As an influencer, I get inquiries from several brands numerous times a day. This is great, but it takes a pretty special set of conditions to pique my interest, partly because my business is focused on a niche market and partly because I’m very picky about what I share with my followers. The following are some tips that will help you learn how to work with Instagram influencers.
- Do your research on the available options
I get it, time is precious without a doubt, but it always shows when a brand rep has done their research and really knows what my brand and I are all about.
Try to be as thorough as possible when first exploring influencer options and make sure those you are reaching out to are a good fit for your brand. This may be more time-consuming at first, but will result in more suitable partners, saving you time in the long run.
Is their audience engaged?
These are all things that take time and effort and can serve as a good indicator of what it will be like to work with them. Even if the influencer has fewer followers than your brand’s account, they may be able to send many new followers your way.
- Introduce yourself thoughtfully
Most influencers will be happy to hear from you and will be much more willing to respond to a message that has been carefully written, not copied and pasted. Be brief and direct about why you are communicating. Talk about your brand and how you are interested in working together.
Initial contact via direct message is fine, but I generally prefer to jump to email when it comes to delving into the details of a project. Also, sometimes I don’t check direct messages from new contacts, so I won’t see them until days later. What is our best option when making initial contact with an influencer? If there is an email address or contact information on an influencer’s profile, that is the best way to get in touch.
- Plan to pay your influencer partners
Sure, your product or service may be amazing, but keep in mind that it takes years of consistent, dedicated work to build a loyal audience on social media. Your brand will benefit from this well-established and hard-earned trust.
Not to mention that it takes time to communicate and plan, produce images and or videos, edit, caption and share and promote content in a unique and meaningful way. Even before I blogged full time, I stopped accepting gifted product in exchange for a post most of the time.
- Embrace the lack of creative control
You know your brand well and you likely have ideas about how you want it represented online, but keep in mind that you are working with this influencer because you like their content. You want a unique insight into how your brand fits into their lifestyle and how it will resonate with their audience. So, my advice? Try to keep art direction to a minimum.
Sharon Callix
Multi Award Winning Social Media Expert
International Speaker
Platinum Expert Blogger
www.makingmoneyusingsocialmedia.com
