A micro-influencer is a creator with a smaller but highly engaged following — roughly 10,000 to 100,000 — known for a specific niche and a close, trusted relationship with their audience. Micro-influencers typically deliver higher engagement rates and more authentic recommendations than mega-celebrities, at a fraction of the cost, making them the backbone of scalable, credibility-driven influencer programs. Their concentrated topical authority also makes them effective seeders of the niche content AI engines surface.