putting in only their best.
Finally, to register as a Creator, you need at least a thousand followers on TikTok or Twitter (X) and I don’t think you need me to tell you why.
TrendAI’s Achievements and Objectives:
It’s important to note that TrendAI made it to the finalist of Connected Summit Africa, a forum where innovative ideas are nurtured and partnerships are made for leveraging technology to advance the achievement of Africa’s development agenda 2063.
For TrendAI this is proof that they have put in effort to building this solution and have garnered traction to show for it.
Ross Franks, TrendAI CEO, told Creator Economy Africa that TrendAI’s goal is tackling one of Africa’s major challenge, unemployment.
“Bringing young people on board isn’t fairly simple. SMEs are a bit more challenging but we are developing marketing campaigns directed towards getting business owners curious. Solving unemployment and underemployment is a challenge on the African Continent in general. We see the platform can grow SMEs while creating jobs,” he said.
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