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Influencer marketing is now more relevant than ever. In fact, the industry grew to an astounding $13.8 billion in 2021. 

Businesses of all types, sizes, and niches leverage influencer marketing in their promotional strategy to boost brand awareness, facilitate customer loyalty, and increase sales. 

Given that an influencer is now a career of its own, more and more influencers are entering the scene, striving to collaborate with brands and monetize their online presence and audience loyalty. Businesses, in their turn, are looking for the best people for the job – and it can get tricky. Not every influencer is a good fit for your brand since lots of factors are involved in the choosing process.

And that’s where online influencer marketing tools come in handy. Within seconds, they allow you to find influencers of all audience sizes from various niches to become an ideal fit for your influencer marketing campaign. 

Since the influencer marketing industry is booming, influencer marketing platforms, companies, and agencies have flooded the market. Statistics show that more than 1300 platforms providing influencer marketing services have sprung up in the past 5 years. How do you choose the best ones?

We got you covered! In this article, we will tell you about 5 influencer marketing tools to help you find the excellent influencer for your marketing campaign. 

What is Influencer Marketing?

Influencer marketing is both innovative and familiar in its approach and strategy. In a nutshell, it is a collaboration between a brand and an influencer – usually in the form of an online marketing campaign. 

Influencer marketing borrows the idea of endorsement from public personas and celebrities from traditional marketing and takes it to the next level by making it more content-focused. 

Why choose influencers rather than celebrities?

Influencers have essentially replaced traditional celebrities – they are modern-day trend-setters whose online fame is way more important (and beneficial) than offline popularity. Influencers have devoted follower communities who take many cues from their beloved influencer – including buying decisions. 

That’s why an influencer marketing campaign is a great way to promote your brand to new audiences, foster brand trust, and increase conversion and sales. The best part is – the influencer will often do most of the “field-work”. They will create content around your product and present it in a way guaranteed to appeal to their followers. 

Why Use Influencer Marketing Tools?

As we’ve already said, picking a random influencer and offering them collaboration is no way to go. 

You need to find the right influencer who:

• Creates content related to your business niche;
• Has a solid follower base that fits your audience reach goals;
• Has high engagement rate and other influencer marketing KPIs;
• Works on the social media platforms relevant to you;
• Fits your campaign budget, etc.

All these factors make a difference when it comes to your search for the perfect influencer. And manual search across multiple social media is simply exhausting. Besides, you don’t always know if the influencer you’re considering is real and vetted. 

Influencer marketing tools eliminate these problems – and more:

• Influencer marketing tools are cost-effective;
• They provide instant search results;
• Top influencer marketing tools regularly update their influencer databases;
• They exhibit relevant influencer performance statistics and reports;
• They provide the online communication space for you to connect to influencers more easily. 

5 Best Influencer Marketing Tools for Your Business

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top 5 influencer marketing tools for finding influencers.

1. InBeat Agency

InBeat is a TikTok & Instagram influencer search engine as well as a TikTok advertising agency with a database of more than 16,000 influencers you can choose from for your influencer marketing campaign. The agency’s top clients include New Balance, Nissan, and Moose Bicycle. 

One of the most interesting features of InBeat is the agency’s focus on nano- and micro-influencers. They are easier to get in contact with, have higher engagement rates, and work in a variety of niches – you’ll be sure to find what you look for. Besides, nano- and micro-influencers are not as expensive to collaborate with as macro-influencers and celebrities. That means higher ROI for your business. 

Best Features

The inBeat influencer search tool is intuitive and easy to use:

• You can conduct both quick and deep influencer search;
• You can filter your influencer search based on the influencers’ follower numbers, engagement rates, audience preferences, location, etc.;
• You can track major influencer data and KPIs from the social media of your choice;
• The inBeat database is spam-checked;
• You can quickly export the contact information of the chosen influencers for easier outreach. 

The agency also has a variety of extra features, including Instagram fake follower checker – it will come in handy if you want to further vet your influencer and their audience quality. 

Explore InBeat plans and pricing here. 

2. Upfluence

Upfluence is a popular influencer marketing tool that finds influencers across multiple social media platforms such as Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Twitch, and Tiktok. Upfluence has worked with such brands as Amazon, FarFetch, and Asics. 

Users say that the Upfluence influencer search engine is very similar to Google – the success of your search depends on the combination of keywords you use. You can narrow down your search by using as many keywords as you want, ranking them according to their importance. 

For instance, if you’re looking for a lifestyle influencer to promote your streetwear brand, you can use the following keywords: lifestyle influencer, sports, streetwear, street fashion, street model, etc. Your campaign goals and focus will determine the keywords you opt for.  

Best Features

• A large database of vetted influencers – you can search and choose among 3 million influencers;
• Efficient keyword search makes the results more precise;
• You can filter your search by the influencer audience data;
• You can manage your influencer lists – this is especially useful if you get too many relevant search results that need to be organized;
• You can import your previous influencers and their data to the platform.

Upfluence has several membership plans you can explore here. 

3. Heepsy 

Heepsy is an influencer search tool that connects brands with influencers on major social media – Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch. They are trusted by both small businessexs and big companies such as Huawei and Walmart. 

With a database of around 11 million influencers, Heepsy offers a large variety of niche content creators to collaborate with. The search includes a large number of relevant filters: location, industry, key influencer performance metrics, etc. On top of that, Heepsy also calculates the influencers’ cost per post – you can plan your influencer marketing campaign budget in line with these estimates. 

Keep in mind that all influencers on Heepsy’s database have more than 5k followers – so your search will exclude nano-influencers.

Best Features

• Heepsy has different search algorithms for different social media platforms to make your influencer search effort more efficient and precise;  
• You can also look for influencers for offline events with the help of a convenient location-based search;
• The platform provides detailed influencer reports with relevant stats and infographics;
• You can access up-to-date influencer audience analysis data;
• Users say Heepsy has a great customer service team.  

Choose the best Heepsy plan for your influencer marketing campaign here. 

4. Influence.co

Influence.co is more than an influencer marketing tool – it is a true community of creators and businesses that seek effective collaboration. It also has an actively expanding database of influencers. The service’s top clients include NordVPN, Dyson, and Forever 21.

Influence.co resembles a social media platform in many ways – you can reach out to influencers, communicate with them, and build stronger, more long-lasting business relations. The software focuses on engaging its users and encouraging them to interact in a less formal setting. Influencers on Influence.co are very responsive and enthusiastic – it is yet another factor that simplifies your search effort.   

As with other influencer search tools, you can use various filters to narrow down your result pool. You can customize the search by industry, content type, expected budget, location, and other preferences. 

Best Features

• The platform is very user-friendly and easy to navigate;
• It has multiple social media functions for effective communication and networking;
• Users note that Influence.co account managers are very helpful and will assist you every round the clock;
• The service provides detailed influencer campaign ROI reports for your collaborations.

Learn more about Influence.co free and paid plans here.  

5. Klear

Klear is an influencer marketing tool that claims to have created “the smartest way to discover influencers”. And it might be close to the truth. The software allows you to find influencers on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok using an algorithm based on a variety of topic categories you can apply to narrow down your pool. Klear has scored a number of large brands as clients – Persil and Microsoft to name a few.  

Klear helps you conduct a very targeted search by using such variables as location, language, niche, past collaborations, budget, available contact details, influence level, etc. Hashtag search is also available. 

Another great characteristic of Klear is its AI learning algorithms. The more you use the software, the more relevant and precise influencer account and content recommendations it offers. 

Best Features 

• Klear divides the influencers on their database into over 60k topic categories;
• The platform has a sophisticated influencer messenger with a user-friendly interface;
• You can access swift and helpful customer/user support;  
• Klear has a FakeSpot function: it detects fake followers or engagements for every influencer you’re considering for your campaign. 
• The platform is also a great tool for researching competitors.

Info on Klear pricing and plans is available here. 

Conclusion

Influencer marketing tools are there to help you find the best influencers for any type of promotional campaign your brand has in mind. The right influencer search tool will provide relevant influencer profiles, useful influencer performance analysis data, and up-to-date contact details. 

Choose the tools that reflect your influencer marketing needs, including the target social media platform, budget expectations, and influencer audience size for the best results.

The post 5 Influencer Marketing Tools to Find the Perfect Fit for Your Business appeared first on noupe.

Did you know that the expenses on influencer marketing in the US will rise up to $4.14 billion in 2022? This astounding number is just one indication of how influencers are changing the marketing game in the digital age.

In fact, collaborating with nano- and micro-influencers can be even more beneficial for your business than affiliating with celebrities. 

Recent Markerly research studied around 800,000 Insta accounts, with more than 1,000 followers each. The findings were remarkable: lower follower counts directly corresponded with higher like and engagement rates. In other words, influencers with smaller follower communities have a stronger impact on their audiences. 

And your business can leverage that. 

Who Are Nano- and Micro-Influencers and Why Do They Matter? 

Unlike A-list celebrities and macro-influencers with millions of followers of social media, nano- and micro-influencers are people who have a high degree of authority and credibility within a relatively narrow sphere or niche. Hence, smaller but more loyal audiences. 

You can consider a person a nano-influencer if their follower count falls under 1,000. Today, the nano-influencer market is a relatively new yet quickly growing digital sphere.  

Micro-influencers are the next logical step: they have between 1,000 and 100,000 followers on their social media accounts. They share all the qualities of nano-influencers but have a larger audience outreach. Micro-influencers are trusted advisors whose opinion matters to their followers, especially when it comes to a purchasing decision.

So what makes nano- and micro-influencers so effective at driving leads to your business’s website?

• They have a much closer connection to their followers;
• They have higher engagement rates; 
• They represent your brand in a unique way relevant to their niche; 
• They are cost-effective: you invest less money but the collaboration brings you a high ROI.  
• They are easier to get in touch with: nano- and micro-influencers are willing to collaborate with brands for mutual benefit and growth. 
• They can give you a competitive advantage: your sponsored posts or collaboration campaign is likely to become the first ad content on a nano- or micro-influencer’s social media page. 

As you can see, promoting your brand becomes much easier when you partner with a nano- or micro-influencer within your chosen niche. 

Now, let’s take 5 effective ways influencers that can drive leads to your website. 

1. Use Affiliate Links

Affiliate links present an easy and efficient way to drive extra traffic to your website.

Added bonus: you’ll see exactly how many conversions you get from these links, and who clicks on them. Besides, it’s possible to track the degree of audience engagement you nano- or micro-influencer drives to your business. 

How does it work? Let’s take Instagram as an example: 

1. An influencer you’re collaborating with will create an Insta post related to your brand. They can do it in their feed, via stories, or on IGTV;
2. The post will include an affiliated link with a discount or another incentive accessible to the users who click on it;
3. The influencer gets a commission either per click or per sale made on your website – it’s your call. 

A good influencer will ensure your affiliate campaign is successful by giving their followers a good reason to click on the link. They will make a creative effort to demonstrate your product, tell the audience about your brand, and inspire trust in potential buyers. 

This is what micro-influencer Sheshopped does on her Instagram profile. The blogger posts eye-catching lifestyle images for her audience to get people curious about the products she uses. She then lets them know that it’s easy and convenient to shop for these goods with the help of her affiliate links. The influencer has even created a separate website with product descriptions and clickable links to the stores. Her devoted followers are frequent visitors to this resource. 

Bottom line: by generating leads to your webpage, affiliate links promoted by nano- and micro-influencers will eventually convert visitors to real customers.

2. Start Ambassador Programs

Why not offer a nano- or micro-influencer to become your brand ambassador? 

Ambassador is a person who will represent, promote, and spread awareness of your product by acting as a trusted spokesperson on behalf of your brand. And their audiences will be there to listen!

How do brand ambassadors drive leads to your website?

• They put the link to your company webpage on their profile bio;
• They regularly include your products in their posts (even those not directly related to promotion);
• They create trending content (Instagram Reels, TikTok hot videos, etc.) featuring your brand;
• They convey the value of your product to their audiences. 

Red Bull does an excellent job partnering with micro-influencer ambassadors. Look at Dani Roman – “Red Bull Athlete” with just under 38k followers. He regularly creates compelling videos featuring Red Bull brand products and logo, inspiring his audience – extreme sports aficionados – to associate the brand with their passion. And it works! 

The cherry on top: what is especially valuable about brand ambassador campaigns is the long-term commitment the influencer will have to your brand (and vice-versa, of course). The more their audience grows, the more it will translate into higher lead numbers to your website. 

3. Organize Giveaways 

What can we say, people adore free stuff offered to them. That’s why giveaways organized on social media platforms are incredibly popular among all kinds of users. 

Take advantage of that and make giveaways an effective marketing tool together with an enthusiastic influencer. Their followers will convert the enthusiasm into leads.  

Micro- and nano-influencers don’t have impressive budgets to give away pricey gifts to their followers, and that’s where your sponsorship can make a real difference. Being a giveaway sponsor will increase the visibility of your brand among the influencer’s audience. 

Besides, you can make your best-selling or new product as a gift to followers. This way, people will be even more willing to come back to your website for more. 

To generate as many leads as possible, choose the type of giveaway your (and the influencer’s) target audience will be the most excited about. It could be: 

• A hashtag contest;
• Photo/video contest;
• Comment contest;
• Repost “lottery”, etc. 

Passion Planner, for instance, regularly teams up with micro-influencers to promote product giveaways via repost contests. As people tag their friends and comment on posts, this activity converts into actual leads.  

Pro tip: if you decide to opt for a giveaway as a means of promotion, let the influencer market the event. They will promote and announce them on their social media platform, focusing on the aspects of the product that will draw their audience’s attention and interest. All you need to do is sponsor the event itself.  

4. Get traction with the help of UGC

Why is UGC a beneficial addition to your influencer marketing collaboration? Just think about this: 

Millennials spend more than 5 hours every day looking at user-generated media, reporting that UGC is 35% more memorable than other kinds of online materials. This content type is guiding purchasing decisions, opinions, and trends for a whole generation of consumers. You would be crazy not to take advantage of that. 

You and the influencer you’re working with can come up with nearly endless ways to encourage UGC as part of the marketing campaign. Here are some of them:

• Have the influencers post questions related to your product. Say, you’re a clothing brand – ask the audiences how they fit your item into their everyday looks. 
• Better yet, have the influencer’s followers post a picture/video of your product in use! Nothing encourages more leads to your website than realistic visuals from actual users. 
• Request product reviews from users: people will be happy to share their impressions with the influencer’s community.   

Want an outstanding example?

Aerie is a clothing brand that aced UGC through nano- and micro-influencer collaborations. The company is dedicated to body positivity, and they ask both the influencers and their audiences to take unretouched pictures wearing Aerie pieces, which the brand then reposts to their main account. This campaign is both promotional and social – an excellent recipe for lead generation. 

Don’t be afraid to leverage UGC within a collaboration with an influencer. Consumers love the sense of belonging and participation. 

5. Include Sponsored Posts

Let’s be honest: people are tired of traditional polished ads. They are simply getting old and annoying, generating fewer leads as digital marketing is expanding its dominance. 

Here’s where sponsored posts come into play as a plausible alternative. 

Sponsored content is what marketers refer to as native advertising – it is less intrusive, glamorous, and more authentic. Research shows that young consumers don’t mind seeing native ads on their favorite social media profiles. 

Influencers do a great job promoting brands in a natural, subtle way, and their audiences react to this gentle yet straightforward approach. Besides, your brand gets the reputation of supporting talented content creators – kudos (and more leads) to you. 

You can sponsor all types of content, depending on your niche as well as the chosen influencer’s content format. Be as creative as you wish! The more the influencer mentions you in sponsored posts, the more leads it will generate. 

Final Thoughts 

Nothing creates more organic traffic to your webpage than promoting your brand on social media. 

And partnering with nano- and micro-influencers is a powerful strategy that will help you ace lead generation on Instagram, TikTok. YouTube, and other social media platforms. 

Organize contests, giveaways, develop ambassador programs, and leverage UGC – all these marketing gems work much more effectively when you collaborate with a talented content creator with a devoted audience. 

Who knows? Your campaign might even go viral!

The post 5 Ways Micro and Nano-Influencers Can Drive Leads to Your Website appeared first on noupe.