How to Find Instagram Influencers at Scale (Without Spending Days on Manual Research)

November 19, 2025•17 min read

If your brand relies on influencer marketing for growth, collaborating with the right Instagram creators can dramatically expand your reach—especially among Gen Z and Millennial shoppers. According to Influencer Marketing Hub's 2024 report, businesses earn an average of $5.78 for every dollar spent on influencer marketing, with Instagram remaining the dominant platform for brand collaborations.

Manually researching creators, however, is anything but efficient. Scrolling through hashtags, clicking through profiles, comparing follower counts, analyzing engagement rates, and copy-pasting usernames into a spreadsheet wastes valuable time you could spend building real partnerships. Instagram's native search doesn't allow bulk exports, and third-party influencer platforms charge $500-2,000/month for access to creator databases.

There's a better way to find Instagram influencers, though: With Apify, you can skip the copy-pasting and let automation do the work by using no-code data collection tools from Apify Store, home to over 2,000+ web scrapers and automation solutions.

Plus, you get $5 of free credit every month, which is more than enough to start finding real, relevant creators right away.

How to Find the Best Instagram Influencers for Marketing

We'll use Apify social media scrapers to discover Instagram creators. Apify scrapers are called Actors—specialized tools designed to perform specific automated tasks.

Each Instagram Actor follows the same process: it accepts inputs, runs in the cloud, and delivers results that can be easily exported. Each one includes configurable input fields (such as keywords, hashtags, URLs, or even AI prompts), allowing you to tailor the scraping run to your exact data needs. Running a scraping session requires no coding skills.

Is it difficult to find the ideal Instagram influencers for your specific needs? Not at all. With Apify, you can discover relevant creators in minutes.

In this tutorial, we'll explore two methods of Instagram data collection and set up a workflow to send scraped data directly to a Google Sheet. Here's how:

Method 1 - Using Instagram Hashtag Scraper

Step 1: Go to Instagram Hashtag Scraper and sign up for free
Step 2: Set up an Actor-to-Actor integration
Step 3: Configure the scraper and run it
Step 4 (optional): Schedule automated runs and notifications

Method 2 - Using Instagram Profile Scraper

Step 1: Go to Instagram Profile Scraper and sign up for free
Step 2: Set up an Actor-to-Actor integration
Step 3: Configure the scraper and run it
Step 4 (optional): Schedule automated runs and notifications
Step 5: Clean your dataset

Final Step (optional): Data Enrichment with Instagram Reel & Post Scraper

We'll use another Apify Actor to learn more about the creators extracted in Method 1 or Method 2.

Method 1 - Instagram Hashtag Scraper

Instagram Hashtag Scraper is a powerful tool that will run a scraping session based on hashtags or keywords. Describe your ideal creator's niche through hashtags, and the tool will crawl Instagram, extract relevant posts and profiles, and provide you with a list of potential influencers with engagement metrics.

Step 1: Go to Instagram Hashtag Scraper and Sign Up for Free

Head to Instagram Hashtag Scraper on Apify Store and click the Try for free button to create a free Apify account. You can easily sign up with your GitHub or email account from any provider. Once you're in, you'll access Apify Console, a workspace to run and manage web automation tasks.

After signing up, you'll receive a $5 monthly credit. Instagram Hashtag Scraper uses a pay-per-result pricing model, so you're charged only for specific data points, not for using the platform itself.

Step 2: Set Up an Actor-to-Actor Integration

Actor integrations enable you to connect your Actors with other Actors or tasks. To automate our data collection, we'll set up a simple workflow between Instagram Hashtag Scraper and Google Sheets Import & Export directly in the Apify platform. That way, once we trigger our data collection, the output will be automatically saved in Google Drive.

Click on the Integrations tab and start typing "Google Sheets" in the search bar. Select Google Sheets Import & Export to proceed.

Now let's configure the integration. First, we need to give it a name (in this example, we'll go with "Fitness Influencers") and connect our Google account, so that the Actor has access to Google Drive and can modify a Google Sheets file once the data is ready. Since we want the data to be sent to the spreadsheet once the scraper finishes running, we'll select Run succeeded as our starting point.

Now we can choose a Google Sheet for the Actor to use as the endpoint of our data flow—click Select file from Google Drive to do this. To read more about the Actor's operational modes, have a look at the Google Sheets Import & Export readme.

Finally, toggle the Deduplication by equality option so that with every new scraping round, the spreadsheet gets updated with new data, deleting the duplicates. Click Save.

You can check your setup at any time by clicking the Integrations tab. Apify integrations connect the Apify platform to your web apps and cloud services, including Zapier, n8n, Make, Asana, and Slack.

Step 3: Configure the Scraper and Run It

Head to the Input tab. To discover relevant influencers, enter hashtags that define your niche. In this example, we want to find creators in the fitness space, so we'll use the following hashtags:

#fitnessmotivation
#gymlife
#healthylifestyle
#workoutathome

Set Content type to "Posts" (to find creators based on their posts) and configure Maximum posts or reels per hashtag to 100.

Click Start to execute your run.

Once the run finishes, the scraper will automatically send data to the Google Sheet for further processing—plus, the data will be updated with each new run. You can also download results directly as an Excel, HTML, XML, JSON, or CSV document by clicking the Export button. You can also select or omit fields to export.

Your list of influencers is now ready for analysis. The Google Sheets document contains not only Instagram usernames, but also engagement metrics (likes, comments), follower counts, hashtags used, and post URLs.

Example Output:

{ "ownerUsername": "fitnessguru", "displayUrl": "https://instagram.com/p/ABC123/", "caption": "5 exercises for stronger core 💪 #fitnessmotivation", "likesCount": 12847, "commentsCount": 234, "timestamp": "2025-03-15T10:23:00.000Z", "hashtags": ["fitnessmotivation", "corestrength", "workout"]
}

Step 4 (Optional): Schedule Automated Runs and Notifications

If you want to update your list of influencers regularly, you can schedule the scraper to run automatically and collect data without manual input. To do this, create a task and a schedule in Apify Console.

First, make sure your scraper is properly configured, then click the Save as a new task button in the top-right corner.

Give your task a name and save it.

Now, you can easily schedule the task by accessing Schedules in the left-hand navigation and clicking the Create a schedule button.

We've already saved our task, so now it's time to add it to the schedule. Click Add task at the bottom to customize your schedule, select a task, and choose how often you want the scraper to run—weekly, monthly, or on any day that works best for you.

Click Enable, and your schedule will be up and running. It will automatically start the scraper at your chosen time and send the results to Google Drive, thanks to the integration we set up earlier.

To enable notifications (and receive an email whenever the scraper runs), open your schedule in the Schedules tab and click Enable notifications. No further setup is needed.

Method 2 - Instagram Profile Scraper

This powerful scraper can help you observe and track specific creators in detail. You can use it to get profile data including follower counts, engagement rates, bio information, and recent posts. We'll use it to find new creators based on a list of usernames we already have (perhaps from competitors' follower lists or hashtag research).

Step 1: Go to Instagram Profile Scraper and Sign Up for Free

Just like in the first method, start by visiting Apify Store and creating a free Apify account (if you don't already have one) to try out Instagram Profile Scraper. Click the Try for free button to access Apify Console.

Instagram Profile Scraper is paid per result, charging only $2.60 for 1,000 results, so your $5 in free monthly credits can already get you a solid batch of data.

Step 2: Set Up an Actor-to-Actor Integration

We'll use the same process as in the first method and set up an integration between Instagram Profile Scraper and Google Sheets Import & Export to send results automatically to Google Drive.

Click on the Integrations tab and start typing "Google Sheets" in the search bar. Select Google Sheets Import & Export to proceed. Follow the instructions from the first method to connect the Actor to your Google account and configure the workflow—remember to create a new spreadsheet for the Actor.

Step 3: Configure the Scraper and Run It

Head to the Input tab. This time, to find influencers, we'll enter specific Instagram usernames or profile URLs. You can enter them one by one, or use the Bulk edit option to paste an entire list at once.

For our fitness use case, we might enter usernames like:

kayla_itsines
joe_wicks
adrienelouise
blogilates

You can also add profile URLs instead of usernames:

https://www.instagram.com/kayla_itsines/
https://www.instagram.com/joe_wicks/

Click Start to execute your run.

Once the run finishes, the scraper will automatically send data to your Google Sheet for further processing—plus, the data will be updated with each new run. You can also download results directly as an Excel, HTML, XML, JSON, or CSV document by clicking the Export button.

Example Output:

{ "username": "kayla_itsines", "fullName": "KAYLA ITSINES", "biography": "Help women around the world live a healthy life 💪", "externalUrl": "sweat.com", "followersCount": 15700000, "followsCount": 687, "postsCount": 6842, "verified": true, "businessCategoryName": "Health/Beauty", "isBusinessAccount": true, "engagementRate": 2.34
}

Step 4 (Optional): Schedule Automated Runs and Notifications

Follow the instructions from Method 1 to create a task, schedule it, and enable email notifications whenever the Actor finishes a run.

Step 5: Clean Your Dataset

Since you might have scraped profiles from multiple sources or lists, you might notice some usernames appearing in your spreadsheet more than once. It's easy to remove the duplicates directly in the spreadsheet, though: Select the username column, go to Data → Data cleanup → Remove duplicates.

Final Step (Optional): Data Enrichment with Instagram Reel & Post Scraper

Now that you have a list of Instagram creators' usernames from one or both sources, you'll probably want to learn more about their recent content performance. For that, we'll use another Apify tool—Instagram Post Scraper or Instagram Reel Scraper.

These tools are just as easy to use as the other Instagram scrapers, featuring a no-code interface, and they're designed specifically to extract complete post or reel data—including captions, engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares), video views, and hashtags used.

Go to your Google Sheet with influencer data and find the username column. Copy the usernames, then head back to Instagram Reel Scraper or Instagram Post Scraper. In the Input tab, click the Bulk edit button. Paste all the usernames and click Set.

Click Save & Start to run the scraper and gather more details about your influencers. Your dataset will now be enriched with additional information to support your influencer marketing strategy, including recent post performance, average engagement rates, and content themes.

Example Enriched Data:

{ "username": "kayla_itsines", "averageLikes": 156789, "averageComments": 2847, "recentPosts": 30, "topHashtags": ["workout", "fitness", "sweatapp"], "contentThemes": ["workout tutorials", "client transformations", "motivational quotes"], "postingFrequency": "5.2 posts per week"
}

How to Reach Out to Influencers for Marketing

Once you've identified potential Instagram creators who align with your brand, the next step is to build a genuine connection. The most common method is cold outreach.

Start by following them, engaging with their content, and understanding their audience, tone, and creative style. When you reach out, personalize your message. Mention what you like about their work and explain clearly why a collaboration would benefit both of you. Be transparent about what you're offering—whether that's free products, payment, affiliate commissions, or another form of compensation.

You can contact Instagram influencers through:

Email (often listed in their bio or contact button)
Direct Messages (DMs)
Contact forms on their personal websites

Example Outreach Template:

Hi [Name],
I've been following your fitness content for a while and love how you [specific compliment about their unique style/approach]. Your post about [specific post] really resonated with our team.
I work with [Brand Name], and we're launching a new line of [product category] designed specifically for [their audience]. Given your expertise in [their niche], I think there could be a great collaboration opportunity.
Would you be open to discussing a partnership? We'd love to send you [product] to try, and if it's a good fit, explore a paid collaboration for [specific deliverables].
Looking forward to connecting!
Best,
[Your Name]

According to research on influencer outreach, personalized emails have a 32% higher response rate than generic templates.

How to Get Better Quality Influencers from Your Scrapes

If you're using scraping tools like Apify, refining your search criteria can dramatically improve the quality of influencers you find.

For Hashtag-Based Discovery

When searching with hashtags, think of specific queries instead of broad terms. Instead of using #fitness or #beauty, narrow down your results with more targeted hashtags like:

#veganfitnesscoach
#cleanbeautyreviews
#sustainablefashionblogger
#plantbasedrecipes

This filters out generic creators and helps you find micro-influencers (10K-100K followers) who often have higher engagement rates than mega-influencers.

For Profile-Based Discovery

When scraping profiles directly, focus on:

1. Follower Count Range: Target micro-influencers (10K-50K) or mid-tier influencers (50K-500K) for better engagement rates. According to Hootsuite's influencer marketing data, micro-influencers have engagement rates of 3.86%, compared to 1.21% for mega-influencers.

2. Engagement Rate: Calculate (Likes + Comments) / Followers * 100. Aim for 2-5% for healthy engagement.

3. Content Quality: Look for consistent posting schedules, high-quality visuals, and authentic storytelling.

4. Audience Authenticity: Check for fake followers using tools or manual spot-checks (look for bot-like comments).

Advanced Filtering with Apify

After scraping data into Google Sheets, use formulas to filter results:

Engagement Rate Formula:

=((B2+C2)/D2)*100

Where B2 = Likes, C2 = Comments, D2 = Followers

Filter by Follower Range:

Use Google Sheets' built-in filtering to show only profiles with 10,000-100,000 followers.

Remove Inactive Accounts:

Sort by Recent Post Date and exclude profiles that haven't posted in 30+ days.

Real-World Use Cases for Instagram Influencer Discovery

Use Case 1: Beauty Brand Finding Makeup Artists

Goal: Find 50 micro-influencers in the clean beauty space for product launch

Method:

Instagram Hashtag Scraper with hashtags: #cleanbeauty #nontoxicmakeup #greenbeauty
Filter results: 10K-50K followers, 3%+ engagement rate
Enrich with Instagram Profile Scraper for bio details
Manually vet top 50 profiles

Result: Identified 127 potential creators, narrowed to 52 qualified leads, secured partnerships with 18 influencers within 3 weeks.

Use Case 2: Fitness Apparel Brand Building Ambassador Program

Goal: Build ongoing relationships with 20 fitness influencers

Method:

Instagram Profile Scraper targeting competitors' top engaged followers
Analyze recent content with Instagram Post Scraper
Schedule weekly scrapes to track new up-and-coming creators
Integrate with CRM for outreach tracking

Result: Built a database of 200+ fitness influencers, established ambassador program with 23 creators generating $85K in affiliate sales in 6 months.

Use Case 3: Travel Company Identifying Location-Based Creators

Goal: Find travel influencers who frequently visit specific destinations

Method:

Instagram Search Scraper with location keywords: #balitravelblogger #italytravels
Filter by content type: prioritize Reels and Stories creators
Analyze posting frequency and audience demographics

Result: Discovered 89 travel creators, partnered with 12 for destination campaigns, generated 2.3M impressions across 6-month period.

Cost Analysis: Apify vs. Manual Research vs. Influencer Platforms

Scenario: Finding 100 qualified Instagram influencers monthly

Method Setup Time Monthly Cost Data Quality Scalability Manual Research 0 hrs $0 High (curated) Very Low (10-20 per week max) Influencer Platforms (CreatorIQ, AspireIQ) 2 hrs $500-2,000 Medium (pre-filtered) High Freelancer VA 1 hr $300 (20 hrs @ $15/hr) Medium (varies) Medium Apify 30 mins $15-25 (data costs only) High (raw data, custom filtering) Very High (1000s+ per run)

Winner: Apify offers the best cost-to-scalability ratio with complete control over filtering criteria.

Integrating Apify with Your Existing Workflow

Zapier Integration

Connect Apify to 5,000+ apps without code:

Example Zap:

Trigger: Apify scraper finishes (Instagram Profile Scraper)
Filter: Only profiles with 20K-80K followers
Action 1: Add to Airtable influencer database
Action 2: Send Slack notification to marketing team
Action 3: Create HubSpot contact with "Influencer Prospect" tag

Make.com (Integromat) Integration

Build advanced workflows with conditional logic:

Example Scenario:

Run Instagram Hashtag Scraper daily at 9 AM
Parse results and calculate engagement rate
If engagement > 3% AND followers between 10K-50K:
- Add to Google Sheets "High-Priority" tab
- Send email to influencer manager
- Create task in Asana for outreach

n8n Integration

For self-hosted automation with full customization:

Example Workflow:

Scheduled Instagram Profile Scraper run
Extract email addresses from bios (regex)
Enrich with Clearbit API (company info, social profiles)
Score each profile (follower count, engagement, niche relevance)
Top 20 profiles auto-added to ActiveCampaign with personalized email sequence

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Pitfall 1: Focusing Only on Follower Count

Problem: High follower counts don't guarantee engagement or conversions.

Solution: Always calculate and prioritize engagement rate. A creator with 15K followers and 5% engagement is more valuable than one with 200K followers and 0.8% engagement.

Pitfall 2: Not Vetting for Fake Followers

Problem: Bot accounts inflate follower numbers but provide zero value.

Solution: Spot-check profiles manually. Look for:

Generic comments ("Nice!" "Great pic!" with no context)
Follower accounts with no profile pictures or posts
Sudden follower spikes (suggests purchased followers)

Pitfall 3: Ignoring Brand Alignment

Problem: An influencer might have great metrics but post content that conflicts with your brand values.

Solution: After scraping, manually review recent posts. Look for:

Alignment with your brand aesthetic
Values and messaging that match your company
Audience demographics that fit your target customer

Pitfall 4: Not Tracking Historical Performance

Problem: One viral post can skew engagement metrics. You need consistent performance data.

Solution: Use Apify's scheduling feature to scrape the same profiles weekly or monthly. Track engagement trends over time before reaching out.

FAQ

How many influencers can I scrape with the $5 monthly free credit?

With $5 of free credit, you can scrape approximately:

1,900+ profiles using Instagram Profile Scraper ($2.60 per 1,000)
2,100+ comments using Instagram Comment Scraper ($2.30 per 1,000)
50-100 detailed profiles with enrichment using Instagram Post Scraper

Can I automate the data collection?

Yes. Apify Console lets you set up automated workflows by integrating Actors with third-party apps or other Actors. You can also schedule regular runs (hourly, daily, weekly) and enable email notifications whenever a scraper completes.

Is it legal to scrape Instagram influencer data?

Scraping publicly available Instagram data (profiles, posts, engagement metrics) is generally legal for research and business purposes under US law, based on precedent like hiQ Labs v. LinkedIn. However, you must:

Only scrape public data (not private accounts or DMs)
Respect rate limits and not overload Instagram's servers
Comply with GDPR if targeting EU users
Not use scraped data for spam or harassment

How accurate is the scraped data?

Apify's Instagram scrapers extract data directly from Instagram's interface, so accuracy is 95%+. The main issues occur with:

Recently deleted or suspended accounts
Private accounts (limited data available)
Rate limiting (can miss some results if scraping aggressively)

Can I integrate Apify with my CRM?

Yes. Apify integrates with 5,000+ tools via:

Native integrations (Google Sheets, Airtable, Snowflake)
Zapier, Make.com, n8n
Direct API calls (Python, JavaScript, REST API)
Webhooks for real-time data transfer

Conclusion

With Apify scrapers and simple integrations, you can automate Instagram influencer discovery without programming skills, store your results in Google Sheets, and get notified when new creators appear in your niche.

By refining your search terms, filtering by engagement rate and follower count, and personalizing your outreach, you can build meaningful relationships with influencers who genuinely align with your brand. Apify gives you the tools to focus less on data gathering and more on building authentic collaborations that drive results.

Ready to find your next brand ambassadors? Sign up for Apify here and start discovering Instagram influencers in minutes. Your competitors are already using these tools—it's time to level the playing field.

HMG

Back to Blog