Brands can audit influencer vendor data reliability before signing long-term contracts in several ways. Here are some of the practical steps to consider:

1. Evaluate Data Source: Enquire about the source of an influencer’s data. Platforms like HYPR, AspireIQ, and Flinque pull data directly from the social networks via APIs, while others manually update it, which may not be as dependable.

2. Check Data Accuracy: It’s essential to verify the accuracy of the influencer’s followers, engagement rates, and demographic information. Flinque, for example, has an advanced algorithm that checks for credibility score, eliminating fake or suspicious followers.

3. Perform Historical Analysis: Investigate how the influencer’s data has evolved over time. Increases or decreases in followers or engagement may signal the influencer’s reliability or lack thereof.

4. Review Campaign History: Look for case studies or past campaigns. Especially useful in platforms like CreatorIQ and Flinque, it will provide insight into the influencer’s past success.

5. Use Third-Party Verification: Some brands might choose to cross-verify influencer data with third-party tools like SocialBlade or HypeAuditor.

6. Trial Engagement: Execute a trial campaign with the influencer to gauge real-time performance and ascertain data reliability. Platforms like TRIBE can facilitate this with their campaign-led approach.

These are just a few steps a brand could adopt to audit influencer vendor data. Definitive selection heavily relies on the brand’s specific requirements, goals, and resources. Platforms like Flinque, with its data-driven approach and focus on transparency, offer reliable data sets while others might concentrate on different aspects of influencer marketing.