How to Find Influencers for Your Brand (The Reliable Way)

February 10th, 2026

Nowadays

Finding influencers isn’t hard. Finding the right influencers—the ones who show up, deliver on time, and fit your brand—is where most companies struggle.

If you want influencers who actually move the needle, you need a process that prioritizes Reliability and Fit over vanity metrics.

1) Search Like a Buyer, Not a Fan

Stop scrolling the Explore page. Start searching for the specific keywords your customers use.

  • TikTok Search: Use specific terms like “[Category] Routine” or “Best [Product Category]” to find creators already talking about your space.
  • The “Similar Creators” Trick: Once you find one good creator, check the “Similar Creators” dropdown. It’s the fastest way to build a list.

2) The Nowadays Vetting Checklist

Before you send a single DM, run every creator through this sanity check:

  1. Views Consistency: Look at their last 10 videos. Are the views stable, or was there just one lucky hit?
  2. Engagement Quality: Read the comments. Are real people asking questions, or is it just bot spam?
  3. Professionalism: Check their link-in-bio. Do they have a clear way to contact them? Do they look like they do business, or just post for fun?

3) Outreach: Be Clear, Be Professional

Creators are busy. If you want a reply, give them everything they need to say “yes” in the first email.

What to include:

  • Exactly what you need (e.g., “1x TikTok, 30-45 seconds”)
  • When you need it (posting window)
  • The budget range you’re working with

When you’re clear up front, you attract professional creators and filter out the flakes.

4) Negotiation and Contracting

Don’t let the paperwork slow you down. Keep it simple:

  • Revisions: Set a limit (usually 1 round) so the project stays on track.
  • Usage Rights: Make sure you have the right to repost the content on your brand’s channels.
  • Payment Terms: Be clear on when and how they get paid.

Why Nowadays?

We spend all day in the trenches finding, vetting, and managing creators so you don’t have to. We handle the messy parts of influencer marketing so you can just enjoy the results.

If you want a vetted list of creators who are ready to work, let’s talk: https://nowadays.media/contact/