How to find micro influencers?
Jun 13, 2025
Looking for a step-by-step guide on how to find micro influencers for your brand? Whether you're launching a creator seeding campaign, exploring influencer gifting, or just trying to grow your brand on a budget, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. Discover proven methods, tools, and tips to connect with micro influencers (1K–100K followers) who drive authentic engagement, build trust, and boost ROI without the need to pay for traditional advertisement.
Micro vs. Macro Influencers: Who’s Better for ROI?
Micro-influencers (1k–100k followers) deliver 60% higher engagement than macros by leveraging authenticity, niche trust, and hyper-engaged audiences.
Macro-influencers (100k–1M+ followers) offer broad visibility—but cost 3-5X more and demand cash payments beyond gifts.
Influencer discovery tools like Modash, Collabster, Creator IQ offer an extensive data base, precise filtering that shows engagement rate, follower count and scalable out reach. There are enterprise expensive ones (usually 2500-3500/month) like GRIN, Aspire, Captiv8, and Upfluence, and cheaper up and comers like Modash and SARAL ($300-600/month).
Hashtag method
List ur niche’s hashtags (at least 5)
For example, if you are a women’s surf suit brand:
#surfergirl
#swimstyle
#beachbabes
#bikinisurf
#girlsthatsurf
Type hashtag into Instagram or Tiktok.
Go to recent tab to find fresh active posts or use the filter to show posts posted in a certain time.
Click on profile to check for authenticity, engagement, follower relevance.
Add each one to your spreadsheet with the URL to their profile.
Tip: Don’t stop at the top posts. The real gems are hidden in the Recent or Most Liked Today sections, that’s where you can find up and coming influencers.
Competitor's "Tagged" Photos
Identify 5 competitors or brands who serve a similar customer segment.
For example, GoPro and Redbull serve the same niche but are not competitors.
Navigate to their instagram’s tagged page or their Tiktok’s Reposts.
List the most recent influencer who posted content
Check each profile for follower count, quality and engagement authenticity.
Add each to your spreadsheet with the URL to their profile.
Tip: Check comments under sponsored posts for smaller creators actively engaging.
Mutual Followers
Make a list of your top 20 customers
Visit their social media profiles
Click following to see a list of their followers
identify verified influencers with the blue checkmark
Add each to your spreadsheet with the URL to their profile.
Tip: Look for followers who consistently like or comment on both your brand and similar accounts, they’re already in the ecosystem and more likely to say yes to a gifting campaign.
How to Track Micro Influencer Outreach and Results With a Simple Spreadsheet
Here’s a system to track influencer outreach and measure campaign performance:
How to Build Authentic Relationships With Micro Influencers
Forget cold DMs and mass outreach , the best brand relationships are built. Here's how to create lasting connections that convert:
Real people respond to real messages. A thoughtful, 1:1 or more personalized approach in always outperforms mass outreach in the long run.
Choose creators who truly align with your values, audience, and vibe. It's not about follower count, its about fit.
How to Automate Micro Influencer Research With AI Tools
Using Bardeen AI, it automates tedious tasks like scrapping tagged influencer posts or managing outreach list, it saves 5 hours weekly, imagine all the time wasted on a monthly, yearly basis.
Popsips is an innovative probiotic spiked seltzer brand that has been facing significant challenges as a startup in the very saturated beverage market. With limited marketing budget and intense competitions with big name brands, the co-founder turned to influencer gift form as a scalable solution to gift to influencers.
There is a high cost of traditional influencer marketing
It is difficult to identify and reach relevant audiences and influencers
Limited resource of manual influencer outreach and management.
They decided to implement a strategic influencer gifting program that leverages AI tools like Bardeen AI and automated influencer gifting
AI driven influencer discovery
Automated outreach
Influencer Gift Form for Influencer Information
Reduced significant time spent on influencer research and outreach (saves 5+ hours weekly)
Generate authentic user generated content (UGC) from genuinely enthusiastic influencers
Build a vibrant engaged community for brand advocacy
How to Select the Right Micro Influencers for Your Brand
It is important to sift through influencers and find who will really make an impact for your brand especially when it is more than just gifting.
Consider if they align with:
Is their content visually appealing and aligns with your brand?
Do posts have real genuine comments and not just bots?
Do their audience fit your target demographic?
Check previous brand collaborations they have as a sample.
Conclusion
Finding influencer effectively through tools or the DIY method, it will boost your brand’s visibility and engagement authentically. A curated list will be important on how your brand is received and who they are promoted to and could define how they are viewed in different demographics. Choose the ones that aligns with your brand message well.
