Best Ways to Find Instagram Influencers

The best ways to find influencers on Instagram include searching on Instagram and Google, tracking mentions with social listening tools, and using influencer search tools.

Influencer marketing is a great way to grow your brand. Influencers help improve brand positioning and awareness by exposing your brand’s content to a larger audience. They also influence their audience to buy your products or services.

But not every influencer will be a perfect fit for your brand. That’s why you should keep a few things in mind while looking for Instagram influencers to collaborate with. For instance, does their content align with your brand’s story and values? 

We’ll discuss these factors under How to choose the right Instagram influencers for your brand below.

Now, let’s look at 5 of the best ways to find influencers on Instagram.

How to find Instagram influencers in your niche

#5 Search for influencers on Instagram

Since you’re looking for Instagram influencers, the best place to start your search is on the platform. There are a few ways to search for Instagram influencers, including:

Using hashtags and keywords

Use hashtags and keywords to know who has mentioned your brand or something related to your brand (or niche).

If you’re a small business dealing with kitchen appliances, enter your brand name preceded by a hashtag on Instagram’s search button. Here’s an example: #biznetkitchen

The search results will display all posts with your brand name. So, go through the posts to see if any influencer has mentioned your brand name.

Or, you can use hashtags with keywords like names of places, food influencers, food bloggers, sponsored content, and ads in your search. For example, #foodinfluencers+USA, #foodbloggers+sponsored, or #foodinfluencersUS+ads.

Alternatively, use the best IG hashtags and keywords relevant to your brand or niche. For instance, you can search keywords like #kitchenappliances, #dinnerset, #doublegrillingpan, #cookware, #cooker, #slowcookrecipes, and more.

Scroll down the search results, checking relevant posts with the highest engagement.

From the above example, I picked a post with 5K+ likes and clicked the content creator’s profile. The bio information shows she is a food blogger with 629K followers and over 2K posts. So, she could be a potential micro-influencer to promote a kitchen appliances brand. 

If she’s someone you like and can work with, go ahead and approach her. You can also click on the ‘Similar accounts’ icon to see profiles of other potential influencers.

Use the Explore page on Instagram

The Explore page is a good place to find Instagram influencers. It displays posts similar to those you like or interact with. 

Scroll down the Explore page and look out for posts with relevant content. You can spot high-performing food posts and then analyze the creators’ profiles. You might come across someone you like who could be a potential influencer.

Here’s an example of a post by a food content creator with 134K followers:

Use your existing followers

Your existing followers can be potential Instagram influencers or lead you to influencers who can promote your brand. Tap into your follower base to find influencers who can promote your brand.

Analyze your followers, the type of posts they like, and the type of influencers they follow. See if some of the influencers tick your checklist of ideal Instagram influencers to partner with.

#4 Use Google search

Using Google search is another great way to find influencers on Instagram. 

But you have to be specific with your keywords because using broad search terms will bring irrelevant results. A good start would be your niche plus the words ‘Instagram influencer.’ You can also include the words ‘micro-infuencer’ or ‘nano influencer’ to rule out celebrities and mega influencers.

The search results show high-performing Instagram accounts related to your search query and relevant articles about food influencers.

Sample the results to find interesting accounts or posts you’d want to analyze further. For instance, you can click on one Instagram account, find out how many followers the creator has, check the type of content they create, and how they engage with their audience.

Repeat this process until you find someone you like and can partner with.

#3 Ask for referrals from existing influencers

Word of mouth has been a powerful marketing strategy for ages and still works in influencer marketing. If you already have an influencer you’re collaborating with or are still in touch with those you previously partnered with, you can contact them for referrals.

You can send them a personalized email or DM on their favorite social channel. Ensure that your approach is friendly, like you can praise them for a job well done in their previous collaboration with your brand. Also, be precise and clear about what type of influencers you’d like them to refer to you. 

For example,

Hi [Influencer’s name],

It’s [Your name] here from [Brand’s name]. We loved partnering with you on [details of the marketing campaign] and appreciate the value you provided.

We managed to [achievements made from the collaboration] and would love to partner with you in future campaigns.

In the meantime, we’re wondering if you have recommendations for Instagram influencers like you. We’re looking to partner with creators with [specific influencer qualities].

Do you have anyone in mind who would be a great fit for our brand? An introduction from you would be very helpful.

Best regards,

[Your name]

The first two methods we’ve discussed above are manual and simple. But they are tedious and time-consuming. 

If time and accuracy are key factors in your search for Instagram influencers, consider automating this process using a social listening tool.

#2 Use a social listening tool 

A social listening tool helps you track mentions of your brand name or relevant keywords across different platforms. So, it analyzes Instagram as well as other platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, websites, and forums to find people who’ve talked about your brand or topics related to your brand.

Social listening tools also show the sentiments behind people’s conversations. So you’ll know who’s talked well about your brand and would be ready to tell others about it. Some tools also have influencer analysis features that show metrics like the top voices on social media, the number of followers, their engagement rates, and their favorite social channels.

For example, Brandwatch is one of the top social listening tools that has an influencer Discover tool that tracks millions of global influencers across multiple social platforms, including Instagram. It helps you identify potential influencers with whom to collaborate and manage your influencer marketing campaigns. 

To find Instagram users using Brandwatch’s Discover tool:

• Create a Brandwatch account on brandwatch.com
• Hover over the left side of your Brandwatch dashboard and click on Discover

• Click on the Instagram icon 

• Use filters to narrow your search results. For instance, click the Audience type filter and choose ‘Followers and Likers’ to define your Instagram audience. You can also use the ‘Engagement and Growth’ filters to define the engagement rates of your ideal influencers.
• Other filters to consider include ‘Demographic,’ ‘Account & Bio text,’ and ‘Lookalike’ filters. Save your filters and search.

Your search results will appear as an influencer table with columns showing metrics like the number of followers and engagement rates.

• Sort the results from different metrics or customize the columns using your preferred filters.
• Select relevant influencers and add them to your roster or campaigns by selecting the ‘Add to influencers’ or ‘Add to campaigns’ features.

Note: You can set up Brandwatch smart alerts to receive notifications of any changes in your brand mentions.

Below are other social listening tools you can use to search for influencers on Instagram:

• Talkwalker
• Awario
• Brand24
• Synthesio
• Mention

#1 Use an influencer search tool

Like social listening tools, influencer search tools allow you to find Instagram influencers automatically.

Influencer search tools are also referred to as Influencer marketing platforms or Influencer discovery tools. They are easy to use, reliable, scalable, and time-efficient.

Influencer discovery tools have unique features to ease your search for influencers on Instagram (and other platforms). The most common features are:

• Comprehensive databases
• Influencer discovery
• Search criteria
• Influencer analysis
• Audience analysis
• Campaign management

They also have filters like the number of followers (or subscribers), location, engagement rate, language, audience demographics, and influencer activities to help you narrow the search results.

Some have advanced features like Analytics to help you measure the influencers’ performance metrics and make better decisions. Other tools have features that let you identify influencers with fake followers and previous collaborations. 

You’ll find numerous influencer search tools in the market, most of which are subscription-based. 

Some of the best influencer discovery tools include:

• Influencity – best for finding lookalike or similar influencer accounts
• Influencer Analytics – best for analyzing influencers’ performance metrics
• Rytyty – best for automating similar profiles’ search
• Impulze – best for marketing agencies
• Tribe – best for building and managing a creator community
• Upfluence – best for accessing audience data
• Skeepers – best for medium-to-large enterprises
• Creator.co – best for affiliate marketing
• Brandwatch Influencer Marketing Software – best for influencer marketing campaign management

If you want to automate your search for Instagram influencers, invest in an influencer search tool that matches your goals and budget.

That said, finding the right Instagram influencers for your brand can be challenging. You can’t judge an influencer’s suitability by just looking at the number of followers they have. That’s why you should create a checklist of what your ideal influencer looks like. 

How to choose the right Instagram influencers for your brand

Here’s what to consider when choosing your Instagram influencers:

The influencer’s values should align with your brand’s

Finding an influencer who aligns with your brand story and values is a plus. You want someone who cares about topics that are important to your brand. For instance, as a small kitchen appliances brand, you could be intentional about sustainability and eco-friendliness in your packaging. So, in your search for an influencer to promote your brand, look for someone who also values the environment.

Their content should align with your niche

Apart from your brand story and values, you’d want an influencer whose content aligns with your brand and niche.

After identifying a potential Instagram influencer, here are some questions to think about:

• Do they share valuable and engaging content? 
• Is the content relevant to your niche and target audience?
• Do they use high-quality visuals like images and videos?

Audience/Follower metrics

Another factor to consider when choosing an influencer is their audience or follower metrics. 

For starters, you should assess the number and quality of their followers. It’s important to note that influencers with large followers are not ideal for small businesses. So go for nano or micro-influencers because they have more close-knit online communities and are affordable.

Also, remember that some influencers use fake followers and bots to appear influential. Hence, use an influencer discovery tool to confirm if an influencer has an authentic following.

You should also analyze the audience’s demographics (like age and gender) to determine whether they match your target audience.

They should have a high engagement rate on their posts

It’s important to analyze how the potential influencer’s audience interacts with their content. 

You’d want to know the engagement rates or how people like, comment on, and share their posts. A high engagement rate shows that the audience is interested in the influencer’s content. Nano and micro-influencers usually have high engagement rates on their posts because they reach specific audiences. So, your content (when promoted by the influencer) will also stand a chance to perform well if it resonates with the target audience.

Your goals should align with the influencer’s

Before settling on an influencer, determine what type of Instagram marketing campaign you want to launch. Then, look for an influencer who shares your goals. For example, if you want a long-term partnership, identify an influencer who values stability and is determined to stick around for a long time.

Check how the influencer’s previous collaboration performed

Find out if the potential influencer has previously collaborated with brands to promote their businesses. Finding someone with experience in influencer marketing is a plus. But you’d also want to know how they performed.

For example, did they use storytelling or humor to promote content? How did their followers react and engage with the content? Did they help the sponsoring brand gain more followers and boost their sales?

Additionally, check the kind of products or businesses that the influencer has collaborated with. For example, if you sell genuine products, you don’t want to partner with an influencer who promotes fake products.

After finding the perfect influencer(s) to promote your brand, the next question is how to approach them. Closing a partnership deal with a potential influencer can be challenging if you use the wrong strategy.

Bonus: How to approach Instagram influencers

Here’s how you can approach a potential brand influencer:

• Warm up the potential influencer. Rather than cold-pitching a potential influencer, warm them up before making your request. You can follow them and interact with their content. Like, comment, and share their posts to make the influencers notice your presence and get to know you.
• Build a relationship. While engaging with the influencer’s content, identify what they excel at. Then, send them a few messages congratulating them on their achievements. No one hates being recognized.
• Reach out via their preferred communication channel. After the influencer has warmed up to you, send them a brief message that mentions the possibility of your future collaborations. Then, let them choose their preferred communication channel so that you can tell them more about your offer. 
• Outline your expectations and deliverables. Send a personalized message via the chosen channel outlining your contract deliverables. You should tell the influencer about your brand, your unique value proposition, your expectations from them, and how they’ll benefit from the contract.
• Sign a contract. If the influencer is interested and ready to partner with you, find the best platform to close the deal. If it’s a local influencer, you can meet up and sign the contract.

Watch the video below for more information on how to reach out to influencers.

FAQs

How do I find influencers fast?

To find influencers fast, use an influencer search tool or a social listening platform. These tool types will automate your searching, so you don’t have to look for influencers manually. You only have to set the criteria to use to get the best influencer to promote your brand.

These tools also have filters to sieve out irrelevant search results.

How do I find local micro-influencers on Instagram?

One way to find local micro-influencers on Instagram is by using hashtags and keywords related to your location and niche. For example, you can use #foodmicro-influencers + California to find micro-influencers in the food niche based in California. 

The other way is to automate your search using an influencer discovery tool or a social listening tool.

How to know if an influencer has fake followers?

You can use an influencer search tool with a discovery feature to spot influencers with fake followers. 

You can also go the manual way by:

• Checking the influencer’s followers list – Are there foreign or funny names on their accounts with empty profiles?
• Going through their posts – Do the comments seem suspicious and bot-generated?

How do I contact an influencer on Instagram?

First, you can send them a personalized message on their DM. Alternatively, check if they have an email address on their bio and use it to send an email. Or find out if they have a link to their website. Then, check the contact details listed on the website and use them to send a message.

How do you get influencers to work with you?

Build a relationship with the potential influencer before convincing them to work with you. Then, be professional in your approach. If you send a DM on their Instagram profile, use a business (not a personal) Instagram account. Also, send them a contract outlining your expectations and deliverables via the influencer’s preferred channel.

Are Instagram influencers the same as creators?

In most cases, Instagram influencers are not the same as creators. Influencers share sponsored content from the brands they’re marketing, while creators create and share original content.

But sometimes, Instagram influencers are content creators who find collaboration opportunities. For example, a food content creator who crafts original food content could land an opportunity to promote a kitchen appliances brand.

Is there a free tool to find influencers on Instagram?

Although most Instagram influencer search tools are paid-for and subscription-based, some of them have free versions. Examples include:

• Kitly Business
• HypeAuditor
• Storyclash
• Influence.co
• Crowdfire

But, these freemiums have more limitations than the premium versions.

Some, like Impulze, Rytyty, and Promoty, offer free trials. Others, like Upfluence, offer free Chrome extensions.

Further read: IG stats