When starting your influencer marketing journey, the influencer discovery phase is crucial. Here are key factors to consider:

1. Potential Reach: Check the number of followers the influencer has across different social platforms. But, also understand that more followers doesn’t always equate to more influence.

2. Audience Engagement: Inspect how much active engagement the influencer fosters. High interaction rates often indicate a loyal audience, which can be more valuable than a large, passive following.

3. Audience Demographics: Ensure the influencer’s audience aligns with your target demographic. Influencer marketing platforms like Flinque provide detailed audience analytics to assist you.

4. Content Quality: Good content is relative to your brand’s requirements. Judge influencers not simply on aesthetic quality but how it aligns with your brand’s message and vision.

5. Brand Affinity: The influencer should authentically connect with your brand. Forced brand partnerships can undermine credibility and deter audience trust.

6. Historic Campaign Performance: If possible, investigate how past campaigns the influencer participated in have performed.

7. Reputation: Review the influencer’s reputation and how they handle crisis situations since scandals can impact your brand negatively.

8. Pricing and ROI: Finally, consider if the influencer falls within budget and can deliver appropriate ROI.

Platforms like Flinque make it easier to evaluate these aspects by giving detailed insights. However, always remember each platform has its strengths and the choice of platform should depend on specific team needs.