Q: How do I vet which affiliate creators to actually partner with for my shop?

Q: How do I vet which affiliate creators to actually partner with for my shop?

A: Skip follower count as the lead metric. Vet in this order:
— Engagement on their last 10 posts, specifically comments asking 'where to buy' — that signals a buying audience, not a watching one.
— Niche fit: a 30k-follower account in your exact category beats a 300k general lifestyle account.
— Their existing shoppable content — do they already drive sales, or just post?
— Comment sentiment: is their audience trusting or skeptical of their recommendations?
— Sample their content quality: would you put their video next to your brand?

Prioritize 'where to buy' comments over raw reach — that's the closest free signal to purchase intent.

Also worth knowing: micro-creators (10k-50k) usually deliver better cost-per-sale than mega accounts because their audience trusts them more personally.

Got a question? Drop it in the comments.