5 Ways to Build Relationships with Influencers

If you’re interested in building your platform and strengthening your brand, you may have questioned how much time you should spend on social media. It is true that social media is one of the fastest ways to connect with others. More people are getting their news from social media, and many celebrities and leaders are increasingly releasing statements via social media. Simply put, social media offers a unique way to share information, engage with others and expand your impact.

So how do you build relationships on social media? First you work to share information that others find meaningful. You could also consider growing your reach and followers by giving your audience what they want or need. Influencers can also help. Influencers can bring attention and awareness to various brands and products. If you’re curious how to maximize relationships with influencers, see these tips. And if you want to cultivate relationships with influencers, read on for a few strategies.

Don’t Be Afraid to Start a Conversation

Building up to reaching out is always the first step in building a relationship. Since influencers’ primary space is on social media, it may be difficult to find their email or phone number. As such, don’t be afraid to slide into their DMs (direct messages) to start a conversation.

Messaging an influencer on the platform they focus on will show that you understand their work, but it will also make it more likely that they will see your request. You can start by introducing yourself and explaining why your work fits well with theirs.

Follow Their Pages and Keep Up with Their Content

When building a relationship, it is always helpful to understand what the person with whom you’re cultivating a relationship is doing outside of your relationship with them. Keeping up to date with their content can help you understand what kind of materials, coverage, and collaborations interest them.

This can also help improve your pitches and collaboration ideas. Following their page will ensure that you are prepared to offer what they need, and it can help you understand their style. From there, you can find the information that best suits their needs and tailor your outreach accordingly.

Familiarize Yourself with Their Audience, Too

We know the importance of knowing your own audience. Influencers know and care about their audience as well. You’ll want to ensure that their audience overlaps with your audience, or your goals. 

For influencers, social media is their work. They cannot create a post that does not match their audience, because they will jeopardize their platforms and undermine their credibility. To gain insight on an influencer’s audience, follow their page, read comments on their posts, and ask them directly. This will ensure a mutually beneficial relationship.

Keep Videos, Pictures, and Content on Deck

When influencers are producing content, you can make it a lot easier for them to include your work by having materials prepared to share with them. Social media is centered around what we see and what we hear. It is suited to short attention spans and strong, scroll-stopping visuals. Whether that is video footage, photos of your work in action, or flyers and information about your events, be prepared to share visuals.

Comment, Repost, and Talk About Your Collaboration

As you are building relationships with influencers, remember to comment, repost, and otherwise engage with their content. Influencers need and solicit engagement.

When you are featured in their content, share it on your own channels. Commenting to express your gratitude or show support is good for the influencer, and it puts your account in front of more people. Reposting it on your own story can bring more viewers to your account as well.

Finally, your relationship with an influencer is not one-sided. When you produce your own stories or posts, you can mention your collaboration with an influencer or reference their videos. This can show your appreciation for their work and strengthen the relationship between your work. When in doubt, always like, comment, and share to uplift your collaboration.

Sophia Shannon is a media relations associate for Spotlight PR LLC. Be sure to check out our other blogs and subscribe for regular communications updates.