Influencer marketing is seemingly becoming more popular every year, and it’s a great way to generate interest in your products. That said, it’s critical to find an influencer who aligns with your brand images and values in order to achieve the best possible results.

This article will cover everything you need to know in order to find the best Instagram influencers for your business. Keep in mind that different influencers are better for different brands—the right influencer for one company may not be as effective for another.

Audience Size

Marketers often assume that large influencers are better, but the reality is that this isn’t always the case. Smaller influencers can connect with an audience more intimately, and you’ll save a lot of money compared to working with a high-profile Instagram influencer.

In fact, micro-influencers are a growing segment of the larger field of influencer marketing. While there’s no clear line between large influencers and micro-influencers, small influencers generally have fewer than 100,000 total followers, but you can have success with influencers at or below 10,000 followers.

On the other hand, large influencers obviously give you the opportunity to connect with a wider audience. You can always scale up to major influencers after spending some time working with smaller Instagram profiles.

Researching Hashtags

Hashtags are one of the simplest ways to identify leaders in your field, and influencers understand how to maximize their potential. Their results depend on their ability to reach the right audience, so influencers typically have a strong understanding of the most valuable hashtags.

Fortunately, a growing number of tools streamline the process of identifying the top hashtags in a given area. Look for influencers with multiple posts that contain relevant hashtags—you want to work with influencers who have similar audiences to yours.

Building Relationships

Influencer relationships are important, and businesses need to take time to invest in their top influencers. Honesty and open communication help each side work toward a common goal and reach results that satisfy both parties.

While you can work with an influencer on a single project, most companies prefer to consistently cooperate with the same few people. This gives influencers the chance to learn more about your brands and products. It’s crucial for them to give an honest opinion rather than creating generic promotional posts.

Identifying the right influencer is often a process of trial and error, but you’ll find the perfect option if you look for someone with common values and goals. These tips will help you look through hundreds or even thousands of influencers and develop strong working relationships over time.