KOL is used much more frequently in Chinese marketing than in English. It's the professional/business term for influencers, while 网红 is the casual term. Related: KOC (Key Opinion Consumer) = micro-influencer who reviews products more authentically.
usage
头部KOL = top-tier KOL, 腰部KOL = mid-tier KOL, 尾部KOL = small KOL. These body-part metaphors (head/waist/tail) describe influencer tiers in Chinese marketing.
