How to Vet Influencers for Shopify Collabs: What We Do and What Works

How to Vet Influencers for Shopify Collabs: What We Do and What Works

Collaborating with influencers can be a fantastic way to amplify your handmade brand, but how do you ensure you're picking the right partner for your Shopify store? If you’re thinking it’s all about follower count or aesthetic, think again! The key to a successful influencer partnership is deeper than surface metrics—it’s about alignment with your brand, engagement quality, and authenticity. So, let’s dive into how to vet influencers for Shopify collabs and the steps you can take to find the perfect match.

Do You Really Know an Influencer is Right for Your Campaign?

When considering influencers, it's tempting to look at their follower count and engagement metrics, but does that really tell the whole story? Not always. Sure, metrics matter, but they’re not the only piece of the puzzle. What about their vibe, their interaction with followers, or their past collaborations? These elements often provide more insight than mere numbers.

At the end of the day, you want to make sure your influencer aligns with your brand values and can authentically connect with their audience on your behalf. But how do you know if they’re “the one”?

The Essentials of Vetting Influencers: What to Look For

1. Comment Sections Tell All: Take a close look at the influencer's comment sections. Are followers genuinely engaged, asking questions, and providing thoughtful responses, or are comments flooded with generic praise like "nice pic" or "love it"? This can give you a sense of how authentic and impactful the influencer's relationship with their audience really is. The more meaningful the engagement, the more likely the influencer can authentically promote your brand.

2. Previously Sponsored Content: Check out their previous sponsored content. Have they collaborated with brands similar to yours? Did they deliver value in those campaigns? If the influencer has promoted a competing product or brand too recently, it could mean their followers may not trust another similar endorsement so soon. You want someone who can speak about your product as if it’s their own favorite find, not just another paycheck.

3. Competitor Content: Have they worked with your direct competitors? It might not always be a dealbreaker, but it’s worth considering how saturated their audience might be with similar products. If they have, review those collaborations closely—did they perform well? Was there enough differentiation in messaging to make another similar product stand out?

4. Recent Content Matters Most: Surprisingly, most marketers look at what influencers have posted most recently. Why? Because it shows the current state of their brand alignment, quality of content, and engagement rate. Here’s what marketers focus on:

• Recent content: 62%

• Reels: 20.6%

• Popular content: 10.3%

• Stories: 3.4%

• Other: 3.4%
  

How We Do It: Our Process for Vetting Influencers

At Wicked Good, we don’t just scroll and click “collab.” We have a process:

1. Start with Engagement: Look beyond the number of followers. We review their content, engagement rate, and quality of comments to see how they connect with their audience. We ask ourselves: Would their audience vibe with our handmade products?

2. Analyze Sponsored Content: We assess previous collaborations to gauge how our brand could fit into their content flow. Have they collaborated with brands that align with our values? How did those campaigns perform?

3. Gauge Their “Spark”: Sometimes, it comes down to that unique energy that makes us think, “Yes, they’re the one.” It’s the enthusiasm they bring to their content, the way they talk about the products they love, and their genuine connection with their followers. This “spark” can often be a deciding factor.

When it comes to influencer collabs, don’t just swipe right on the first profile that looks good. Dive deep, analyze their engagement, and ask yourself: Would their followers love my brand?

Question for You:

What’s the number one quality you look for when vetting an influencer for a collaboration? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

By taking these steps and doing a little detective work, you can create more meaningful, successful influencer collaborations that resonate with your audience and drive real results for your handmade business. Happy vetting! Creating an effective influencer media kit is essential for attracting quality partnerships, but equally important is knowing how to vet influencers for potential collaborations. Learn our approach to finding the right influencers for Shopify collabs and what works best in our post on how to vet influencers for Shopify collabs.