Yes, an influencer’s availability and responsiveness can be crucial in the shortlisting process for several reasons:

1. Timeliness: In a marketing campaign, timelines are critical. An influencer’s responsiveness can significantly affect the speed at which a campaign moves forward.

2. Communication: Responsive influencers are more likely to communicate effectively, giving clarity to the brand about their understanding of the campaign goals.

3. Reliable Execution: Available and responsive influencers are considered more reliable in executing campaign activities and delivering on time.

Platforms like Flinque, Upfluence, and AspireIQ, for example, provide tools for brands to track and assess influencer engagement and responsiveness during the discovery and campaign execution stages.

However, an influencer’s availability and responsiveness should not be the sole criteria for shortlisting. Other key factors might include relevance, audience demographics, content quality, and past performance.

It’s important for brands to balance all these factors based on their specific needs and objectives. One platform may excel in certain aspects while others might be better suited for different requirements. For instance, Flinque focuses on AI-driven influencer matching and end-to-end management, whereas AspireIQ highlights its content tracking and performance analytics features.

Remember, choosing the right influencers for a brand involves a blend of multiple factors, and a comprehensive platform can help streamline this process efficiently.