Influencer Marketing Migration FAQs

General Platform Questions

Q: I'm not sure how to navigate the new platform. Where should I start?

The best place to start is with the interactive product tour, accessible at the bottom of the Homepage on the 2.0 experience, then clicking Welcome Guide under “Get started”. You can also access the Product Tour which walks you through all key updates and helps you get oriented quickly.

For additional support, visit the Sprout Help Center or contact our Influencer Support Team via in-app chat or at influencersupport@sproutsocial.com.

Q: Is the data quality the same as before?

Yes. The quality and sources of data remain consistent. It's still pulled directly from our network partners via secure API connections. What's changed are enhancements to how that data is surfaced and used within the platform. With new AI-powered tools, you'll be able to more quickly interpret data, uncover insights, and make informed decisions.

Q: Will my existing data and workflows be affected?

No. You should not experience any disruption to current data or campaigns in either version. New capabilities like Workspaces, Brand Fit Score, and Brand Safety are additions designed to streamline existing manual workflows.

Q: How are my integrations affected?

Integrations with social platforms and third-party tools are not impacted by the platform enhancements. Influencer Marketing 2.0 introduces new integrations, including multiple Dropbox sign-in options, Snap, YouTube API Connect, and Meta Partnership Ads, with more planned for the near future! 

Q: Are there pricing or contract changes with this new version of influencer marketing?

No. There are no pricing or contract adjustments tied to the platform enhancements.

Search and Discovery Questions

Q: When I search for something, why are these creators showing at the top of the list?

Our AI-powered search prioritizes creators whose content most closely matches your semantic query, moving beyond simple keyword matches. The system understands context and meaning, analyzing captions for related terms and themes. For example, a search for "plant-based recipes for beginners" will surface relevant creators, even if they don't use that exact phrase.

Q: I'm used to identifying creators based on audience demographics. Why is the industry shifting away from this approach?

The creator economy prioritizes interest-based, algorithm-driven feeds, moving beyond demographics to deeper signals like audience interests and engagement. Accurate demographic data is only available from opted-in creators, as platforms like Meta and TikTok don't expose it otherwise. For non-opted-in creators, we estimate demographics using our AI Affinity Engine, which analyzes signals like captions, hashtags, and content themes. We're continuously expanding our opted-in creators and refining clustering signals for better global coverage and precision, while investing in content-first signals like Brand Fit Score.

Q: I used to use authentic follower analysis (AFA). Why has that gone away?

We removed Authentic Follower Analysis because we’re prioritizing signals that directly reflect how content is distributed and performs on social platforms today. Follower authenticity is not a consistently available signal from social platforms, and more importantly, follower bases are no longer the primary driver of reach in an algorithm-driven environment. As discovery increasingly happens through recommendations and interest-based feeds, metrics tied to content relevance and engagement provide a much stronger indicator of campaign performance. That’s why we’ve shifted focus toward data points that better predict real outcomes. 

Q: Can I still use filters to find creators in specific niches or regions?

• Yes. We’ve evolved filtering to be more accurate and flexible to reflect how the industry and consumers discover content today. Depending on your goal, you have 2 ways to find the right creators:

  • Option 1: Topical Search (Best for Niche/Regional Discovery)

    • Start with a prompt based on the type of content you want to create like “outdoor adventures in Austin” or “daily skincare routine influencers”. Once results appear, you can refine them further using filters such as audience age, creator location, virality, engagement rate, or partner integrations. This ensures you find creators whose content actually reaches your target audience via the algorithm.

  • Option 2: Creator Discovery Report (Best for Strict Audience Requirements)

    • If your client has contractual requirements for specific demographics (ie “70% female” or “20% in California”), use the Creator Discovery Report located in the Reports tab. This allows you to set precise audience percentages and locations as your primary criteria to generate a vetted list of compliant creators.

Q: What if I can’t find enough creators in a very specific niche or geo-location?

• If a search feels too narrow, use the following tools to expand your reach:

  • AI Refinements: use the suggested refinements after your initial search to explore adjacent, high-performing topics

  • “More Like This”: On any creator profile or within a Creator List, this function instantly finds accounts with similar topical affinity and audience profiles.

  • Semantic Flexibility: Because our search uses natural language, try describing the vibe or lifestyle of the creator (ie “luxury beach lifestyle” rather than just a city name to uncover impactful regional creators you might have otherwise missed.

Q: We used to have more specific filtering parameters. Why can't we do this anymore?

Our platform now prioritizes a strategic, scalable approach to creator discovery. Our AI-powered semantic search uses high-level audience and location filters, but focuses on content topics, performance, and engagement. This shift is intentional: content and audience response offer richer insights than static profile data, helping brands discover high-performing creators.

Q: How can I search by Affinity?

With our new topic-forward searching, it's easier to identify creators whose audiences have a pre-disposed interest in topics relevant to your brand. Instead of affinity filtering, visit a creator's Profile and scroll down to "More Like This" for suggested similar accounts. You can also add creators to a Creator List and use Creator Suggestions to get an AI-generated list of creators who discuss similar topics.

Q: Is there a way to only return results with an email address?

Not currently. Starting a search by filtering for creators with registered emails may unnecessarily reduce available results. If you find the perfect creator without an email on their profile, you can visit their social channels to easily add it to their Profile.

Q: Why can't I filter by Category now?

With the new search, you can easily identify creators who regularly post about topics associated with your brand or industry. Prioritizing topical alignment creates better results than starting with broad profile attributes like Category, which may unnecessarily limit your results.

Q: Is there a way to choose gender in search filters?

Currently, we don't offer this filter. We don't have gender-specific data for all creator profiles, so using this filter could lead to misleading and limited results.

Q: I need to filter by audience percentages first. Why can't I?

Filtering by specific audience percentages often narrows results too much. Instead, prioritizing a topical search will ensure the system is returning results that are the best fit for your brand and specific use case. Starting with Profile attributes like audience demographics may unnecessarily limit your results. However, demographic filters can easily be applied after your initial results are returned. Additionally, you can use the Creator Discovery Report located in the Reports tab. This allows you to set precise audience percentages and locations as your primary criteria to generate a vetted list of compliant creators.

Profile and Data Questions

Q: What happened to all the tabs that were on profiles before?

We've streamlined the profile layout to surface the most important data points upfront. The previous tabbed layout required toggling between screens, adding unnecessary time and friction when vetting creators at scale. Key information like Brand Fit Score, topics, analytics, brand safety insights, and collaboration history are now front and center.

Q: What happened to the Affinity tab?

We've removed Affinity and made it faster and simpler to understand if a creator has topical alignment with your brand. To understand topics creators regularly discuss and whether they'd be a brand fit, search via particular topics, or analyze a creator's Brand Fit Score or "Topics They Talk About" within their Profile. To identify similar influencers, visit their Profile and scroll down to "More Like This" or add them to a Creator List for AI-powered suggestions.

Q: Why can't I see individuals or brands a creator has spoken about?

Within Brand Safety, you can create custom parameters with competitor keywords. To understand past collaborations, view "Collaborations" in the Social Presence component on a creator's profile.