So you’re a budding influencer who wants to get the ball rolling on some brand collaborations and you’re wondering, “Where on earth do I begin?” For nano influencers or micro influencers, the odds are that you’ll need to be the one to hit up brands to get some partnerships lined up. While the world of influencer marketing can be intimidating, there’s no reason why pitching brands should be scary – not with the right approach in mind. In this piece, we’ll be outlining everything you need to know about reaching out to brands as an influencer. Keep reading on to learn what to include, how to include it, and how to manage your relationships with brands in the process.
Why should influencers reach out to brands?
While brands often proactively seek partnerships with influencers, taking the time to make the first move can be beneficial for a variety of reasons – and no, it doesn’t make you annoying in the eyes of the brand. Rather, it can open up a host of opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t come about if you hadn’t taken the initiative to let the brand know who you are and why you matter.
Some primary reasons to be the first mover in the conversation include:
Control and alignment:
When you reach out to brands, you can have more say in the partnerships that you enter. It's all about finding brands that truly align with your values, niche, and audience; this helps to grow your own brand while not compromising on what makes you, you! By being proactive, you can choose partnerships that feel genuine and resonate with your followers rather than alienating them.
Stand out from the crowd:
Let's face it, the influencer space is getting pretty crowded these days. Brands receive tons of collaboration requests regularly. So, by taking the first step, you can really set yourself apart and help to alert yourself to brands first. You can pitch their unique strengths, show off your creativity, and demonstrate the value you can bring to the brand's marketing efforts. It's all about making a memorable impression and increasing your chances of landing partnerships.
Portray a go-getter attitude:
Reaching out to brands demonstrates that you are an active, willing, and driven player in your industry. It shows that you’re actively seeking new opportunities and are committed to your craft of content creation. Brands appreciate this forwardness – seeing that the influencer is genuinely invested in their field and willing to take charge to create valuable partnerships.
Leverage personal branding:
As an influencer, you’ve got your own personal brand, and by reaching out to brands, you can leverage it to pitch unique collaboration ideas. Reaching out first allows you to impress brands by offering creative concepts that align with both your own vibe and the brand you’re reaching out to. This approach allows you to highlight your strengths and bring something distinctive to the table – and potentially blow the brand away with an angle they’ve never seen before!
Expand your network and foster relationships:
Initiating contact with brands opens doors to building relationships and expanding professional networks. By taking the first step, you establish direct communication with brand representatives, paving the way for ongoing collaborations and future opportunities. It's a win-win situation, as both you and the brand can support one another’s growth and success.
What you need before you reach out to brands
Before you get too excited and run off to send your email pitch, it’s vital that you check off a few must-haves that’ll bolster your proposal.
Social media metrics, stats, and figures
While you can impress brands if you have a way with words and some great creative ideas, they’ll want something concrete to go by in the end – that is, your statistics from all your social media accounts.
These numbers help showcase to brands the explicit value you’ll be bringing as well as help them see if you’d be the right fit for their campaigns and ideal performance. Marketing departments for brands often have ballpark figures in mind that will work for their ideal campaign, so coming armed with these numbers is a good way to kick things off.
You might already know this, but follower count isn’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to influencer marketing. Brands will be interested in seeing more detailed figures, so be sure to include them! While these will differ depending on whether your primary platform is Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok, we’ve compiled a handy general list of what you should gather:
Follower count
Reach
Audience demographics
Audience location
Audience age range
Audience male/female ratio
Average views
Average impressions
A comprehensive media kit
Going hand-in-hand with your social media stats is your media kit, which is effectively an all-in-one package that tells the brand your story, your value, and why they should work with you.
There is no one perfect way to create a media kit, but there are some non-negotiables that should make the cut:
Introduction
Bio and profile picture
Social media metrics
Target audience
Content samples
Past collaborations and testimonials
Services offered
Contact information
P.S. There are tools that can make creating your own up-to-date media kit even easier. HypeAuditor’s influencer tool suite lets you generate a media kit in minutes containing all the vital information you need to impress brands and land dream collabs.
Information and contact details on the brand
Naturally, you’ll want to know all you can about the brand you're reaching out to before you hit send on any email pitch.
Taking the time to research the brand, its latest offerings, and its mission and values can help you tailor your message to connect more authentically with them and show them that you know more than just surface-level information. When brands receive copy-paste pitches from influencers every day, having a personalized and informed proposal can make all the difference in getting them to notice you.
Additionally, you’ll want accurate contact details to get in touch and make sure your pitch reaches the right inbox. Take a look at the brand’s website or social media profile to learn more about the best ways to reach out; for some, this might be a specific email address dedicated to collaboration requests. Other brands might be open to talking shop via their DMs!
Tips for writing the perfect pitch to brands
Include a to-the-point subject line that catches their attention with emojis
Introduce yourself confidently, telling them everything they need to know about you without going into too much detail. Show off a bit of your personality in your writing!
Highlight the product or service you love most by the brand, and be sure to mention which core value or essence of the brand has drawn you to want to collaborate with them
Don’t forget to attach your media kit to the mail so give them all the crucial information they’ll need in one place
Keep your responses timeous and professional – and don’t be afraid to follow up with them to show your interest (as long as it’s not spammy!)
Conclusion
In the dynamic world of influencer marketing, reaching out to brands as an influencer is an essential strategy that can unlock numerous opportunities for professional growth and success. By taking the proactive approach and initiating contact with brands, you not only seize control of your partnerships but also demonstrate your authenticity and stand out amidst fierce competition. Throughout this article, we have explored the crucial components of a compelling pitch when reaching out to brands. From conducting thorough research to tailor your approach, to highlighting your unique value proposition, and aligning your collaboration plan with the brand's objectives, each step plays a vital role in securing successful partnerships.
By incorporating these strategies into your outreach efforts, you have the power to forge meaningful connections with brands, establish yourself as a sought-after influencer, and pave the way for lucrative collaborations. Direct communication with brands allows you to curate partnerships that align with your personal brand, values, and audience, fostering an authentic and genuine connection that resonates with your followers. However, it's important to remember that reaching out to brands is not a guarantee of immediate success. It requires persistence, resilience, and a continuous commitment to refining your craft as an influencer. It may take time and effort to establish relationships and secure partnerships with brands that align with your vision, but the rewards can be immeasurable.
As the influencer marketing landscape continues to evolve, the power to initiate contact and shape your own destiny as an influencer lies within your hands. By embracing the proactive approach, showcasing your authenticity, and delivering compelling pitches, you position yourself as a standout influencer who not only captures the attention of brands but also cultivates long-lasting, fruitful partnerships. So, research, craft your pitch, and reach out to those brands that inspire you. Embrace the potential that lies in each connection and remember that every outreach is an opportunity to showcase your unique voice, impact lives, and shape your career as a successful influencer.
