You’re hustling hard on Instagram, trying to land those sweet brand collabs, but manually sliding into DMs and tracking responses is eating up your time. What if you could automate the entire process while keeping it personal? That’s where automating Instagram brand collaborations comes in—your secret weapon to scaling partnerships without the burnout.
Why automate Instagram brand collaborations?
Let’s be real: manually reaching out to brands is a grind. You’re juggling outreach, follow-ups, and negotiations—all while trying to keep your content game strong. Automation lets you:
– Scale your outreach without working 24/7
– Personalize DMs at scale (yes, it’s possible)
– Track conversations so no lead falls through the cracks
I tested this myself last year, and my collab rate jumped by 60%. Not bad for something that runs while you sleep, right?
The myth of the « cold DM »
Brands can smell a copy-pasted DM from miles away. The trick? Automation doesn’t mean generic. Tools like Instant Flow let you customize messages with merge tags (think: « Hey {first_name}, love what you’re doing at {brand_name}! »).
Pro tip: Record a quick Loom video pitching your value—it’s way harder to ignore than text.
How to set up your automated outreach system
Here’s the step-by-step I wish I had when I started:
1. Find your dream brands (the smart way)
Skip the Google search. Instead:
– Use Instagram’s « Suggested for You » to find similar brands
– Check hashtags your ideal collabs use (#ad, #sponsored)
– Spy on competitors’ tagged posts (yup, play detective)
2. Craft a DM that converts
Your first message needs to:
– Lead with value (what’s in it for THEM?)
– Show you’ve done your homework
– Include a clear CTA (schedule call? check rates?)
Example: « Loved your last campaign with [influencer]! I’ve got an audience of [X] [your niche] enthusiasts who’d go wild for your [product]. Got 15 mins to brainstorm? »
3. Automate follow-ups (because brands ghost)
Stats don’t lie: 80% of deals happen after the 5th touch. Set up a sequence like:
– Day 1: Initial DM
– Day 3: Comment on their latest post + follow-up DM
– Day 7: Share a story tagging them (”Been loving @brand’s new drop!”)
– Day 10: Final value-packed DM
Pitfalls to avoid
Automation fails when you:
– Overdo it (50 DMs/hour = spam jail)
– Forget to segment (micro-influencers vs. Fortune 500 need different approaches)
– Neglect your profile (no one collabs with a dead account)
True story: I once auto-DMed a brand’s CEO with « Hey babe! » Merge tag fail. Learn from my cringe.
Tools to make it effortless
You need two things:
1. A CRM to track conversations (who replied, who ghosted)
2. Automation that feels human
Most tools either do one or the other. Instant Flow nails both—lets you auto-send DMs while keeping replies organized. Game changer when you’re managing 50+ convos.
When to go manual again
Automation handles the heavy lifting, but close deals personally. Once a brand’s interested:
– Switch to voice notes for negotiation
– Send custom pitch decks
– Jump on a Zoom call (virtual coffee works wonders)
