10 Brands That Work With Micro-Influencers

Although some brands are looking for influencers with huge followings, others would rather collaborate with creators who have smaller, highly engaged audiences. If you’re a micro-influencer looking for sponsorship opportunities, read on to learn which top brands work with nano influencers. We’ll also cover how to position yourself to attract an influencer marketing deal.

Why Do Brands Choose to Work With Micro-Influencers?

Here are some specific reasons brands send PR and work with small influencers. 

Stronger Brand Trust and Community Building

Micro-influencers have around 1,000 to 100,000 followers. Because their audience is smaller, creators can have authentic conversations with viewers more often, letting them build stronger connections. 

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So, when micro-influencers endorse a product or service, their recommendation feels like it’s coming from a friend rather than a giant brand. These sponsorships look more like UGC than conventional ads, which helps increase engagement and drive sales. 

Niche Audience Targeting for Better Conversions

Some micro-influencers have smaller followings because they focus on a niche, like painting tabletop gaming miniatures or tying fishing lures. These channels attract audiences who share those same specific interests. If a product fits that niche, it’ll get in front of a community that’s already passionate about the offering.

Cost-Effectiveness Compared to Macro-Influencers

Influencers who’ve blown up on TikTok, such as Khaby Lame and Charli D’Amelio, charge as much as six figures per brand collaboration video. Micro-influencers charge much less for sponsored content, which is ideal for growing companies with smaller advertising budgets. In some cases, brands can simply send PR to small influencers or offer commissions for each sale they generate.

Long-Term Partnerships Leading To Consistent Brand Loyalty

This cost-effectiveness means brands can likely work with micro-influencers for much longer. Some companies will book multiple sponsored posts as a package deal, with creators releasing the ads slowly over time. People will keep hearing about the products, which builds trust, especially when it’s coming from their favorite influencers.

10 Brands That Work With Micro-Influencers

Below are the top 10 corporations and smaller brands to collab with. 

1. Sephora

Sephora is one of the top beauty brands that work with micro-influencers. Its Sephora Squad is a yearlong paid program that rewards content creators with perks such as free products and professional development opportunities. In return, the influencers act as brand ambassadors, promoting the brand’s products and events.

Sephora explicitly states that follower count doesn’t matter when they’re considering applications for the Squad. Instead, the company values unique storytellers with an engaged community.

2. Glossier

Glossier, another beauty brand that works with nano influencers, lets content creators earn commissions through its affiliate program. Participants can earn up to 10% commission on sales they generate. To apply, you’ll need a Shopify Collabs account. 

3. Coca-Cola

While Coca-Cola doesn’t publish official details about its influencer marketing campaigns, the brand is known to sponsor micro-influencers. Posts are often straightforward, featuring people enjoying the soda or a can sitting on the table. To get on the radar of the Coca-Cola marketing team, use the hashtag #cokeambassador. 

Pro tip: Coca-Cola subsidiary Topo Chico has an online form that influencers can fill out to try to partner with the brand. 

4. Warby Parker

Warby Parker is an eyewear company that offers a home try-on program and donates a pair of glasses to someone in need for each purchase. They often highlight micro-influencers, focusing on their in-store experience and large selection of frames. To join Warby Parker’s affiliate program, contact the company directly.

5. HelloFresh

HelloFresh is a meal kit delivery service that mails ingredients and recipes to people’s homes. During sponsorships, they typically send influencers free meal boxes so they can share their unboxing and cooking experience with their followers. These promotions often include a discount code to save viewers money and encourage more signups. 

6. Airbnb

Airbnb uses Superhosts to recruit and mentor new hosts for the platform through its Ambassador Program. After new hosts list their properties and complete their first booking, the referring Superhost can receive rewards of up to $100 each. 

7. Fabletics

Fabletics is a clothing company that produces athletic and athleisure outfits. They work with a wide range of creators, from celebrities to micro-influencers. Team Fabletics focuses on producing content for Instagram, YouTube, and blogs. The brand also runs an affiliate marketing program for website publishers and bloggers. 

8. Peloton

Peloton produces at-home stationary bikes, and subscriptions include access to a library of guided classes. 

In 2024, Peloton launched a paid influencer program by selecting “Creator Ambassadors” with a third-party marketing agency. Since then, the company’s website and Instagram account frequently feature micro-influencer content. 

9. La Croix

La Croix produces sparkling water, and their influencer marketing programs currently focus on the College Brand Ambassador Program. Successful applicants will receive free products and share sponsored content about the drink.

Separate from its on-campus presence, La Croix monitors its social media channels for the hashtags #LaCroixlove and #LiveLaCroix. Through these tags, the brand sometimes finds micro-influencers to send free products.

10. Daniel Wellington

Daniel Wellington is a global watch producer specializing in interchangeable bands. The brand’s global ambassador program refers to affiliates as Icons, and they receive influencer marketing benefits such as commissions, gift cards, and cash. 

How To Attract Brand Partnerships: 5 Tips

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While some brands promote official influencer programs, micro-influencers often score brand collaborations by catching a company’s attention on social media. To do so, you’ll need to find authentic ways to stand out. Here’s a five-step plan for securing sponsorships.

1. Define Your Niche and Personal Brand

Having a tight-knit following in a specific niche can be more important than building a massive following. Focus on areas where you can stand out and develop your personal brand as a micro-influencer around it. 

For instance, you might never be as big as Duolingo, but you can still show off your unique language-learning techniques so brands notice you.

2. Build and Maintain a Loyal Audience

Focus on consistently creating high-quality, engaging content, but don’t overdo it. Uploading one or two strong daily posts is enough to stay on your followers’ radar. To make each post as relatable as possible, show the real challenges you face — the same ones your audience is likely experiencing. That’s how you build a loyal following that sticks with you.

3. Engage with Brands Organically 

Create content that shows you’re not just a fan, but someone who’s passionate and knowledgeable enough to be a true ambassador who can drive sales among the brand’s target audience. To grab companies' attention, use their hashtags and tag the brands you want to collaborate with in your posts and videos.

4. Pitch Directly to Brands and Join Influencer Platforms

Set aside time to apply directly to brands' influencer marketing platforms and programs. Start by creating a list of brands that work with micro-influencers, check if they have official programs, and reach out to them individually.

In some cases, anyone who applies gets accepted, allowing you to start promoting the brand and earning through affiliate links right away. Other times, companies evaluate each application before making a decision. You can also consider partnering with an influencer marketing agency to help secure brand deals. These strategies will help you monetize your accounts more effectively.

5. Use Performance Metrics to Showcase Value

Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram provide influencers with analytics so they can see how their content performs. Use these numbers to tell brands that you’re worth collaborating with.

Say you’ve had a massive increase in engagement among just a few thousand followers. Include this in your pitch to let companies know your posts drive community interactions.

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