[FAQ]

Hi,

I’m keen to start collaborating with some of my peers to help us both grow. I’ve found a few other Kiwi creators who have a really similar audience and vibe to mine, and I think we could make some cool content together.

I’m just a bit nervous about the best way to reach out. Is a DM too informal, or is email better? And what do you actually say in that first message? I want to come across as professional and make it a clear “win-win” for them, not like I’m just asking for a shoutout.

Also curious what a fair “content swap” looks like when there’s no money involved.

Cheers for any tips.

[Jeff Bullas]

Thinking strategically about collaborations is a huge step up from just creating in a silo.

Quick Answer: Send a short, personalised DM that proposes one specific, easy-to-execute video or image idea and clearly explains why it’s a win-win for both of your audiences.

The goal of your initial text-based pitch isn’t to finalise the details, but to make it incredibly easy for the other creator to say ‘yes’ to a conversation.

The best approach is a ‘warm’ DM; interact with their content for a week or so before you reach out. Your first message should be concise and lead with value. Start the text with a genuine compliment about a specific recent post, then state why you think your audiences align. The most critical part is to propose a simple, concrete idea for a piece of content, like a specific Reel concept, rather than a vague ‘want to collab?’. This shows you’re professional and respect their time. For a fair, unpaid collaboration, the work and exposure should be symmetrical; this could mean creating one video for each of your accounts or co-hosting an Instagram Live session together.

Cheers,
Jeff

[Author]

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