Influencer marketing isn’t new—but the way we find the right creators? That’s evolved big time.
In a landscape overflowing with content and creators, brands are starting to ask smarter questions:
🔍 Is this person aligned with our values?
👀 Do they actually influence their audience?
📈 Will this partnership drive meaningful results?
Spoiler: If you’re still hunting down influencers by scrolling Instagram hashtags for hours… we need to talk.
Here’s how brands are finding the right-fit creators in 2025—and how you can, too.
✅ 1. Start with Strategy, Not a Wishlist
Before diving into creator discovery, pause.
Ask: What’s the goal here? Are you launching something? Building brand awareness? Driving sign-ups?
Once the goal’s clear, define your audience. Not just "millennials" or "beauty lovers"—but what they value, where they hang out online, and who they trust.
🎯 Pro Tip: Let your campaign objectives guide the creator search—not the other way around. A stunning feed means nothing if it doesn’t move the needle.
💡 2. Use a Purpose-Built Platform (Yes, Like The Right Fit)
Sure, you can use hashtags or cold DMs to find influencers—but it’s 2025, and honestly, your time is worth more.
On TRF, you can find creators using smart filters like:
- Industry and content category
- Follower size and engagement rates
- Location
- Platform preferences
- And (our personal favourite)... Ethics Matchmaking 🌱
📌 You can even see which creators have worked with similar brands, saving you from a wild guessing game.
🤝 3. Look for Value Alignment, Not Just Aesthetic Vibes
Yes, you want their content to look great—but more importantly, do they believe in what your brand stands for? Are they already having conversations your audience cares about?
In 2025, audiences can spot an inauthentic partnership from a scroll away. Working with creators who genuinely align with your brand’s mission makes content more natural—and way more powerful.
✨ TRF Insight: Brands using Ethics Matchmaking have seen higher engagement on cause-driven campaigns. Why? Because creators care—and it shows.
📈 4. Vet for More Than Just Follower Count
Here’s a fun fact: An account with 15,000 followers and a loyal, talkative audience can outperform one with 500K who just hearts-and-goes.
Don’t just skim follower numbers—dig into:
- Engagement rate
- Comment quality (Are people saying “omg love this” or actually engaging with the content?)
- Past brand partnerships
- Content format skills (Reels, TikToks, carousels, oh my)
TRF creator profiles make this easy—see all of the above before you even hit “contact.”
📣 5. Don’t Ghost the Brief: Be Clear on Expectations
Once you’ve found your dream creator(s), don’t just slide into their inbox with a “Hey, we’d love to collab.” That’s the influencer equivalent of sending “u up?” at 1am.
Instead, share:
- Your campaign goal
- Deliverables and timelines
- Budget (yes, up front)
- Content vibe and key brand values
- Usage and licensing terms
💬 On TRF: Our streamlined brief builder makes this step a breeze—and helps you look like the organised, dream brand you are.
🔄 6. Build Relationships, Not One-Off Posts
Creators aren’t just content vending machines. The best results come from creators who know, trust, and actually like your brand.
Invest in long-term relationships. Give them creative freedom. Offer feedback loops. And celebrate their wins as your own.
Brands that think long-term build advocacy—not just awareness.
🔍 7. Track, Optimise, Repeat
The job doesn’t stop once the post goes live. Track performance using platform analytics and TRF’s campaign reporting features. What worked? What flopped? What should you double down on next time?
Campaigns are data-rich stories—if you listen. 📊
🎬 Ready to Find the Right Fit?
Finding the right creator doesn’t have to feel like online dating with less romance and more spreadsheets. TRF takes the guesswork out of creator discovery—so you can build impactful partnerships based on data, alignment, and, yes, good vibes only.
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