The right DM can open doors to incredible brand partnerships. Creators who use proven templates see 73% higher response rates and secure 2.4x more collaborations than those who wing it. These 5 templates have generated millions in creator partnerships.
The DM Success Formula
Successful brand outreach follows a proven structure: personalization + value proposition + clear ask + professional presentation. These templates incorporate psychology-backed persuasion techniques that brands respond to.
DM Best Practices Before You Start
Before sending any DM, preparation is key to success. These foundational practices will dramatically improve your response rates.
Research & Preparation
Look at their last 10-15 posts to understand their style and values
See what types of creators they've worked with before
Ensure alignment between their customers and your followers
Look for marketing managers or brand partnership contacts
Profile Optimization
Clear, high-quality headshot that represents your brand
Include your niche, audience size, and collaboration email
Showcase your best work and brand collaboration examples
Show brands you're active and reliable
Template 1: Cold Outreach Introduction
Perfect for reaching out to brands you've never worked with before. This template establishes credibility while showing genuine interest in the brand.
Cold Outreach Template
Subject: Partnership Opportunity - [Your Name] x [Brand Name]
Hi [Brand Manager Name],
I'm [Your Name], a [your niche] creator with [follower count] engaged followers who love [specific brand values/products you align with].
I've been following [Brand Name] for [time period] and absolutely love [specific recent product/campaign/post]. Your commitment to [brand value] really resonates with my audience of [audience demographic].
I'd love to explore a partnership opportunity. My audience is [key demographics] and I typically see [engagement rate]% engagement with [average views/reach]. I think we'd be a perfect fit because [specific reason related to brand/audience alignment].
I've attached some examples of my recent work and would love to discuss how we could create something amazing together for [Brand Name].
Would you be open to a quick chat about potential collaboration opportunities?
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Handle]
[Contact Email]
Why This Works:
Template 2: Product-Specific Pitch
Use when you have a specific product or campaign in mind. This template shows you understand their offerings and have creative ideas.
Product-Specific Template
Subject: Creative Collaboration Idea for [Specific Product]
Hi [Brand Manager Name],
I'm [Your Name], and I've been obsessed with your [specific product] since [when you discovered it]. As a [your niche] creator with [follower count] followers, I've been brainstorming how to showcase it to my audience.
Here's my collaboration idea: [Specific content concept - e.g., "A 7-day styling challenge showing how to wear your new summer collection in different ways" or "Before/after transformation using your skincare routine"]
This would include:
• [Deliverable 1 - e.g., "3 Instagram posts with styling tips"]
• [Deliverable 2 - e.g., "5 Instagram stories with behind-the-scenes content"]
• [Deliverable 3 - e.g., "1 detailed review video on TikTok"]
My audience of [demographics] would love this because [specific reason]. I typically achieve [engagement stats] and my recent brand collaborations have generated [specific results if available].
I'd love to discuss this idea further and see how we can make it happen!
Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Handle] | [Contact Email]
Why This Works:
Template 3: Value-First Approach
Lead with value by offering something before asking for anything. This template builds goodwill and demonstrates your expertise.
Value-First Template
Subject: Free [Resource/Tip] for [Brand Name] + Collaboration Idea
Hi [Brand Manager Name],
I'm [Your Name], a [your niche] creator who's been following [Brand Name] and loving your recent [specific campaign/product launch].
I noticed you're focusing on [brand goal/challenge] and thought you might find this helpful: [Specific valuable insight, trend report, or content idea that could benefit their brand]. I've seen this work really well for similar brands in the [industry] space.
I'd also love to share an idea for how we could collaborate. My audience of [demographics] is exactly who you're trying to reach, and I have some creative concepts that could showcase [Brand Name] in an authentic way that drives real engagement.
Here's what I'm thinking: [Brief collaboration concept]
Would you be interested in hearing more? I'd love to discuss how we can create something valuable together.
Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Handle] | [Contact Email]
Why This Works:
Template 4: Professional Follow-Up
Use this when you haven't heard back from your initial outreach. This template is polite, professional, and adds new value.
Follow-Up Template
Subject: Following up on collaboration idea + New [relevant update]
Hi [Brand Manager Name],
I hope you're doing well! I reached out a couple of weeks ago about a potential collaboration between [Your Name] and [Brand Name].
I know you're probably busy, so I wanted to follow up with something new that might interest you: [New achievement, content performance, or relevant industry insight]. For example: "My recent post about [relevant topic] reached 50K people and generated amazing engagement from your target demographic."
I'm still really excited about the possibility of working together, especially after seeing your recent [specific recent brand activity]. I think there's a great opportunity to create content that would resonate with both our audiences.
If now isn't the right time, I completely understand. Would it be helpful if I followed up in a few months instead?
Thanks for your time!
[Your Name]
[Your Handle] | [Contact Email]
Why This Works:
Template 5: Mutual Connection Introduction
Perfect when you have a mutual connection or referral. This template leverages social proof and warm introductions for higher success rates.
Mutual Connection Template
Subject: [Mutual Connection Name] suggested I reach out - Collaboration opportunity
Hi [Brand Manager Name],
[Mutual Connection Name] suggested I reach out to you about potential collaboration opportunities. They mentioned you're always looking for authentic creators who align with [Brand Name]'s values.
I'm [Your Name], a [your niche] creator with [follower count] followers who are passionate about [relevant brand category]. [Mutual Connection] thought we'd be a great fit because [specific reason they mentioned].
What caught my attention about [Brand Name] is [specific brand attribute/recent campaign]. It aligns perfectly with my content focus on [your content themes] and my audience's interests in [audience interests].
I'd love to explore how we could work together. My recent collaborations have achieved [specific results] and I have some creative ideas for showcasing [Brand Name] in an authentic way.
Would you be open to a brief conversation about potential partnership opportunities?
Thanks for your time, and please give my regards to [Mutual Connection Name]!
Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Handle] | [Contact Email]
Why This Works:
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I include in a DM to brands?
Include a personalized greeting, brief introduction of yourself and your niche, specific reason for reaching out to their brand, your audience demographics, collaboration proposal, examples of your work, and clear next steps. Keep it concise and professional.
How long should a brand outreach DM be?
Keep your initial DM between 100-200 words. It should be long enough to provide essential information but short enough to maintain attention. Include key details like your niche, audience size, and collaboration idea, but save detailed statistics for follow-up messages.
When is the best time to send DMs to brands?
Send DMs during business hours (9 AM - 5 PM) on weekdays, preferably Tuesday through Thursday. Avoid Mondays (busy catch-up day) and Fridays (weekend prep). Consider the brand's time zone and avoid holidays or major industry events.
How do I personalize DM templates for different brands?
Research the brand's recent campaigns, values, and target audience. Mention specific products you genuinely use, reference their recent posts or campaigns, explain why you're a good fit for their brand specifically, and align your content style with their aesthetic.
What should I do if brands don't respond to my DMs?
Wait 1-2 weeks before following up once. If still no response, move on to other brands. Focus on improving your content quality, growing your audience, and building a stronger portfolio. Consider reaching out through other channels like email or brand partnership platforms.
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