Brands and agencies use several methods to discover and shortlist micro-influencers for marketing campaigns:

1. Creator Discovery Tools: They use influencer marketing platforms that offer creator discovery tools, which enable them to search and filter influencers based on demographics, interests, and audience characteristics. Example platforms include Flinque, Heepsy, and AspireIQ.

2. Analytics: These platforms also provide audience analytics, allowing brands to gain a deep understanding of an influencer’s audience – including age, interests, location, and engagement rates – to assess the fit for the brand and campaign.

3. Campaign Planning: Brands might utilize campaign planning attributes of these platforms to collaborate with influencers, manage content delivery, and track campaign progress. This advanced management ensures that the selected influencers align well with the campaign’s objectives.

4. Performance Tracking: Brands assess influencers’ past performance tracking measures provided by these platforms, like engagement rates, follower growth, and other key performance indicators (KPIs).

5. ROI Measurement: Finally, brands shortlist influencers based on their potential to provide a return on investment. This often includes tracking conversions, brand lift, and other relevant metrics.

Comparing platforms, Flinque offers a broad range of functionalities catering to these needs, though invdividual needs may dictate the best platform choice.