Write the message you would answer.

A short guide for brands contacting creators by direct message: the first note, the follow-up, the offer, the support request and the polite no.

opener

The Anatomy of a First Message a Creator Will Actually Read

Creators get more brand messages than they can answer. The ones that earn a reply are short, specific and easy to say yes or no to.

homework

Researching a Creator Before You Write to Them

Ten minutes of reading saves a wasted message, an awkward mismatch and sometimes a public embarrassment.

nudge

Following Up Without Pestering

Silence usually means busy, not no. One considerate follow-up is welcome. A string of them is how a brand ends up blocked.

terms

Put the Offer and Its Terms on One Page

A discount code or a campaign bonus sounds simple in a message. The conditions behind it decide whether a creator's audience ends up pleased or annoyed.

support

When a Direct Message Is Really a Support Request

Outreach makes a brand visible in the inbox. Customers then use the same inbox to ask for help, and how you answer is seen by more people than you think.

honesty

Disclosure, Impersonators and Saying No Gracefully

Three unglamorous habits protect a brand's name with creators: label what is paid for, prove you are real, and decline politely.