10 questions startups should ask Influencers

1. Who is the influencer's target audience?
   As a startup, you must be uncomfortably narrow in your target market. Make sure the influencer's audience aligns with yours to maximize ROI.

2. What kind of content does the influencer specialize in?
   Your brand's image is still being formed. Choose an influencer whose content style complements your brand's emerging identity. If the influencer is not frequently talking about products like yours (or problems your product solves), they should be talking about adjacent products or problems.

3. How engaged is the influencer's audience?
   Startups need engaged audiences for traction. A high engagement rate often indicates an influencer who can truly mobilize their followers. An influencer with 10,000 followers with 3,000 views per Instagram Story is more impactful than an influencer with 1,000,000 followers with 10,000 views per Instagram Story.

4. Which platform is the influencer most effective on?
   Different platforms serve different purposes. Identify where the influencer is most effective to align with your startup's marketing goals.

5. Do the influencer's values resonate with your startup's mission?
   A shared mission or set of values can make the partnership more authentic and relatable, which is vital for startups building their brand.

6. Is the influencer transparent about their rates?
   Budgets are tight in the startup world. A clear rate card helps you assess if the partnership is financially feasible.

7. Does the influencer have a comprehensive media kit?
   A detailed media kit can provide insights into the influencer's reach and past successes, helping you gauge potential ROI.

8. What is the influencer's preferred collaboration style?
   Knowing whether they like creative control or collaborative brainstorming helps align expectations and workflow.

9. How much lead time does the influencer need?
   Startups move fast. Understanding the influencer's lead time helps you integrate them smoothly into your agile marketing plans.

10. Do you get rights to the content they create for the campaign? If the influencer creates a great piece of content, you will want to repurpose that piece of content in the form of advertising or organic content on your own channels. Negotiate for post-campaign content rights.