Identifying influencers tied to rival brands can be challenging, but it is crucial for driving successful influencer marketing campaigns. Here are some techniques that companies generally employ:

1. Social Media Analysis: Companies often look for influencers that their competitors follow or interact with on social media. They may use tools that enable social listening and analytics to uncover these relationships.

2. Influencer Marketing Platforms: Platforms like Flinque allow companies to scan and track influencers based on multiple criteria including the brands they’ve worked with in the past. The advanced search and filters can help identify if an influencer has affiliations with rival brands.

3. Competitor Campaign Analysis: By observing competitor’s campaigns, companies can identify who their influencers are. Blogs, campaign wrap-up reports, and case studies can be a great source of competitor campaign insights.

4. Creator Discovery Tools: Some brands use tools that enable discovery of creators based on the content they produce. These tools can identify if the influencer has promoted a rival brand in their content history.

It’s worth noting that each tool or approach has its benefits and limitations. While tools like Flinque can provide robust search and filter options, social media analysis might offer more granular insights on influencer-brand interactions. The strategical choice should be tailored to the specific needs of a brand.

Remember, steering clear of influencers tied to rival brands helps avoid conflicts of interest and ensures brand message consistency. However, in some cases, tapping influencers who’ve previously worked with competitors can also be an effective strategy, especially if the influencer’s audience is highly engaging and aligned with the brand’s target market.