Influencers are becoming increasingly important as intermediaries between companies and their target audience. Yet, as the influence of content creators grows, so does the difficulty for companies to approach them and establish a fruitful collaboration. Against this backdrop, it is essential to develop a well-thought-out strategy to successfully engage with influencers and, in the best-case scenario, build long-term partnerships. So here are some tried and tested tips how can you effectively contact influencers:
First and foremost, you should clarify how you wish to contact the influencer. Since creators are typically faced with a multitude of inquiries, it is advisable to reach out across multiple platforms, ideally starting with their management (if the influencer has one). Here are several methods for reaching out:
There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these options. While written messages can convey important messages and clear facts, personal contact is more about sympathy: after all, you have the opportunity to build a real relationship. However, as it won’t always be possible to have a casual conversation with influencers at an event, we’ll help you with our tips on how to make contact in writing.
The first impression is created right from the start of your message. It is therefore crucial to maintain a friendly and professional tone. Avoid being too pushy or formal and try to communicate naturally and authentically. Initially, it is not necessary to go into too much detail; rather focus on the most important factors. If the creator shows interest, you can always provide more information later.
Influencers are flooded with messages and requests for collaborations on a daily basis – whether from the community or brands. To stand out in this crowd, it is crucial to take a personalized and engaging approach. Instead of standardized mass emails and messages, it is advisable to write individual requests that pique the influencer’s interest and address their needs. For example, think about how you discovered the creator and pick up on this in your message, or talk about what you like about their content. If you use a standardized template to contact them, a single, individualized sentence is usually enough to indicate that you have engaged with the influencer.
Introduce yourself and your company, explain the campaign you have in mind, and why you find the influencer exciting in this context. Try to authentically persuade the creator of your work and do not merely view them as an advertising medium.
In your message, highlight how collaborating with you could benefit the influencer. Ultimately, the partnership should be rewarding for both you and the creator: therefore, emphasize what you can offer them – whether it be financial compensation, free products, or the opportunity to increase their reach.
Be patient and persistent. Since influencers receive many messages and requests every day, it may take some time before you receive a response. Don’t lose hope and send follow-up messages if necessary or use another communication channel to make sure your request hasn’t been overlooked.
To make it easier for you to implement our tips directly, influData would like to provide you with three templates here how can you effectively contact influencers:
Subject: Cooperation request for collaboration with (name of influencer)
Hello (first name or Ms/Mr last name),
I am (your name) from (your brand) and we are interested in working with (name of influencer). As a brand, we offer (detail about the brand’s products/services). We have been following (influencer’s name) for a while and are really impressed with his/her content!
We particularly appreciated (a personal detail of the influencer, such as their creative photos/videos, innovative mindset) because it aligns perfectly with our brand. Therefore, we see great potential for a successful partnership.
Our current campaign is (short description of the campaign) and we can offer him/her (financial compensation, free products or similar).
Please let us know if (name of influencer) is open to a collaboration. We look forward to hearing from you and discussing further details.
Thank you and best regards,
(your name)
(your brand)
Subject: Cooperation request (name of the brand) x (name of the influencer)
Hello (first name),
I’m (your name) from (your brand) and we provide (detail about the brand’s products/services). We’ve been following you for a while and are really impressed with your content!
We are particularly excited about (personal detail, e.g. creative photos/videos, innovative thinking, based on a specific post) because (explain brand fit). I therefore wanted to contact you personally to see if you would be interested in working with us. Our current campaign is (short description of the campaign) and we can offer you (financial compensation, free products or similar).
Please let us know if you are interested. We look forward to hearing from you!
Many thanks and best regards,
(your name)
(your brand)
Hello (first name)! Your (personal detail of the influencer, e.g. creative photos/videos, innovative way of thinking) impressed us. You have blown us away! We are (name of the brand) and offer (detail about the brand’s products/services). For our current campaign, the (short description of the campaign), we are looking for (positive adjective describing the influencer) creators like you. In return, you would receive (financial compensation, free products or similar). Let us know if you are interested. We look forward to hearing from you!
Effective outreach to influencers requires a balanced combination of strategic planning and a personal approach. Above all, it requires patience, as influencers receive numerous requests every day and need time to carefully consider each one. It is important not to get discouraged if you do not receive an immediate response. Rather, persevere and send follow-up messages when necessary to ensure that the request has been acknowledged. Continuous and respectful communication can build long-term trust and establish a successful working relationship.