Introduction
As an influencer, you may be wondering whether it’s better to contact PR firms or brands directly when seeking collaborations. It really depends on your goals and what you want from the brand. If you’re just looking to get your name out there and build a following, then contacting the brand directly may be the way to go. However, if you want to work with your dream brand or if you need help negotiating an agreement or contract, then connecting with them through their PR firm might be better. This might take longer, like a few months. Your decision should be based on what your goals are from the collaboration.
If a brand has an in-house marketing team, the influencer should connect directly with the brand’s marketing department.
If you’re interested in working with a specific brand, it’s important to find out whether the company has an in-house marketing team or uses an external PR firm. If the brand has an in-house marketing department, the influencer should contact that department directly. This is especially true if you have already built up relationships with members of the company through your blog or social media platforms. Engaging directly with a brand’s marketing team can help build trust between you and the brand before any contracts are signed. You should be able to build rapport over time and have open discussions about potential projects and why they would be beneficial for both parties involved.
If a brand contracts its marketing to a PR firm, the influencer should connect directly with the PR firm.
If the brand you’re interested in working with contracts its marketing to a PR firm, then it’s best to connect with the PR firm directly. PR reps typically have access to more resources and can handle negotiations, logistics, and legal aspects of partnerships, as well as potentially getting you more money for your work.
The advantages of connecting with a PR firm for influencer marketing are that they already know their client brands and can add credibility to your request. They can also help you negotiate and create a successful influencer marketing campaign.
When working with a PR firm, it’s important to make sure the proposal includes key elements such as clear goals for success, metrics for measuring progress, an initial engagement plan, an estimated budget, a timeline, and an estimated return on investment (ROI).
One potential disadvantage of connecting through a PR firm is that it may take longer to get a response from the brand. Additionally, PR firms may not have the capacity to assist every single client or influencer with their specific request. It’s also possible that if you want to work directly with a brand on product development, they may prefer to work with influencers they have already established a relationship with, making it necessary to go through a PR firm.
Conclusion
Ultimately, your decision on whether to contact the brand directly or through its PR firm should be based on your goals. If you want to work with a specific brand, research whether they have an in-house marketing department or rely on external PR firms, and then decide the best course of action based on your goals and the resources at your disposal.
