The world of digital marketing is continuously evolving, with new social media platforms emerging regularly. One significant aspect of this shift is the rise of mobile influencers—individuals who leverage their social media presence on mobile-friendly platforms to engage with audiences and promote products or services. These influencers are increasingly seen as crucial for businesses aiming to engage with younger, tech-savvy consumers. Finding mobile influencers on emerging social media platforms is a critical skill for marketers and brands to succeed in a rapidly changing landscape. In this article, we will explore effective strategies to identify and collaborate with mobile influencers on these emerging platforms.

The Rise of Mobile Influencers

Before diving into the specifics of how to find mobile influencers, it’s important to understand why mobile influencers are gaining such prominence. Mobile devices are now the primary medium for social media consumption, accounting for the vast majority of online activity. As of 2023, mobile accounts for more than half of all global internet traffic, with social media engagement being one of the most popular activities.

Influencers, especially those on mobile-first platforms, have built large and loyal followings by creating content that resonates with their audience. They use their influence to promote brands, products, and services in a more authentic and relatable way than traditional advertising. Mobile influencers often have a deep understanding of their followers’ behaviors and preferences, making them highly effective brand ambassadors.

Emerging social media platforms, such as TikTok, Snapchat, and newer ones like BeReal or Clubhouse, are increasingly attracting younger audiences, who are often more engaged with mobile-based content. Identifying influencers on these platforms can significantly enhance a brand’s marketing strategy by providing access to a fresh, dynamic audience.

Why Emerging Platforms Matter

Emerging platforms often offer unique opportunities for brands to tap into niche markets. These platforms provide an alternative to the more established social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, which have become saturated with influencers. By focusing on newer, less crowded platforms, brands can work with influencers who have less competition for attention and can create more organic, impactful content.

Emerging social media platforms also tend to have different algorithms, content formats, and engagement styles that appeal to specific audience demographics. For example:

1. TikTok: This platform is built around short-form video content and heavily relies on trends, challenges, and viral content. TikTok influencers have the ability to create creative, engaging, and highly shareable content.
2. BeReal: This platform encourages users to share authentic, unfiltered photos of their everyday lives. It’s perfect for influencers who emphasize genuineness and relatability.
3. Clubhouse: An audio-based social media app where influencers can engage in live conversations and discussions. Clubhouse caters to users interested in more intimate, real-time interactions.
4. Snapchat: While not as new, Snapchat is still an emerging platform due to its focus on ephemeral content. Influencers on Snapchat create behind-the-scenes, unpolished content that appeals to younger users.
5. Discord: Originally created for gamers, Discord has grown into a community-driven platform with thousands of niche groups. Influencers here focus on creating tight-knit communities with highly engaged followers.

Emerging platforms often offer more flexibility and creative opportunities for influencers to experiment with new types of content, from augmented reality (AR) to interactive live streams. This makes them especially attractive to both influencers and brands looking for innovative ways to reach their audience.

How to Find Mobile Influencers on Emerging Platforms

Finding mobile influencers on emerging platforms requires a combination of research, tools, and strategic outreach. The process can be divided into several steps:

1. Research the Platform’s User Demographics

Before you start searching for influencers, it’s important to understand the user demographics of the platform. Each emerging platform attracts specific types of users. For example, TikTok has a predominantly younger audience, while Clubhouse tends to attract professionals or niche communities with specific interests. By analyzing the demographics, you can identify which platforms align with your brand’s target audience.

• TikTok: Gen Z and millennials, with an interest in entertainment, trends, and challenges.
• BeReal: Aimed at users who value authenticity and minimalism.
• Clubhouse: A more mature audience, often centered around thought leadership, niche industries, or hobbies.

2. Use Social Media Analytics Tools

Social media analytics tools are essential for identifying mobile influencers on emerging platforms. These tools allow marketers to track engagement, measure influence, and discover creators who align with brand values.

Popular influencer marketing tools include:

• BuzzSumo: BuzzSumo allows you to find top content creators by analyzing keywords and topics on social platforms.
• Upfluence: A comprehensive influencer marketing platform that helps brands identify, manage, and engage with influencers.
• HypeAuditor: This tool helps brands identify the quality of an influencer’s audience, providing data on their followers, engagement rates, and authenticity.
• Klear: Klear offers influencer discovery tools that allow you to find top influencers across emerging platforms based on specific keywords, industries, and audience demographics.
• Social Blade: A free tool that provides insight into the growth and engagement of influencers on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

3. Engage in Platform-Specific Hashtags and Trends

Each social media platform has its own unique set of trends, hashtags, and challenges that influencers participate in. By monitoring these trends, you can discover influencers who are at the forefront of content creation. For example, TikTok is known for viral challenges and hashtag campaigns, while Snapchat often sees influencers creating content around trending topics.

Look for influencers who actively participate in these trends, as they often have highly engaged audiences who are eager to discover new products or services. Influencers who lead or participate in viral challenges or trends can help elevate your brand’s visibility.

4. Explore Influencer Marketplaces and Directories

Many platforms have developed influencer marketplaces where influencers can list themselves, and brands can directly connect with them. These directories streamline the process of finding and vetting influencers, saving time and effort.

• Influencity: This marketplace allows you to find influencers across various platforms, including emerging ones.
• Creator.co: A marketplace for brands and creators to connect on TikTok and other social media platforms.
• Influence.co: A platform that enables brands to find influencers based on niche categories and demographics.

By browsing influencer directories, you can create a shortlist of mobile influencers that align with your brand’s values, target audience, and content style.

5. Leverage Social Listening Tools

Social listening tools allow you to track mentions, keywords, and hashtags related to your industry, products, or services. This can help you identify influencers who are already talking about your brand or similar topics. Social listening platforms like Brandwatch, Sprout Social, and Mention can help you find these influencers in real-time.

Monitoring social media conversations can also help you spot rising stars—influencers who are gaining traction quickly but have not yet reached mainstream recognition. Engaging with these influencers early on can yield long-term partnerships.

6. Participate in Niche Communities

Emerging platforms often have tight-knit communities built around specific topics or interests. For example, Discord hosts a variety of gaming and hobbyist communities, while Clubhouse features rooms dedicated to specific industries or topics.

By actively engaging in these communities, you can identify influencers who have already earned the trust of their followers. These individuals may not have millions of followers, but they often have a highly dedicated and engaged audience within their niche. These niche influencers can offer more personalized, authentic recommendations.

7. Monitor Competitors and Industry Leaders

Your competitors are likely already working with influencers on emerging platforms. By keeping an eye on who your competitors are collaborating with, you can gain insight into the influencers who are making an impact in your industry. Tools like SimilarWeb and SEMrush can help track competitor activity and identify influencers in your space.

In addition, follow industry leaders and thought influencers on these platforms to see who they are engaging with. This can help you discover influencers with a high level of credibility and trust within your target market.

8. Reach Out to Micro-Influencers

While finding top-tier influencers with millions of followers is always appealing, it’s often more effective to collaborate with micro-influencers—individuals with smaller but highly engaged audiences. Micro-influencers tend to have a more authentic connection with their followers, and they are often more accessible and affordable.

Micro-influencers on emerging platforms can be identified through similar methods as their larger counterparts, such as using hashtags, social listening, or influencer databases. Since they tend to have niche followings, you can focus your search on influencers who fit your brand’s specific values or offerings.

Conclusion

Finding mobile influencers on emerging social media platforms is an exciting opportunity for brands to stay ahead of the curve and tap into new, highly engaged audiences. By leveraging social media analytics tools, influencer marketplaces, niche communities, and social listening, you can uncover influencers who have the power to create authentic and impactful content that resonates with their followers. As social media continues to evolve, staying on top of trends and exploring emerging platforms will be key to identifying the next generation of influential mobile creators.

Effective influencer partnerships not only help brands raise awareness and boost engagement but also create meaningful connections with consumers. With the right approach, discovering and collaborating with mobile influencers on emerging platforms can be a game-changer for your brand’s marketing strategy.