Do’s And Don’ts Of Influencer-Brand Collaborations

Whether you’re new to the social media game or not, influencers of all styles play a big part, and if you’re a Western brand working to expand your marketing reach, Western influencers are one way to do it. Marijka Hunsaker, a Western fashionista, influencer, and model, explains the best and worst ways to reach out to influencers and shares questions to consider as a company, too. If you are new to hiring influencers or a seasoned pro,  continue reading for tips on reaching out and collaborating.

Making The Right Connection - Do’s:

• Research the influencer before sending a pitch; make sure their values align with yours.
• Find out how the influencer likes to be contacted (email, DM, text).
• Title your pitch with “your brand name X their name” (example: Western & English TODAY x Marijka).
• In your pitch, include the following:
  • an introduction of who you are as a brand,
  • why you want to work with the influencer,
  • why you think the partnership would be a good fit, and
  • the proposed collaboration — what do you want to create with them? If you aren’t sure what you want to create with them, ask for a media kit or ask what they offer as an influencer. You should also let them know if you are working with a marketing budget or if you want to gift product as a trade.
  • End the pitch with a “thank you for your time” and a “can’t wait to hear back.”
• If you do not get a response, follow up one week later. Send them an extra DM or email. Sometimes it’s just a one-person show, and collabs get missed and overlooked. Never be afraid to reach out multiple times to get a response!

Be Business Strategic - Don'ts:

• Don’t just pick an influencer based on their number of followers. Look up their engagement rate, ask them for statistics, contact brands they have previously worked with and get a review, read their comments, and watch how they interact with their followers.
• Don’t send product without a clear agreement of what you expect from the influencer and a signed contract from both parties. Talk it all out up front; it’s easier to have those hard questions answered before the content has been produced than after the fact.
• Don’t give up on an influencer just because you don’t hear back at first. Follow up multiple times; if they don’t have time to work with you, ask them for recommendations for others in their industry that could be a better fit.

Consider asking yourself these before sending any of your brand product(s) out:

• Will the influencer be keeping the product or sending it back? Do you need to include a return label?
• Are you sending the influencer products you picked or do they pick out products they like? I recommend letting the influencer pick products, so they can pick items that fit their style and are authentically something they would typically wear or use.
• If a product gets damaged while creating content with it, how will you handle the situation?
• Do they have a contract they utilize or are they OK with you sending a contract to sign?
• What is the timeframe for content to be produced and posted by?

Photography: courtesy Marijka Hunsaker