How to DM Influencers and Get Replies [With Outreach Templates]

In this post I’ll share outreach templates with you that are tried and tested, and have received higher than normal reply rates.

The good thing about DMs is that they’re likely not handled by their agent, so it’s the only place you have direct access to the influencer themselves and have higher chances of getting replies. The not-so-good thing about DMs is that they work only for relatively small influencers. Don’t waste your time DMing influencers with more than 100k followers. I recommend starting small at 5k-10k followers(nano-influencers), and adapting your message for bigger influencers as you go.

When to Use Email vs. Direct Messages for Outreach

Emails: Best for Professional and Detailed Communication

Emails are ideal for formal outreach, especially when reaching out to established influencers, agencies, or those with a business contact listed.

They allow for structured communication, making them suitable for detailed proposals, contract discussions, and long-term partnerships. If your outreach involves multiple deliverables, legal agreements, or payment terms, email is the preferred channel.

DMs: Best for Quick and Informal Interactions

Direct messages work well for casual, immediate engagement, particularly with micro-influencers and nano influencers.

They are great for initial outreach, quick follow-ups, or gauging interest before sending a formal proposal. Since social media is their primary platform, influencers are more likely to check and respond to DMs than emails.

Integrating Both for a Cohesive Strategy

A combined approach often yields the best results. Start with a DM to introduce yourself and spark interest, then transition to email for more in-depth discussions. This hybrid method helps maintain professionalism while keeping communication smooth and natural.

Respecting Influencer Preferences

Some influencers list preferred contact methods in their bio or media kit. Always check before reaching out. If they don’t specify, consider testing both methods and adjusting based on their response rate. Being mindful of their preferences shows professionalism and increases your chances of a successful collaboration.

How To Craft Effective Outreach Messages?

Enhance Personalization Techniques

Personalization makes your outreach feel more genuine and less like a mass email. Start with an attention-grabbing subject line that sparks curiosity or highlights relevance. In the email body, reference specific details about the influencer’s content, audience, or recent posts.

A well-personalized message stands out in a crowded inbox and increases the chances of a response.

Include Clear Call-to-Action (CTA) Guidelines

A strong CTA guides the influencer on what to do next. Be direct. Whether you want them to reply, check out a campaign brief, or schedule a call. Open-ended CTAs, like asking for their thoughts or interest level, also encourage engagement. Avoid vague requests; clarity leads to action.

Highlight Conciseness and Clarity

Influencers receive countless outreach messages, so yours needs to be short and impactful. Keep it within a few sentences, getting straight to the point while making your value proposition clear.

Use engaging language, avoid fluff, and ensure your request is easy to understand. A clear, well-structured message improves readability and response rates.

Use Attention-Grabbing Subject Lines

The subject line is the first thing an influencer sees, so make it count. Use curiosity, relevancy, or personalization to increase open rates.

Tapping into keywords, open-ended questions, or subtle creative punctuation can help your email stand out. Avoid spam triggers by keeping it natural and direct.

Leverage Relationship Building

Cold outreach doesn’t have to feel cold. Approach your message as the start of a long-term relationship rather than a one-time transaction. Be polite, provide value, and keep the conversation open. 

Even if they’re not interested right away. Thoughtful follow-ups and genuine engagement go a long way in influencer partnerships.

Here Are Your Influencer DM Outreach Templates

Send these from your personal account or your brand account, whichever one fits the message.

1. Simple Email Request

This one helps you find their email if it's not already listed on their profile.

Hey {{creator.first_name}},
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I'm {{your name}}. Reaching out on behalf of my brand {{Brand Name}}.
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{{Explain how your brand aligns with their content/way of life}}
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We'd like to send some free {{product name}} and explore a collaboration. What's the best email to reach you personally?

Notice how this keeps it short, your DMs should be read within 10 seconds and have one clear ask. Don’t leave them with something vague like “Let’s discuss” or ask for too much like “Let’s hop on a call”.

It also offers them something (product seeding in this case) before you ask anything.

I’ve found the best ask is usually their email (assuming they don’t have it in their bio) and then take the communications over email.

2. Influencer DMs for Product Seeding

Use this when you want to send them free product during your influencer seeding campaign:

Wanted to send you something, {{creator.first_name}} 👋

I'm the founder of {{brand}} and wanted to reach out to see if you'd want a free {{product}}, no commitments.

{{One short line about how your mission aligns with them, or why they'd like your product}}

What's your shipping address?

Note again how this has one clear ask - shipping address.

It also gives them a clear reason why you’re reaching out and touts your authority i.e. “I’m the founder of...”. They’re more likely to reply if it’s the founder themselves who’s reaching out. They’re less likely to respond if it’s an intern or a VA.

3. Direct Ask

Do this after you have some influencers on your roster, this gives you social proof and builds your credibility even more.

Hey {{creator.first_name}},

I'm the founder of {{brand}} and we want to partner with you. Some of your thoughts are aligned with our mission of {{your important mission}}.

We've partnered with creators who live this philosophy, like @influencer1 and @influencer2. Would love to work with you too!
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Are you open to hearing more?

They don’t want to miss out on partnering with brands their friends are partnering with. They will be open to hearing more.

Note how it’s a simple ask, the goal is to get accepted and open a channel of communication, not to onboard them asap

4. Brand Ambassador Pitch Template

Subject: Become a [Brand Name] Ambassador

Hi [Influencer's Name]

I’m [Your Name], [Your Position] at [Brand Name]. We’ve been following your work and are impressed by your authentic engagement with your audience. We believe your values align with our brand's mission to [briefly describe your brand's mission].

We'd love to discuss the possibility of you becoming a brand ambassador for [Brand Name]. This partnership would involve [briefly outline expectations, e.g., promoting our products on your social channels, providing feedback, etc.], and in return, we offer [outline benefits, e.g., exclusive discounts, early access to new products, commission on sales, etc.]

If you're interested, we'd be thrilled to discuss this opportunity further and answer any questions you may have.

5. Giveaway Collaboration Pitch Template

Subject: Partner with [Brand Name] for a Giveaway
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Hi [Influencer's Name],

I'm [Your Name], [Your Position] at [Brand Name]. We've been following your content, especially your recent posts on [mention specific content], and believe your audience would be excited about a collaboration between us.

We’re planning a giveaway to promote our [product/service] and would love for you to co-host it. The giveaway would involve [briefly outline the giveaway mechanics], offering your followers a chance to win [describe the prize].

We think this collaboration would provide great value to your audience and help us both increase engagement. We'd handle all the logistics; we'd just need your support in promoting the giveaway on your channels.

At this point, you’re all set to send influencer DMs and start iterating. There are some more things you can do, beyond the text of the message itself, that help improve your replies. Keep reading.

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Follow-Up Strategies & Templates

Reaching out to influencers requires patience, especially since many receive countless collaboration requests daily. The key is to follow up strategically, without coming across as pushy.

If an influencer hasn’t responded within 4–5 days, a gentle follow-up can keep the conversation going without overwhelming them.

Additionally, ensure you're targeting influencers who genuinely align with your niche and audience. Before reaching out, check their bio, links, and previous collaborations to confirm that your brand is a good fit. This helps improve your chances of a response and a successful partnership.

Here’s a follow-up template you can use for influencers who haven’t responded yet:

1st Follow-Up (No Response):

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Wanted to clarify that we simply want to send you a free {{product}}, no expectations.
I think you'll like it because {{alignment reason}}.

Shipping address, {{creator.first_name}}?

We've partnered with other creators in the space like @influencer1 and @influencer2. I think you'd be a good fit too, as just like them, {{explain brand alignment}}
Where do I email you?

Follow-Up Check-In:

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Yo {{creator.first_name}}, Checking in quickly to see if you saw my message?

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Timing Your Follow-Ups

The right timing can make a difference in getting a response. Wait at least 3–5 days after your initial message before sending a follow-up. If there’s still no response, a second follow-up after a week is reasonable. Avoid excessive messaging, as it may come off as pushy.

Keep It Short and Clear

Influencers receive numerous messages daily, so keep your follow-ups concise. A quick reminder of your previous message, along with a clear next step, increases the likelihood of a response. Something as simple as, “Hey [Name], just checking if you saw my message. Would love to hear your thoughts!” works better than a long-winded follow-up.

Try a Different Platform

If an influencer doesn’t respond to a DM on Instagram, try a DM on Threads, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Some influencers are more active on various social media platforms and would be a good tactic to reach out to them on other platforms. A simple, polite message referencing your initial outreach can improve your chances of engagement without being intrusive.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Sending Generic Messages

Influencers receive countless outreach messages daily, and generic DMs often go ignored. Avoid this by personalizing your message. Mention their name, reference their past work, and explain why your brand is a great fit for their audience. A tailored approach increases response rates and builds stronger connections.

2. Not Setting Clear Expectations

Vague communication can lead to misunderstandings and missed opportunities. Clearly outline what you’re offering (free product, payment, affiliate commission) and what you expect in return (content type, posting schedule, deliverables). Setting expectations upfront ensures smoother collaborations and fewer last-minute issues.

3. Getting Lost in an Overcrowded Inbox

Influencers' inboxes are flooded with messages, so standing out is key. Keep your DM concise, engaging, and value-driven. Use a strong opening line to grab attention and avoid long-winded pitches. If they don’t respond, follow up strategically without spamming.

4. Focusing Only on the Ask

If your first message is just a request, it’s easy to be ignored. Instead, build rapport by engaging with their content before reaching out—comment on posts, share their work, or send a thoughtful message. Establishing a connection first makes your DM feel more genuine.

5. Overlooking the Value of Relationships

Influencer partnerships go beyond one-time deals. Strengthen influencer relationships by providing value. Share industry insights, acknowledge their work, or offer flexible collaboration options. A long-term approach leads to better partnerships and higher-quality content.

How To Improve your Reply Rates

1. Comment on their second or third latest post to direct their attention to your DM.

The first post is noisy. Comment on one of their older but recent posts to grab attention. You can also start commenting normally on some of their posts a couple of weeks before DMing or emailing them.

Influencers read all their comments 🙂

2. Get your account verified

It’s social currency. It’s like pulling up in a Lambo, but on social media. It gets you noticed. They’re likely to open an email from a verified account. If your brand is well known, mission driven, or if the founder(s) have been mentioned in public news article, apply for verification.

The best part is there is no follower criteria for verification, so apply even if your brand has been on IG for a few months and has a couple thousand followers.

3. Have a catchy profile photo

Human faces and pets attract attention. It would be harder to get a reply back if there's no profile photo.

4. Keep your profile active

Tell a story in your bio. Actively update your stories and highlights. Influencers will check your profile to see if you’re legit. If they see some brand account that posts once a month and doesn’t talk about their own mission, they won’t be keen on talking about it for you.

5. Make the first line compelling

When a DM goes into someone’s requests, they can read the first line preview. This is your DM’s “subject line”. If you write it well, it will help you get better open rates. Make it something like “Wanted to send you something” from the Product Seeding template above.

For context, here’s what the average brand message looks like in a creator’s inbox.

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We can keep it straight and call such messages spam. No one will respond to this message, it's an instant block or delete.

You will instantly stand out if you simply get your message opened. This is why taking some of the steps I listed here is important to improve odds of getting replies.

Adapting Is Key

I hinted at this towards the beginning of the post. Outreach templates are a good starting point if you're starting to DM influencers. But they are suboptimal if you just blindly copy-paste and keep sending the same message to everyone.

Start with these proven outreach templates for smaller influencers, see which ones get replies and which ones don’t. Try adding your own flair to them based on your brand message and improve as you go.

Send me your final messages and I can review them for you!

But, If finding and messaging influencers one by one feels like a tedious, soul-draining task, try SARAL. You can automate influencer discovery with our Influencer Lookalikes feature and send DMs using proven outreach templates—no endless profile scrolling required.

It is an all-in-one influencer marketing platform excels at what matters most:

• Automating repetitive tasks (emails, follow-ups, tracking)
• Organizing creator relationships in one place
• Simplifying performance tracking
• Running all types of campaigns (gifting, seeding, affiliate, ambassador programs, etc.) from one tool

...and so much more so you can focus on things that can't be automated, like building relationships.

Book a consultative call and we'll walk you through exactly how to make your campaigns run smoother, faster, and better.