Influencer Database: How to Find Influencers & Build Yours

Finding effective and trustworthy influencers is no picnic. You need to find someone with the right audience, who’s on the right platforms, and whose brand values align with your own. This is often easier said than done, especially if you are new to the world of influencers. One solution that can set you off on the right path is using an influencer database. 

An influence database can drastically reduce the time it takes you to find the right fit for your business. You can filter influencers by engagement rate, interests, follower size, and more. This makes it much easier to create a successful campaign and achieve the ROI that makes influencer marketing worth it. 

So, what is an influencer database exactly? Can you build your own or are you better off using an existing one?

Let’s explore the process.

What Is an Influencer Database?

An influencer database is a tool you can use to find influencers that you’d like to work with. Put simply, it is an aggregator directory that lists information about social media influencers. Instead of manually searching through each individual platform that you want to market your campaigns on, you can find everything you need at the click of a button. Many influencer databases also offer features that help manage your working relationships, communications, and content. 

Most influencer marketing databases usually include the following basic information: 

• Social media handles
• Contact information
• Industry
• Interests
• Follower count and engagement rate
• Price per post
• Active platforms
• Content type
• Location and demographics. 

Think of it as a more comprehensive version of an influencer search engine, where somebody has already done all the hard work for you.

How to Build Your Own Influencer Database

You can, of course, build your own influencer database from scratch. This can save you money in the short term. However, be prepared to invest a lot of time and energy in searching for what you need. 

If you do decide that you’d prefer to build your own influencer database, then here’s what you need to do:

1. Conduct a Google search using relevant keywords, along with the term “influencer.”
2. Perform a hashtag search on the platforms you plan to use.
3. Check your followers for potential influencers.
4. Find out which influencers follow and engage with your competitors.
5. Once you’ve collected all you need, then you can organize your data in a simple spreadsheet. 

We recommend including the following details for each influencer that you find:

• Name
• Email address
• Handles for each social media platform
• Follower count
• Content type or industry
• Location
• Status with your brand (active or inactive)

What to Look For in an Existing Influencer Database

Instead of building your own influencer database, you can streamline the process and make your life much easier by using an existing one.

Here are a few things to consider before you choose a platform.

Influencer Aggregators vs. Opt-in Databases

There are two types of influencer database that you can choose from: aggregators and opt-in databases. 

An aggregator database simply collects influencer data from a range of social media platforms. With an opt-in database, influencers authenticate their profiles across social channels via API partners, giving you increased access to accurate and extensive data. 

Some databases also include built-in networks. These typically have more engaged and dedicated influencers. However, the pool of talent is usually smaller. Take time to think about which platform type would work best for your campaigns.

Database Size

You also need to consider the size of an influencer database. Larger databases can contain millions of creators, which can sometimes be a bit overwhelming when it comes to filtering through them to find the right influencer. On the flip side, smaller opt-in networks might lack the niche influencers that you want to reach. Think about your specific needs before you commit to a database.

Pricing

Pricing is obviously also an important factor. Most influencer databases require an annual contract, and monthly fees can vary drastically. Make sure you factor this into your influencer marketing budget.

Identify your specific needs before you begin your influencer database comparison. What are you looking for? How much does it cost? And what do you get for that price? 

Features

You also need to review what features an influencer database offers you. More basic platforms will simply include a list of influencers with a series of filters for finding the right match. This can be a great starting point if you’re not sure how to hire influencers, but that’s where it ends. Other more comprehensive solutions might offer additional features like collaboration tools. Consider what you need when you’re searching for a database.

Social Media Options

Finally, when you search for an influencer database, it’s always a good idea to look for one that allows you to filter influencers by social media platform. This is important because you don’t want to waste time contacting and negotiating with an influencer, only to find out later that they are not active on the social media platforms that your target audience uses. For example, TikTok influencer marketing might work well if you are designing a video campaign, but Instagram is better if you are focusing more on photos.

When you conduct a search in an influencer database, focus your search on individuals with a large following on the platform where your social media presence is strongest. That way, you are far more likely to build a successful influencer marketing campaign for your brand.