If you’re just starting out on your creator journey, chances are you’re going to have to reach out to a few brands before they start reaching out to you.

We promise it’s not as scary as it sounds. 

And to get you started learning how to reach out to brands as an influencer, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you get fully prepared to crush your next collaboration pitch. All you need to do is bring the confidence! 

What to have before reaching out to brands

All relevant creator metrics and information

Before you start researching brands, you first need to do a little research on yourself. Comb through the metrics on your primary social media platform and pull everything a brand might need to determine if you’re the right fit. 

Remember, follower count is important, but it isn’t the end-all-be-all. Most brands will be far more interested in your engagement rate and audience insights. 

Here’s a list of what to pull: 

A media kit

Once you’ve gathered all relevant metrics, it’s time to compile everything into a media kit. Feel free to use our free template as a starting point. This is a chance to show a little extra personality, so speak in your natural voice and make it look great!

When you’re done, export your document to a pdf or slide deck so you can easily attach it to your next outreach email. 

Pro Tip: Leverage your GRIN for Creators profile as a digital resume when reaching out to brands. Just sign up (for free), fill out your profile, and start finding partnerships!

A portfolio

You can add a portfolio to the end of your media kit, or you can have a separate document. Either way, this is your chance to “show off” a bit and tell brands about any work or past collaborations you’re particularly proud of. 

It’s also a good idea to add a little extra context to the content you include. Here are a few questions to consider: 

An engaging platform

Whichever platform you choose to include, your potential partner should be able to see that you have a connection with your audience. Do your best to respond to positive comments on your content and go live in a setting where you have a chance to respond to your audience in real time. You’re already including your engagement rate in your media kit, but doing these little things will let brands know you’re willing to go the extra mile.

An area of focus

Being a jack-of-all-trades isn’t always as appealing as it sounds. Try to zero in on what you do best and focus primarily on that. This eliminates some brands you might otherwise reach out to, but it will also increase your chances of nailing down a partnership with the right brand. 

How to reach out to brands as an influencer for collaboration

Do your homework. 

Don’t start reaching out to brands before you know some details about them first. Here are a few things to investigate:

Knowing the details will help you determine if they’re really a good fit, so you don’t waste time promoting a brand you don’t actually care about or want to use. It will also give you a chance to include some more personal information in your outreach.  

Plant the seed.

When you identify a brand you like, engage with its social media content to see if you can get on the team’s radar. Don’t ask for a collaboration in the comment section. Just make a few comments here and there to let them know you’re a fan. 

Determine the best way to reach the brand. 

If you strike up a connection in the comments, you might be able to take the conversation into the DMs, where you can talk more about a partnership. 

Otherwise, see if you can find a contact email address on the brand’s website or LinkedIn page. Some brands will even have a landing page on their website where you can apply to represent them. If that’s the case, be sure to follow up after a few days to check your status. 

Craft a professional but personal pitch.

What to include in your pitch

At this point, you should have a few intriguing prospects you’re ready to reach out to. Here’s what to include in your pitch:

Brand pitch examples

Need a little extra inspiration? We put together an outreach template and follow-up message for email and DM. 

Be communicative.

Communication is key for any relationship. After you’ve sent your pitch, be sure to keep a close eye on your inbox so you can respond to any follow-ups as quickly as possible. 

At this stage in the game, it’s essential to always put your best foot forward. Let your potential partners know you’ll be easy to communicate with and eager to start the partnership. 

Follow up with your partners. 

There’s nothing wrong with being excited about a potential partnership. If you haven’t heard from the brand you reached out to after a couple of days, don’t be afraid to send them a follow-up. But if you don’t get a response after one or two extra attempts, it’s probably best to move on. 

Following up with brands is also important after you’ve started a partnership. Check in from time to time to make sure they’re happy with your work and have all the data they need to determine the success of your partnership. 

Key takeaway: Be confident, personable, and professional to nail your next brand collaboration outreach. 

So, are you ready to land your dream partnership? We know reaching out to brands might seem intimidating at first, but you can pull it off with a little planning and persistence. Keep your message short and sweet, but don’t be afraid to be yourself. You got this!

Frequently Asked Questions