TransformerA good first message to an influencer is short and specific: one line on why you picked them (a post of theirs, their audience), one line on what the product is, the deliverable and what it pays, and a single easy next step. Put the money in the first message; vague "collab?" pitches without a fee get ignored. Below are copy-paste templates for a first DM, an email, a follow-up and creators pitching brands.
What should I message an influencer when reaching out?
Five parts, in this order:
- Why them: a specific post or the audience you want to reach. Proof you've looked.
- Who you are: one line about the product.
- The offer: the deliverable (one post, a thread), the payout, any commission, the timing.
- Freedom: they write it in their own words, disclosed as paid (on X, the Paid partnership label).
- One next step: a link to the offer, or "reply yes and I'll send the brief".
Keep it under about 100 words. Creators get many pitches; the ones they answer are the ones they can decide on in one read.
First DM template (X)
Hi [name], your post on [topic] was the clearest explanation I've seen,
and your followers are exactly who we build for.
I run [product], [one line on what it does].
We'd like to sponsor one post on X: $[payout], your own words, with X's Paid partnership label,
posted between [date] and [date]. Brief and payment details here: [link]
No worries if it's not a fit.
Email template
Subject: Paid post for [product]: $[payout], [dates]
Hi [name],
I'm [your name] from [product]. [One sentence on why them: a post,
their audience.]
[Product] helps [who] [do what]. We're launching [what's new] on [date]
and would like to sponsor [one post / a thread] on your X account.
- Payout: $[payout] per post[, plus [X]% of tracked sales]
- Timing: post between [date] and [date]
- Your words, not a script; with X's Paid partnership label on
- Paid when the post is live and verified
The brief and offer are here: [link]. Happy to answer questions.
[Your name]
Follow-up template
Send one follow-up after about a week, then stop.
Hi [name], following up once on the paid post for [product]
($[payout], [dates]). The offer is here if you're interested: [link].
If the timing's wrong, I'd be glad to ask again for a future launch.
How do brands reach out to influencers for collaboration?
- Direct message or email for individual creators. Many list a business email in their bio.
- A creator marketplace, where creators have opted in to offers and list their rates. Replies are faster because the creator already wants sponsorships.
- Agencies or managers for larger creators, who often route deals through them.
Whatever the channel, the same rules apply: be specific, say what it pays, and don't send the same generic message to everyone.
Is it better to contact influencers by email or DM?
Use whatever the creator asks for. If their bio lists an email for business, use email. Otherwise a DM is fine on platforms where creators accept them; on X, many accounts limit who can message them. Email is better for anything with terms and attachments; a DM is better for a quick, personal first touch. A marketplace offer avoids the question: the creator gets the full offer in one place.
What not to do
- Don't hide the fee or offer only "exposure" or free product to someone who charges.
- Don't send a script to post word for word.
- Don't ask for undisclosed posts. Paid posts must be marked as ads; see paid partnership rules on X.
- Don't mass-send the same message; it reads as spam and can get your account limited.
- Don't follow up more than once without a reply.
How do you ask a brand for a sponsorship (as a creator)?
The same structure, reversed: who your audience is, why it fits the brand, what you'd make, and your rate.
Hi [brand team], I post about [topic] on X to [number] followers,
mostly [who they are]. I use [product] for [what], and my audience
asks about [problem it solves].
I'd like to do a sponsored [post / thread] on [angle], with X's Paid partnership label.
My rate is $[rate] per post. Recent posts: [link], [link].
Happy to send more detail.
On Transformer, creators don't need to pitch: set up a profile and rate card, turn on "open to offers", and brands send offers to your @handle. See How to get paid to post about developer tools on X.
How outreach works on Transformer
Transformer is the agentic influencer marketplace: real creators, paid on verified posts. Run it from the dashboard or from your agent.
- No cold outreach needed for creators on Transformer: paste your website and you get suggested X creators who've joined, each with why they fit and a suggested price.
- Each offer is prefilled with the price, a short ask and your link, and sending is free, to one creator or several; you pay when a creator accepts (balance, card or US bank account).
- Creators see it's real: the offer shows the brand, the ask and what they'll earn, and they post only after you've paid.
- Offers expire after 7 days if unanswered, and the money goes back to your Transformer balance for the next offer.
Sign up as a brand and paste your website.
FAQ
What should I message an influencer when reaching out?
Why you picked them, one line about the product, the deliverable and the payout, that they write it in their own words, disclosed as paid, and one clear next step, all in under about 100 words.
How do brands reach out to influencers?
By DM or email to individual creators, through a creator marketplace where creators have opted in to offers, or through agencies and managers for larger creators.
Is it better to contact influencers by email or DM?
Use what the creator asks for: a business email in their bio means email. Email suits terms and attachments; a DM suits a short, personal first touch.
How many times should I follow up with an influencer?
Once, after about a week. If there's no reply, move on.
How do you ask a brand for a sponsorship?
Say who your audience is and why it fits the brand, what you'd make, your rate and links to recent posts, in a short message.