How to Get Brand Collabs as an Influencer on Instagram

1. Why Brands Look at Your Engagement Rate Before Collaborating

Brands don’t just look at follower count; they prioritise real, verified performance data.

In 2025, most brands don't just ask: "How many followers do you have?"

They ask:

• Is your audience real and active?
  
  

• Do people trust what you post?
  
  

• Do you drive reactions, comments, saves, and clicks?
  
  

Your engagement rate answers all of this in one number.

That’s why it's often the first metric brands check before sending a collaboration invite.

2. What is Instagram Engagement Rate & Why It Matters

Engagement Rate is a percentage that shows how actively your audience interacts with your content. It includes likes, comments, shares, and saves relative to your follower count.

A strong engagement rate means:

• You connect with your audience
  
  

• Your content performs well in Instagram’s algorithm
  
  

• Brands are more likely to trust your influence

Source: Influencer Marketing Hub, 2024 Benchmark Report

3. How to Check Your Engagement Rate (Free Formula + Verified Tool)

Verified Formula Used by Most Campaign Tools:

For platforms that rely on verified metrics pulled via Instagram API, here’s how engagement is calculated:

Engagement Rate (%) = (Average Reach of Last 5 Reels ÷ Followers) × 100 (Excludes reels uploaded in the last 48 hours)

Average Reach = Total Reach of Last 5 Reels ÷ 5
Average Likes = Total Likes on Last 5 Reels ÷ 5 (Again, excluding reels uploaded in the last 48 hours)

This method is used because it shows real, recent performance, not outdated or viral outliers. Brands use these metrics to shortlist creators they can trust for reach and consistency.

Tip: Many platforms calculate this automatically when your account is connected via Instagram API.

Use a platform like INFLUISH that connects directly to Instagram’s API to generate your real engagement data.

4. What’s a Good Engagement Rate for Influencers in 2025?

Here’s how influencers are commonly categorized by follower count:

• Nano Influencers: 1K – 10K followers
  
  

• Micro Influencers: 10K – 100K followers
  
  

• Macro Influencers: 100K – 1M followers
  
  

• Mega Influencers: 1M+ followers
  
  

If your rate falls within these ranges, you have something valuable to showcase.

5. How to Present Your Engagement to Brands (the Right Way)

When applying for campaigns on INFLUISH, your engagement metrics are already verified, making it easier to stand out.

Don't DM brands, Instead, show them you're performance-driven:

• Share your clean verified engagement rate card.
  
  

• It mentions your average reach, views, and saves.
  
  

• It also provides an overview of your Instagram profile on a trusted platform that showcases this data.

This shifts your pitch from "I want a collab" to "Here's why I'm worth collaborating with."

6. How Verified Metrics Help You Stand Out from Other Influencers

On INFLUISH, verified data from Instagram’s API is automatically shown to brands, no screenshots or DMs needed.

• Brands trust third-party data more than self-reported numbers.
  
  

• A verified engagement rate = higher credibility.
  
  

• It saves brands time and builds instant trust

When your profile shows real-time data pulled directly from Instagram, you move to the top of their shortlist.

7. FAQs on Using Engagement Data for Brand Deals

Q1. Can I see my own engagement rate?
Yes, use a verified tool that connects to your Instagram account to get your real-time engagement, views, and follower insights.

Q2. Why do brands care more about engagement than followers?
Because engagement shows whether your followers are actually paying attention.

Q3. What if I have fewer followers but strong engagement?
That’s even better for many brands, they often prefer high-engagement nano or micro influencers.

Q4. Should I include my engagement rate when pitching brands?
Absolutely. It shows you understand your own data and saves the brand time vetting you.