YouTube star Alisha Marie uses Instagram direct messages to land brand deals. Here are the DMs she sends.

Alisha Marie

Alisha Marie has 8.2 million subscribers on YouTube.

• YouTube star Alisha Marie, who has 8 million subscribers, said she's landed brand sponsorship deals by reaching out to the brand using the direct message feature on Instagram.
• She shared the messages she's sent to brands on Instagram that helped her get those deals.
• Other industry insiders, like Ian Borthwick, SeatGeek's director of influencer marketing, agreed that messaging brands on Instagram is a good way to express your interest in a company.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

It might seem unorthodox, but some top YouTube and Instagram influencers and industry execs say that if you want to work with a brand, the best way to do it is by reaching out yourself directly.

YouTube and Instagram star Alisha Marie, who has 8 million subscribers on YouTube, created her channel in 2008, on which she shares DIY lifestyle content and tips on fashion and beauty.

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She told Business Insider that when you're starting your influencer career, you shouldn't get caught up in waiting for companies to reach out. She said she's successfully direct messaged companies on Instagram asking to work with them.

"I've had a handful of deals where I just randomly hit the brand up," she said. "They ended up loving it and not only that, they were willing to pay. It was the perfect situation where they needed me to reach out."

It's not about formulating the perfect pitch, she said. What's worked for her has been to show off her interest in the company by writing a simple note in an Instagram direct message.

"Not that is was very professional, but it was very me," she said. "It was in my own voice."

Here are two examples of notes she's sent:

• "Hey, I've loved your stuff for forever, let me know if you're ever interested in collabing."
• "Do you guys ever work with influencers?"

She said she's had luck with these requests.

Alisha has promoted companies like BMW and Starbucks through branded sponsorships on her YouTube and Instagram pages.

'Learn how to market yourself to a brand'

Ian Borthwick, SeatGeek's director of influencer marketing, previously told Business Insider that one of the best ways to contact a brand was through email or Instagram direct messaging.

He said it's best to find a common connection and show that you care about what the brand is selling.

Read more: How Instagram influencers land their first brand-sponsorship deals

"Learn how to market yourself to a brand because you'll need to know how to articulate yourself in the future," Borthwick said.

Here is an example of what Borthwick would send:

• "Hey, I saw you with X influencer ... here is why my audience is a great fit for you."

The "Mommy blogger" Jehava Brown, who has 78,000 Instagram followers and blogs about motherhood, food, travel, and style, previously told Business Insider that she'd landed her first brand sponsorship by emailing the company directly. She would search for brands that she felt matched her online presence.

"A lot of bloggers will find a media contact for whatever brand you are wanting to work with and just send an email about their pitch and stats," Brown said.

In the beginning, Brown would send a note like:

• "I'll share this if you send me those products."

At the time, she said she was okay with promoting products without getting paid because she was still benefiting by receiving the products for free.

For more on how influencers are profiting from their success online, according to industry professionals and creators, check out these Business Insider Prime posts:

• YouTube and Instagram star Alisha Marie explains how to pitch a brand for your first sponsorship deal: Alisha said to use your Instagram page as your portfolio and be ready to present it to the brand you want to work with.
• How Instagram influencers land their first brand-sponsorship deals: Influencers and brand execs share their tips for landing that first deal.
• An Instagram influencer breaks down how much brands pay for sponsored posts, starting at 10,000 followers: A social-media influencer shares how she determines her rates when negotiating with companies like Disney and Walmart.