Apr 18, 2025
10 MIN READ
INFLUENCER MARKETING
INFLUENCER MARKETING
How To Find Influencers for Brands
How To Find Influencers for Brands
How To Find Influencers for Brands
Aishwarya Taskar
Aishwarya Taskar
Aishwarya Taskar
Aishwarya Taskar
Content Marketer @impulze.ai
Blog in Short ⏱️
Blog in Short ⏱️
A quick glance at the highlights—perfect for when you're short on time.
A quick glance at the highlights—perfect for when you're short on time.
This blog is about how you can find influencers for your D2C brand.
Start with a clear picture of your target audience before looking for creators.
Different campaigns need different types of influencers for brands: nano, micro, macro, or mega.
Use influencer discovery platforms, hashtag searches, social listening, and even your own network to find creators.
Always vet creators for content quality, engagement, and audience fit.
D2C brands like Leesa and Partake Foods used authentic partnerships to grow.
Once you find the right match, manage those relationships with care.
Tools like SocialiQ and impulze.ai can help you find influencers for brands that match their target audience.
Choosing the right creators for your D2C brand can feel like a lot. One minute you're deep in follower counts, the next you're lost in endless posts. But making smart decisions starts with getting clear on what matters. You need to know your goals, understand who your audience trusts, and spot creators who bring consistent value.
This guide outlines a simple process to help you find the right influencers for brands. Whether you're launching your first D2C product or expanding an existing program, this framework will help you make confident, informed choices.
Know Your Target Audience
The biggest mistake D2C brands make is jumping into influencer discovery without a clear picture of their target audience. You can’t expect great results if you don’t know who you're trying to reach.
Start by creating or reviewing your customer personas. Include details like:
Age and location
Interests and lifestyle
Purchase behavior
The social media platforms they use
Content formats they prefer (short-form video, carousels, stories, blogs)
Once you have this, you can search for influencers for brands whose audiences closely match your own.
For example, a skincare brand focused on hormonal acne might target women aged 18 to 30 who want gentle, non-toxic skincare products. Instead of going after a celebrity, they might get better results from micro-influencers who’ve built niche, loyal communities around this concern.
Types of Influencers
D2C campaigns vary in their needs and require different types of influencers depending on their goals. Here are the four main types of influencers:
Nano influencers (1000-10,000 followers): Nano-influencers are great for product seeding or testing new launches. A local fashion creator posting about a new D2C brand in her area is a good fit here.
Micro influencers (10,000–100,000 followers): These creators balance reach with trust. Many D2C brands work with them for consistent, long-term partnerships. D2C brands like Warby Parker and Glossier have done this well by choosing creators who speak directly to their communities.
Macro influencers (100,000–1 million): Macro-influencers offer good reach and are often used for national campaigns or seasonal pushes when visibility matters.
Mega influencers (1 million+): Working with mega-influencers is excellent for awareness. Big brands often work with mega influencers, but engagement and cost can be limiting for early-stage D2C players.
The key is to focus on audience alignment, content quality, and engagement over raw follower counts. That’s where you’ll find the best influencers for brands like yours.
Where To Look for the Right Influencers for Brands?
1. Influencer Discovery Platforms
Tools like impulze.ai and our Chrome extension SocialiQ can make your search faster and more focused. You can filter by:
Location
Follower size
Niche and topic
Let’s say you run a vegan snack D2C brand. You can find creators based in the US who post about vegan food, have a 2%+ engagement rate, and an audience of 18 to 35-year-olds.
These platforms also give insights into fake followers, previous brand collaborations, and audience demographics, helping you avoid bad fits.
If you're serious about building a repeatable system to find the right influencers for brands, start here. And the best part? SocialiQ is completely free!
Free Tool You May Like: Free Influencer Pricing Calculator
2. Hashtag and Keyword Searches
Search directly on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube using niche hashtags like:
#cleanbeautyreviews
#ecoskincare
#veganfitness
#plantbasedsnacks
Check for creators who post regularly, don’t have fake followers, get real comments (not bots), and share thoughtful content that aligns with your brand.
For instance, if you’re a sustainable fashion D2C brand, you could explore creators using tags like #slowfashion or #ethicalootd. These people are often already educating or entertaining the exact audience you want to reach.
3. Social Listening
One of the best ways to find relevant creators is to look at who’s already talking about you. These creators are often customers or early fans.
Use tools like Brandwatch and Sprout Social, or manually scan for tags, mentions, and product callouts.
For example, in 2020, skincare creator Hyram Yarbro repeatedly praised CeraVe's gentle and effective formulas in his videos — without any brand partnership. CeraVe paid attention, reached out, and began working with him. That collaboration made CeraVe a TikTok favorite, contributing to sellouts across major retailers. Hyram was a genuine fan first. The partnership felt natural, and the results followed.
Another example is Leesa, a U.S.-based D2C mattress brand, which effectively utilized social listening to identify micro-influencers in the home and lifestyle sectors.
By engaging with bloggers who were already discussing sleep products and home decor, Leesa fostered authentic partnerships. These influencers shared detailed reviews and personal experiences with Leesa's mattresses, enhancing the brand's credibility and driving substantial traffic and sales.
Spotting these organic moments can help D2C brands build their most impactful partnerships.
4. Competitor and Industry Research
Look at what other D2C brands in your space are doing. Study their:
Tagged posts
Influencer content under branded hashtags
YouTube and TikTok mentions
You’ll likely find creators who know your category well. If they’ve worked with your competitors but haven’t locked in exclusivity, they could be open to a better offer from your brand, especially if you solve a publicly shared problem.
Even if you don’t pitch them directly, following their network can lead you to creators suitable for your brand.
5. Google Search
Good old-fashioned Google works. Search using specific phrases like:
"Top eco-friendly influencers in the US 2025"
"Sustainable skincare creators to follow"
This won’t always give you perfect matches, but it’s a solid start. Just make sure you evaluate each name properly once you find them.
6. Tap Into Your Network
Ask your team, community, and even your customers. People love connecting others with good opportunities.
For example, in 2021, the founder of Partake Foods, a D2C snack brand, was introduced to Tabitha Brown through a mutual contact. Tabitha was known for her heartfelt vegan lifestyle content and had started building a loyal following. That introduction led to multiple collaborations, including limited edition products, and helped Partake become a widely known name in the inclusive food space.
This wasn’t a pitch sent through a tool. It started with a simple recommendation.
7. Attend Creator Events or Industry Meetups
Whether it’s VidCon, Creator World, or a niche expo, these events bring together creators looking for brand collaborations. If you can attend, you’ll get face time with people who take their content seriously and know how to work with brands.
Even if you're remote, check event websites. Many speakers and panelists link their social handles. It’s a great way to discover influencers for brands who understand the D2C landscape and have real experience to show for it.
What To Check Before Partnering?
Once you’ve found a few promising names, vet them thoroughly.
Ask:
Do they create content that fits your brand style and values?
Is their engagement real and consistent?
Do they have audience data you can review?
Have they worked with similar brands before, and how did those posts perform?
Are they active and responsive with their followers?
Choosing the wrong creator can cost you time, money, and trust. So slow down and do your homework before locking anything in.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right influencers for brands, especially D2C ones, isn’t a quick win. It requires continuous testing, learning, and refining. But with a clear strategy, the right tools, and a genuine approach, you can build partnerships that contribute to your growth.
Want to make the process easier? Give our Chrome extension, SocialiQ, a try. It’s free and helps you discover the right influencers without leaving social media.
Once you’ve found those perfect-fit creators, check out our guide on managing influencer relationships effectively.
Choosing the right creators for your D2C brand can feel like a lot. One minute you're deep in follower counts, the next you're lost in endless posts. But making smart decisions starts with getting clear on what matters. You need to know your goals, understand who your audience trusts, and spot creators who bring consistent value.
This guide outlines a simple process to help you find the right influencers for brands. Whether you're launching your first D2C product or expanding an existing program, this framework will help you make confident, informed choices.
Know Your Target Audience
The biggest mistake D2C brands make is jumping into influencer discovery without a clear picture of their target audience. You can’t expect great results if you don’t know who you're trying to reach.
Start by creating or reviewing your customer personas. Include details like:
Age and location
Interests and lifestyle
Purchase behavior
The social media platforms they use
Content formats they prefer (short-form video, carousels, stories, blogs)
Once you have this, you can search for influencers for brands whose audiences closely match your own.
For example, a skincare brand focused on hormonal acne might target women aged 18 to 30 who want gentle, non-toxic skincare products. Instead of going after a celebrity, they might get better results from micro-influencers who’ve built niche, loyal communities around this concern.
Types of Influencers
D2C campaigns vary in their needs and require different types of influencers depending on their goals. Here are the four main types of influencers:
Nano influencers (1000-10,000 followers): Nano-influencers are great for product seeding or testing new launches. A local fashion creator posting about a new D2C brand in her area is a good fit here.
Micro influencers (10,000–100,000 followers): These creators balance reach with trust. Many D2C brands work with them for consistent, long-term partnerships. D2C brands like Warby Parker and Glossier have done this well by choosing creators who speak directly to their communities.
Macro influencers (100,000–1 million): Macro-influencers offer good reach and are often used for national campaigns or seasonal pushes when visibility matters.
Mega influencers (1 million+): Working with mega-influencers is excellent for awareness. Big brands often work with mega influencers, but engagement and cost can be limiting for early-stage D2C players.
The key is to focus on audience alignment, content quality, and engagement over raw follower counts. That’s where you’ll find the best influencers for brands like yours.
Where To Look for the Right Influencers for Brands?
1. Influencer Discovery Platforms
Tools like impulze.ai and our Chrome extension SocialiQ can make your search faster and more focused. You can filter by:
Location
Follower size
Niche and topic
Let’s say you run a vegan snack D2C brand. You can find creators based in the US who post about vegan food, have a 2%+ engagement rate, and an audience of 18 to 35-year-olds.
These platforms also give insights into fake followers, previous brand collaborations, and audience demographics, helping you avoid bad fits.
If you're serious about building a repeatable system to find the right influencers for brands, start here. And the best part? SocialiQ is completely free!
Free Tool You May Like: Free Influencer Pricing Calculator
2. Hashtag and Keyword Searches
Search directly on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube using niche hashtags like:
#cleanbeautyreviews
#ecoskincare
#veganfitness
#plantbasedsnacks
Check for creators who post regularly, don’t have fake followers, get real comments (not bots), and share thoughtful content that aligns with your brand.
For instance, if you’re a sustainable fashion D2C brand, you could explore creators using tags like #slowfashion or #ethicalootd. These people are often already educating or entertaining the exact audience you want to reach.
3. Social Listening
One of the best ways to find relevant creators is to look at who’s already talking about you. These creators are often customers or early fans.
Use tools like Brandwatch and Sprout Social, or manually scan for tags, mentions, and product callouts.
For example, in 2020, skincare creator Hyram Yarbro repeatedly praised CeraVe's gentle and effective formulas in his videos — without any brand partnership. CeraVe paid attention, reached out, and began working with him. That collaboration made CeraVe a TikTok favorite, contributing to sellouts across major retailers. Hyram was a genuine fan first. The partnership felt natural, and the results followed.
Another example is Leesa, a U.S.-based D2C mattress brand, which effectively utilized social listening to identify micro-influencers in the home and lifestyle sectors.
By engaging with bloggers who were already discussing sleep products and home decor, Leesa fostered authentic partnerships. These influencers shared detailed reviews and personal experiences with Leesa's mattresses, enhancing the brand's credibility and driving substantial traffic and sales.
Spotting these organic moments can help D2C brands build their most impactful partnerships.
4. Competitor and Industry Research
Look at what other D2C brands in your space are doing. Study their:
Tagged posts
Influencer content under branded hashtags
YouTube and TikTok mentions
You’ll likely find creators who know your category well. If they’ve worked with your competitors but haven’t locked in exclusivity, they could be open to a better offer from your brand, especially if you solve a publicly shared problem.
Even if you don’t pitch them directly, following their network can lead you to creators suitable for your brand.
5. Google Search
Good old-fashioned Google works. Search using specific phrases like:
"Top eco-friendly influencers in the US 2025"
"Sustainable skincare creators to follow"
This won’t always give you perfect matches, but it’s a solid start. Just make sure you evaluate each name properly once you find them.
6. Tap Into Your Network
Ask your team, community, and even your customers. People love connecting others with good opportunities.
For example, in 2021, the founder of Partake Foods, a D2C snack brand, was introduced to Tabitha Brown through a mutual contact. Tabitha was known for her heartfelt vegan lifestyle content and had started building a loyal following. That introduction led to multiple collaborations, including limited edition products, and helped Partake become a widely known name in the inclusive food space.
This wasn’t a pitch sent through a tool. It started with a simple recommendation.
7. Attend Creator Events or Industry Meetups
Whether it’s VidCon, Creator World, or a niche expo, these events bring together creators looking for brand collaborations. If you can attend, you’ll get face time with people who take their content seriously and know how to work with brands.
Even if you're remote, check event websites. Many speakers and panelists link their social handles. It’s a great way to discover influencers for brands who understand the D2C landscape and have real experience to show for it.
What To Check Before Partnering?
Once you’ve found a few promising names, vet them thoroughly.
Ask:
Do they create content that fits your brand style and values?
Is their engagement real and consistent?
Do they have audience data you can review?
Have they worked with similar brands before, and how did those posts perform?
Are they active and responsive with their followers?
Choosing the wrong creator can cost you time, money, and trust. So slow down and do your homework before locking anything in.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right influencers for brands, especially D2C ones, isn’t a quick win. It requires continuous testing, learning, and refining. But with a clear strategy, the right tools, and a genuine approach, you can build partnerships that contribute to your growth.
Want to make the process easier? Give our Chrome extension, SocialiQ, a try. It’s free and helps you discover the right influencers without leaving social media.
Once you’ve found those perfect-fit creators, check out our guide on managing influencer relationships effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to get influencers for your brand?
How to get influencers for your brand?
How to get influencers for your brand?
How much do brand influencers get paid?
How much do brand influencers get paid?
How much do brand influencers get paid?
How to reach out to brands as an influencer?
How to reach out to brands as an influencer?
How to reach out to brands as an influencer?
What does a brand influencer do?
What does a brand influencer do?
What does a brand influencer do?
Who pays you as an influencer?
Who pays you as an influencer?
Who pays you as an influencer?
What is D2C influencer marketing?
What is D2C influencer marketing?
What is D2C influencer marketing?
Author Bio
Author Bio
Aishwarya Taskar
Aishwarya Taskar
Aishwarya Taskar is a full-time writer. She has studied journalism and marketing. In her free time, she loves watching films and spending time with animals. You can learn more about her here.
Aishwarya Taskar is a full-time writer. She has studied journalism and marketing. In her free time, she loves watching films and spending time with animals. You can learn more about her here.
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Find, analyze, and contact influencers from a database of over 250 million profiles.
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Join over 15000+ SocialiQ users who have installed this free Chrome extension to search, analyze, save, and contact influencers directly on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
20K+ Active Users
May be Later
Join over 15000+ SocialiQ users who have installed this free Chrome extension to search, analyze, save, and contact influencers directly on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
20K+ Active Users
May be Later
Join over 15000+ SocialiQ users who have installed this free Chrome extension to search, analyze, save, and contact influencers directly on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
20K+ Active Users
May be Later