TikTok DM to a UGC-Style Creator

When to use this

TikTok DMs auto-truncate fast and creators check them less than IG. Lead with the deliverable, lead with the dollar amount, and skip the brand backstory.

The template

Replace the {curly} variables with your specific details before sending.

Hey {creatorFirstName} — your editing style is exactly what we need.

Looking to pay you ${ratePerVideo} per video for {numberOfVideos} UGC clips of our {productName}. You'd film, we'd use them as paid ads (you don't post them on your account).

Sound interesting? Happy to send a brief and ship the product this week.

Tip: triple-click any line to select it, then copy. Or select the whole block above and paste into your email/DM client.

Variables you'll need to fill in

• {creatorFirstName}
• {productName}
• {ratePerVideo}
• {numberOfVideos}

Pro tips

• 01Distinguish 'UGC' from 'influencer' explicitly. UGC creators want this distinction — they price differently because they're not lending their audience.
• 02Standard UGC rates: $150-$400 per 30s clip for newer creators, $400-$1,200 for established ones. Don't insult with $50 offers.
• 03Ask for a hook + body + CTA structure in the brief. Creators charge more for 'whole video' than for 'a few hook variations' — be specific.
• 04Include usage terms (90 days organic + paid social, no TV, no out-of-home) — this is the biggest source of post-contract disputes.
• 05Never ask UGC creators to 'just post it to their account' as a freebie. It re-categorizes the work and they'll quote influencer rates.

Follow-up sequence

Send these only if you don't get a reply. Spacing is in days from your first message.

Hey, bumping this in case it got buried. Still looking to fill {numberOfVideos} slots this month — let me know if you want me to send the brief.

Why this works

Influencer outreach succeeds or fails on the first message. Creators receive dozens of branded DMs and pitches every week — most are interchangeable, mass-sent, and clearly built for a CRM rather than a human. This template wins because it inverts the usual structure: it leads with a gift instead of an ask, it names a specific recent piece of content (proving the message isn't templated), and it uses concrete logistical language ('I'll ship it tomorrow') instead of vague brand-speak. The psychological lever underneath is reciprocity — giving before asking creates a small social debt the recipient often resolves by replying, even if the answer is 'no thanks'. The shorter format also matters mechanically: messages over ~60 words on Instagram get auto-collapsed, which kills reply rates regardless of how good the writing is.