How to Pitch Successfully as an Influencer

Pitching as an influencer can be daunting, especially when you’ve never done it. The key to pitching successfully as an influencer is research, the right choice of words, and what you can offer the brand. Regardless if you have a low social media following or don’t have many blog posts written, you can pitch yourself to brands.

Most people have a misconception that your social media following has to be large! Even having thousands and thousands of viewers on your blog doesn’t truly matter when pitching. as an influencer. Most brands would prefer to work with influencers that have a smaller following. The reason is that brands seek influencers with an engaging audience who can convert them into new customers. You can feel like a small fish in a big pond when pitching to brands as an influencer, but not to worry; using the tips I share in this blog post will have you well on your way.

What Is Pitching?

Pitching is marketing yourself to a company in exchange for products or payment. The biggest downfall that most influencers have when pitching to brands is pitching to every brand. This is a big no-no. You should pitch to brands that fit your niche or those you love. Although your goal is to work with brands in exchange for payments or products, it’s important to remember your followers and readers. You always want to remain authentic to your audience and create content that can help them. I have included this social media influencer table as a guide to understanding better where you are as an influencer.

Social Media Influencer Table

Research The Brand You Want to Pitch to

When pitching to brands as an influencer, you must do the research. Before drafting an email to a brand, you should research the brand. What products do they have that you enjoy? Have you tried any of their products? What is the brand’s vision or mission? When you do your homework, you take the necessary steps to familiarize yourself with the brand. This way, you can show off your knowledge when it’s time to pitch. If you want to learn how to turn free products into paid partnerships, check out 5 Ways to Turn Free Products Into Paid Partnerships.

Who to Contact In Your Pitch

This is where influencers get stumped; I know I have. Who do I contact? Finding the right contact takes time, research, and a lot of googling. One easy way to find a brand’s contact information is through its website. When searching their site, you should look for their PR (public relations) contact email.

If you’re not having any luck on the company’s website, head to LinkedIn. You’ll probably have to create a profile, but it’s worth doing when pitching to your favorite brands. Another way of getting the brand’s contact information is through social media. I have used Instagram as a primary source to obtain a brand’s contact. But it can get a little tricky here. It’s important to follow the brand before jumping into their DMs, asking them to hand you their contact information. Follow their accounts, comment on their posts, then head to their DMs. Remember that companies receive emails daily from influencers, so you must ensure that the offer you’re pitching is good.

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Here’s an example of Pitching To brands in their DMs:

Hi there!

I hope this email finds you well. My name is _____, and I am a (blogger or content creator) based out of (city and state). I was reaching out today hoping to receive your PR marketing person’s contact information. I would love to collaborate with _____(brand’s name). Thank you so much for your time!

When reaching out through social media, it’s best to be brief but friendly. You’re hoping not only for a contact name and email address but also that the brand takes a peek at your page. Most brands will look at your page before giving you any information, so having an eye-catching page is essential. Another rule of thumb is that the person who runs the brand’s social media platform may not be who you should pitch to.

Your Pitch As An Influencer

You’ve got the contact information; now it’s time to pitch! Here’s where most influencers get on edge. You’re probably unsure what to say and have no clue how much information to include in your pitch email; that’s ok; I got you! Here is what your pitch email should consist of:

• Your name
• Location
• Social Media Stats
• Blog Stats
• Media Kit (If you’re looking for a media kit template, grab your FREE template here!)
• Link to relevant blog posts
• Link to relevant Instagram post (highly engaging video or static post)
• Any previous brand collaborations
• Your punch

It’s important not to include links to content where you didn’t receive high engagement. Also, check those links! There’s nothing like sending an email only later to find out that the links you included aren’t working. Your pitch email should consist of information that will a.) grab the brand’s attention and b.) make you look good. Don’t be afraid to show the brand your engagement if you’re not working with a large following. Brands will likely take you seriously if you show how well your audience interacts by engaging with you and sharing your content.

Pitching Templates

Some influencers keep a set of pitching email templates that they use to pitch to all brands. Here’s the problem with this method, brands can tell! Sending a cold pitch email to several brands in hopes of working with them is a disaster. You’re showing a brand that you’re unprofessional and just trying to work with any brand that bites. It’s ok to have pitching templates but tailor those emails to the specific brand as much as possible. Brands know when an influencer is sending out cold pitches.

Here’s an example of what your pitching email should look like:

Hi (insert name of person or brand), 

My name is (insert name), and I am the creator and editor of (blog’s name, link to your blog), located in ( tell where you are from). I truly enjoy using your products, mainly (whatever the product you enjoy using). This is by far one of my favorites!

My blog (insert blog’s name, link to your blog) is a (insert what your blog is about and who it represents) that focuses on (the audience that you cater to). I found that my audience, which is made up of (women, teens, single moms, etc.), struggles with (tell the struggle but make sure it fits with the brand’s product), and I believe your product(s) is something that will help them as it has helped me.

I would love to create a (blog post or social media content) to support any current or upcoming campaigns that (brand’s name) may have. If there aren’t any current or upcoming campaigns, I have a perfect idea that aligns with (brand’s name). Is this something that would interest you?

For your reference, I have enclosed my media kit.

If you’re interested in working together, please let me know! I would love to discuss a collaboration and rate that would benefit both (brand’s name) and (your brand’s name).

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

(Name goes here)

Now you wait to see if your pitch was successful enough to get a response! Don’t be afraid to follow up with a brand later; always include your original email in your follow-up.

Conclusion

Pitching yourself as an influencer to brands can be overwhelming, but it will become easier once you start and create a strategy. I hope these tips help you find the confidence you need to pitch. Let me know in the comments if you struggle with pitching to brands.

I would love to hear from you! Please drop me a comment with any questions you may have.