The Do’s and Don’ts of Emailing Influencers

Collaborating with influencers has emerged as a powerful strategy for brands to connect with their target audiences and drive meaningful engagement. Have you ever wondered how to email an influencer? As influencer marketing continues to gain traction, effective communication with influencers becomes essential for successful partnerships. In this regard, mastering the art of email outreach can significantly impact the outcomes of your influencer recruiting efforts. Crafting effective emails is crucial to catch their attention, convey your message clearly, and stand out amongst the flood of emails that creators receive. Here are some do’s and don’ts to adopt when emailing creators in order to maximize success in your outreach efforts:

The Do’s of Emailing Influencers

Do Personalize Your Emails

Creators receive loads of partnership emails which is why standing out is essential. The personalization of emails reflects your professionalism, attention to detail and will help establish a relationship with them. You should tailor each message to the specific influencer you are reaching out to by mentioning their name, referring to their work, and overall showing that you’ve done your research. Consider using a compelling subject line customized to the creator, which will attract their attention while giving them a clear insight into the topics discussed within the email. Acknowledge their talent, creativity, and the impact they have made, as this will help build rapport and establish a positive relationship with the creator. Personalization demonstrates that you value their individuality and are genuinely interested in collaborating with them specifically.

Do Be Clear and Concise

Influencers often find themselves skimming through their email due to their busy schedules, so it’s important to get straight to the point. By being clear, you ensure that your objectives and expectations are understood by the creator. Respect the influencers’ time by avoiding unnecessary fluff, this way you are making it easier for them to quickly grasp the main points of your message. They need to know what you’re looking for, whether it’s a collaboration, product promotion, or event participation, which is why unclear or vague emails can lead to misunderstandings and hinder effective communication. Make it easy for influencers to understand the collaboration details. Clearly outline what you expect from them, the timeline, and any necessary steps they need to take. By understanding the specific tasks, deadlines, content requirements, etc they can plan their time and resources effectively for successful campaign execution. One of the biggest challenges brands face is creators not delivering what was asked of them, which is why clarity is of the utmost importance. Additionally, clear instructions demonstrate professionalism and commitment to effective collaboration. Creators appreciate working with brands that provide clear guidance and make it easy for them to fulfill their roles. 

Do Offer Value

Building trust and credibility is important when reaching out to creators. Explaining the benefits can showcase how the collaboration isn’t solely for the brand’s interest. Highlight the unique opportunities, exposure, or perks they will gain by working with you. Emphasize how their audience will benefit from the collaboration as well. These explanations help them picture positive outcomes making them more inclined to collaborate with your brand.

Do Follow Up Strategically

If you don’t receive a response, don’t be discouraged. Creators often receive a high volume of emails, causing the possibility of yours getting buried or overlooked. Send polite follow-up emails after a reasonable period, typically a week or so. This increases your chances of your message being seen and considered and showcases your level of interest. However, avoid being pushy or demanding, and use follow-ups as a gentle reminder of your initial message to ensure an open line of communication. Additionally, try using a different mode of communication. Consider employing Captiv8’s Priority DM’s on Instagram, through this integration with Instagram’s creator marketplace brands can send messages to creators on Instagram directly to a priority inbox, separate from general DM’s. 

Do Express gratitude

Show appreciation for the influencer’s time and consideration, expressing gratitude demonstrates that you recognize and appreciate the creator’s dedication, expertise, and impact. Thank them for considering your proposal, even if they decline. In the competitive world of influencer outreach, expressing gratitude sets you apart from other brands or individuals who may overlook or take influencers for granted. Expressing gratitude overall can assist in leaving a positive impression and set the stage for future interactions and partnerships.

The Don’ts of Emailing Influencers

Don’t Use Generic Templates

Using generic templates can make your email blend in with countless others and can undermine the individuality of the creator as well. Take the time to personalize each email and make it stand out because influencers appreciate genuine effort. Additionally, considering the high volume of collaboration requests from other brands that are likely to use the same generic templates, you want to make sure you are standing out by employing an authentic approach to tailoring your message to the influencer and their overall brand. An example of how to email an influencer could be:

Don’t Excessively Follow-Up Unless Urgent

Creators are often busy individuals managing multiple projects and engagements, which is why patience is key when waiting for a response. Avoid bombarding influencers with multiple follow-up emails within a short span of time, as this can be perceived as intrusive or pushy, and they may even view it as a lack of respect for their time, which could result in your brand having a negative perception. Give them enough time to review and respond to your initial message. By doing this you are giving them enough time to evaluate the collaboration proposal in order to formulate a thoughtful response. 

Don’t Neglect to Follow Up

While excessive follow-ups are discouraged, it’s important not to neglect the follow-up process altogether. Sometimes, a well-timed follow-up can make a significant difference in securing a collaboration as it reflects your persistence and genuine interest in working with them. Influencers may also be interested in collaborating but may have been unable to respond due to various circumstances, however, sending them a follow-up email gives them another chance to reconsider and respond. Be strategic and polite when sending follow-up emails as this is a true reflection of professionalism. It shows that you respect the creator’s time and understand that they may have overlooked or been busy when they received your initial email.

Don’t Forget to Proofread and Edit

When thinking through the steps on how to email an influencer, you must double-check your email for mistakes. Sloppy errors can leave a poor and unprofessional first impression for a variety of reasons. Take the time to proofread and edit your emails to ensure they are polished and error-free. Even a missing word, a typo, or a poorly constructed sentence can change the intended message and result in miscommunication. Taking the initiative to review and refine your email demonstrates a commitment to effective communication and contributes to successful interactions with creators.

Conclusion

Emailing creators is an essential part of building successful collaborations and relationships, so it is vital to know how to email an influencer. By following the do’s and don’ts outlined in this article, you can increase your chances of engaging influencers effectively. Remember to personalize your emails, be clear and concise regarding your objectives, offer value, follow up strategically, and express gratitude. However, avoid generic templates, don’t forget to proofread, do not excessively follow up unless urgent, but do not also neglect to follow up. With these best practices in mind, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the world of influencer outreach and establish fruitful connections.