Before you send that first product or sign that contract, pause. The wrong influencer can drain your budget and derail your business’s growth. The good news? Influencer red flags are easy to spot if you know what to look for.
At RPR, we have dealt with our fair share of influencers, developing our knowledge on the best and worst kinds. The right influencer can drive conversions and brand awareness. The wrong one is a costly misstep that drains your time, resources, and morale. We get it—working with influencers can be daunting when you are not sure who the best fit is for your brand, so we’re here to help!
Let’s break it down. Here are five major red flags to watch for before you commit:
Influencer Red Flag #1: Their Engagement Doesn’t Match Their Follower Count
Sure, an influencer with 100K is nice and all, but if no one’s actually paying attention to their content, their follower count doesn’t matter.
Engagement rate is the real metric to focus on. It tells you how connected an influencer really is with their audience and, ultimately, how likely their followers are to take action from a post. You can check influencers’ engagement rates using tools like Modash. Bigger isn’t always better, and buying followers is very easy nowadays. Check their comments for bots to make sure their engagement is genuine, too. Trust your gut. If it feels fake, it probably is.
Influencer Red Flag #2: Poor Communication
Don’t expect communication issues to get better if they’re bad early on; if anything, take it as an influencer red flag. Clear communication is critical to any partnership. Make sure to set expectations upfront in writing to help nail down those deliverables. Not sure what that should look like? We can help.
Influencer Red Flag #3: They Don’t Seem Genuinely Excited
You deserve a partner who’s excited about your brand. If the vibes are off and it’s clear the paycheck is all they care about, cut it off.
Audiences can tell when a partnership feels authentic—and when it’s just another sponsored post. True excitement can’t be faked, so stick with those who are genuinely excited about your brand.
A way to gauge this is to see if they ask you questions about your brand, goals, and deliverables. These are all good signs that they are actually invested in the partnership. If it feels like they’re going through the motions, it’s okay to walk away.
Influencer Red Flag #4: No Proof of Past Performance
A credible influencer can support their work with data. They should be able to show what they’ve done and how it performed through case studies and analytics reports. A trustworthy influencer will be proud to share those insights. Ask potential influencers for proof of past performance, and if they avoid showing you how their past partnerships performed, reconsider the partnership.
Influencer Red Flag #5: Zero Process
While posting a successful story or reel might seem simple, there’s actually a great deal of planning that goes behind it. If the influencer doesn’t have a strategic plan on how they meet deadlines, it’s okay to pass. A good influencer doesn’t just post—they plan. Ask them about their process from concept to content approval to post-campaign reporting. Influencers who have a standardized process are more likely to stay on track and help your business hit its goals.
Find Authentic Influencers with RPR
No influencer red flags here! At RPR, we understand how overwhelming it can be to take on uncharted waters like influencer partnerships. From vetting influencers to managing contracts and campaign execution, the RPR team knows what it takes to build successful influencer partnerships. Whether you’re launching your first influencer campaign or trying to recover from a bad experience, RPR is here to help connect you with authentic influencers that align with your brand!