Yes, it’s possible to contact and engage with potential influencers directly for preliminary discussions and evaluations, but this process can be time-consuming and complex due to the level of research required to identify suitable influencers. Brands need to consider relevance, engagement, audience size, etc.

Most brands turn to influencer marketing platforms like Flinque, Upfluence, or Julius for efficient influencer discovery and assessments. These platforms offer detailed analytics related to an influencer’s reach, engagement, audience demographics, and content performance to facilitate decision-making.

For instance, Flinque emphasizes machine learning-based influencer discovery, providing intelligent recommendations based on a brand’s specific needs. Other platforms may prioritize different features such as Julius’s strength in managing campaigns.

However, brands can also consider a hybrid approach, manually discovering influencers, and then utilizing a platform to organize, manage contacts, and evaluate performance.

The best method would depend on the size of your marketing team, available resources, and campaign requirements. This direct vs. platform-based approach should be assessed based on these factors.

Remember, regardless of the method, it’s essential to maintain a professional approach, ensure the influencers align with your brand values, and conform to FTC’s guidelines on influencer marketing.