What do Cristiano Ronaldo, Pamela Reif, and Kylie Jenner have in common? Well, beyond good looks, fame, and riches, they all get hundreds or even thousands of DMs and emails everyday. Popular influencers have brands practically falling over themselves to work with them. And the reality is, your brand needs to be excellent at influencer outreach to stand out and partner up with the best content creators.
In this article, you will get expert tips on how to execute an influencer outreach campaign like a pro. And that’s not all! To make things easier, we have created a free, downloadable influencer outreach email template for your brand to use and customize.
What is influencer outreach?
Influencer outreach is the process of selecting and contacting influencers with a view to working together.
Let’s say you’re the influencer marketing manager at a skincare brand, and you want influencers to promote your new moisturizer. So, you contact them and ask if they are interested in collaborating.
Sounds pretty simple, right? This might sound easy, but there are a few steps involved.
Influencer outreach step-by-step
Step 1: Find influencers
Finding the right influencers for your brand involves thorough research and analysis. Take the time to figure out which creators align with your brand values, create quality content, and have an engaged audience that matches your target demographic.
Try out the AI-based influencer search engine from Storyclash to find influencers for free. Just describe the kind of content or creator you are looking for and let the AI work its magic.
The full version of the Storyclash platform can help you find influencers using filters, keywords, competitor research and a similarity engine, to make finding influencers easier than ever.
Step 2: Find their contact details
Once you have identified potential influencers, the next step is to gather their contact details. This can include email addresses, social media handles, or contact forms on their websites. This information enables direct communication and establishes a direct line of contact for your outreach efforts.
It is usually better to contact them via email rather than via social media, as this is more professional and less likely to be overlooked among a sea of DMs from loyal followers. But different influencers have different preferences. If they have specific guidance on how to contact them, for example if they ask you to send an email to their management agency, then do that.
It can be difficult to find influencers’ email addresses. You can see if it is listed on their social media profiles, or use a tool like Hunter.io to find email addresses. If you use the Storyclash platform to contact influencers, you can send your message within the platform, no hunting for email addresses required!
Step 3: Make a compelling offer
To entice influencers to collaborate, it is important to create a compelling offer that aligns with their interests and provides value.
Think about what your brand can offer. This includes payment, as well as cool perks like product samples, access to exclusive events, discounts and sponsored trips. For best results, ensure your offer is tailored to the influencer's niche and audience.
Read our guide to find out how much influencers charge.
Step 4: Create and send personalized messages
Craft engaging messages that are concise and clearly communicate the purpose of your outreach. Be sure to showcase your brand's unique value proposition, highlighting why their collaboration would be beneficial, and address any specific points of interest based on their content and audience.
Using a template can speed up this part of the process. Nonetheless, don’t forget to personalize your message. This shows respect for them and their work, and increases the likelihood of a positive response.
Step 5: Keep track of your outreach campaign
After sending the outreach messages, monitor the responses and track the outcomes of your influencer outreach campaign. Analyze key performance metrics such as response rate, engagement, conversions, and overall campaign success. This data will provide valuable insights to optimize future outreach efforts and refine your influencer marketing strategy.
Storyclash makes it easy to keep track of the status of your outreach efforts. In the dashboard, you can see at a glance which influencers you have contacted, and where you are in the process.
Expert Tips for Successful Influencer Outreach
Identify the right influencers for your brand
Before jumping into outreach, be sure to conduct thorough research to find influencers who align with your brand values, target audience, and campaign objectives. Look beyond follower count and consider factors such as engagement rate, content style and quality, and audience demographics to ensure a good fit. Once you have researched and shortlisted potential influencers, then you can start contacting them.
Engage on social media first
Engage with influencers on social media platforms by liking their posts, leaving thoughtful comments, and sharing their content. This shows your genuine interest in their work and helps build rapport. Meaningful engagement increases the chances of your outreach messages being noticed and responded to.
Craft compelling outreach messages
Tailor your outreach messages to each influencer, demonstrating that you have taken the time to understand their content and interests. Personalization can include referencing specific content they've created, mentioning shared values, or expressing admiration for their work. Make the outreach message authentic, engaging, and concise to capture their attention.
Managing your outreach campaigns efficiently
As you scale your influencer outreach efforts, it's essential to stay organized. You don’t want to accidentally contact the same influencer several times, or forget to follow up!
Ideally, you’ll want to use an influencer marketing platform like Storyclash to keep track of influencers, outreach status, and collaboration details. This is the best way to approach influencer relationship management.
In a pinch, a spreadsheet or project management tool can also work. Either way, be sure to establish a systematic approach to streamline communication and ensure timely follow-ups.
Negotiate the terms of your agreement
Once an influencer expresses interest, negotiate the terms of the collaboration, including compensation, deliverables, timeline, and exclusivity. Draft a contract or agreement that protects the interests of both parties. Read our guide to drafting an influencer contract to learn more.
Establishing Long-term relationships with influencers
View influencer collaborations as an opportunity to build long-term relationships. Nurture these connections by providing valuable feedback, showing appreciation for their work, and involving them in future campaigns. Building trust and loyalty can lead to ongoing collaborations and advocacy from influencers.
Use Storyclash to manage your influencer outreach
Sure, it’s possible to make a list using Excel or a Google Doc, manually search for influencers’ email addresses, send out a bunch of emails, and try to keep the list updated. But an influencer marketing platform makes things a lot easier and smoother.
Storyclash enables you to search for influencers, contact them directly within the platform, and keep track of your outreach activities using a convenient campaign planning dashboard. With Storyclash, you can use AI to find brand-fit influencers and optimize your influencer outreach workflow.
Grab your free influencer outreach email template
With popular influencers receiving countless collaboration requests, it's crucial to stand out and capture their attention. A well-crafted influencer outreach message can make all the difference in securing partnerships and driving successful campaigns.
Ready to start building valuable partnerships, amplifying your brand message, and driving meaningful results? Download our free Influencer Outreach Template now.