Influencer marketing on Instagram grew by nearly 50% in 2019. This was an encouraging sign for influencers and gave rise to ambition among content creators. The popularity of Instagram can be attributed to the visual nature that makes it so simple for creators to highlight products through pictures and videos in their feeds and Stories.
If you are just starting off as an influencer and want to pitch for brand deals on Instagram, remember that it is natural to feel overwhelmed. But if the willingness is there, that’s half the battle won as you are hungry for success. Before we get into the nitty-gritty, it is imperative for you to understand a few basic things about the synergy between Instagram influencers and brands. Read on!
Why should you pitch for brands on Instagram?
- A Facebook survey revealed that most respondents stated that Instagram enabled them to research products and services betters. 80% said Instagram was instrumental to decide if they should buy something.
- Unlike most other social platforms, Instagram users follow brands more. The maximum users follow at least one brand.
- 9. 81% of people use Instagram to research products and services and 10. 83% of people revealed that Instagram helps them discover new products/services.
- 11.50 % are more interested in a brand when they see it on Instagram ads. This stat reveals that Instagram is also useful to raise brand awareness and recall other than being great for direct response marketing goals.
Remember that all successful influencers are armed with the knowledge of the pitch. Apart from knowing how to pitch, you also have to be aware of the fundamentals of pitching to tie up with the brands that are on top of your agenda. Also, keep in mind that you can never alienate your followers by tying up with a brand that goes against your core principles. Consumers buy a product based largely on trust, and if they can’t trust you anymore, they won’t buy anything you recommend. Your influence will thus take a nosedive as even brands look for influencers who can actually influence and inspire. Hence, your image is your stock value.
Here are a few killer tips to pitch to the brands that you want to associate with:
- Research the brand thoroughly
Know the brand you are pitching for like the back of your hand. That is the only way to achieve your goal. Study the brand’s social media strategies to discover what kind of influencers they have tied up with. For example, if you see that they use their influencers more on Instagram and less on other platforms, you get to know that your pitch should be totally focused on Instagram. Besides, knowing all you can about the brand always helps as you learn about their target audience and the products they are pushing the most in the market. - Improve your personal brand
Your personal brand is all that counts on social media. The key to linking up with the top brands is how you market yourself on social media. Just sitting behind that laptop and hoping for magic to happen won’t work. Get out there, grow your contacts, and use them to good effect. Build your contacts in brand, PR, and agency for the best results. - Email tips
When you shoot that email to land that brand, ensure that you are writing to a person rather than a company. That’s why your networking is important as your mail should reach the person in charge rather than a general marketing email folder, to eventually perish in the Junk Folder. Remember that a company receives thousands of emails. So, if you want your email to hit the bull’s eye, send it to the person that matters.
In the email body, be concise and get straight to the point. No one has time to read lengthy emails in today’s world, so refrain from eloquence and keep it simple. Your email should just state who you are and should not harp about what you want. It should be all about how you can help the brand reach its objectives. The subject line in an email grabs eyeballs. So make that striking!
You might want to include a call to action in your email. If you want that the brand should reply to your email, request them to. Include a link that showcases your content and ask for their feedback if you wish them to sample your content.
What you should cover in your pitch?
Make sure that the following is covered in your pitch email:
- Who you are
- Your past achievements and the social channels you use the most
- Some posts that might be relevant to the cause
- What interests you about this brand in particular and why do you wish to work with them
- Your preferred arrangement to work with brands and your charges
Here’s a template for better understanding. Note that this is just an example for better understanding.
Hi (THEIR NAME),
I’ve used (BRAND) for over (NO. OF YEARS) now and (THE REASONS FOR LIKING THE BRAND]. What I love the most is (BE SPECIFIC).
My podcast (SOCIAL CHANNELS) audience is made up [PERCENTAGE DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS] of Females (THEIR TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC) They would also love your products. (WHY?)
My podcast (LINK) gets (NO. OF VISITORS) per month (STATISTIC). I would love to talk further about how we can work together to promote your products.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
[YOUR NAME]
- Negotiate
Before you pitch to a brand, you should have a figure in your mind ready as to how much you would charge to promote the brand. But be open to negotiation as tying up with the brand you want is more important than the money initially. - Go for Gold!
Now that you have the intention, go for it. Do not waste any time seeking what you want as sometimes finding the right brand can be time-consuming for an influencer. Go for Gold!
