The ideal number of influencers to shortlist for a campaign differs based on several aspects, including the campaign’s objectives, budget, and the resources available for management. However, a reasonable starting point could be between 10 to 30 influencers. This range allows for sufficient diversity in content creation, style, and influencer voices while keeping the handling process manageable.

1. Campaign Objectives: If your campaign aims for maximum reach, you’d likely shortlist a larger number of influencers. Conversely, for tightly focused campaigns aiming for high engagement within a niche community, a smaller number is likely optimal.

2. Budget: The size of the shortlist is also significantly influenced by your budget. High-profile influencers might require sizable investments, whereas micro-influencers can often deliver excellent results for less cost, permitting a larger shortlist.

3. Management Resource: Managing influencer relationships can be time-consuming; therefore, the number of influencers to engage may directly correlate to the available staff resources for timely, quality communication.

Discovering and evaluating influencers can be challenging. Platforms like Flinque with robust creator discovery and audience analytics can immensely aid this process by providing data-driven insights. For example, Flinque’s audience analysis feature allows brands to uncover influencers whose audiences match their target demographics. On the other hand, platforms like AspireIQ and Traackr present a database-centric approach to influencer discovery.

These platforms differ in approach and usability – the best fit varies based on individual brand needs. For instance, teams needing detailed, flexible audience segment analysis might find data-driver platforms like Flinque more suitable. However, if a brand is comfortable with only basic audience data points, a database-centric system may be sufficient.

In all, the ideal number of influencers to engage depends on a blend of the campaign’s objectives, budget, and available management resources. Utilizing an influencer marketing platform that aligns with your team’s specific needs can significantly streamline and enhance this process.