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Digital marketing tactics have gained popularity among marketers and advertisers of all kinds. Among these, influencer marketing is in most demand, and companies are actively looking for influencers to collaborate with.
These influencers use different social media platforms to connect with their audience, and Instagram is the most used platform. It is an ideal portal for new ventures, start-ups and e-commerce businesses to grow their online presence. It is the hub of creators and growing influencers or bloggers who work towards audience engagement and interaction.
Before we head towards the right strategies to find the right micro-influencers that match your business requirements, we need to learn in detail about Who they are. This will help you identify and connect with them.
Who are Micro-Influencers?
Influencers with a low number of followers ranging between 1000 and 10,000 followers, are known as Micro-influencers. They function similar to other macro-influencers by posting photos, videos, reels and engaging stories based on their chosen niche. The only dissimilarity is the scope of audience they tend to reach.
Micro-influencers can be beneficial to your business in their own ways. They know their audience very well that are highly engaged; unlike macro-influencers, the followers aren’t too many, so it could be challenging to respond to everyone. They have an organic list of followers and are authentic-real individuals processing towards growth. Their followers trust them more than celebrities who work for highly paid promotions.
Finding Micro-Influencers on Instagram:
To unlock the potential micro-influencers have to offer to create a brand image and take your marketing campaign to the next level, you need to learn to find the right influencers on Instagram. Here are five easy ways to help you with the hunt.
1. Make the most of Instagram Hashtags
The number of Instagram accounts or people that use the platform is billions, and it could seem quite impossible to spot micro-influencers for your chosen niche among them. However, hashtags could make your life easier. Simply type your desired hashtag in the search box related to your products or business niche and browse through the list of popular accounts that use them.
You can also check the popularly used hashtags among your userbase. Go through the accounts that actively interact with your profile and visit their page for the most used hashtags and closely relevant ones.
Scan the account results that use these hashtags, and you will be able to find Instagram handles with 1000- 10,000 followers. A beauty company can search for hashtags like makeup, cosmetics, skincare, etc.
2. Check your Client base or subscribers.
As a company, you may undoubtedly have a list of email subscribers or customers, among which you could find your potential micro-influencer. Refer to this list thoroughly as it will save you a lot of time identifying whether the influencer is a perfect match for you or not, or if they are or aren’t interested in your brand.
If it is a regular customer or an active subscriber, they are widely aware of your brand products and services and indeed love what you have got to offer. They will be natural promoters of your brand and well versed with your app and components.
3. Refer your competitor’s followers
Checking the list of followers of your potential market competitor is another excellent way to look for micro-influencers on Instagram. If a person is interested or likes your competitor’s products and yours are similar or better than theirs, then the micro-influencer will be the right match for your business. The tactic used here is similar to referring to your client list but could be handy and straightforward.
4. Refer your potential influencer’s follower list.
This strategy is again no different from the above two. Although, the key is to know which list to refer to and where to search. Macro-influencers often have a list of followers who follow these celebs to gain inspiration and develop on similar lines. They may not have a strong connection with their audience, but their support system is filled with followers who can greatly use you. You can easily find worthy micro-influencers in this list having a similar niche as your company.
5. Utilize Influencer marketing and search tools
Going through thousands of accounts to find micro-influencers could be frustrating but not the only way to find them. However, search, and marketing tools could make your task relatively more straightforward. These tools make your search job convenient and productive. Their primary focus lies on filtering content, engagement views, follower count, etc. Using them, you can quickly locate micro-influencers that are the right fit for your brand.
Some search tools you could use are Tinysponspors or Carro.
To Wrap Up:
Lastly, the most challenging part could be getting started; once you do, you will quickly get the hang of the process and find the micro-influencers you need. After all, starting right is said to be half done.
Remember, not all micro-influencers you come across will be willing to work with you or be the right match. However, you can surely crack a good deal with a systematic approach and proposal. Be clear and strategic and follow up regularly. Happy hunting.
Also read, How to become a social media Influencer.
