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Influencer marketing: direct messaging as the first contact

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 6:48 am
by Dimaeiya333
In 2023, influencers are the ones who set the opinions and trends, so influencer marketing is now a tool used by many agencies and brands to increase reach and engagement. However, reaching out to influencers can be a daunting task, so let’s take a look at how direct messaging (DM) can be used to reach out to influencers and perhaps trigger a valuable collaboration.


Key points
Direct messages offer a private space for personal conversations with influencers and can be a good way to build a partnership based on trust.
Compared to traditional emails, influencers can respond to DMs more quickly because they are active and responsive on the platforms.
Sending visual content is also easier using direct messages, which can be illustrated in the following sections:
Direct messages are one of the many ways to start a conversation with influencers and perhaps even build long-term, lasting relationships. Unlike public comments or mentions, a DM offers a private space where a personal conversation can take place. You can express your enthusiasm for an influencer’s profile, acknowledge their achievements, or refer to a specific piece of content that particularly caught your attention.

Of course, there’s one big question we’re all familiar with: how do you stand out in the overflowing influencer inbox? Brands have a bit of an advantage, especially if they’ve already established relatable creatives . Still, it can feel unprofessional to reach out via direct message, as some brands have a less-than-serious demeanor. So here’s an example of how not to do it:

What does DM instead of email mean on Instagram?
Reaching out to influencers via DM offers several advantages over traditional email outreach. Since key opinion leaders (KOLs) spend a lot of time on social media, the likelihood of being noticed by influencers via Instagram DMs may be higher. This can be especially advantageous compared to emails, as DMs are often displayed as individual notifications.

DMs offer a direct, real-time means of communication. Influencers tend to be active and r audit directors auditors email database esponsive on social media platforms, so an initial contact via direct message is a quick and efficient way to reach them. Unlike emails, which can take longer to receive a response, DMs allow for a quicker exchange of messages.

The Instagram inbox is also a more casual and informal communication environment. You can establish an authentic and genuine connection with influencers, rather than communicating in a formal and rigid manner through email.

When you send a DM to an influencer, they can immediately see if you have followers in common, for example. This “social proof” can make you more convincing, but also more credible and increase the likelihood of a positive response. The certification with the blue checkmark on the profile only adds legitimacy to your profile and increases the chances of a positive response.

At the same time, you can directly share images, videos, and links, allowing you to present your brand visually right away. Compared to text-based emails, it's easier to share visual content and demonstrate the value of collaboration through text messages.

While email outreach can still be effective in some cases , using text messaging to reach influencers offers unique advantages in terms of visibility, direct communication, personalization, and authentic interaction.