1/ Influencer Relations 101 (Thread) - [PART 1]

How To Build Relationships With Influencers & What Your First Outreach Message Should Entail

*Template Included

[PART 2] - 10/23 - How To Follow Up To Work With Them Contractually - Template Included

2/ How would you start a relationship that you desire to have long-term? Would you initiate it by first asking if they could do something for you? Sadly, this is how most brands go about initiating with influencers.

3/ Think of your product seeding strategy as your first date with the influencer. Don’t ask them out on a date and then immediately ask if they could buy dinner. Often brands will reach out offering to send out their product, at no cost, BUT, ask for a post or shout out.

4/ Plain and simple: Don’t do this.

Without them ever hearing about your brand or product, your outreach to them is their first impression.

This brings up the core philosophy of influencer relationships and product seeding:

BUILD THE RELATIONSHIP ON GIVING, NOT ASKING.

5/ Now, Just direct message an influencer and off you go, right? Wrong. I wish it was that easy. But after working with and messaging thousand’s of influencers, how you craft your message to an influencer - not too long, but not too short - is very important.

6/ You don’t want your DM’s getting lost in their inbox and even worse, giving a bad first impression. Remember, this is your first date - what impression do you want them to have when reading your message?

Let’s take a look at a couple examples - we’ll start with the bad first

7/ First, too much upfront on who they are - the influencer doesn’t care about your brand yet. PERIOD.

They use the phrase - “IN EXCHANGE” - so right upfront, there’s a catch to this brand giving you this product. Again, asking you out but you have to buy dinner ...2x/week!

8/ INFLUENCERS GET HOUNDED ALL DAY LONG by brands asking for them - DON’T BE THE PERSON ASKING THEM TO POST 2x / WEEK!
*Also, in the end - this person leaves No CTA of another way to get in contact

Let's look at a good example.

9/ * Complimentary - “we love your feed” & “we have selections based on your feed”
* OFFER for free - empowering their choice with the link
* and then finally, CTA with their email

10/ The only suggestion I would give is - anytime you’re asking them to leave the message or platform - you’re in danger of them forgetting. But they did provide the link so that’s helpful - I would have still asked for their address just in case they forget to get back to you.

11/ KEY TAKEAWAYS: Overall you want to provide 3 things:

Quick intro, be complimentary but get to the point quickly, then in one sentence explain why you are reaching out to them, then MOST IMPORTANTLY: use the phrase “no strings attached” - Reassure them, there's no catch.

12/ BASIC FORMAT TO FOLLOW:

Intro
Who You Are & Who Your Brand Is
Why Them / Perfect Match for Our Brand/Product
**Seeding Key Phrase: Use “No Strings Attached”
CTA: Sizing, address & Contact Info (Cell/Email)

DM me for a Standard Outreach Template!