What is a Micro-Influencer & How To Find One For Your Brand?

When developing a social media marketing strategy for your brand or product, the term "micro-influencer" should be mentioned frequently as being crucial. So, what exactly is a micro-influencer and how can you select one that is right for your brand?

The micro-influencer marketing strategy has proven to be extremely effective for expanding a brand's reach to targeted audiences, particularly with small ecommerce businesses. In comparison to other marketing strategies, it does not require a large marketing budget and offers more authentic customer engagement. The best aspect, though, is that some people might agree to work together in exchange for freebies, publicity, or other benefits.

Micro-influencers also have an average engagement rate of 6%, which is the highest of any type of creator. They tend to focus primarily on niche brands that support the interests of their exclusive followers, as opposed to macro-influencers who promote multiple brands on social media. Since they have more intimate interactions with their followers, they can provide more personalized content.

In this post, we'll explore the world of micro-influencers, including the benefits of working with them and how to identify and collaborate with the right influencers for your brand.

What is a Micro-Influencer?

Micro-influencers are individuals with a small to medium-sized following on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Most likely, the followers count for micro-influencers is between 1000 and 10,000 on social media, which is relatively less than for macro-influencers. They are considered experts in their niche and have built a loyal following based on their content and engagement with their audience.

Given the lower number of followers, the collaborator you've enlisted is likely to have a higher rate of engagement from their audiences. Furthermore, the targeted audiences would regard the influencer as an expert in the area of interest that aligns with your brand.

Unlike macro-influencers or celebrities with millions of followers, micro-influencers have a more authentic and engaged audience, making them more relatable and trustworthy. These individuals typically have stronger connections with their followers and post genuine content on social media about their passions and interests.

Benefits of Working with Micro-Influencers

Unlike collaborating with macro influencers or more prominent celebrities, working with micro-influencers is regarded as one of the best options for upcoming D2C brands. Macro vs micro-influencer is largely apart when looked with the growth perspective. The latter has many benefits, here are some of the advantages

1) Cost-effectiveness- Micro-influencers are more affordable than macro-influencers, making them an excellent option for small businesses and startups. You can easily collaborate with multiple influencers for the same price as one macro-influencer, making this a cost-effective strategy. It enables your ecommerce business to increase revenue by reaching a wider audience and more potential customers.

2) High engagement rates- Micro-influencers have a more engaged audience and a higher interaction rate, resulting in better conversion rates for your brand. Because their followers typically number in the thousands, they feel like they belong to an exclusive inner circle. These followers typically maintain high brand loyalty and are more likely to become advocates for your brand after collaboration.

3) Niche targeting- Micro-influencers specialize in a particular niche or topic, allowing you to target a specific audience that aligns with your brand. The followers typically consider and check out the product that is being recommended because of the particular audience targeted. Even more so if their audience shares common interests and preferences with your brand.

Identifying the Right Micro-Influencer for Your Brand

Before identifying someone to work with, you should consider your brand's values and the audience you want to reach. Here are some criteria to look for when selecting a micro-influencer:

1) Audience demographic- Look for influencers with an audience demographic that aligns with your brand. You should ensure that the micro-influencers and their followers are the right audiences to target for brand loyalty. The right audience demographic following them determines the campaign's success by increasing brand loyalty and revenue.

2) Authenticity - Make sure the influencer's content aligns with your brand's values and that they have a genuine connection with their audience. Collaborate with micro-influencers with strong industry connections to create authentic content that adds value to your brand's image. It is also important to note that the influencer's followers are actively involved and engaged with your brand's values and services.

3) Engagement rate- Look for high micro-influencer engagement rates, indicating that their followers are genuinely interested in their content. Because they have fewer followers to cater to, they enjoy higher engagement rates than other types of influencers. It strengthens the connection between the fans and them which is ideal for increasing brand loyalty.

Finding Micro-Influencers on Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are great places to find micro-influencers. Here are some ways to learn how to find micro-influencers on these platforms:

1) Use hashtags- Search for hashtags that are relevant to your brand or industry to find influencers who are already talking about your products or services. Collaboration becomes much easier if they already include hashtags or keywords related to your brand. This is because you already know who exactly they are trying to reach on these platforms.

2) Use search features - Utilize Instagram and TikTok's search features to find influencers matching your criteria. Look for micro-influencers on TikTok who have previously shared content related to your brand. Additionally, check to see if any of them have left valuable comments on your posts.

3) Research competitors- Check out your competitors and see who they work with. You may find influencers who are already interested in your industry or product. If your competitors are collaborating with micro-influencers, this demonstrates that their common interests and relevance already align with your brand.

Reaching Out to Micro-Influencers and Negotiating Partnerships

Before contacting the micro-influencers to collaborate with them, make sure you are following them on their social media platforms. Consider getting to know them and thoroughly researching their interests, preferences, and style before reaching out. Also, express how much you value their content. Choose only influencers compatible with your brand and your intended audience. Unless their work email is listed in their bio, you should always prefer to communicate or reach out via email rather than social media messaging.

When reaching out to micro-influencers, be clear about what you're looking for and what you can offer them. Be prepared to negotiate, as many influencers will expect some form of compensation for their work. Compensation could come in the form of payment, free products, or exposure to your brand's audience.

Measuring the Success of Your Micro-Influencer Campaigns

To measure the success of your micro-influencer marketing campaigns, consider tracking metrics like engagement rates, website traffic, and sales. Monitor the key performance indicators (KPIs) you established prior to launching your micro-influencer campaigns to ascertain the return on investment and discover the areas that require additional attention.

You can use analytics tools to track these metrics and see how your campaign is performing. Measuring the campaign's success allows you to determine which aspects have been effective and which require more attention.

Tips for Working with Micro-Influencers

If you intend to collaborate with micro-influencers, you should keep these helpful hints in mind to establish the best ground rules. Some advice for working with micro-influencers is as follows:

1) Be clear about expectations- Make sure the influencer knows what you expect from them in terms of content and deliverables. Elaborate on product promotion and brand awareness with engaging content for the target audiences. By communicating your expectations to your collaborators earlier, you can produce high-quality content that will have a significant impact on the intended audiences.

2) Allow creative freedom- The influencer can use their creativity to create content that resonates with their audience. Let micro-influencers create authentic content that resonates with the target audience rather than typical influencers' over-styled content. Allow the creator enough freedom while ensuring the intended message is conveyed to the audience by providing the micro-influencer media kit.

3) Foster a long-term relationship- Consider working with the same micro-influencer for a longer time period, as this provides more opportunities for potential customers. With each new post, they create, their following grows, as does your brand loyalty.

Examples of Successful Micro-Influencer Campaigns

Now that you've reviewed all of the prerequisites for micro-influencer strategies and their advantages over other marketing strategies. Let's look at some brand examples that used micro-influencer campaigns on social media to increase brand loyalty and revenue.

1) Glossier

The beauty D2C brand partnered with a group of micro-influencers with a combined audience of over 30,000 followers on Instagram. The influencers shared posts and stories about Glossier's products and generated a lot of buzz around the brand, resulting in increased sales and brand awareness. It is one of the best micro-influencers examples to understand how it works to your benefit.

2) Casper

The mattress D2C brand worked with micro-influencers in the fitness and wellness space to promote its sleep products. The influencers shared photos and videos of themselves getting a good night's sleep on a Casper mattress, which helped to position the brand as a high-quality and comfortable option.

3) Dollar Shave Club

The men's grooming D2C brand partnered with micro-influencers on YouTube to create content about its products. The micro-influencers in the US shared honest reviews and recommendations, which helped to build trust with their audiences and drive sales for Dollar Shave Club.

4) Allbirds

The sustainable footwear D2C brand collaborated with those passionate about sustainability and eco-friendly products. The influencer shared posts and stories about Allbirds' environmentally-friendly shoes, generating positive buzz around the brand.

5) Mejuri

The jewelry D2C brand worked with those who had a strong presence on Instagram to promote its high-quality and affordable pieces. The micro-influencers on Instagram shared photos and videos of themselves wearing Mejuri's jewelry, which helped to drive sales and increase brand awareness.

Conclusion

By providing much-needed brand exposure to the audience that is being targeted, micro-influencers play a crucial role in enabling small ecommerce businesses to scale up more quickly. Through the use of micro-influencer marketing campaigns, both parties benefit from acquiring additional potential customers and higher revenue. By collaborating with creators who are already regarded as trustworthy, your ecommerce brand not only gains customer trust but also contributes to increased brand loyalty.

Rather than spending a large sum of money on a single marketing campaign, you can use multiple campaigns to promote your brand with micro-influencer platforms. The payoff from multiple campaigns is far superior to a single large-budget strategy. Therefore, when developing your marketing strategy, give micro-influencer strategy strong consideration.