How Do I Find Small Influencers?

Macro influencers and celebrities on social media get most of the press, but they aren’t the only ones who make great partners for brands hoping to promote their products or services. Working with micro-influencers — influencers who have between 1,000 and 100,000 followers — can be even more beneficial for brands trying to reach their target audience. 

It’s no surprise, then, that the majority of marketers who use influencer marketing work with micro-influencers. But how can you find influencers for your brand and partner with them? Can an influencer search tool help? Try these tips to step up your influencer campaign:

How Do I Find Micro-Influencers to Partner With?

The steps brands looking for small influencers should take aren’t much different from any other influencer search. You have a few options for finding micro-influencers to work with, such as:

• Searching social media: You can use the built-in search tools on social media platforms to look for influencers posting content in your niche. Try searching hashtags or keywords related to your products and scrolling through the results while looking for influencer accounts with less than 100,000 followers. 
• Databases: There are some online databases with lists of influencers, including some with micro-influencers specifically, that you can look through to find potential partners. 
• Influencer search tools: Brands looking for small influencers can also use Influencer search tools to discover influencers who meet their criteria, including micro-influencers. 

How Do You Discover Micro-Influencers?

Any of the methods listed above will help you discover micro-influencers who might make good partners for your brand. Once you find one promising micro-influencer, you can use their account as a jumping-off point to find other micro-influencers, too. Micro-influencers often engage with one another on social media, and the platform may recommend similar accounts. 

For example, fashion brands that collaborate with small influencers often work with multiple micro-influencers who operate in the same sphere. This can be a very effective strategy. 

How Do I Find Micro-Influencers in My Area?

Many brands are interested in working with local influencers rather than influencers from all over the country or even the globe. By partnering with micro-influencers in your area, you can combine the benefits of using micro-influencers and local influencers in your campaign. 

To find local influencers with under 100,000 followers, you’ll have to tailor your search to your city/state/region. Some social media posts are geo-tagged with the post’s location, which may help your search but isn’t guaranteed. 

Instead of manually searching, which may not even work, consider using an influencer marketing platform like Lionize. These platforms allow you to search for influencers that meet certain specifications, including follower count and location. Simply input into the search form that you want micro-influencers in your area, and the platform should return a list of suitable influencers. For example, brands that collaborate with small influencers on TikTok would specify that they need influencers on TikTok who have between 1,000 and 100,000 followers. 

How Do I Find Micro-Influencers for My Brand on Instagram?

Searching for micro-influencers on Instagram is the same as on any other social media platform. Small businesses looking for influencers on Instagram should conduct a manual search, browse influencer databases, or use influencer marketing platforms. 

How Many Micro-Influencers Are There on Instagram?

There are millions of influencers total across all social media platforms, and that number grows every day. Instagram alone hosts millions of influencers. It’s hard to narrow down exactly how many micro-influencers post on Instagram, but rest assured that there are many opportunities for brand partnerships. 

Since micro-influencers have fewer followers than other types of influencers, there are more micro-influencers. Brands have plenty of micro-influencers to work with. 

How Do I Contact Micro-Influencers?

Micro-influencers are often easier to connect with than larger influencers since they’re less in the spotlight. To contact micro-influencers, consider reaching out through email or direct messages on their social media accounts. You can also engage with the micro influencers’ posts and build a rapport before contact. 

How Do I Get a List of Micro-Influencers?

There are some lists of influencers online that can help brands in their search for influencer partners. Small businesses looking for influencers can use free online databases for these lists or use an influencer marketing platform. 

If you use an influencer marketing platform, you specify that you want micro-influencers. Once you do, the platform can return a list of influencers in that category. Alternatively, other types of influencer platforms may propose influencers who meet your qualifications and want to work with your brand.

Use Lionize to Connect with Small Influencers and Level-Up Your Influencer Marketing

Lionize simplifies the process of searching for and connecting with micro-influencers. The Lionize platform leverages AI to make every step of your influencer marketing campaign easier than ever for brands, including searching for partners. Lionize offers influencer marketing tools that can help you find relevant micro-influencers and track your influencer marketing campaigns easily. Try the platform to see for yourself what Lionize can do.