Let’s face it: Reaching out to someone new can be intimidating. Whether you’re meeting a new coworker in person or you’re reaching out to an influencer online, you want to be sure to get the words just right.
It’s totally natural to feel this way, and that’s why templated outreach messages are essential. They can give you a starting point, so you’re not staring at a blank screen. And once you find a few that work, you can feel more confident in your creator outreach efforts.
Check out some of our top Instagram influencer outreach messages that we’re sure your creators will love.
How influencer outreach templates can help you save time
Think about all of the messages you write in a day at work. These can take up a bit of time, right? And the person you’re writing to can impact the time it takes to craft, too. After all, emailing a note to a long-time coworker shouldn’t take too long, but crafting the perfect introductory message for a creator you’re interested in working with will definitely require more time.
And while you should personalize all creator outreach messages, some level of templatization can save you time, especially if you’re reaching out with the same offer each time (free products, X% commission, set flat rate, etc.).
Templatize the majority of your outreach and leave spots where you can add in personal details like their name, what you love about their content, and why you think they’d be a great partner for your brand.
Find out how much time you can save with an influencer marketing software: GRIN’s Time Saving Calculator
What to do before sending an outreach message to a creator
There are certain steps you can take before sending an outreach message, so it feels less like a “cold” DM.
Using your brand account, follow the creator on the desired platform, as well as any other social media platforms they use.
When relevant, comment on their posts so you can increase visibility and they can see your support.
1. “Let’s Begin a Relationship” influencer collaboration proposal template
This is one of the best Instagram influencer outreach templates. Its goal is to help you develop a relationship with creators. This DM template ideally compliments them on some of their content and encourages them to set up a time to discuss a partnership. Additionally, it gives the influencer some scope to think about where they wish to take their relationship with the brand.
Hi [CREATOR’S NAME],
My name’s [YOUR NAME], and I work at [BRAND]. I’ve recently discovered your content, and I think it’s amazing because[THING YOU LOVE ABOUT THEIR CONTENT].
I think you could be a great partner for [BRAND] because you match our [AESTHETIC, TONE, VALUES, ETC.]. If you’re interested, let’s set up some time to talk this week.
Look forward to hearing from you,
[YOUR NAME]
2. “The Introduction” influencer collaboration proposal template
Name dropping can be a powerful tool in gaining trust and credibility, so if a mutual acquaintance recommended this creator to you, let them know.
Introduction Instagram influencer outreach templates introduce your brand, share the name of the mutual acquaintance, and then directly get to the point of collaboration.
Not only does this pique the interest of the influencers, but it also gives you the opportunity to establish a working relationship with them almost instantly. Here’s one template that can help you do that:
Hi [CREATOR’S NAME],
My name’s [YOUR NAME], and I work at [BRAND].
[MUTUAL ACQUAINTANCE’S NAME] told me they think you’d be an amazing fit for [BRAND]’s influencer marketing program because [REASON].
I love your content about [TOPIC] and think it could be a great opportunity for us to work together.
If you’re interested in a partnership, let’s schedule some time to talk this week.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
[YOUR NAME]
This template works fabulously if you have a current roster of influencers and ask them to recommend other creators for your team. Just be sure to also include why you like their content, so they know you truly want to partner with them.
3. “We see you love our product” influencer outreach template
Is there a creator tagging your brand in awesome posts about why they love your products? The most authentic creator partnerships come from genuine brand excitement, so these creators are excellent spokespeople for your products.
There are a few ways to find people posting about you, including searching hashtags and direct brand tags. You can also search general hashtags (like #BestMakeup or #FitnessGear) and scroll through to see if anyone mentions you without directly tagging you.
Once you find some creators who would make excellent fits for your team, it’s time to reach out. In your message, reference their post about you and offer some free products. After all, brand fans are the most likely to accept product seeding as the only form of payment.
Check out this template for inspiration:
Hi [CREATOR’S NAME],
My name’s [YOUR NAME], and I work at [BRAND].
I absolutely loved your post about [PRODUCT NAME], and I’m so happy you get so much value from it.
You’ve done such a great job promoting our [BRAND] to your fans, and we’d love to send you some free products!
If you’re interested, let’s set up some time to talk this week.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
[YOUR NAME]
4. “Free Product Sample” influencer outreach template
Loads of brands give away free samples of their products to the influencers. This is a great way for brands to see if creators who haven’t tried their products will genuinely love them, which can lead to more authentic content.
Additionally, such Instagram influencer outreach templates can make the offer sweeter for the influencer. This may prompt them to reply to your email, even just to thank you.
When influencers receive your free sample, they may post about it on their Instagram profile without requiring payment. This, in turn, can increase your reach. But don’t go in expecting this—think of it as a nice little surprise when they do.
If they don’t automatically post about you, no worries! Follow up with them after they receive the product to see how they like it and if they have any questions. If they tell you they enjoy it, broach the topic of a potential partnership and offer to set up a phone call to discuss it further.
Hi [CREATOR’S NAME],
My name’s [YOUR NAME], and I work at [BRAND]. I’ve recently discovered your content, and I think it’s amazing because[THING YOU LOVE ABOUT THEIR CONTENT].
I think you could be an amazing partner for [BRAND] because you match our [AESTHETIC, TONE, VALUES, ETC.]. However, we want to make sure our products will provide value to your life, so we wanted to send you some for you to try out.
If you’re interested, send us a quick message!
Look forward to hearing from you,
[YOUR NAME]
5. “Event Invite” influencer outreach template
If you’re hosting an event, inviting creators to come and post about it is a great way to build hype. Whether it’s working with a makeup creator to showcase their look for the event in advance or a creator telling people why they’re so excited to go, these collaborations can encourage more people to attend.
An invite can also be a great way of getting the attention of your influencers. After all, posting content from exclusive events would be great for their Instagram feed.
These events or parties can attract influencers, and that’s why these Instagram influencer outreach templates work very well.
Here’s a template for you to tweak:
Hi [CREATOR’S NAME],
My name’s [YOUR NAME], and I work at [BRAND]. I’ve recently discovered your content, and I think it’s amazing because [THING YOU LOVE ABOUT THEIR CONTENT].
[BRAND] is hosting an exclusive event on [DATE], and it’s [DESCRIPTION OF EVENT].
We would love for you to attend and post about it to share the details with your followers.
If you’re interested, let’s schedule some time this week to chat.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
[YOUR NAME]
How to adjust these outreach templates for a niche business
If you represent a niche business, you will probably need to add additional explanation to your outreach. Depending on the template you want to use, add a section where you explain what your brand is or what your products do. Include your brand account’s handle and website so they can research you further.
Otherwise, the majority of these templates will still work wonders for your brand and help you save time.
How to turn these into influencer outreach email templates
Turning these outreach templates into emails is remarkably easy. The majority of the content can stay the same, and you just need to think of a compelling subject line that will make them want to click.
Be sure you have a professional signature line set up in your email, so they can tell you’re the real deal, and be sure to use your work email address rather than your personal one.
See Also: Influencer Marketing Email Templates
The ultimate guide to contacting influencers on Instagram
Once you find a creator you want to reach out to, check the bio in their Instagram profile. If they have an email listed in their bio, use that to contact them since it’s typically their preferred form of messaging.
However, if they don’t list an email, direct messaging (DMing) is the best way to reach out.
What to do if an influencer doesn’t respond to your outreach message
We’re all busy, and it’s easy to accidentally miss a notification in your inbox, so don’t interpret a lack of response to the first message as a lack of interest. Instead, wait a few days and send another note. Here’s a template you can tweak:
Hi [CREATOR’s NAME],
I hope you’re doing well. I reached out a few days ago about [A PARTNERSHIP, SENDING PRODUCTS, AN EVENT INVITE, ETC.], and I just wanted to follow up.
If you’re interested, I’d love to set up a phone call. Let me know when you’re free.
Thanks,
[YOUR NAME]
It’s a safe bet to send up to two follow-up outreach emails to the same creator, but if they don’t respond by the third message, there’s a good chance they’re not interested. But don’t let this get you down! There are still millions of creators out there who would love to partner with your brand; you just need to find them.
Key takeaway: Reaching out to influencers doesn’t have to be intimidating.
Creators: They’re just like us. One of the best ways to be sure you’re crafting a great outreach message is to read it back to yourself. Does it sound like an acquaintance or a friend is writing it? Or does it sound too dry and professional?
Be sure to give your outreach messages personality and keep them authentic. Those are some of the qualities of the best partnership requests out there.
