If you’re in the world of digital marketing, you may have heard of something called “influencer outreach.” If you haven’t, no worries! I’m here to help.
Influencer outreach can drive major brand awareness and SEO value for your site. It’s a great way to incorporate your content marketing efforts and is actually a best practice for digital PR pros. Influencer outreach can also play a key role in your overall eCommerce growth strategy by boosting traffic and brand authority.
But, there are a lot of do’s and don’ts when it comes to influencer outreach. To help you out, I’ve put together a list of the 10 best practices for influencer outreach.
1. Do your research
Before you start reaching out to influencers, you need to do your research. This will help you to identify potential influencers in your niche and gather information that will help you to personalize your outreach.
When doing your research, you should look for influencers who:
• Are active on the social media platforms your target audience uses most
• Have a large, engaged following
• Have a good reputation
• Create content that is relevant to your brand and industry
You can use influencer marketing tools and platforms to help you find and connect with the right influencers for your brand. For example, if you’re selling electronics online, you’ll want to target influencers who specialize in tech reviews or consumer gadgets.
2. Identify common interests
Do your research on the influencer and find a common interest. This can be a great way to build rapport, and it will make your outreach feel more personal.
If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at the influencer’s social media profiles. You can usually find a list of their interests and hobbies in their bio.
If you can’t find anything in their bio, take a look at the content they’ve been posting. You might be able to pick up on some common themes or interests that way.
3. Start with small talk
Don’t start your conversation with a request. That’s like walking up to a stranger and asking for a favor without even introducing yourself.
Instead, start with a little small talk. Get to know the influencer as a person. Ask them about their day, what they’re working on, or what they’re passionate about. For example, you might compliment their recent posts or ask about creative tools they use, such as a background changer for their video content.
The goal is to build a relationship, and that starts with small talk. It’s a great way to break the ice and show the influencer that you’re interested in them as a person, not just as an influencer.
4. Offer something in return
Influencers are often paid for their work, and they’re not going to want to work with a brand that doesn’t offer them some form of compensation.
Influencer compensation can come in many forms. For example, you can offer to pay them for their time and effort, give them free products or services, or offer them a commission on any sales they drive.
Whatever you decide to offer, be sure to make it clear in your initial outreach email.
Once you’re working with them, consider using ReferralCandy to automate and track your influencer referral rewards, set up exclusive codes and seamless payouts in minutes.
5. Get to the point
Influencers are busy people. They have to create content, manage their social media profiles, and run their businesses. So, when you reach out to them, it’s important to get to the point.
Don’t waste their time with a long, rambling email. Instead, be concise and to the point. Tell them who you are, what you want, and how they can benefit from working with you.
6. Keep it short
The more you write, the less likely it is that your message will be read. Keep your pitch short and to the point. If your text has run longer than intended, just use an AI text summarizer.
Let them know who you are, what you want, and why you want them to be involved. You can include more information in a follow-up email if they express interest.
7. Personalize your message
If you’re going to reach out to an influencer, make sure you’re personalizing your message. You can start by addressing the influencer by their first name.
You should also make sure you’re using personalization tokens to fill in the influencer’s name and other information about them. This will help you make sure you’re not sending the same message to multiple influencers.
8. Follow up
If you don’t hear back from the influencer, don’t be afraid to follow up. They may have missed your email or DM, or they may have been too busy to respond.
If you’re following up by email or with a tool like Lemlist, wait a few days before sending a second email. If you’re following up by DM, wait at least a week before sending a second message.
For more tips on how to craft the perfect outreach, you might find this guide on email etiquette helpful.
9. Be polite
Influencers are busy people. They don’t have to work with you just because you asked. And, if they do agree to work with you, they don’t have to put your brand at the top of their to-do list.
Be polite, and remember that influencers are doing you a favor by working with you. Thank them for their time, and don’t be pushy or demanding.
If you’re polite and respectful, you’ll have a much better chance of getting a positive response. And, if an influencer does agree to work with you, they’ll be much more likely to deliver high-quality content on time.
10. Use the right platform
Not all influencer marketing takes place on social media. In fact, many influencers have their own websites where they post sponsored content. Some may even have their own podcast or YouTube channel.
When reaching out to influencers, it’s important to use the platform that they are most active on. For example, if you are reaching out to a fashion influencer, you may want to use Instagram to contact them. If you are reaching out to a food blogger, you may want to use email.
By using the right platform to contact influencers, you will increase the chances of getting a response.
Conclusion
Remember, the influencer you are reaching out to is a person. They have their own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. They have worked hard to build their own brand and grow their audience. Be respectful of their time and their energy.
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