If you’re starting a business or working in marketing, chances are you’ve heard of Influencer Marketing. Influencer marketing has become an essential tool for brands looking to connect with their audience in a more authentic and impactful way. But how do you make sure you’re partnering with the right influencers to amplify your message?
In this week’s blog post we break down the actionable steps you need to take—from defining your influencer criteria to organizing your outreach strategy. We’ll walk through exactly how to get started and ensure your efforts deliver real results.
1. Define Your Influencer Criteria
Before diving into outreach, it’s essential to set clear parameters for the type of influencers you want to target. Ask yourself:
- What social media platforms resonate most with my target audience?
- How many followers should the influencer have?
- What engagement rate should I aim for?
Answering these questions upfront will save time and effort later, ensuring you focus on influencers who align with your goals. Whether you’re looking for micro-influencers with highly engaged communities or macro-influencers with broad reach, having a clear strategy will help streamline the process.
2. Organize Your List
Once you’ve identified the types of influencers you want to connect with, the next step is to create an influencer list. This list serves as your organizational key to help track outreach efforts and influencer details. Using a tool like Excel or Google Sheets, create columns with the following essential information:
- Influencer’s Name
- Social Media Handle/Username
- Follower Count
- Engagement Rate
- Contact Information
- Date of Initial Contact
- Follow-up Date
This system will help you stay organized, track progress, and avoid duplicating outreach.
Tip: Trouble finding contact info? Most influencers include their email in their social media bio, but if they don’t, check for an ‘Email’ button next to the ‘Follow’ button on Instagram. If they have a Linktree, try searching there as well.
3. Research and Refine Your Influencer List
When building your list, finding influencers with an audience that closely aligns with your target demographic is key. Factors like location, age, gender, and shared interests should all play a part in your research. Tools like Instagram’s Explore page, hashtags, and even features like ‘Ask Meta,’ which we mentioned in last week’s newsletter, can help uncover relevant influencers.
To refine your list, look at more than just follower count—check the influencer’s engagement rate and the quality of interactions they have with their audience.
Curious about what to include in your outreach message? Subscribe to our newsletter for expert tips on writing effective influencer outreach emails!
