How to ask for collaboration on instagram
Everything You Need to Know about Instagram Collabs
Instagram is constantly making improvements and adding new features to enhance the user experience. One of the most recent additions to the platform’s toolkit is the option to collaborate with other users. Known as Instagram Collabs, this feature can be an excellent asset for brands and influencers alike. In this post, we help you discover how to use the Instagram Collabs feature, how it can benefit you, and how to creatively leverage it.
Everything You Need to Know about Instagram Collabs:
- What Are Instagram Collabs?
- Benefits of Using Instagram Collabs
- How to Use the Instagram Collabs Feature
- How to Accept an Instagram Collab Request
- Creative Ways to Leverage Instagram Collabs
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Instagram Collabs?
Instagram Collabs is an Instagram feature that enables users to collaborate with one another. Using this feature, you can co-author a Feed post or a Reel with another user. The post will feature both your handles and show up on both your profiles, allowing more users to see it. That means you get to garner collective engagement from each other’s communities.
Instagram content creators popularly use this feature to collaborate with other creators and engage each other’s communities. Brands can also use this to announce their collaboration with another brand or even collaborate with a content creator.
In some cases, public figures may even be able to use the Instagram Collabs feature as a marketing tool to promote their own product line. See the below example in which influencer Aimee Song creates an Instagram Collab post with her personal clothing line, Song of Style.
Benefits of Using Instagram Collabs
With the ability to share a post simultaneously on two profiles, visibility is the most obvious benefit of using the Instagram Collabs feature.
In addition to this, there are several other ways the feature can add value to you:
Since an Instagram Collab post shows up on both of your profiles, it allows you to get your content in front of the other user’s audience. This means you can easily reach a new audience and introduce them to your brand or your creator account. It’s a great way to showcase your products, services, expertise, or creativity in front of a brand new community. If people are interested enough, you could even end up with plenty of new followers.
Boosting EngagementIn addition to showing up on both your profiles, an Instagram Collab post also collects the engagement from both your communities. That means the likes, views, and comments collected from the other user’s profile get counted toward the total engagement rate for the post.
And the engagements can quickly build up since they’re coming from two (or more) different communities. Moreover, the Instagram algorithm will consider this high engagement rate and make your post visible to more users.
Instagram also allows you to collaborate on shoppable posts. That means more people will get to see your products and easily buy them from your Instagram Store. This significantly improves the chances of driving sales.
How to Use the Instagram Collabs Feature
Creating an Instagram Collab post is a lot like creating any other Feed post or Reel. Follow the steps below to use the Instagram Collabs feature:
Step 1: Follow the usual steps to create a new Feed post or Reel.
Step 2: On the page where you can add your post details, tap on the “Tag people” option.
Step 3: Choose the “Invite collaborator” option.
Step 4: Search for the user you want to collaborate with and select their username. You can add multiple people as collaborators for a single post. But keep in mind that they will have to accept your Collab request in order to show up as authors of the post.
Step 5: Once you’ve selected the user(s) you want to collaborate with, tap on “Done.
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Step 6: Add more details to your post as needed such as writing a caption, adding a location, adding music, etc. Then tap on the “Share” button to create your very first Instagram Collab post.
How to Accept an Instagram Collab Request
Alternatively, if the other user is creating the post, you’ll need to accept their request to collaborate. Follow the steps below to accept an Instagram Collab request:
Step 1: Click on the invite notification from your Activity page. This will open the post with a note saying “@user invited you to be a collaborator on their post.”
Step 2: Tap on the blue “Review” button next to the note. This will open a pop-up window to either accept or decline the invitation.
Step 3: Select “Accept” and that’s it. You’ve accepted your very first Instagram Collab request and will be shown as an author of the post. The post will be shared to your profile and your followers in Feed.
Creative Ways to Leverage Instagram Collabs
Now that you know the steps to create an Instagram Collab post, it’s time to find out how to make the most of this feature.
Here are some creative ideas to leverage Instagram Collabs to boost visibility and engagement for your account.
If you sell physical products, one of the best ways to use Instagram Collabs is by showcasing your products being used in real-life. Consider creating a Collab with an influential creator who’s using your product. They may create a short video tutorial on how to use your product, a picture showing the end result, or even a before-and-after transformation.
For example, Revolve Beauty had the following Instagram Collab with digital creator, Amy Le (@amyle.nails). The short Reel shows the influencer painting her nails and then using a product from Revolve Beauty.
Announcing an Upcoming Collaboration/Event
If you have an event or collaboration coming up with a brand or a content creator, Instagram Collabs are a great way to announce or promote them.
The collaboration could be anything from a mini product line or a podcast interview. Sharing an Instagram Collab post with all the details about the upcoming event or collaboration is a great way to build excitement over time and drive more product or ticket sales.
For example, to promote a retreat he organized, Spiritual Coach Kevin Garcia created the following Instagram Collab post with podcasters Dirty Rotten Church Kids. The post contained all details about the event like when and where it’s happening and mentioned the podcasters as special guests.
Running Giveaway Campaigns Together
Instagram Collabs give you the perfect opportunity to collaborate with another brand or influencer for a giveaway campaign. Typically, when you create a giveaway contest with other brands or creators, each of the collaborators would have to share the same post and get their community to participate.
The Instagram Collabs feature makes this easier so that just one account will need to create the post announcing the giveaway and it’ll show up on all of your profiles. That way, you can garner the collective engagement of multiple communities and gain more visibility for the giveaway.
For example, Cult Beauty ran a giveaway contest offering the chance to win products from Selfless by Hyram. Instead of sharing different posts individually, the two accounts created an Instagram Collab post that showed up on both of their profiles. It managed to collect over 6,000 likes and over 3,000 comments in just three days.
Show How Well You Work Together
As the Instagram Collabs feature was made for collaboration, you can leverage it to showcase how well you work together. Whether it’s creating something together, putting together expert insights, or sharing work that you did together–Instagram Collabs could be used to showcase a creative or expert collaboration.
For example, Florida-based painters, IR Professional Painting shared the following Instagram Collab post with Florida Paints. The post showed the team’s before-and-after exterior repaint job in which they used products from the paint company.
Standing Up Together for a Cause
In a world where consumers are becoming more socially conscious, standing up for a cause that you really care about is a great way to build a connection with your followers. And the Instagram Collabs feature can help you do this even more effectively by working with another creator, organization, or brand to show your support for a certain cause.
The WWF Action Team, for instance, created an Instagram Collab post with the main World Wildlife Fund account to take a stance against plastic waste.
In the post, the team called on global leaders to negotiate a legally-binding treaty to prevent plastic waste from ending up in nature. This helped to simultaneously raise awareness about the issue and bring more attention to it.
Adding Fresh Content to Your Page
Freshness and variety are what you need to continue engaging your audience. But keeping your page updated with fresh content is easier said than done as you eventually run out of creative juice. Even if you already have ideas laid out in your content calendar, you may not always be able to follow through due to a lack of time or resources. Moreover, giving your fans something completely new can help you maintain their interest.
That’s why Instagram Collabs are such a wonderful addition to your Instagram content strategy.
By sharing content from another creator in the form of an Instagram Collab post, you can keep your page fresh and interesting for your audience.
For example, Mental Canvas regularly shares content from artists who used the tool to create artwork. Some of the artworks are even shared in the form of an Instagram Collab post as seen below.
Promoting a Discount Code
If you want to drive more sales for your product, you could share a discount code with your audience. And to make sure that even more people get to use the discount code, you could work with an influencer to promote it through an Instagram Collab post.
This is a great way to get your products in front of the right people while getting an influential personality to vouch for them. Plus, sharing the discount code could help convince them to make that purchase.
Just be sure to include appropriate disclaimers for sponsored Instagram posts.
For example, Spanish mattress company Maxcolchon partnered with influential home décor account Sweet Home Pat to promote a 17% discount for their mattresses. The influencer created an Instagram Collab post featuring the brand’s mattress and encouraged people to use the discount.
Cross-Promoting Your Other Accounts
A popular way to use the Instagram Collabs feature is for cross-promoting your other accounts. This is an excellent option if you have separate personal and professional accounts, for example. Influencers or celebrities who created their own brand often use the feature for this, as seen in the Aimee Song example from earlier. It’s also a good option if you maintain separate accounts for different product lines and brand ventures.
This is a great way to boost visibility especially if you have a significantly larger following in one of your accounts. For example, beauty influencer Huda Kattan created the following Instagram Collab post from her main Huda Beauty account, where she has over 50 million followers, and tagged the Huda Beauty Shop, which has about 6 million.
Showing Influencers Featuring Your Products
Brands can instantly gain credibility by having an influencer use or feature their products. And the Instagram Collabs feature makes the process much more straightforward. Whether you share the post or the influencer shares it, it will show up on both of your profiles. That means you can simultaneously show your followers and the influencer’s followers that your products are being vouched for.
As a result, you can instantly win the trust of the influencer’s followers. And it could boost trust and loyalty even with your existing audience.
For example, Asos created the following Instagram Collab post in which Millie Grace Court wore an Asos Jacket. The influencer even mentioned that she’s in the process of shooting a major drop with the ecommerce brand. As expected, the post garnered lots of engagement with almost 55,000 likes.
Get to Collaborating
Not only do you know how to create an Instagram Collab post, you also have some great ideas to leverage the feature to your advantage. Whether you’re a brand, an organization, or an influencer, the Collabs feature can be a great way to reach more people and boost your engagements. Make the most of the ideas above to get started with your collaborations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a Collab work on Instagram?
A Collab on Instagram involves co-authoring a Feed post or a Reel with another user. The post will feature both of your handles and show up on both your profiles.
How many followers do you need to Collab on Instagram?
The Instagram Collab feature is accessible for all users regardless of their follower count.
Can you add more than one collaborator on Instagram?
Instagram allows you to add multiple collaborators for an Instagram Collab post. At the most, you can tag and/or collaborate with a total of up to 20 accounts.
Can you invite a collaborator after posting?
You can only add collaborators to your Instagram post before publishing it.
How do you delete collaborations on Instagram?
To delete collaborations on Instagram, open the post and tap on the options icon (which looks like three vertical dots). Then select “Stop Sharing” and confirm.
4 Instagram Collaboration Email Templates & Samples
You need creativity, personality and a strong pitch to make your messages count.
That’s because influencers get pitched all the time. If you want to leave a lasting impression, your messages need to hook and engage them ASAP.
Not sure what a "good" collab email looks like? Don’t sweat it! Below we share our easy-to-use pitching templates that can help. You'll also learn best practices for writing and sending Instagram collaboration messages.
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Before Using Our Instagram Collaboration Email Templates, Read This!
Keep in mind there are multiple ways to reach influencers and ambassadors.
Want your pitch to feel casual and personable? Then an Instagram DM (direct message) might be the way to go. DMs encourage you to be brief and get right to the point. This can increase your chances of a speedy reply.
That said, many Instagram influencers prefer to be contacted via email.
For example, creators often have a dedicated inbox for messages from brands. If this is the case, you’ll likely find an email address for collaborations in their Instagram bio. You might also find their preferred form of contact in their bio link (via Linkt.ree or Linkin.bio).
The takeaway? Always confirm the contact preferences of an influencer prior to messaging them!
If email isn't their preferred form of contact, adapt your messages to Instagram DMs (and vice-versa). This will improve your response rate. In situations where emails or DMs are fair game, use your best judgment.
With that out of the way, let’s dive into the templates!
1.
Standard Instagram Collaboration Pitch TemplateWhen to Use This Template: Our standard collaboration email template is a general message that you can adapt for any type of creator. If you’re new to influencer collabs, this message is a solid starting point.
| Subject line: Hey [Influencer Name], we love your content! |
| Hi [Insert Influencer Name], I love your post(s) about [insert topic here] on Instagram. [Insert another sentence or two relating to their feed that adds a human element]! My name is [insert name here] and I work for [insert company name]. We [insert what you do or your mantra]. I’m reaching out because [insert what you saw in their feed, posts and what they are passionate about and relate it to your brand’s purpose]. We'd love it if you would collaborate with us [insert any collaboration specifics in mind]! Please let me know if you're interested and I'll share more details. Thanks! [Insert name here] |
Standard Collaboration Email Template in Use
| Subject line: Hey Sofia, we love your content! |
| Hi Sofia, I love your posts about college life on Instagram. It's great that you emphasize self-care through each and every post in your feed. I’m loving all of the bullet journal inspiration, too! My name is Kristen and I work for Dusk. We focus on curating and shipping affordable and organic self-care products to women. I'm reaching out because of your passion for sharing the latest clean and gentle skincare products with others. We'd love for you to collaborate with us on our fall social campaign! Please let me know if you're interested and I'll share more details. Thanks! Kristen |
2. Product Feedback Pitch Template
Our product feedback email template is perfect for gifting campaigns.
While it’s hard for anyone to resist the power of “free,” you need to mind how you present your collaboration offer.
| Subject line: Loved your recent [Product/Industry] post, [Influencer Name]! |
| Hi [Insert Influencer Name], I’ve been following your profile on Instagram for a while and love your posts on [insert topic here]. [Insert another sentence or two relating to their feed that adds a human element]! My name is [insert name here] and I work for [insert company name]. We [insert what you do or your mantra]. I’m reaching out because [insert what you saw in their feed, posts, and what they are passionate about that relates to your brand]. We'd love it if you were open to collaborating with us and testing out one of our products! Please let me know if you're interested and I'll send more details. Thanks! [Insert name here] |
Product Feedback Email Template in Use
| Subject line: Loved your recent skincare Reel, Violet! |
| Hi Violet, I’ve been following your profile on Instagram for a while and love your posts on your favorite self-care products. My name is Kristen and I work for Dusk. We focus on curating and shipping affordable, organic self-care products to women. I’m reaching out because we saw your thoughtful round-ups on your fave facial cleansers. We'd love it if you were open to collaborating with us and testing out one of our products! Please let me know if you're interested and I'll share more details. Thanks! Kristen |
By the way, your cat, Rey, is so adorable!3. Brand Ambassador Collaboration Pitch Template
Our brand ambassador email pitch template is for influencers you want to work with long-term. Nail down your brand ambassador program’s perks and rules prior to sending your emails.
| Subject line: [Influencer Name], we want you to be a [Brand Name] VIP! ✨ |
| Hi [Insert Influencer Name], My name is [insert name here] and I work for [insert company name]. We'd love to invite you to become a part of our brand ambassador team! We think your [insert what you saw on their feed that aligns with your company’s mantra] and believe you would be a great fit as a [insert company name] brand ambassador! As a brand ambassador, you would partner with us on [insert what you’d like to utilize your ambassadors for]. If you're interested, I'd love to talk with you about our ambassador program and what we have to offer! Thanks! [Insert name here] |
I’m reaching out because we have been following your Instagram and love your honest thoughts on [insert topic].Brand Ambassador Email Pitch Template in Use
| Subject line: Maddie, we want you to be a Dusk VIP! ✨ |
| Hi Maddie, My name is Kristen and I work for Dusk. I’m reaching out because we have been following your Instagram and love your honest thoughts on clean ingredients in everyday skincare products. We'd love to invite you to become a part of our brand ambassador team! We think your appreciation for organic products aligns with our company’s mission to provide healthier self-care products for women. We believe you would be a great fit as a Dusk brand ambassador! As a brand ambassador, you would partner with us on Instagram campaigns featuring new self-care products that are organic. You will receive a lifetime discount of 40% on products and a personalized affiliate code for your followers to get 25% off their first Dusk order! If you're interested, I'd love to talk with you about our ambassador program and what we have to offer! Thanks! Kristen |
4. Instagram Giveaway Collaboration Pitch Template
This collaboration email template is perfect for promoting an Instagram giveaway. Make sure your prizes and rules are sorted before you hit “send.”
| Subject line: [Name] x [Brand Name] collab? 🤝 |
| Hi [Insert Influencer Name], My name is [insert name here] and I work for [insert company name]. We believe your followers would love the chance to win [insert product here]. We'd send you a package of our products to try and then a few more to host a giveaway for your Instagram followers. The rules to win would be simple, [insert giveaway rules]. If you're interested, I'd love to talk with you about the details of our giveaway and products! Thanks! [Insert name here] |
I’m reaching out because we have been following your Instagram and saw one of your most recent posts about [insert what you saw in their feed].Giveaway Collaboration Email Template in Use
| Subject line: Daniella x Dusk collab? 🤝 |
| Hi Daniella, My name is Kristen and I work for Dusk. I’m reaching out because we have been following your Instagram and saw one of your most recent posts about your favorite night-time self-care products. We believe your followers would love the chance to win a set of our new evening skincare products, “Dusk till Dawn!” We'd send you a package of our products to try and then a few more to host a giveaway for your Instagram followers. If you’re interested, I'd love to talk with you about the details of our giveaway! Thanks! Kristen |
The rules to win would be simple. They would need to follow both of our accounts and tag two friends in your Instagram post featuring our products.Note: Need inspiration for your next Instagram giveaway? Check out The Ultimate Checklist to Hosting an Instagram Giveaway or Contest!
Best Practices for Brands Sending Collaboration Emails to Influencers
Messaging Instagram influencers involves a lot of moving pieces.
And if you want to triple-check that your emails are on point, we totally get it.
Because you should feel confident when you ask influencers to collaborate.
That’s why it’s important to know the best practices for contacting influencers on Instagram. Review the tips below to fine-tune your pitches and messaging strategy.
Engage Recipients by Keeping Your Messages Brief
Nobody wants to read a novel in their inbox.
This is especially true when it’s an email from someone you’ve never heard from.
When in doubt, keep your collaboration messages short and sweet.
Just how short, though? Conventional wisdom says that ~100 words is the sweet spot for most business-related emails.
Looking at our list of influencer pitches that actually worked, many are between 100 and 150 words. According to industry data, emails up to 100 words receive the highest response rate.
Consider also that most emails are opened on mobile devices. Think about how your message is going to look on a smartphone screen. If your emails require readers to scroll, they’re probably too long.
Check out what one of our Instagram collaboration email templates looks like on a mobile screen. For reference, the template below is roughly 100 words total.
The takeaway? Don’t get too wordy! Your collaboration emails shouldn’t tell your brand’s entire story to influencers. Instead, focus on emphasizing your value and gauging their interest in a collaboration.
Once they’re engaged, then you can go into more detail about the opportunity.
Personalize Your Collaboration Emails (Yes, All of Them)
Trust us: influencers can tell when you’re sending one-size-fits-all emails.
Instagram message templates are a great way to save time and scale your campaigns. Templates also organize your pitches to make them more direct and benefit-driven.
Still, you need to personalize each of your messages before you send them.
Why, though? Low-effort emails reflect poorly on your brand. Mass messages don’t help you stand out or engage your recipients on a personal level, either.
That’s why it pays to personalize your messages. This means:
- Referring to influencers by name
- Complimenting a recent post (and be specific about why it stood out )
- Explaining how you discovered their Instagram content and profile
Personalized emails go hand in hand with higher engagement and response rates. An oft-cited study from Salesloft notes that personalizing just 20% of an email lifts reply rates by 112% (plus 40% more opens).
Remember to do your homework on any influencers you plan to message. The research is 100% worth the effort. Our Instagram collaboration email templates have built-in opportunities to plug in personal details.
Let Influencers Know That You’re Legit ASAP
Content creators are suspicious of spam and scams. We don’t blame them.
And so some influencers are already on the defensive when they get a cold email from a brand they don’t know.
Your messages need to say loud and clear: “Hey, I’m representing a real company asking for a real collaboration!” Here are a few ways to do exactly that:
- Use an email signature that includes your full name and headshot.
- Send your collaboration emails from a company email address. Getting a message from [yourname]@[branddomain].
com feels more legitimate than a personal Gmail or Yahoo account. However, make sure you present your emails as being from a person and not a department (think: marketing@[branddomain].com).
- Try to get your influencers’ contact information from a public source. This might include their social media bios, Linkt.ree or professional website. Getting someone’s email from a third party adds an extra layer of trust-building to the pitching process. You should ideally contact influencers that want to be contacted directly.
You only have one chance to make a first impression. The more legitimate you look from the get-go, the more likely potential influencers are to respond positively.
Craft Subject Lines That Get Influencers Excited
Fact: 47% of recipients will open an email based on the subject line alone.
Subject lines can be make-or-break for your collaboration messages. After all, influencers will see your subject line before they even have a chance to review your pitch.
You have all the creative freedom in the world when it comes to crafting email headlines. The problem? Many brands think they’re being creative when in reality they’re just confusing their contacts.
Our advice? Rather than be clever or cute, be direct.
Still, there is no “right” way to write a collaboration email subject line. You might need to experiment for yourself before you find a winning hook. Here are some subject line tips based on recent research to help you brainstorm:
- Length-wise, subject lines between 15 and 70 characters are considered “good” (~24 characters is “optimal”).
- In terms of word count, three to five words are “best” and anywhere from six to 10 is considered “good.”
- Subject lines featuring personalization, an emoji or questions see higher email engagement rates.
Sample Subject Lines to Boost Opens for Your Influencer Emails
Not much of a wordsmith? No worries! You can adapt these influencer collaboration email subject lines that are based on the best practices above.
- Loved your latest post about [Industry/Product], [Name]!
- We want you to be [Brand Name]’s next ambassador!
- [Name], we love what we’ve seen on Instagram! 👀
- [Name], we want you to be a [Brand Name] VIP! ✨
- [Name] x [Brand Name] collab? 🤝
- [Brand Name] wants to collab with you, [Name]!
Some subject lines are more direct than others and that’s okay! Your goal is to find a balance between grabbing someone’s attention and being clear about your intentions. These sample influencer subject lines tick those boxes.
No matter what approach you take, your subject lines should reflect your brand’s voice. Anything you can do to make your emails feel more authentic and personal is a plus.
How to Message Influencers That Want to Collaborate with You
Emailing influencers and brand ambassadors might seem intimidating.
It doesn’t have to be, though!
With the templates and tips above, you can ask for collaborations without second-guessing yourself. Just make sure to add your own personality and flair to our templates to make them really pop.
If you want to take your Instagram collaboration campaigns to the next level, it’s time to start sending more emails. Ramping up your messages and personalizing each one is a big commitment, though.
That’s where Statusphere comes in. Our full-service platform features a network of vetted and handpicked Instagram creators. In short, we match your brand with influencers that want to work with you. No cold emailing required!
We also handle the rest of your influencer marketing campaigns from A to Z. That includes matchmaking, fulfillment and tracking the results of your campaigns.
Want to learn more? Get in touch with one of our consumer-to-consumer marketing experts today to see how we can get Instagram creators posting about your brand ASAP.
This article was first published in June 2019. It was last updated July 18, 2022.
How to offer cooperation to a brand: 10 steps from an idea to success
The success of a trendsetter largely depends on whether he knows how to properly offer cooperation to a brand. Many letters remain unanswered just because the proposal does not correspond to a certain style or the blogger failed to convey his idea correctly. The letter should look like a balanced and capacious business proposal. Based on it, the brand representative decides whether to consider the blogger's candidacy for cooperation or not.
How to choose a brand for cooperation
First of all, you need to decide who to write to. Your best bet is to find a partner whose services you can sincerely recommend to your followers. The most obvious choice is your favorite brands, whose products you yourself have been using for a long time.
You can also apply to any brand that matches your account in terms of beliefs and target audience. Consider who would be interested in advertising on your account and what products your followers would be interested in.
Before writing a proposal for cooperation, make sure that the brand is right for you. To do this, just check a few key points:
- The theme of the blog matches the brand.
For example, a beauty blog can advertise cosmetic products and services. Advertising products that are very different in direction may not look organic.
- Compliance with CA. To make it interesting for the brand to cooperate with you, and advertising posts do not irritate subscribers, choose brands that match your target audience.
- Similar values. Brands, like influencers, carry certain messages. And it is important that they match, otherwise the promotion may turn into a failure or even a scandal.
The algorithm of actions should be something like this:
- Carefully study the brand page on social networks.
- Think about the types of cooperation you can offer.
- Create a unique offering that is brand specific and consistent with your blogging guidelines.
The advertiser's contact information can usually be found on the official website or social media profile. If such information could not be found, you can attract attention with tags mentioning the brand, or write to Direct.
How to propose a partnership to your favorite brand
Brands are always interested in interesting cooperation. Meanwhile, 95% of all offers go to the trash before they are read to the end. The reason is the wrong writing of the letter.
In today's realities, it is very important to be able to correctly express your thoughts online, especially if you are trying to get ahead, enter into partnerships with brands and establish yourself as a guru in your business. Therefore, we have compiled a universal instruction on how to properly propose a partnership.
Step 1: Preparing an account
An influencer must have a perfect page a priori. Make sure your page matches this statement:
- Your account has a well-chosen bright avatar.
- Completed BIO, from which it is immediately clear what a blog is.
- The page contains high-quality interesting content, designed in the same style.
- Hashtags are used correctly.
- The publications are regular and varied.
- The account already has followers interested in the content.
Before you offer cooperation, be sure to put your profile in order. Then the brand at first glance will get the impression that you are really a professional in your field.
Step 2: Check Follower Quality and Engagement
Brands don't just look at looks, they look at numbers. Take a look at your profile from the side. To do this, you can use the trendHERO service. It provides over 90 account analytics metrics that brands look at when planning collaborations with a blogger.
The most important thing brands will pay attention to is engagement. Competent SMM specialists have long known that it is not the number of subscribers that matters, but their quality and activity. Accounts with a “dead” audience have long been of no interest to anyone.
With trendHERO you can also check your page for bots and inactive followers.
If necessary, clean them up. With the same service, you will receive statistical data about your subscribers, their interests, location, age, gender. This will help you understand who might be interested in working with you, and succinctly formulate your proposal.
Step 3: Stick to your topic
Of course, there are influencers who position their blogs as lifestyle. That is, they can find everything about everything. Such profiles are also popular with brands. But if a blogger has a single topic that he constantly writes about, and this topic is related to the brand, then such cooperation is doubly attractive.
Find your subject and work on it. Write about what you are best at, find your thing and stick to it.
Step 4: Write!
Write first or wait to be noticed? Write! There is nothing wrong with being the first to write and offer cooperation. But you need to do it wisely. Remember that the word "collaboration" implies working together for good. Meanwhile, the vast majority of proposals include only the praise of the blogger, and what he wants to get from cooperation.
Don't get discouraged if things don't work out. You may fail and be rejected for reasons beyond your control. But if your proposal was drawn up correctly, you can at least be sure that you will be heard to the end. Give yourself the opportunity to try again and leave a good impression of you.
How to write a proposal for cooperation
It is important to write a proposal for cooperation in such a way as to really interest the brand. In this matter, several rules can be distinguished, which can be conditionally called the “Rule of five Cs”.
1. Structure of the text
It is considered optimal that the entire proposal for cooperation fits in 1 message in Direct if the correspondence is conducted on Instagram. At the same time, it must necessarily include the following items:
- Greeting.
- A short story about myself.
No need to draw up long canvases of self-praise. Just briefly state what your blog is about.
- The essence of the proposal. Describe what exactly you offer. At the same time, first of all, try to interest the interlocutor by telling what he can get from cooperation. Only after that, specify what you would like to receive in return.
- End. Say goodbye, wish you a good day. You can specify that it is important for you to get an answer, even if it is a refusal.
2. Subordination
Do not forget about good manners. Show respect for your interlocutor and his time. Try to express your thoughts and what you want as succinctly as possible. Be sure to include a link to the account in question.
3. Abbreviations
Do not use abbreviations. Messages in the style: "Barter for advertising" are not conducive to communication, unpleasant and ineffective. If you do not have time, or you are tired, then it is better to postpone writing a message.
4. Interlocutors
Do not use the same message for all brands. SMMs communicate with each other and quickly learn that you are “exclusively” collaborating with dozens of brands. It is better to choose several companies with which you would really like to work, and for each write a letter taking into account its characteristics.
5. Emoticons
Use emoji in moderation and do not replace words with them.
Example: “Hello, Margarita. My name is Anna, and I am developing an insta-blog dedicated to tourism - (link). I would like to offer you cooperation on mutually beneficial terms. For example, you can hold a joint marathon / competition, post a post indicating your brand. In return, you can provide me with examples of your products or a discount on products for my subscribers.
Please, tell us, is this format of cooperation interesting for you?
Thank you in advance for your reply. Have a nice day!?️”.
Step 5: Negotiate
Naturally, one letter will not be enough to agree on cooperation. If you receive an interested response, describe in detail what you offer the brand and what you want in return. This will help close many important questions at the start.
Please specify:
- What advertising formats can you offer.
- When you can advertise.
- In what order will the coordination take place.
- What exactly do you want in return.
Be open to dialogue. It is likely that the brand already has its own model of working with influencers, or they will want to offer you another more interesting collaboration.
Step 6: Show statistics
It is important for a company to know who your subscribers are - their gender, age, city. Be sure to show the brand your trendHERO account statistics, because no one likes to buy a pig in a poke.
The brand itself can see your statistics, but your openness will add +100 to your karma.
Step 7: Sign an agreement
Today, most companies seek to enter into a formal agreement with an influencer that would guarantee that advertising will be carried out taking into account all the agreed nuances. For a blogger, an official contract is a guarantee that he will receive payment for his work. Moreover, you can sign the contract online.
If you decide to do without a contract, then at least there should be a correspondence between you and the brand, in which the requirements and obligations of both parties will be clearly stated. In this case, in the event of any incomprehensible situation, you can refer to the correspondence and point out inconsistencies.
Step 8: Prepare Content
Most companies today are in the mood for creative collaboration. The “post-gift” format is already pretty boring. Therefore, do not be afraid to connect a creative and offer a non-standard ad format.
Please note that there are brands that require the post to be approved. If you do not want to agree on the post, then at the time of negotiations, let the brand know about it. When agreeing, you do not need to try in every possible way to please the brand, agreeing to all the changes. Don't turn your post into a press release as it won't benefit you or the company.
If there is any disagreement, try to politely explain that you know your subscribers and what content they like, and reach a compromise.
Step 9: Stay in touch
Imagine that somewhere on the other side of the country there is an SMM-man who is waiting and will not wait for your answer. The management pulls him, threatens him with a fine, and you simply do not answer, believing that he can wait.
Don't forget ordinary human relationships. Try to make cooperation with you as comfortable as possible and make adjustments in a timely manner.
Step 10: Get Feedback
Many influencers don't care about results. Posted a post, received a fee - and that's it. But being a trendsetter is a profession. And in order to achieve professionalism in it, it is important to get feedback.
Feedback can be a good impetus to improve the quality of work, as well as show the brand that you are really interested in the result and that you are a professional in your field.
Checklist: Can I already write to brands?
Marketers know that one post from a good influencer can provide many times more touches with the target audience than advertising on TV. Therefore, they are always interested in productive cooperation with influencers. At the same time, brands are not ready to enter into a partnership agreement with every blogger.
Before you start working with brands, make sure you meet the minimum requirements for a good blogger:
- Your account already has several thousand regular followers who are active.
You don't have to have an audience of millions. Today, brands are ready to collaborate with influencers who have over 1,000 followers.
- Your account says who you are and what your blog is about. First of all, the brand's SMM manager will go to your page, and based on what is indicated on it, he will make the first impression of your adequacy, literacy, and experience.
- You have been blogging for more than a month now. It is not recommended to run ads earlier than half a year after the page was created. First you need to develop a loyal audience and accustom your subscribers to receive high-quality expert content from you, and only then add advertising.
- You know exactly on what conditions you are ready to cooperate. If you yourself do not know what you want, whether you need photos or post only your own, how much time you need, then it will be difficult for the brand to work with you.
- Analyze your posts. Make sure that the blog topic matches at least a third of all posts, you have a unique style developed, and you have worked out the visuals well.
- There are no “slippery” topics in your profile. Provocative posts on politics, religion, medicine, minorities can scare away brand representatives who, among other things, also take into account reputational risks.
- Check your statistics. Knowing your statistics and demographics of the target audience will help you in negotiations with brand representatives, as well as in compiling a content plan and promoting your account.
- Make sure you have a high engagement rate. This is one of the key parameters that a brand pays attention to when choosing a blogger. If your engagement score isn't good, work on it.
Brand partnerships are always built on an individual basis. Sometimes bloggers with millions of followers get rejected, and micro-influencers sign lucrative contracts. But in any case, it is important that your account looks attractive to both readers and advertisers.
Tips and tricks
For both a blogger and a brand, entering into a partnership is a long and laborious process. First of all, it is important to remember that on the other side of the screen is the same living person, and not a faceless company. Therefore, in communication it is worth adhering to the elementary rules of politeness. Respect your and other people's time. Be brief, to the point, and only during business hours.
Each brand has its own criteria by which they select bloggers for cooperation. You don't have to match all of them. But there are some aspects that every influencer should definitely pay attention to:
- Place ads selectively. You should not chase after momentary profit, grabbing cooperation with everyone. So, you may miss the opportunity to get an offer from a really worthy brand.
- Be honest with your brand and your audience. Brands do not forgive cheating likes and comments, and subscribers - false information.
- Follow the brief. Try to discuss all the nuances in advance and do not deviate from the agreed conditions. Otherwise, you will create the impression of at least an inexperienced blogger.
- Work on bugs. If the brand was not satisfied with the cooperation, try to find out what is the reason, analyze where the mistakes were made and how they can be corrected.
- Strive for quality, not quantity. Today, no one cares how many subscribers an account has. What matters is how active and loyal they are. Work with your audience, build relationships, build your reputation as an expert.
Collaboration with bloggers today plays an important role in the marketing strategy of any company. But it is obvious that a self-respecting brand will not cooperate with just anyone, risking its own reputation. Brands choose their influencers responsibly. And just as responsibly, a blogger should approach drafting a proposal for cooperation. Even if following all the rules does not guarantee success, you will be able to make yourself known to the brand. And, perhaps, soon he will choose you for further cooperation.
How to offer cooperation to a blogger for advertising
Influencer marketing (influencer marketing) is one of the most effective tools for promoting a product or service today. The pandemic was also partly affected - according to experts, since 2020 people have been spending more and more time on social networks in search of communication, new acquaintances, in order to maintain old ties. Many brands saw this as an opportunity to grow awareness, loyalty and, as a result, revenue from sales of their product. And if you haven’t tried advertising through bloggers yet or your experience is very small, it’s time to jump on the outgoing train – influencer marketing is gaining momentum and does not plan to stop in the near future.
And it is clear that the desire to start working in this area is not enough, you need to figure out how to cooperate with bloggers so that it benefits all participants, and above all, you are satisfied with the experience of advertising integrations.
* Let's take a closer look in our material: *
- How to choose a blogger.
- What to look for when choosing, so as not to be mistaken.
- Sample requests to bloggers.
So, our first task is to understand how to work with bloggers on Instagram. To do this, you need to choose someone who can talk about your product in such a way and to such an audience that sales will grow. It would seem that the goal is quite clear, but how to choose the right blogger for integration? There are two ways: manual selection and selection using professional tools.
1). We select manually. With this method, you will need to decide on a niche (interests, topics) and start searching through Instagram search, blogger subscriptions, hashtags, Yandex and Google search engines, etc. After you collect the database of bloggers, you need to evaluate their audience - quantity, quality, engagement, etc. - whether they like, participate in discussions and activities on the page. This is necessary in order to choose a blogger with your target audience (target audience). Then you can make a choice and write a cooperation proposal to a certain blogger, having previously estimated how much it might cost. This method has several disadvantages - it is quite energy-consuming, inaccurate due to the fact that it is difficult to manually find all the bloggers according to the given parameters, and you also have to guess how much the placement might cost.
2). We choose with the help of professional tools. You can use the Yoloco blogger selection service. Here you only need to set the necessary filters (interests, location, number of subscribers, etc.) and you will receive a list with all the bloggers that meet these parameters.
In addition, in the resulting list, choosing any blogger, you can see a report for each on key indicators: audience quality, engagement, gender and age, and so on. At the same time, for each blogger of them, you can see the rating, which immediately answers the question whether we cooperate with bloggers or not. Such a search will significantly save your time on selection and help with the choice - it will show that influencer who does not wind up subscribers and is actually interesting to his audience.
After you have selected a few applicants from your professional niche, you need to decide who exactly you will work with.
What to pay attention to:
1). Brand affinity. These are the brands that the blogger has previously collaborated with. Why is it important? For example, if a blogger’s Instagram account had an advertisement for Frutonyanya baby food a month ago, and now you offer the blogger to advertise Nestle, will the audience believe you? Probably, such advertising will irritate her in the first place. This information is presented in the Yoloco report for each blogger. For example, brand affinity of Khabib Nurmagomedov:
2). Audience intersection. If you choose several bloggers for advertising, it is important to choose those who will allow you to show ads to more people. What does it mean? Choosing two blogs of similar topics for advertising, it is likely that the same people will subscribe to them. If Masha's blog about fitness has 50 thousand subscribers and Ira's blog about fitness has 50 thousand subscribers, of which 20 thousand read both Masha and Ira, the effectiveness of your advertising will be lower. With the help of professional audience tools, you can cross and select those bloggers who overlap minimally - this will increase impressions and efficiency.
3). Choose bloggers not only from your subject, but also from related ones. For example, you sell farm products. You can advertise not only in blogs about recipes, but also in lifestyle, healthy lifestyle, fitness, family and so on.
And after the understanding of how to cooperate with bloggers on Instagram appeared, and the choice was made, it remains to write to the blogger and offer cooperation.
Contacts can be viewed in the profile, or write to Instagram Direct. Required:
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Say hello. But in no case do not start with the words "good time of the day" - illiteracy repels.
