Ever notice how your favorite social media accounts always seem to partner with the best brands? How do they do it?! Of course you’d love to show off some Warby Parker frames in your Summer Reads blog post, or educate your followers on your health routine with Daily Harvest smoothies… but unfortunately, those partnerships don’t usually fall in your lap. It takes some planning and hard work to catch the eye of and land a partnership with your favorite brands. At LMS we’ve brokered influencer deals big and small, and come away with some valuable tips to help you land your dream brand.
Do Your Research
Even if you follow your dream brands social accounts and own every bit of their product line, that doesn’t mean you understand the brand as a whole. It is important to research the brand’s style, their mission, what they are doing in the industry to get an idea of how you can contribute. The more you know, the better you can tailor your approach to working with them and reflect their goals and values.
Stay True to You
Not every brand is a great fit for you and your audience. Although many brands may come knockin’, it’s key to your authenticity and audience that you only work with brands that are a true fit for you. Even if you want that new Dyson hairdryer soooo badly, it may look a little out of place on your all foodie feed. Being on-brand and loyal to your audience is a top characteristic in what brands look for in their ide
al partnerships. Having a trusting relationship with your followers means that they will listen to your recommendations and act on them. That influence is priceless to a brand. Hold out and build your reputation by only partnering with brands that are a true fit. Your dream brand will see this as a major plus!
Mutually Beneficial
When teaming up with a brand, it is important to keep in mind that this partnership is meant to be mutually beneficial. While you may get product for free, an excellent discount or other great perks, don’t forget to reciprocate the love. By offering you goods, a brand is investing in you! Don’t be a bad investment! Your end of the bargain is so important to uphold. If you promised a post, share it in a timely manner and
with the appropriate tags. If you agreed to a larger deal, ensure you’re doing your part every step of the way. Your reputation as an influencer can make or break future deals, so keep it on the good side.
Build the Relationship
Like any good relationship, you’ve got to start with a great connection. Tagging a brand you’re crushing on in a post is the social media equivalent to a romance novel’s long stare across a crowded room. You’ve got to make them notice you and then hold their attention with your great work! To catch their eye, do a pro-bono post or two singing their praises to your audience. Once you’ve laid the foundation for the relationship and showcased the interest and engagement from your followers, your dream brand will be tripping over themselves to get you to post more!
Be Prepared
Top brands may not always have time to research and seek out great partners, so it’s always a good idea to take initiative in contacting them, and be uber prepared when you do so. Try to anticipate what they will be looking for in an influencer and present those answers in your initial outreach. Many times, brands will be interested in your follower count, engagement, follower demographic, your unique monthly views (for blogs/websites) and examples of your work. Having a media kit or a portfolio to present to a brand is a great way to bundle all this info up into a fun package for them. A media kit can also show some of your personality and style – so get creative with it! The easier you make it for a busy company to know what you’re all about, the better the chances they’ll pay attention and want to work with you.
A final note – be persistent!! Companies get tons of inbound interest and if you follow the previous tip and don’t give up, you’re sure to push through and catch their eye.
Interested in brand collaborations with LMS? Check out www.wearelms.com and connect with us in our Influencer Facebook Group – The Inner Circle, by requesting to join here.