PR Emails for Influencers: How to Pitch Brands And (Actually) Get Deals

No matter how many times you search for "PR emails for influencers" on Google, TikTok, or Lemon8, what you'll find are stale, generic brand PR emails that bounce or never get read.

Why?

Thousands of UGC creators and influencers like you are searching for and using the same emails to inundate brands with generic pitches.

As a result, brands abandon such emails and move on or the contact person may have left the brand so the emails are no longer valid.

The good news is effective PR email outreach is the secret sauce that turns cold leads into long-term collaborations.

When done right, these emails not only present your portfolio and value proposition clearly but also establish credibility and professionalism that sets you apart in a crowded marketplace.

This guide is designed to provide you with a comprehensive, step-by-step blueprint on how to find brand emails and craft winning PR pitches.

We've already written extensively about how to find brand emails.

So our focus here is to share actionable tips, and best practices to ensure your outreach efforts deliver measurable results.

The Power of a Great PR Email

Well-crafted PR emails allow you to bypass generic inquiry forms and social media DMs, providing a direct line to the marketing and PR teams of top brands. This form of direct outreach enables you to:

• Stand out from the competition.

• Ensure that your pitch is seen by someone with the authority to decide on collaborations.

• Build a professional image that can lead to recurring deals.

But here's the problem...

Many brands do not publicly display direct emails for their PR or marketing teams.

Email contacts vary across websites, social media platforms, and LinkedIn profiles.

Using generic contact forms or outdated email addresses results in low response rates or no responses at all.

Without a clear system, influencers spend excessive time hunting for contact details.

Many creators mistakenly believe that DMs will suffice, despite their lower professional impact compared to well-targeted emails.

Not knowing which free or paid tools to use can lead to a scattered and inefficient outreach process.

Free Solutions for Finding Brand Emails

1. Brand Websites & Social Media

• Contact & About Pages: Check the “Contact Us” and “About” pages on brand websites for dedicated collaboration or PR emails.

• FAQ Sections: Sometimes, brands include contact details for media or partnership inquiries in their FAQ sections.

• Social Profiles: Review Instagram bios, Facebook “About” sections, and Twitter profiles for any public email addresses.

2. LinkedIn Strategies

• Company Pages: Use LinkedIn to visit the brand’s company page and locate key personnel in marketing, PR, or influencer relations.

• Advanced Searches: Utilize LinkedIn’s search filters to find individuals with relevant titles (e.g., “Marketing Manager,” “PR Specialist”).

• Direct Messaging: Connect with decision-makers directly and politely request the best email contact for partnership proposals.

3. Free Email Finder Tools

• Hunter.io (Free Version): Enter the brand’s domain to retrieve available email addresses along with confidence scores.

• Voila Norbert: A simple tool for finding email addresses by entering the person’s name and domain.

• Browser Extensions: Tools like Clearbit Connect can display email addresses directly within your Gmail interface.

4. Community & Forums

• Reddit Communities: Platforms like r/UGCcreators offer advice, shared experiences, and even curated lists of brand emails.

• Creator Groups on Social Media: Join Facebook groups or LinkedIn groups where fellow creators share resources and tips on finding PR emails.

Paid Solutions for Streamlined Email Research

1. Premium Brand Databases

• Pitchbrand.co: an all-in-one pitch toolkit and brand database for content creators. Access a database of brand emails, connect with key decision-makers and land more deals as a content creator using our pitch toolkit.

• Hunter.io Pro: Offers expanded search capabilities and higher limits, along with bulk domain searches.

• Clearbit Connect: Provides accurate and up-to-date email information directly in your Gmail; great for quick, on-the-go lookups.

• Prospeo: A robust tool known for high accuracy and comprehensive data, ideal for larger-scale outreach.

• LeadLeaper: Efficient for bulk searches with detailed analytics and contact management features.

2. Bulk Email Verification Services

• Email List Verify: Ensures that your collected email addresses are active and reduces bounce rates, which is critical for maintaining a good sender reputation.

• NeverBounce: Another reliable service to clean and verify your bulk email lists.

Investment vs. ROI

Investing in premium email finder and verification tools can significantly boost your outreach efficiency and response rates.

UGC creators who have switched from free tools to premium tools have reported a 25% increase in successful responses, leading to higher-value collaborations.

What Next? Crafting the Perfect PR Email

Research the brand thoroughly to personalize your email. Mention recent campaigns or specific products that align with your content style. Adjust your language to reflect the brand’s voice—whether it’s formal, friendly, or edgy.

Essential Components of a Winning PR Email

• Subject Line: Craft a compelling and clear subject line (e.g., “Collaboration Opportunity: Authentic UGC for [Brand Name]”).

• Brief Introduction: Introduce yourself, mention your niche, and highlight your unique value proposition.

• Value Proposition: Explain how your content can boost the brand’s engagement and align with its marketing goals.

• Content Ideas: Provide 2–3 specific ideas that showcase how you’d use their product in your content.

• Call-to-Action: End with a clear next step, such as scheduling a call or asking for the best time to discuss further.

• Professional Signature: Include your portfolio link, social media handles, and a professional closing.

Templates & Examples

Template Example 1:

Subject: Collaboration Opportunity: Authentic UGC for [Brand Name]

Hi [Recipient’s Name],

I’m [Your Name], a [Your Niche] creator with a dedicated audience of [Target Audience]. I recently came across [Brand Name] and was impressed by your commitment to [Brand Value/Product]. I believe my content style—[brief description]—aligns perfectly with your brand, and I’d love to collaborate on a UGC campaign.

Here are a few ideas I have in mind:

1. [Idea 1]

2. [Idea 2]

I’d be thrilled to discuss this further at your convenience. Could we set up a call next week?

Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Portfolio Link] | [Social Media Handles]

Template Example 2:

Subject: Let’s Create Engaging UGC Together!

Hello [Recipient’s Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I specialize in creating authentic UGC that drives engagement and boosts brand awareness. I’m particularly passionate about [Brand Name] because [reason]. I have several ideas on how we can showcase your product in a fresh, engaging way.

Would you be open to a brief conversation about potential collaboration opportunities?

Looking forward to your thoughts,
[Your Name]
[Contact Information]

Follow-Up Strategies

• Wait 5–7 business days before sending a courteous follow-up.

• Keep the follow-up brief, reiterate your interest, and ask if they received your initial email.

• If you don’t receive a response after two follow-ups, it may be best to move on to the next opportunity.

Follow-up Template:

Subject: Re: [Original Subject Line] → Quick Question!

Hi [First Name],

Just circling back! If now’s not the time, no worries—I’ll move this to my “maybe later” pile.

But if you’re open to chatting, I’d love to explore how we can [Specific Goal: e.g., boost Q4 sales].

Either way, keep crushing it!

Best,

[Your Name]

Measurement and Continuous Improvement

Track Metrics

Monitor open rates, click-through rates, and response rates using tools like MailTrack or HubSpot Email Tracking.

Use spreadsheet tools or CRM software to track your outreach metrics and see which strategies yield the best responses.

Optimizing Your Strategy

• A/B Testing: Experiment with different subject lines, email lengths, and call-to-action statements to see what resonates best with your audience.

• Feedback Loop: Incorporate any feedback from brands or open-rate analytics to refine your pitch over time.

• Seek Retainers: Document your own success stories and use them as a springboard to get a retainer. Here's a simple template to use:

Subject: How We Drove [Result] for [Brand] → Let’s Do It Again!

Hi [First Name],

Our last campaign together drove [Metric: e.g., 500 clicks, $10K sales]—thank you for trusting me!

For Q3, I propose:

- 4 Reels focusing on [New Product/Feature]

- 2 Blog posts with SEO optimization

- A 30-day engagement strategy

Let’s hop on a call this week to brainstorm!

Best,

[Your Name]

Avoid Common Mistakes in PR Emails

1. Sending out generic emails is a big no-no. Personal touches make a huge difference—learn how to craft a unique pitch with proven templates.

2. Not knowing enough about the brand or its audience can lead to mismatched pitches.

3. Keep your language genuine and conversational. Focus on mutual benefits instead of just pushing your service.

4. Don’t forget to clearly outline the value you bring.

5. Remove spam triggers (e.g., “collab”)

6. Sending one email and hoping for the best isn’t enough. Plan your follow-up strategy carefully. Be polite and persistent without being pushy.

Over to You!

We’ve explored finding and using brand emails effectively—from leveraging free resources like brand websites and LinkedIn to investing in premium email databases like Pitchbrand.

We discussed how to overcome common obstacles, craft personalized PR emails, and continuously optimize your outreach strategy.

Now it’s your turn to take action!

Experiment with the tools and templates provided in this guide.

Remember, mastering the art of PR emails is an ongoing process that will boost your collaboration opportunities and propel your UGC career forward.

Stay persistent, keep refining your approach, and watch the partnerships roll in.