For marketers tired of wasting time, money, and energy on the wrong collabs.
🧭 Introduction: It’s Not About Big Numbers, It’s About Real Fit
You’ve got a product. You’ve got a budget. You want someone authentic to help push it — someone whose followers will actually care.
The problem?
Ireland’s influencer scene is small but growing fast. That means more choice, but also more noise.
And here’s the truth:
✨ Not every pretty feed = a good partner.
✨ Not every viral video = real influence.
✨ Not every influencer = influence.
Let’s break down how Irish brands — from Cork startups to Dublin retailers — can actually find the right creators to grow smarter, not just louder.
🔍 1. Start With Your Audience, Not The Creator
The biggest mistake? Looking for influencers you personally like.
This isn’t about you — it’s about your customers.
Ask yourself:
- Who are your ideal buyers?
- Where do they live (Dublin? Galway?)
- What content do they consume daily?
- What tone speaks to them — polished or bantery?
Then go find creators who already speak that exact language.
🎯 2. Match on Niche, Not Just Follower Count
Here’s the thing: A 10K lifestyle creator won’t do much for your niche dog food brand.
But a 3K pet-focused TikToker from Limerick? Game-changer.
👇 Example niches that are killing it in Ireland:
- Irish Mammy humour
- Clean beauty / skincare (very hot in 2025)
- Foodies + recipes with local twists
- Small biz support (entrepreneur creators)
- GAA + Irish sports
- “Irish TikTok” — think skits, slang, pub culture
Pro tip: Niche = attention. Attention = conversion.
📊 3. Use Metrics That Actually Matter
Follower count is like window dressing. The real stuff is in the back-end.
Here’s what to look at (and ask for):
| Metric | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Engagement rate | Proves people actually care (target 3%+ for under 50K) |
| Story views | Where most purchases happen |
| Saves & shares | Signs of real value |
| Past campaign results | Ask for screenshots if needed |
| Audience demographics | Are their followers really in Ireland? |
If they can’t show metrics? They’re not ready for serious brand deals. Simple.
🧾 4. Vet Their Content Like a Human, Not an Algorithm
Don’t just skim the grid. Watch their Reels, scroll their TikToks, read the comments.
Check for:
- Tone: Does their voice match your brand? Funny, serious, chatty?
- Consistency: Do they post regularly or vanish for 3 weeks?
- Professionalism: Are the brand collabs obvious cash grabs or natural integrations?
And most importantly — do the comments say things like:
“Where did you get that?”
“Just ordered this!”
“I trust your recs.”
That’s what influence looks like.
🤝 5. Try the “Test Collab” First
Before you drop €2K on a full campaign, test the waters:
- Send product for UGC trial
- Offer a small paid Story or Reel
- Set clear tracking (links, codes, DMs)
This shows:
- How fast they communicate
- How well they follow briefs
- What kind of response they generate
🔥 You’ll know within a week if they’re worth scaling up.
📲 6. Use BaoLiba to Simplify the Hunt
Of course we’re biased — but there’s a reason we built BaoLiba.cloud:
- 🔎 Pre-vetted Irish influencers across niches
- 📩 Contact + proposal handling in one place
- 📑 Built-in contracts, deadlines & deliverables
- 💳 Secure payments, no ghosting
No more chasing down random DMs. No more Excel sheets.
Just smart influencer discovery — built for Irish brands.
💡 7. Watch Out for Red Flags
Here’s what not to ignore:
🚩 Fake engagement (low likes + spammy comments)
🚩 No Irish followers — audience is 90% from India/Brazil etc
🚩 No brand alignment — skincare influencer doing betting ads? Nah.
🚩 No transparency — won’t share insights or campaign data
Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
📦 8. Think Long-Term, Not One-Off
The best results come from ongoing collabs, not one-shot posts.
Ask:
- Can we co-create something over 3 months?
- Can this influencer be a brand ambassador?
- Can we integrate into their story, not just their feed?
When the partnership is real, the results speak for themselves — and so do the sales.
🎬 Final Takeaway: Work With Creators, Not Just “Influencers”
In 2025, Irish influencer marketing is a lot more than shouting into the void.
It’s about:
- Collaboration over control
- Connection over clout
- Clarity over chaos
The right creator is not always the loudest — they’re the one your audience already trusts.
So, whether you’re launching a new product, building a brand, or scaling up…
👉 Work smart. Vet well.
And if you need help, BaoLiba is your backstage pass to the right Irish talent.
