In our experience, the formula for a successful Instagram outreach is finding the right influencers and crafting a compelling message.
Although the average reply rate to DM outreach is around 10%, we’ve been testing and improving our strategy and found a way to achieve up to 36% positive reply rate.
Working with 1K+ clients in the past few years, we realized that more than 50% of marketers feel confident about crafting the outreach message, but, 60% of them say that finding the right influencers for collaboration is the most challenging part of the outreach.
So, knowing your biggest challenges, in this article we share:
- 10 of our top-performing Instagram outreach templates
- How to find the perfect influencers for your brand
- Bonus tips to maximize your Instagram outreach
Let’s get started.
10 Instagram Outreach Templates
We’ve set aside 10 templates for Instagram outreach that have been top-performing lately.
They are categorized on the most common intents. So choose a template that suits your needs and adapt it to reflect your brand and offer. Keep in mind that Instagram has a maximum DM length of 1100 characters.
1. Generic Meet Up/Collab DM
Hey [insert name],
Everyone at [your brand name] absolutely loved your post about [insert description of post]. We love seeing social media creators engaging and producing this type of content. We’d love to meet up, get to know each other, and further discuss your content.
You can learn more about us here [insert a link to your page].
Let me know if you’d be interested and we can settle on a date to make a call.
Regards, [Insert your name].
Why does this DM work?
Depending on your campaign, you might have more time for the overall outreach process. If your brand hasn’t worked with influencers before, it might be a bit harder to onboard creators to your campaign. Therefore, casually engaging with them is a good idea.
Moreover, it’s crucial to include that you’re already familiar with their content and even more important to include which content piece has gotten your attention. This way you’re making the first interaction all about them, which we’ve seen works like a charm when contacting influencers.
2. Mention for Free Product DM
Hey [insert name],
I’ve been following the content you’re putting out for some time now, and I just want to say that you’re doing an amazing job! My team and I really loved your [insert an older content example] and [insert newer similar content example] posts.
Our brand has similar products to the ones you talk about & post on your socials, and we would love to send some things over that we think you’d love.
It would be awesome if you could give us a shout-out once you get to try them!
Let me know what you think about the idea and we can further discuss this.
Keep doing what you’re doing!
Regards, [Insert your name].
Why does this DM work?
Sending your products to an influencer is a marketing strategy called influencer seeding and the goal is promotion in exchange for free samples. Encourage the influencer to mention your products in a story.
Influencer seeding works best with micro-influencers. They are more likely to accept and post about a gift from a brand, compared to macro-influencers who mostly accept paid collaborations.
Plus, micro-influencers have more impact on the audience as they have niche-specific audiences. Hence, their recommendations will probably lead to an increase in sales
When it comes to this template, it’s personal, it feels as if a fan is approaching an influencer but they also have freebies to offer, and it benefits them because they need you as much as you need them.
It’s a pure win-win when sent out to the right influencers.
3. Review Request DM
Hi [insert name]!
My name is [insert your name], and I’m representing [your brand name]. I’ve been seeing your posts about [niche posts related to your brand], and my team and I really love your work.
So, we wanted to reach out and see if you would like to review one of our products for your followers.
[Add brief description about your product]
We really want to collaborate with creators like you, so let me know if you’re interested and we can settle on a date to meet up.
Have a great day!
P.S.: Your post about [insert a reference to their last post] was really great, I’d love to discuss it as well if we get the chance to link up!
Why does this DM work?
With this DM you introduce your brand and set the purpose of the collaboration efficiently. This helps the influencer understand what to expect from the collaboration and what your brand offers.
This DM also has a personal touch to it. Mentioning an older and a newer post lets them know that you’ve taken your time to get familiar with their work. Moreover, ending the DM with a reference to their work adds the final touch that can make you stand out from the other brands trying to get their products on their socials.
4. DM to an Existing Influencer User of Your Product
Hey [insert name]
I saw that you’re using [insert your product/brand name]. I’m really glad you loved it and it makes me really happy to see our brand reaching the right people.
We would like to invite you to a quick call whenever you can to discuss a potential collaboration. Your content really resonates with [your brand name] vision.
Let me know if you’re interested!
P.S.: We have some new things in the making and we would love to show you an exclusive peek before they’re out.
Regards!
Why does this DM work?
So many brands out there have influencers using and interacting with their brand and they don’t even know it. This is a missed opportunity for a potential collaboration with someone well-familiar with your business.
Reaching out to influencers who are already your customers is effective because they already love and probably have recommended your brand to their friends. Highlighting that you are aware and appreciate their support is what makes this DM work.
One obstacle in this strategy is to identify influencers among your customers, and we can help!
In our creator discovery dashboard, we have an Enrichment feature you can use to upload your email list and we will match the list of emails with our database of 80M+ social media accounts.
With this, you will identify customers with large followings on Instagram, and even find those who already have brand collaborations, promote affiliate links, etc.
Find influencers in your email list
5. Brand Ambassador DM
Hey [insert name],
My name is [insert name] and I’m with [insert brand name]. We have been following your profile on [insert social media platform] and love your posts on [insert specific topic].
We would like to invite you to become a brand ambassador for our brand! We think your [insert a reference to a niche topic] really aligns with our vision.
As a brand ambassador, you’d partner with us and:
- [insert benefit 1]
- [insert benefit 2]
- [insert benefit 3]
If you’re interested, I’d love to meet up, discuss the program, and see if there’s anything else you’d like to get as our next brand ambassador.
Best wishes!
Why does this DM work?
Brand ambassador DMs are one of the most challenging because this type of collaboration has a deeper level of commitment.
Our Instagram outreach template for brand ambassadors allows you to fully personalize the DM (you can add posts you liked or shared values) to establish a strong relationship. This helps you to smoothly transition to the benefits of the partnership with your brand.
The bullet list emphasizes the benefits and makes the offer more readable. This helps you catch the attention of the influencer. However, when writing the benefits ensure they are as clear as possible because this is the main focus of the DM.
Finally, it signs off with a call to action, so they can reach out if they are interested.
6. Event Invite DM
Hi [insert name]
My name is [insert name], and I work at [insert brand name]. I’ve been following your content for some time now, and I think it’s great because [insert what you love about their content & how it relates to your brand].
[Brand name] is hosting an exclusive event on [date of event], and it’s [brief description of event].
We would love for you to attend and post about it to share the details with your followers.
If you’re interested, let’s settle on a date for a quick call so we can go over the details.
Looking forward to meeting you!
Regards.
Why does this DM work?
It’s definitely easier to get influencers to an event than it is to get them to review or mention your product. However, making sure the ‘exclusivity’ reads in the message helps achieve the goal of this Instagram outreach template.
Again, adding a personal touch can boost your chances of getting a positive response. Therefore, research the influencer thoroughly and find a catchy thing to add. Accentuate their expertise in influencer marketing and how it aligns with the event. Don’t shy away from compliments, but make sure you stay professional.
7. Follow-up DM to a Past Collaborator
Hey!
It’s been a while! I’ve loved everything you’ve worked on since we last collaborated.
I’ve been meaning to DM you about [insert description of a past post] – I really enjoyed it and it seemed as if it resonated with your followers.
I’m sure things are busy, but do you have any free time to catch up and reconnect?
Please let me know.
Take care, [insert your name]
Why does this DM work?
Reaching out to influencers that you’ve already worked with can be a good idea. However, if it so happens that they’ve grown their followers, fees, or demands in the meantime, it’s good to try this DM approach.
Mentioning that you’ve been following them since your last collaborations adds some kind of loyalty into the mix. Moreover, this DM gives off a more casual vibe than a business inquiry, which in this specific case can get you a better chance at booking a meeting.
8. Generic Follow-Up DM
Hey [first name]
I’m just checking in to see if you had a chance to consider my offer in the previous message.
If you’re open for a quick meet-up on [propose a date] or any other day, let me know!
Best, [your name].
Why does this DM work?
This DM is a basic, but good enough follow-up DM to put your initial DM proposal back on the radar. Many struggle to find the right words when it comes to follow-ups because they can be awkward, and a mistake all of them make is writing the follow-up using AI.
While ChatGPT can ace the writing, everybody can sense the lack of human touch. This is an influencer outreach strategy used in follow-ups to accelerate the meeting, and only outreach experts can add it to the DM.
9. Generic Follow-Up DM
Hey [insert name], I just wanted to check if you had some time to think over my proposal. We’ve got some new followers and have more eyes on our products, so this would be a perfect time for us to collaborate.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Why does this DM work?
This follow-up email subtly urges the influencer to review the overlooked DM as it emphasizes the new achievements of the brand.
New followers, and more eyes on your products, are proof of your dedication and quality of the products or services you offer. You can further personalize this DM to suit your brand, but make sure you emphasize the reasons for the perfect collaboration.
10. DM After Getting Rejected
Thanks for taking the time to inform me of your decision.
We at [brand name] still look forward to your content! Hopefully, we can arrange something in the near future.
Until then! Kindest regards
Why does this DM work?
This DM allows you to maintain a positive relationship with the influencer after the rejection and leaves the door open for further collaborations. Even if rejections suck, at the end of the day, it’s business, and what matters the most are the success rates and networks.
On the other hand, the influencer will realize that you are a serious brand that holds no grudges against influencers who rejected you. They will most definitely appreciate the transparency and the communication abilities from your side.
How to use ChatGPT for Instagram outreach
You can use ChatGPT to help you write Instagram outreach messages for influencers. You can use this as a help when you are stuck and don’t know what to write, or to sum up a long message into a short simple pitch.
At this point, everyone can recognize lazy AI-generated messages, so it’s important to edit the messages before sending them to influencers. Here are 2 things that give you out and how to overcome them:
- Lack of personalization: While chatCPT can spice up the proposal with the fanciest words, you still need to add something a chatGPT can’t recognize – a sentimental value. That can be a hobby or a common interest you have with the influencer.
- Complex or polished language: AI writing tools use elaborate language and often complicate things that can be easily said in one or two sentences. Edit the AI-generated messages and delete any unnecessary words, plus change the words with a simple alternative, whenever possible.
ChatGPT can help you enormously if you need an opinion and craft a proposal based on their suggestions. You just need to use the right prompts.
Follow these tips to pin down the appropriate tone, mode, and format for your proposal and use it as your guideline.
Maximize Instagram Outreach with Creator Discovery Platforms and Outreach Tools
If you want to do Instagram outreach at scale, you will need Instagram outreach tools to streamline the process.
Since the fundamentals of effective Instagram outreach are finding the right influencers and reaching out to them the right way, we’ve divided the tools into two categories:
- Creator discovery platforms: These tools help you find matching influencers to your brand;
- Outreach tools: These tools help you with the outreach itself. They may offer Instagram influencer message templates, influencer email templates ready to use, or do the outreach for you.
Let’s review some of these tools to learn how to get started with your influencer outreach strategy on Instagram.
Creator discovery platforms
If you want to reach out to hundreds or thousands of influencers on Instagram, you need a scalable solution for finding influencers. Creator discovery platforms have a diverse database of Instagram influencers and help brands find the ones that are suitable for their brand.
We at influencers.club, have a database of 80M+ influencers on Instagram that are searchable by 40+ filters so you can easily narrow down to a list of influencers that are ideal for your campaigns.
Besides location, niche, and other basic filters, we have advanced filters such as past brand collaborations, presence on other social platforms, interest, etc which enables precise targeting.
Find the ideal Instagram influencers for your brand
Instagram Outreach Tools
Instagram outreach tools automate the entire outreach process. You can send Instagram DMs to more influencers at once. So, we made a brief overview of the top 3 Instagram outreach tools, so you can easily find the one that fits your requirements:
- AiGrow: This tool features sending DMs to your audience massively within a few minutes and replying to DMs. Also, it helps you search for new leads by hashtags. Finally, AiGrow allows you 3 templates at your disposal as part of their service.
- DMPro: This is a special lead generation tool for Instagram outreach. It’s designed to automate Instagram DMs and text the current, new, or people who don’t follow you. Additionally, it has a fast response option to help you text back anyone who replies to your message. This way you can keep the influencer engaged until you find time to schedule your meeting.
- Later: This is one of the best Instagram DM tools because it comes with free DM templates and comments created by experts. That allows you to improve the engagement with your potential influencers, and speed up the outreach process.
With these features plus a custom list of Instagram accounts at hand – you can effectively do Instagram outreach and get replies from influencers.
Conclusion
To sum up, succeeding in Instagram outreach requires two main steps: choosing the right influencers and sending them compelling messages.
With the strategies we shared for finding the right influencers for your brand, plus our best-performing templates you can confidently reach out to influencers on Instagram.
Yet, if you lack time or a team that can handle this process, we at influencers.club have a team of 40+ experts who can find and reach out to Instagram influencers from every niche on your behalf.
Let us find and reach out to your ideal Instagram influencers
FAQs
The cost of influencer marketing varies from influencer to influencer so it’s best to discuss the payment with the influencer.
However, the average price for a nano influencer with a maximum of 10K followers is $10-$100 per post. A micro-influencer with 10K – 50K followers usually charges $100-$500 per post, and the mid-tier influencer with 50K – 500K followers charges $500-$5,000 per post. Macro influencers with 500K – 1M followers charge between $5,000 to $10,000 per post.
The common collaboration ideas to propose to influencers are giveaways, product reviews, sponsored posts, affiliate partnerships, etc.
The best way to find hundreds or thousands of micro-influencers is to use platforms like influencers.club. If you need only a few, there are a few free and effective ways to find micro-influencers for your brand.
