Instagram stands as THE pioneer of influencer marketing. Yet, pinpointing the ideal Instagram influencers for your brand remains a colossal challenge (there are more than 70M creators on Instagram).

BUT it can also bring incredible success if done correctly. We all earned of those Instagram brands generating $$$ from influencers.

Take Gymshark, a brand that skyrocketed from a $108 valuation in 2013 to a whopping $1.3 billion by Forbes a decade later, all thanks to their pioneering efforts in influencer marketing

How did those successful Instagram brands learn how to find influencers on Instagram more efficiently and generate results?

Significantly, the challenge amplifies as an increasing number of brands diving into the influencer arena…… 

Don’t worry! This article will reveal the secret hacks that pro marketers swear by.

We will cover:

-> Free manual hacks to find Instagram influencers

-> Harnessing ChatGPT for influencer searches

-> Insider tips to monitor your competitors

-> Essential influencer search tools to streamline your hunt

-> Techniques to discover similar influencers in a flash

Navigating how to find influencers on Instagram can be a maze.

And I often see marketers commit avoidable mistakes that can destroy all the efforts of a campaign! But don’t worry, I got your back.

Here are the 3 critical mistakes to avoid before launching your Influencer Search:

🔴 Not knowing your audience

-> Find influencers that will speak to your audience.

🔴 Lack of Clear Objectives

-> Start with clearly understanding what you want the influencer to achieve for your brand. 

🔴 Overemphasizing Follower Count

-> Don’t overlook engagement metrics! Check their stats.

*Pro tips: Document your findings in an Excel list, capturing essential details for each influencer. Here’s an example:

Done? Now we are ready to find Instagram influencers for your business

Here are the key steps used by marketers of top brands such as Gymshark to find Instagram influencers that will perform for your brand:

1. Manual Hunt: Hashtags, Location etc.
2. Use an Instagram Influencer Finder Tool
3. Use ChatGPT
4. Check Lookalikes
5. Spy on your competitors

Let’s start with the basics. The Instagram app is your treasure map, and the best part? It’s free!

But, as with any treasure hunt, it can be time-consuming.

Fear not! I’m here to share the best hacks to guide your search. Let’s dive into it.

You really have 5 ways to find Influencers using the Instagram App:

Please note: This is only if you have an audience on Instagram (Think +2k followers).

Before looking for more influencers, this should ALWAYS be your first step. Influencers who genuinely love your product make their endorsements authentic and relatable.

Remember, influencers are real people too, and they follow brands they admire. 

How to tap into this goldmine? 

First, scan your follower list (look for verified accounts):

Second, check out those who’ve tagged your brand:

Or use an Influencer Search Tool.

When looking at how to find influencers on Instagram, tech tools can become handy and save you a lot of time!  But they are often expensive.

Well, not all! (I shouldn’t tell you that) -> On Click Analytic, you can use the free trial to do all the above but in 2 sec.

Hashtags might feel a tad old-school, but they’re still efficient.

Instagram Influencers still use them to boost their reach and visibility.

*Pro Tip: For precise results, specificity is key. Instead of a broad #food, zoom in with #healthysalad. And if you’re on the lookout for influencers with prior sponsorships, #ad or #sponsored are your go-to tags.

And you know what is even better than hashtags? Simple keywords.

When searching how to find influencers on Instagram – hashtags might sometimes give you irrelevant results. Keywords will be more precise as long as you are specific!

*Pro Tip: Check the “Reels” tab, and you might find more easily performing UGC creators.

Just look at using the Discovery feature of Instagram. You can find any content per city! And therefore find any local influencer.

*Pro Tip: Check the guides, they are often done by influencers 😉

Probably the most basic tips of the Instagram Influencer hunt, but…Check your explore page!

Instagram algorithm is super smart and will automatically suggest content in your niche.

By now, you should have a list of 10 to 20 potential influencers. It might have taken you a bit of time, but it’s worth it.  

Now let’s look at how to find influencers on Instagram in less than 1 min.

Ready?

Wondering how Gymshark marketers efficiently find their Instagram influencers? The secret? Tools like Click Analytic.

When considering how to find influencers on Instagram, such platforms are the easy way.

While there’s a myriad of tools out there, I have a soft spot for Click Analytic (obviously 😉).

Why? It lists ANY Instagram influencer with more than 1k followers on Instagram (+70M profiles).

Refine your search using +30 filters such as country, follower count, audience demographics, past collaborations, and more.

And do you know what makes Click Analytic unique compared to other tools?

-> You can test it for free using the 14 days trial.

-> It’s impressively easy to use.

Let me know show you how:

With Click Analytic, you have access to the largest database of influencers on earth! Over 250M+ creators, spanning not only Instagram but also TikTok and YouTube.

On this Influencer search tool, you can access +30 filters, but selecting the right ones will be key!

First, target your audience:

Second, select your niche:

*Pro Tip: Do not combine all the niche filters. Try them one by one and be specific!

Narrow with performance data, such as:

– Eng. rate

– Follower growth

– Previous partnerships etc.

*Pro Tip: Do not overuse filters! I would recommend adding filters slowly to ensure you don’t inadvertently miss suitable profiles.

Now here’s the critical step – Always review the analytics of each influencers.

Click Analytic offers insights ranging from top posts and recent partnerships to audience authenticity and follower details. This thorough examination ensures you only reach out to influencers fitting your criteria.

This will avoid wasting time contacting the wrong profiles!

We have now looked at how to find influencers on Instagram using a search tool.

Using this methodology during the free trial of Click Analytic, you should have identified +50 potential influencers.

But did you know you could also find similar profiles automatically?

Do you know an influencer or celebrity that would be an excellent fit for your business? Yes? Great!

I can help you find hundreds more like this profile. You have two options.

But first, the example: Let’s say that I want to sell tennis rackets, and Roger Federer would be the ideal ambassador, but he is two expensive. 

Go to the influencer’s Instagram page and click follow, they will then automatically suggest other similar influencers. Magic right?

This is a great manual way to do it, but it is often not super precise. The other option is using the Click Analytic influencer search tool and the lookalike filter. 

The beauty of that ? You can add filters, which makes it more precise than Instagram’s suggested profiles. 

See the example below, where I identified +6,000 similar profiless to Roger Federer.

Speaking of AI, there is another tool that you can use…

Many marketers use the classic Google search when figuring out how to find influencers on Instagram. But it’s outdated!

The future is ChatGPT. 

I know, I know… everyone is talking about ChatGPT, but I actually run searches on it and here’s what I learned:

-> It can generate lists of famous influencers in specific niches

-> It can help you trim down your list based on data.

-> It can help you build your influencer campaign

However -> ChatGPT is not updated on recent articles and might miss some relevant profiles.  

*Pro tip: Upgrade to ChatGPT-4’s paid version. With plugins like KeyMate.Ai, you can scour the web for the most recent articles, ensuring you don’t miss out on any potential Instagram influencers.

Alright! If you followed the last 4 tips, you should now have +50 suitable influencers saved in your database. But you still don’t know the ultimate magic trick.

Many marketers, when they are looking at how to find influencers on Instagram, are actually studying the market.

Meaning:

-> Either your direct competitors are already working with influencers (they have an interest in your product type)

-> Or similar businesses in your industry are working with influencers (sports nutrition products -> fitness brands).

But how can you find those creators?

You have 3 options:

Same process as explained above but do it for your competitors.

-> Go to the Instagram profile of your competitor

-> Click “Tagged”

-> Check the content (ex. below a creator content from Sweetgreen tagged section)

Again, similar steps as above, but this time, focus on your rivals.

-> Check hashtags related to your competitors

-> Check the content 

*Pro tip: Look into the Reels search results for video creators.

We previously looked at influencer search tools, but we didn’t look at how you could identify creators who mentioned your competitors.

On Click Analytic, you can select a filter to see:

-> If Influencers mentioned a brand in their content

-> If Influencers did a previous partnerships with specific brands

Keep in mind that if an influencer mentioned a similar or related product to your brand, on their Instagram account, they might be the best ambassador. Why?

Because their audience is already accustomed to your product niche.

*Pro Tip: If an influencer is posting frequently about a direct competitor, they might not be the best fit.

You have now learned “almost” all the essential hacks on how to find influencers on Instagram. 

Yes…Almost! I have a bonus tip for you.

Being an expert on how to find influencers on Instagram is not only about searching, it’s also about being able to let them come to you. Here’s a straightforward approach to help brands build a program that attracts influencers for collaboration:

1. Create a Dedicated Landing Page: Set up a page on your website specifically for influencers. Clearly state what you’re looking for and the benefits of collaborating with your brand. 

2. Outline the Requirements: Clearly mention what you expect from the influencers. This could include follower count, engagement rate, niche, etc.

3. Application Form: Include a simple form for influencers to fill out. Ask for their social media handles, past collaborations, audience demographics, and a brief pitch on why they want to collaborate.

4. Promote the Program: Share the program on your brand’s social media channels, email newsletters, and even on product packaging.

Brands like Gymshark have successfully implemented such programs, turning their brand into a magnet for influencers eager to collaborate.

By setting up a structured program, you not only streamline the influencer collaboration process but also position your brand as one that values and seeks out influencer partnerships.

*Pro Tip: You can also expand your search and learn how to find influencers on other platforms.

You did it! You found potential influencers to collaborate with. But before contacting them, you have one last detail to check.

You need to review their profiles and avoid reaching out to the wrong creators which can lead to mismatched partnerships.

Remember, it’s about quality, not just quantity. You should prioritize finding a good influencer over merely adding names to your influencer database.

Here’s a quick checklist to ensure you’re on the right track:

⏹️ High engagement rate (+2%) & positive comments.
⏹️ NO fake followers.
⏹️ Audience aligns with your target group.
⏹️ Post Frequency

Done? You are ready to go!