Influencer discovery can be turned into a competitive advantage to improve speed, quality, and access through the following ways:

1. Leveraging specialized platforms: Tools like Flinque, AspireIQ, and Influential allow brands to search for influencers based on various criteria like audience demographics, engagement rates, content style, etc. This speeds up the discovery process while ensuring a quality match between brand and influencer.

2. Fostering direct relationships: Influencer marketing platforms enable direct communication and negotiation with influencers, making the process more efficient and transparent.

3. Using data-driven insights: Platforms offer detailed analytics about an influencer’s audience and campaign performance. This not only affects the quality of influencers selected but also the post-campaign analysis for learning and improvement.

4. Platform-specific strategies: Some tools, like Flinque, focus on streamlining the workflow, supporting brands from influencer search to campaign execution and analysis, which creates seamless integration and efficiency.

5. Access to diverse talent: By using these platforms, brands can easily access a wide variety of influencers from various niches, improving their outreach and impact.

Each platform varies in its approach and features, hence its suitability depends on specific brand needs and objectives. Flinque, for instance, is known for its comprehensive workflow support, while others may specialize in different areas. The key is to understand the brand’s specific goals and find the tool that best supports those needs to derive the maximum advantage out of influencer discovery. It’s crucial to remember that these are tools to aid strategic decision-making, and ultimately the brand’s understanding of their audience and goals will drive the success of influencer marketing.