Learning how to reach out to influencers the right way changed my business.
Most people send generic emails to influencers who have never heard of them before and immediately ask for favors.
When I reach out to influencers and creators, I do the opposite.
I add value first and make it about them, not me.
This approach has helped me connect with hundreds of influencers and creators including Ramit Sethi, Robert Greene, James Clear, and Cal Newport.
Over time, the relationships I built using this approach generated millions of dollars.
In this guide, I’ll show you my exact step-by-step process for reaching out to influencers. You’ll get the templates I use and see real examples that actually work.
Let’s dive in.
Table of contents
Why should you reach out to influencers?
Reaching out to influencers is one of the fastest ways to grow your business.
Here are a few of the main benefits you need to know:
- 🚀 Expanded reach: Tap into audiences you couldn’t reach on your own.
- 💰 Higher ROI: Better returns than traditional advertising.
- 📈 Rapid audience growth: Add thousands of subscribers in weeks.
- ⭐ Instant credibility: Borrow their trust and authority.
- ⚡ Speed of results: See results in days or weeks, not years.
- 🔄 Scalable growth: One success leads to more partnerships.
- 🤝 Long-lasting relationships: Keep benefiting for years.
- 🎨 Enhanced content: Professional creators make better content.
- 🧠 Market insights: Learn what your audience really wants.
- ✨ Authentic promotion: More trusted than paid ads.
How to NOT reach out to influencers
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How to reach out to influencers: My proven 8-step system
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1. Start by adding value first
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Pro tip: Share your goals with someone else. Getting feedback can uncover blind spots before you start reaching out.
2. Get your mindset right (ASK framework)
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3. Choose where to reach out
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4. Use my 7-part email formula
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5. Apply the ladder strategy
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6. Follow up strategically
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7. Secure the partnership
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8. Nurture the relationship
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Before you reach out:
- Brief relationship building (commenting, sharing, adding value first)
- Research (finding contact info, understanding their needs)
The actual reach out:
- Crafting the perfect outreach email
- Personalization strategies
- What to include/avoid
- Email templates
After you reach out:
- Follow-up sequence (timing, frequency)
- How to handle responses (yes, no, maybe)
- Securing the partnership
Throughout the process:
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Mindset/psychology behind effective outreach
The ladder strategy for reaching out to influencers
The Ladder Strategy is very powerful, and proven to work extremely well for getting big-name influencers on board as speakers for your summit.
The trick is to start by asking people who you know personally or have some kind of connection to and work your way up “the ladder” to invite bigger and bigger names on board.
As more influencers commit and say yes, you can add them as social proof when you’re reaching out.
This strategy work so well because it shows A-listers that you already have some people on board that they recognize and they aren’t the first person to say “yes” to your event or project.
Checklist
- Identify any potential speakers who you already have some kind of relationship within your industry.
- Reach out to the speakers that you have some connection to first and get them to say yes.
- Ask for introductions to influencers from mutual connections that you know (the influencer is more likely to say yes if they hear about you from someone they already know and trust.)
- Ask for referrals from other people in your niche. If you have a mentor or coach, they are often well connected and a good person to go to for help in this area.
- Reach out to people in any mastermind groups that you are a part of (such as the VSM community) to help each other form connections.
✨ More influencer marketing resources
- What is influencer marketing?
- The best influencer marketing tools
- 21 influencer marketing mistakes to avoid
- How to identify influencers
- How to build relationships with influencers
- Influencer marketing benefits & disadvantages
- What are influencer partnerships?
- Types of social media influencers
- The best influencer marketing courses
- The best influencer marketing books
- The best influencer marketing podcasts
- The best influencer marketing blogs
- How to collaborate with influencers
- Best influencer marketing quotes
- The best ai tools for influencer marketing
- What are brand collaborations?
- What is a micro-influencer?
- What are brand partnerships?
- Best influencer marketing examples
- What is an influencer? And how to become one in 2025
- What are influencer campaigns?
- What is an influencer endorsement?
- Influencer marketing glossary
- Influencer outreach email templates
- Influencer marketing case studies
- What is blogger outreach?
- What is a target audience?
FAQs
Here are the most common questions and answers about reaching out to influencers the right way.
Why should you reach out to influencers?
Reaching out to influencers helps you tap into audiences that already trust them. Instead of building an audience from scratch, you can leverage their existing relationships to grow your business faster.
What is the first step in reaching out to an influencer?
You need to research them first. Find influencers whose audience matches your target customers and whose values align with your brand. Don’t just look at follower counts.
How do you reach out to influencers for collaboration?
Start by adding value to them before asking for anything. Share their content, leave genuine comments, or introduce them to someone valuable. Then send a personalized email focusing on what you can offer them.
What should I include in my outreach email?
Keep it simple. Include a brief introduction, mention something specific about their work, explain what value you can provide them, and suggest a clear next step. Always focus on their benefit first.
How long should an influencer outreach email be?
Keep it short. Three to four paragraphs maximum. Influencers are busy and won’t read long emails. Get to the point quickly and make it easy for them to respond.
How should I personalize my message to an influencer?
Mention specific content of theirs you genuinely enjoyed. Reference a recent post, podcast episode, or project they shared. This shows you actually follow their work instead of sending generic templates.
Do I need to pay influencers to work with me?
Not always. Many influencers prefer revenue sharing partnerships or value exchanges over upfront payments. Start by offering something valuable like exposure to your audience or useful content.
How many times should I follow up with an influencer?
I follow up three times maximum. Send one follow-up email per week for three weeks, then move on. Be polite and add value in each follow-up instead of just asking again.
Is it important to follow up after my initial outreach?
Yes, following up is crucial. Most influencers are busy and might miss your first email. A polite follow-up shows you’re serious and professional without being pushy.
What’s the biggest mistake people make when reaching out to influencers?
They ask for favors immediately without building any relationship first. Always lead with what you can give them, not what you want from them.
How can I build a relationship with an influencer before reaching out?
Start engaging with their content consistently. Share their posts, leave thoughtful comments, and mention them in your own content. This gets you on their radar before you ask for anything.
Should I reach out to mega-influencers first?
No, unless you already know them personally. Start with smaller influencers and work your way up. Build credibility with wins from micro-influencers before approaching the big names. This ladder strategy works much better. But if you have a personal connection to a mega-influencer, definitely start there.
When is the best time to reach out to influencers?
The best time is when they have something to promote like a new book, course, or product launch. They’re more likely to be open to partnerships when it benefits their own goals. That said, don’t wait for perfect timing if you have something valuable to offer them.
How do I find influencer contact information?
Check their website first. Many list contact info in their bio or contact page. You can also use tools like Hunter, RocketReach, or Snov.io to find email addresses.
What if an influencer says no to my outreach?
Thank them for their time and ask if you can stay in touch for future opportunities. Keep building the relationship by supporting their work. A no today might become a yes later.
Start reaching out to influencers today
Knowing how to reach out to influencers is a game-changer for any business.
Most people never send that first email. They overthink it, worry about rejection, or convince themselves they need to wait until they’re “bigger.”
That’s a mistake.
I started with zero connections and built relationships with hundreds of influencers using the exact strategies in this guide.
Here’s what to do right now:
- Pick one influencer from your research list
- Find a way to add value to them first
- Use my templates to craft your outreach email
- Send it today (don’t overthink it)
- Follow up in one week if no response
- Repeat with the next influencer on your list
Your first outreach email doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be sent.
The worst thing that happens? They don’t respond.
The best thing? You start building the relationships that will transform your business.
Whenever you’re ready, here are 5 ways I can help you:
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