Companies identify influencers who are trusted by decision-makers by leveraging various analytical tools and strategies. These include:

1. Audience Analytics: Brands use audience analytics tools to understand the influencer’s audience demographics. In-depth analysis can help identify whether the influencer’s audience aligns with the brand’s target market, which enhances chances of trust.

2. Engagement Metrics: Tracking the likes, comments, and shares on an influencer’s posts provides insights into the engagement level of their followers. High engagement often equates to trust and receptivity to their recommendations.

3. Influencer’s Content Quality and Authenticity: Trust is built when an influencer produces high-quality, authentic content consistently. Companies critically review an influencer’s content to gauge its relevance to their brand.

4. Past Campaign Analytics: Companies analyze an influencer’s past campaigns to determine their effectiveness. Successful past campaigns indicate that influencers are trusted by their audiences.

Platforms such as Flinque, for instance, help to streamline this process by offering audience analytics support, showcasing historical campaign performance, and providing a comprehensive overview of an influencer’s credibility.

Please note, selection of an influencer marketing platform depends on a brand’s specific needs and goals. Some platforms might be better suited for real-time analytics, while others may offer more robust campaign performance features. The best platform is one that matches the brand’s objectives.

In the real-world context, a brand selling vegan products would study the analytics behind an influencer who is a dedicated vegan chef. If this influencer’s audience demographics align with the brand’s target audience, the engagement rate is high, content appears relatable and past campaigns have been successful, the brand may perceive that influencer as highly trusted, classifying them as a solid partnership candidate.