How to Find Nano-Influencers on Instagram

One of the most common misunderstandings in the influencer marketing industry and space is that mega-influencers are better to work with than nano- and micro-influencers. Nano-influencers are becoming increasingly sought after in 2023, and this post will explain why and how you can find nano-influencers on Instagram for your next campaign.

Nano-influencers are creators with a following between 1,000 and 10,000 on any social media platform. They can help brands reach more niche audiences at an affordable price. Not only do nano-influencers form loyal followings with social media users, but also with brands as they create content about products they are passionate about. Finding these nano-influencers can be challenging, but one of the best ways to do so is to use Instagram to your advantage. 

How to find nano-influencers on Instagram

Instagram is one of the most popular social platforms worldwide in 2023. Insider Intelligence estimates the platform will have 118.4 million monthly adult users in the United States this year. If you are a brand looking to work with smaller influencers, it makes sense to start your search on Instagram.

Brainstorm the campaign and target audience 

Instagram is home to more influencers than any other platform and is expected to continue its growth in 2024. When looking for nano-influencers to work with, it is important to think about the deliverables you plan to ask for and create campaign briefs for the project. Understanding your target audience will help you select the right influencers for your campaign in the following steps.

Start with a simple search of relative hashtags and keywords

Instagram is full of various creators and nano-influencers who are ready to team up with your brand and share products they like. By simply searching for nano-influencers through hashtags and keywords related to your businesses and products, many smaller influencers pop up. You can then send them a DM or email, if they have one listed in their bio. Using this information, you can send a collaboration inquiry to the creator to get started.

Check out our collaboration tips.

For example, a local restaurant can use the city name plus the word “foodie” (Example: #Chicagofoodie) to find nano-influencers who post dining reviews and recommendations.

Another tactic to consider is using UGC-related hashtags. Many nano-influencers call themselves UGC creators and searching for hashtags like #UGCcreator can help you find them.

Use an influencer marketing tool 

You can simplify the process by using an influencer database or search tool. Here are our two solutions:

IZEA Flex: Our comprehensive influencer marketing platform has a Discover module — powered by AI and machine learning — that helps subscribers search through millions of influencer handles, view trending hashtags, see audience demographics, and use advanced filters to find the right influencers.

Flex also provides a closer look at competitor content, including a brand’s top connections, overall post sentiment, engagement rate, and more.

The Creator Marketplace: Search izea.com for influencers ready and willing to work with brands. These creators have profiles and listings with their bios, content examples and pricing. You can filter by audience size to find nano-influencers.

If you subscribe as a Pro user, you can post casting calls and watch the nano-influencers come to you with pitches.

Both of these influencer marketing tools allow you to sift through the wide variety of nano-influencer profiles, view their engagement rates and content, and more. 

With these tips, you can more easily find creators that fit your needs.