Proposing a collaboration to a content creator doesn't always guarantee a positive response. Even if you've sent a clear, structured and well-targeted message, the influencer may never follow up. This silence or refusal may seem destabilizing, but it's rarely without reason. In a context where designers receive dozens of solicitations every week, standing out from the crowd requires much more than simply sending an email or a generic brief.
The most effective collaborations are often the result of meticulous preparation, sharp targeting and an authentic message. A partnership rejection is not a failure in itself: it's a silent feedback that reveals what needs to be adjusted. Understanding the reasons for these rejections means refining your approach, strengthening your value proposition and laying the foundations for solid relationships with the right profiles.
In this article, discover 18h08's tips for identifying common mistakes, adapting your proposals and establishing sincere, lasting and effective relationships.
1. Your brand doesn't match its audience
An influencer builds his community with care. He knows what resonates, what inspires, what sparks interaction. If your brand, your products or your values don't fit into this universe, the creator is likely to refuse the collaboration.
What can go wrong?
- A lack of connection between your values and those he stands for.
- A brand image too far removed from what he usually shares.
- A product or service that doesn't fit in with your area of expertise or editorial line.
How can we avoid this partnership refusal?
Carefully analyze the influencer's content before making your proposal. Observe their previous collaborations, the products they recommend, the tone they use, and the feedback from their community. An influencer marketing agency can help you with this compatibility analysis, so you can choose the right influencers and avoid partnership rejection. Good casting is often the key to building a credible and engaging influencer campaign.
2. Your proposition lacks value
In a saturated market, designers receive dozens of solicitations a week. To stand out from the crowd, you need to offer them a clear, coherent and genuinely engaging collaboration.
What can go wrong?
- No or insufficient remuneration.
- The brief was too vague to give a clear vision of the partnership.
- A disproportionate list of requirements with no real quid pro quo.
- A lack of exclusivity that doesn't value his commitment to you.
How do you come up with a relevant offer?
To avoid a partnership refusal based on influence, start by laying the foundations for a clear and balanced exchange. Explain precisely what you expect, what you offer in return, and why this collaboration makes sense for both parties. A well-structured brief allows the influencer to project himself and commit fully. By offering a rewarding experience - exclusivity, storytelling, creativity - you increase your chances of building a lasting relationship. A specialized agency like 18h08, can help you to set up a tailor-made offer, consistent with your strategy and the designer's expectations.
3. Lack of time or already managing other collaborations
It's not always a question of relevance. An influencer may refuse a collaboration because they simply don't have the time, or because they've already signed with a competing brand.
What can go wrong?
- A full agenda for several weeks.
- An exclusivity clause with another partner.
- A lack of flexibility in the proposed schedule.
How do you get around this refusal of partnership?
Think ahead. Contact influencers in advance, especially for seasonal campaigns. Give them a choice of dates, avoid last-minute briefings, and make sure the campaign is well planned. An influencer agency facilitates contact and logistical coordination, and limits the risk of refusals due to scheduling. By adapting to their schedule, you also show that you respect their work, a criterion that is often decisive.
4. Your brand image lacks impact
A designer will only commit if he believes in the strength of your universe. It's not enough to have a good product; you also need to tell a story and have a long-term vision.
What can go wrong?
- A poorly developed or outdated visual identity.
- A lack of digital presence undermines your credibility.
- Negative reviews that tarnish your reputation.
- Storytelling that doesn't generate emotion or commitment.
How do you become a desirable brand?
Before contacting an influencer, make sure that your image is well thought-out, coherent and aligned with market expectations. Work on your storytelling, your graphic charter and your social networks. An influencer marketing agency can help you to improve your brand image to avoid partnership rejection. An inspiring brand naturally attracts the right profiles.
5. He doubts the impact of your collaboration
Influencers protect their credibility. They won't risk associating their image with a project they consider weak, ill-defined or lacking in transparency.
What can go wrong?
- Awareness is still low.
- A product or service that lacks social proof.
- A campaign with no clear strategy or objectives.
- A lack of vision about the impact the collaboration will have on its audience.
How to reassure the influencer?
Highlight what works: your past results, your commitments, your impact. Highlight customer testimonials, case studies or sales figures. Give visibility to your strategy, share your ambitions. An agency specialized in influencer campaigns can act as a guarantor for the creator. A transparent, well-crafted brief is often more reassuring than an overly vague promise.
6. Your message lacks personalization
A standard message sent to dozens of influencers will have little impact. To hope for a positive response, show that you're genuinely interested in the person you're contacting.
What can go wrong?
- An impersonal generic e-mail
- No reference to his previous publications.
- An overly commercial approach
How do you start the discussion?
Cite a piece of content that stood out for you, explain why you think your worlds are compatible, and show that you've taken the time to discover his or her work. Personalization greatly increases the chances of avoiding a partnership rejection by an influencer. A specialized influencer agency can help you optimize your influencer marketing strategyA specialized influencer agency can help you optimize your influencer marketing strategy and formalize these contacts in a professional and engaging way. Influence is first and foremost a human endeavor: set yourself apart with a sincere approach.
Conclusion
A partnership rejection is never pleasant, but it can teach you a lot. It's often a signal that it's time to adjust your approach, your offer or your image. Understanding the obstacles faced by influencers enables you to become more mature and relevant in your influencer strategy.
At 18h08, we support brands every step of the way: identifying influencers, building proposals, managing exchanges, and monitoring performance. Our aim? To avoid common mistakes and maximize your chances of obtaining sincere, effective... and lasting collaborations.
Need help convincing the right influencers? Contact our team. We're France's number 1 influencer marketing strategy agency. We'll work with you to identify your needs and create a tailor-made strategy.
See you soon to perfect your influencer marketing strategy!
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