July 31, 2025

How to Turn Influencers into Powerful Brand Advocates

A Layered Influencer Strategy That Turned Transactions into Trust

As the wellness industry continues to grow, so does the need for influencer marketing strategies that go beyond one-off posts. Today’s most effective campaigns are rooted in authentic relationships, shared values, and long-term brand advocacy.

When Traditional Medicinals, a leading herbal tea brand and certified B Corp, wanted to expand its footprint in Canada, it partnered with Yulu to build a tailored influencer strategy that would strengthen community engagement and boost cultural relevance.

Read the full Traditional Medicinals case study →

The Challenge: Low Awareness, High Alignment

Despite a strong U.S. presence and clear alignment with Canadian consumer values around wellness, sustainability, and ethical sourcing, Traditional Medicinals faced two challenges in Canada:

  • Limited brand recognition
  • A need for localized, values-based storytelling to resonate with wellness-minded Canadians

The brand needed more than visibility; it needed emotional connection and trust.

Yulu’s Multi-Layered Influencer Marketing Approach

Yulu designed and executed a comprehensive influencer marketing campaign that combined paid content, organic gifting, and real-life experiences. The goal: to turn Canadian creators into long-term brand advocates.

Paid & In-Kind Influencer Campaigns

We collaborated with macro, mid-tier, and micro influencers across Instagram and TikTok, capturing seasonal wellness rituals and outdoor moments that showcased the everyday relevance of Traditional Medicinals’ herbal teas.

A taste of the content created:

Sips of the Season: Long-Term Gifting

This quarterly program nurtured consistent content creation and deepened emotional resonance. Curated tea boxes and storytelling assets helped influencers organically integrate the brand into their wellness routines.

In-Person Activation: Where Wisdom Meets Wellness

To mark Mental Health Awareness Month, Yulu hosted a brand immersion event in Vancouver, featuring guided tea tastings, a yoga session, and a herbalist-led talk. Influencers left with lasting memories and meaningful content.

Relationship-First Approach

By prioritizing long-term creator relationships over transactional posts, we saw organic mentions grow and repeat collaborations emerge, proof that this strategy built real trust and brand love.

Campaign Results: Wellness Meets Impact

  • Engaged 40+ influencers through a mix of paid, gifted, and in-kind activations
  • Generated 100+ pieces of content across Instagram and TikTok
  • In-person event content reached an estimated 179,000+ users
  • Significant increase in organic influencer mentions over time
  • $2M+ growth in Canadian market share (14% year-over-year increase)

Why This Influencer Strategy Worked

Today’s wellness consumers are savvy. They don’t just want products, they want stories that align with their values. Our layered, purpose-led influencer strategy helped Traditional Medicinals:

  • Create cultural resonance in a new market
  • Amplify purpose led messaging
  • Build a community of long-term brand advocates
  • Drive measurable impact and year-over-year market growth

Let’s Work Together

Looking to elevate your wellness brand through strategic influencer engagement and authentic brand activations?

Email us at hello@yulupr.com
Or call +1 604-558-1656

 Explore the full Traditional Medicinals case study →