{"id":12761,"date":"2020-10-27T13:41:18","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T13:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grin.co\/?p=12761"},"modified":"2025-10-03T14:41:59","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T21:41:59","slug":"influencer-product-promotion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/influencer-product-promotion\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Ask an Influencer to Promote Your Product [+ Free Templates]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you are confident in the quality of your product line and are excited to partner with influencers, it may feel intimidating to contact influencers out of the blue with a collaboration opportunity.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When considering how to ask an influencer to promote your product,<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> what do you say? And what is the best way to reach them?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These questions are common for <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/influencer-marketing-guides\/\">beginner influencer marketers<\/a>. And the good news is that it is easier than you think. We\u2019ll share best practices of how to find the right influencers, provide ideas on what to say and how to say it to partner with the best influencers that align with your brand.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The search to find the right influencers<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/creator-influencer-recruitment\/\">working with the right influencers<\/a> is the key to your campaign success. Your influencers don\u2019t just need to be authentic content curators, they also need to be a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">good fit<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for your brand.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid influencers that are willing to promote anything.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, it\u2019s important to know that there are an increasing number of aspiring influencers that are quick to promote and less aware of how promoting anything \u201coff the street\u201d can negatively impact their personal brand.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The influencers you want are the ones that put values and quality content first, brand promotions second. When these influencers do promote products, they demonstrate a clear affinity for what they are posting about and use that brand excitement to achieve a better connection with their audience.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find influencers that align with your brand and would use your product.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There needs to be a significant amount of relevance between the lifestyle that the influencer promotes and your products. A brand-influencer mismatch can stifle authenticity and follower engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s essential that your influencers know how to use your products. When influencers take this approach, they will resonate better with their audience. It also makes your job easier since the influencer clearly loves your brand &#8211; it\u2019s just a matter of coordinating campaign details.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, Lume Cube creates versatile lighting solutions. Its product naturally fits with professional photographers and remote workers that need lighting for video calls. That\u2019s why Lume Cube targeted influencers with these characteristics and has seen remarkable results through their influencer program.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check the influencer\u2019s engagement rate.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follower counts can help you gauge the size of an influencer\u2019s audience, but the number of followers can\u2019t tell you how connected that influencer is with members of their audience. To measure the relationship strength between influencers and their followers, you need to check engagement metrics.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engagements are predominantly likes, comments, and post shares. After partnering with an influencer, you\u2019ll have access to more engagement metrics, such as link clicks and coupon code redemptions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But when recruiting influencers, you should primarily examine an influencer\u2019s post comments and shares. Likes can be a helpful metric, so long as you understand that liking a post may not indicate much by way of thoughtful interactions between influencers and followers. But when a follower takes time to comment or share, you can view those engagements as quality interactions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to <\/span><b><i>gather as many different engagement metrics as possible<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> so that you get a fuller view of that influencer\u2019s audience relationships. For example, if you notice that an influencer is using campaign-specific hashtags, you can perform a search to see how popular that hashtag is. Also, remember that each social platform offers users different options to engage posts and other users.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re using an influencer marketing automation tool like GRIN, the platform will automatically calculate influencer engagement metrics for you. To manually calculate an engagement rate, simply follow the formula below:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Total number of engagements \/ Total number of followers =&nbsp;Engagement Rate<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perform an influencer analysis.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes you can distinguish between good and not-so-good influencers by looking at their latest posts and audience responses. But many things that set quality influencers apart are not that obvious.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s why many marketers employ influencer analysis tools. You can perform in-depth <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/influencer-marketing-101\/ch-2-identify-select-influencers\/\">influencer research<\/a> by looking at post consistency, aesthetics, and relevance between sponsored posts and the influencer\u2019s personal brand.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another popular technique is <\/span><a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/influencer-mapping\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">influencer mapping<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. With this approach, you can compare multiple influencers and rate their effectiveness based on the following metrics:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"list-cab9110\" class=\"list-cfb2d00\"><ul><li>Overall influence <ul><li>Prominence<\/li><li>Reach<\/li><li>Value-alignment<\/li><li>Authority<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Overall opinion <ul><li>Opinion consistency (on values and issues)<\/li><li>Willingness to engage on those opinions<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"video-c1133c2\" class=\"video-c79bb75 cc-vid\"><div id=\"video-c1133c2-videoe-iframe\" class=\"cc-iframe-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ylR5DjEqWto?modestbranding=0&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to do influencer outreach correctly<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending upon the social media platform and the industry, influencer outreach could look a little different. Here are a few tried-and-true approaches to performing influencer outreach well.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try influencer gifting (product seeding).<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most vibrant influencer programs make frequent use of product gifting, more commonly referred to as <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/product-seeding-influencer-gifting-how-it-works\/\">product seeding<\/a>, when recruiting new influencers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marketers need to know that the influencers they work with understand how to use their products. Furthermore, influencer campaigns don\u2019t work unless the influencer genuinely loves those products. If the influencer is apathetic about the product, they will not promote your brand with authenticity.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid Instagram comments as your outreach channel.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some brands search for influencers and then add a public comment on an influencer\u2019s post inviting them to collaborate. But this technique is considered bad taste, particularly because most influencers are very picky about the brands they associate with. The more appropriate manner to reach out to influencers is to send them a direct message or email.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Know which form of communication the influencer uses most.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experienced influencers have preferred communication channels when interacting with brands. Often, it\u2019s best to direct message an influencer on their main social channel with a brief offer to send them a gift. If the influencer responds, ask them how they prefer to communicate as a courtesy.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t oversell your brand.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When composing your outreach message, make sure to keep your pitch focused on what you love about that influencer. Let them know the reasons why you\u2019re reaching out to them for a partnership, such as their posting style and personality.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to mention who you are and what you do, but it\u2019s premature to expect that the prospective influencer will fall in love with your brand and product after a single message. Therefore, you should refrain from using the initial contact to pitch your products. Influencers that are interested will do their own due diligence on your brand. It\u2019s far better to make the first message about them and your interest.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get to know the influencers.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best brand-influencer relationships last <\/span><a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/short-term-or-long-term-influencer-partnerships\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for the long-term<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. As such, it is a good idea for you to take time to get to know the influencers you\u2019re interested in. Gathering a few personal details can help you make reaching out more authentic and even improve your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/top-influencer-negotiation-tips\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ability to negotiate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make your outreach personal.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In light of the nature of authentic brand-influencer relationships, it is a good idea to let go of certain corporate attitudes in favor of getting to know your influencers. While maintaining appropriate boundaries, don\u2019t be afraid to make your outreach efforts personal and genuine.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"video-c87ef33\" class=\"video-c99b26a cc-vid\"><div id=\"video-c87ef33-videoe-iframe\" class=\"cc-iframe-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7aFYE1SXrPA?modestbranding=0&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Great examples of influencer outreach<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the end of the day, you need to employ a communication style that fits your brand. But taking a look at a few examples of successful influencer outreach can help you get started.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Product Gifting with a Note<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a recent episode of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brands Working Remote Talking Influencers<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Tubby Todd Founder Andrea Faulkner Williams addressed a question during the Q &amp; A session regarding how to approach influencers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThere is an art to approaching influencers.<\/span><em> I have 5,000 followers, and it\u2019s flattering when brands send me product. But I like short messages. I do NOT want a long message. Something like, \u2018Hey, we think you\u2019re really cool. We like what you\u2019re sharing. Would you like it if we sent you some of our product?\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<cite>-Andrew Faulkner, <a href=\"https:\/\/tubbytodd.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tubby Todd<\/a> Founder <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Nine times out of ten, this approach is the best<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is why we offer it first. Here\u2019s how it works.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hey [first name of influencer], we have this product that I think you\u2019d like. May we send you a sample?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What to Do<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the example above, you want to keep your offer simple and one-sided. You\u2019re sending the influencer free product with <\/span><b><i>no strings attached<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If they agree to test your product, collect their shipping info and follow-up with them to make sure that they received your gift.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be available for questions and feedback from the influencer. <\/span><b><i>Only after the influencer tried and loved your products is it appropriate to offer them a partnership<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Not to Do<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t bait-and-switch your influencers and ambassadors. If you give them the impression that you\u2019re sending them a free gift, don\u2019t surprise them quid-pro-quo demands to promote your product.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why It Works<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A genuine, free gift is endearing to influencers. These social media power users get countless offers to promote brands. By sending free products without asking them to promote your brand, you take the burden off of that influencer owing you any favors.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once that influencer expresses genuine excitement about their experience, introducing the idea of a marketing partnership is a natural response.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collaboration Opportunity Email<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A collaboration email can sometimes work as a cold open. But these introductions work better if you\u2019ve already made first contact with the influencer, much like in the option above.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Hi [name],<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>My name is [your name] from [company]. I\u2019ve noticed that you and our brand share similar values and audience, and I wanted to say that your content is amazing.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I\u2019d like to offer you a chance to try out [new product] before it becomes available to<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>the public. Would you be interested in checking it out and providing a review on<\/em> <em>[product]?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you\u2019re interested, send me a reply, and we\u2019ll send you a free copy of [product]!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>&nbsp;Best,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>[your name]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What to Do<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The template above is a bit more direct. Don\u2019t be afraid to get straight to the point when you&nbsp; know that a particular influencer is a good fit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The email begins with an introduction, followed by a compliment to the influencer. It\u2019s important to make it known that you appreciate their content approach and desire a partnership.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With this email template, it\u2019s still important to have the influencer test your products or services ahead of time. If you are confident that your product will get positive feedback, you can request a fresh product review from the influencer, as illustrated above.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Not to Do<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using this approach breaks down if you forget to introduce yourself at the outset. It\u2019s creepy to get a partnership offer with a brand that doesn\u2019t tell you who they are and what they do.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, don\u2019t make the outreach email all about your brand. Express to the influencer your admiration for them and the fact that you\u2019ve been following them to get to know their content style. This step ensures the influencer that you don\u2019t just partner with anyone on social media.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why It Works<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The collaboration opportunity email is brief and clear. Both are key components of successful influencer outreach. Top-performing influencers are busy, and they are likely to overlook long emails that take forever to get to the point.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instagram Direct Message<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instagram direct messages also work for cold introductions &#8211; the shorter the better. If you\u2019ve already sent a few complimentary messages to an influencer, maybe it\u2019s time to take the conversation to the next level.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Hi [name],<br>My name is [your name] from [company]. I\u2019ve been following your [Relevant Social<br>Media Channel] account since [month\/year].<br>Your recent post on [relevant social post] really resonated with me. I thought it was<br>something my audience would appreciate, so I shared it on our social media<br>accounts.<br>I wanted to get in touch with you to discuss [topic] further and a paid [social media<br>channel] campaign.<br>If you\u2019re interested, we can set up a phone call this week to discuss compensation and<br>more details on the project.<br>Best,<br>[your name]<\/em>\ufeff<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What to Do<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the template above, you\u2019re going to focus on the fact that <\/span><b><i>you are one of their followers<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This template is great to use after you\u2019ve expressed public support for the influencer (through post likes and shares) before asking them to join your team.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similar to the outreach email above, you should introduce yourself. Because Instagram is a bit more personal, it\u2019s a good idea to be specific about what you love about the influencer and what you need from them.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Not to Do<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t be vague. Generic compliments don\u2019t seem authentic. Also, an open invite to collaborate without any campaign specifics leaves the influencer with too many question marks. And while this template is longer than the other two, it is still brief and to the point.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why It Works<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instagram messages in this format generally feel endearing to influencers. They appreciate thoughtful compliments and collaboration requests to show that your brand took time to consider their strengths. Lastly, because it is a relatively short message and broken up into paragraphs, any extra words are easier for the influencer to digest.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Set realistic expectations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Influencer marketing isn&#8217;t rocket science, but it also isn&#8217;t a walk in the park. If your creator roster isn&#8217;t as large as you&#8217;d like it to be, don&#8217;t worry. Creating good working relationships with the right influencers takes time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some tips to keep in mind as you get started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep realistic engagement metrics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not every creator post goes viral. That&#8217;s ok. Aim for realistic engagement rates based on benchmarks in your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don&#8217;t expect short timelines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Results take time. Expect gradual growth rather than spikes of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Be real about your budget<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bigger budgets usually yield bigger results. If you&#8217;re working with a smaller budget, extend your timeline for judging success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Look beyond face-value creator impact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&#8217;t just look at clicks or likes alone to judge success. Every creator post can increase brand awareness, credibility, and customer trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;re not saying to keep your expectations low. Rather, be realistic about creator marketing. It&#8217;s not a magic bullet. It&#8217;s a long-term investment that can yield amazing results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Real life examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Everything is theoretical until you see (or hear) concrete examples. Let&#8217;s connect theory with practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">MuteSix<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sarah Grosz, head of Influencer Marketing at MuteSix, shares how she built a team that now manages hundreds of influencers. In episode 11 of GRIN Gets Real, she offers tips on working with smaller influencers and common pitfalls to avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"seealso\"><p>Listen to this!: <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/podcast\/how-to-leverage-influencer-marketing-for-your-business\/\">How to leverage influencer marketing for your business\n<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">True Citrus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When True Citrus first got started in influencer marketing, it had a creator roster of 2-15 people a month. Read about how this brand went from 15 to over 300 in our case study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"seealso\"><p>See Also: <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/case-studies\/true-citrus-case-study\/\">Staying Innovative in Influencer Marketing: Ideas, Techniques, and Examples <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key takeaway: Finding authentic influencers is about authentic outreach.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Audiences connect with brands that publish authentic content. Influencers are especially skilled at providing that authentic content on behalf of the brands they love. However, even the best influencers will struggle to maintain authenticity if the brand-influencer relationship is awkward and manufactured.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The more genuine you can be in your influencer outreach, the better that relationship will perform during influencer campaigns. Understandably, it may take a few outreach attempts before they begin to feel natural, but with practice and attention to detail, you\u2019ll feel comfortable building relationships with influencers and establishing a <\/span><a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/how-to-build-an-influencer-community\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">thriving influencer community<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"seealso\"><p>Learn more about influencer marketing: <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/influencer-marketing-101\/\">Influencer Marketing 101\n<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Updated: August 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading12761_7abfe2-ba wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading12761_7abfe2-ba\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-accordion alignnone\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-wrap kt-accordion-id12761_1901ee-3b kt-accordion-has-15-panes kt-active-pane-0 kt-accordion-block kt-pane-header-alignment-left kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle kt-accodion-icon-side-right\" style=\"max-width:none\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-inner-wrap\" data-allow-multiple-open=\"false\" data-start-open=\"none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-1 kt-pane12761_ed84ba-32\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">How do I find the right influencers for my brand?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p>Finding the right influencers for your brand starts with understanding your objectives, your target audience, and your budget. Once you&#8217;ve established those three things, you can start digging into different platforms that suit your needs. For a more in-depth explanation, visit our Influencer Marketing 101 chapter on <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/influencer-marketing-101\/ch-2-identify-select-influencers\/\">finding content creators<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-2 kt-pane12761_c1c881-b3\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">What should I include in my outreach message to an influencer?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p>You should include who you are, who your brand is, and something specific about the content creator&#8217;s style or content that you love. You should know the content creator&#8217;s style and tone before you ever reach out to them. For more in-depth explanations of how to reach out, check out our Influencer Marketing 101 chapter on <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/influencer-marketing-101\/ch-3-influencer-outreach\/\">Influencer Outreach<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-5 kt-pane12761_170dc0-d3\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">How much should I expect to pay influencers for product promotion?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p>Payment depends on your budget, the type of content creator you want to reach out to, and whether the creator is amenable to product gifting instead. For more information about how to determine payment, check out our blog on <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/influencer-rates-predicting-influencer-marketing-cost\/\">predicting influencer marketing costs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-12 kt-pane12761_e0fad2-4b\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">What are the best ways to track the success of an influencer campaign?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p>The best ways to track the success of an influencer campaign is to understand your KPIs beforehand. Identify your goals before even starting your campaign. Is your goal brand awareness? More web traffic to your site? Increased sales? Whatever KPIs you determine are the most important should be the ones you keep a good eye on during your influencer marketing campaigns. For more in-depth information on reporting and performance, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/influencer-marketing-101\/ch-6-reporting-performance\/\">Influencer Marketing 101 Chapter 6<\/a> and our blog on <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/influencer-marketing-measurement\/\">influencer marketing measurement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-13 kt-pane12761_a8c708-84\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">What should I do if an influencer doesn&#8217;t respond to my outreach?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p>You should give a content creator a bit of time to respond. They are busy people who have a lot of followers reaching out to them on a consistent basis. If you have reached out at least three times over the course of a few weeks, it might be time to move on. Keep track of who responds and who doesn&#8217;t, so you save yourself time during your next outreach cycle.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-14 kt-pane12761_ebf8c3-b1\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">How can I ensure that the influencer&#8217;s promotion aligns with my brand?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p>Picking the right content creator involves ensuring that the creator&#8217;s style and tone already matches your brand aesthetic. Beyond that, you could set up an approval process for posts, but that might stymie the influencer&#8217;s creative process and could create friction. The best way to ensure alignment is to find a content creator who&#8217;s tone and style already matches and providing them with a clear and simple brand style sheet. For more information about onboarding influencers, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/influencer-marketing-101\/ch-4-influencer-onboarding\/\">Chapter 4<\/a> of our free Influencer Marketing 101 course.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-15 kt-pane12761_57a2c4-8a\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">Is it necessary to have a contract with the influencer?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p>It&#8217;s not always necessary to have a contract with your content creators, but it is wise. At the very least, you should outline the parameters of your partnership in your communication with your content creators. For more information about influencer contracts and agreements, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/influencer-contracts-agreements\/&#039;\">our blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"div-c4998ea\" class=\"div-c168ba8\" style=\"--ccaos-duration:0.3s;--ccaos-delay:0.1s;--ccaos-easing:ease-in-outs;\" data-aos=\"fade-in-down-small\" data-aos-once=\"true\"><svg height=\"0\" width=\"0\"><defs><clipPath id=\"div-c168ba8-path\"><path d=\"M64.5,56.5Q63,63,56.5,65.5Q50,68,32.5,76.5Q15,85,19,67.5Q23,50,32.5,46Q42,42,46,40.5Q50,39,61.5,33Q73,27,69.5,38.5Q66,50,64.5,56.5Z\"><\/path><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\n<h6 id=\"heading-c55b780\" class=\"heading-c02f31a\" style=\"--ccaos-duration:0.5s;\" data-aos=\"fade-in-up-small\" data-aos-once=\"true\">Hand-Picked Content<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"query-ccc4632\" class=\"query-c22f626\" style=\"--ccaos-duration:0.8s;--ccaos-easing:eases;\" data-aos=\"fade\" data-query_id=\"1\">\n<div id=\"querytemplate-cb51e11\" class=\"querytemplate-cdee4f4\" cc-query-template=\"\"><div class=\"cc-query-item\">\n<a id=\"div-cf7840a\" class=\"div-c8371fc \" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/product-seeding-influencer-gifting-how-it-works\/\">\n<div id=\"div-cbc9cbc\" class=\"div-c7fa7db\">\n<div id=\"div-c1ab5cb\" class=\"div-caacbaa\">\n<h6 id=\"heading-c122c6e\" class=\"heading-c757a59\">Jan<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"heading-c946646\" class=\"heading-ca9ddbd\">26<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"image-c28d150\" class=\"image-c1bbfc0 cc-img\" src=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/creator-opening-gift-min.jpg\" alt=\"\" height=\"640\" width=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/creator-opening-gift-min.jpg 960w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/creator-opening-gift-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/creator-opening-gift-min-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/creator-opening-gift-min-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"div-c22f5a0\" class=\"div-cdb9c28\">\n<p id=\"paragraph-cca93d9\" class=\"paragraph-c2c0893\">Product Seeding<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"heading-cb2af39\" class=\"heading-c5b88db\">Product Seeding in Influencer Marketing: A Complete Guide<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"paragraph-ca9d898\" class=\"paragraph-c553125\"><span class=\"after\">&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"button-c998c57\" class=\"button-ca34192 cc-btn\">Read More<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\"><path d=\"M27.707 16.707l-9 9c-0.181 0.181-0.431 0.293-0.707 0.293-0.552 0-1-0.448-1-1 0-0.276 0.112-0.526 0.293-0.707l7.293-7.293h-19.586c-0.552 0-1-0.448-1-1s0.448-1 1-1v0h19.586l-7.293-7.293c-0.181-0.181-0.293-0.431-0.293-0.707 0-0.552 0.448-1 1-1 0.276 0 0.526 0.112 0.707 0.293l9 9c0.181 0.181 0.293 0.431 0.293 0.707s-0.112 0.526-0.293 0.707v0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div><div class=\"cc-query-item\" data-lastpost=\"1\">\n<a id=\"div-cf7840a-q-2\" class=\"div-c8371fc \" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/how-to-recruit-influencers-with-instagram-dms\/\">\n<div id=\"div-cbc9cbc-q-2\" class=\"div-c7fa7db\">\n<div id=\"div-c1ab5cb-q-2\" class=\"div-caacbaa\">\n<h6 id=\"heading-c122c6e-q-2\" class=\"heading-c757a59\">Jun<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"heading-c946646-q-2\" class=\"heading-ca9ddbd\">30<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"image-c28d150-q-2\" class=\"image-c1bbfc0 cc-img\" src=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/How-to-recruit-influencers-with-Instagram-DMs.jpg\" alt=\"\" height=\"400\" width=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/How-to-recruit-influencers-with-Instagram-DMs.jpg 600w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/How-to-recruit-influencers-with-Instagram-DMs-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/How-to-recruit-influencers-with-Instagram-DMs-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"div-c22f5a0-q-2\" class=\"div-cdb9c28\">\n<p id=\"paragraph-cca93d9-q-2\" class=\"paragraph-c2c0893\">Discovery &amp; Recruitment<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"heading-cb2af39-q-2\" class=\"heading-c5b88db\">How to Recruit Influencers With Instagram DMs [+ Free Templates]<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"paragraph-ca9d898-q-2\" class=\"paragraph-c553125\"><span class=\"after\">&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"button-c998c57-q-2\" class=\"button-ca34192 cc-btn\">Read More<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\"><path d=\"M27.707 16.707l-9 9c-0.181 0.181-0.431 0.293-0.707 0.293-0.552 0-1-0.448-1-1 0-0.276 0.112-0.526 0.293-0.707l7.293-7.293h-19.586c-0.552 0-1-0.448-1-1s0.448-1 1-1v0h19.586l-7.293-7.293c-0.181-0.181-0.293-0.431-0.293-0.707 0-0.552 0.448-1 1-1 0.276 0 0.526 0.112 0.707 0.293l9 9c0.181 0.181 0.293 0.431 0.293 0.707s-0.112 0.526-0.293 0.707v0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Even if you are confident in the quality of your product line and are excited to partner with influencers, it may feel intimidating to contact influencers out of the blue with a collaboration opportunity.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22972,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"wp-custom-template-blog-single","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[100],"tags":[],"content-type":[208],"level":[201],"platform":[],"type-of-creator":[195],"marketing-type":[176],"topics":[190],"post-author":[147],"individual_goals":[119,120],"industry":[],"program_status":[113],"class_list":["post-12761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-relationship-management","content-type-blog","level-beginner","type-of-creator-influencer","marketing-type-influencer-marketing","topics-outreach","post-author-grin-contributor","individual_goals-drive-sales","individual_goals-build-creator-relationships","program_status-beginner-0-10"],"acf":{"notification_sent":true,"view_count":114868,"for_creators":"","separated_thumbnail":null,"video_cover":"","ai_summary":"<h3>Overview<\/h3>\n<p>The blog post provides a comprehensive guide for beginners on how to effectively collaborate with influencers to promote products. It addresses common concerns about reaching out to influencers and emphasizes the importance of selecting the right partners who align with a brand's values and audience. It outlines practical strategies for influencer outreach, including the significance of authenticity, engagement metrics, and personalized communication. The piece also highlights real-life examples and best practices for building successful influencer relationships.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Finding the Right Influencers<\/h3>\n<p>Identifying suitable influencers is vital for the success of marketing campaigns. Brands should prioritize working with influencers who demonstrate a genuine affinity for their products and whose personal brand aligns with the company\u2019s values. Engagement metrics, such as comments and shares, should be analyzed to gauge the influencer's connection with their audience, rather than solely relying on follower counts.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Effective Outreach Strategies<\/h3>\n<p>Successful influencer outreach should be personal and respectful. Approaches such as product gifting, direct messaging, and tailored outreach messages are recommended. Marketers are advised to avoid generic comments and focus on building authentic relationships with influencers by demonstrating genuine interest in their content. Setting realistic engagement expectations and understanding the budget are also crucial for long-term success in influencer marketing.<\/p>","faq":null,"hand_picked_content":null,"read_duration":22,"content_type":208},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12761"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50239,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12761\/revisions\/50239"}],"acf:term":[{"embeddable":true,"taxonomy":"content-type","href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-type\/208"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12761"},{"taxonomy":"content-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-type?post=12761"},{"taxonomy":"level","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/level?post=12761"},{"taxonomy":"platform","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/platform?post=12761"},{"taxonomy":"type-of-creator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type-of-creator?post=12761"},{"taxonomy":"marketing-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/marketing-type?post=12761"},{"taxonomy":"topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topics?post=12761"},{"taxonomy":"post-author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-author?post=12761"},{"taxonomy":"individual_goals","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/individual_goals?post=12761"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=12761"},{"taxonomy":"program_status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/program_status?post=12761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}