How South African Twitter Influencers can connect with Indian Brands for Collaborations

If you are a social media influencer based in South Africa, you may want to consider expanding your horizons in influencer marketing by collaborating with Indian brands.

When there is a demand, there is a need. This is evident in how India has been ranked as the most engaged audience on Twitter. According to statistics, Indian Twitter users are 38% more engaged than the average global user.

Despite the extensive presence of Indian brands on social media, most Indian businesses are not aware of how to leverage influencer marketing for improved brand awareness and sales.

In this article, we will explore how South African Twitter influencers can approach Indian brands for collaborations.

📈 Why South African Influencers should Collaborate with Indian Brands on Twitter

There are several advantages that come with social media influencer collaborations. Here are some reasons why altruistic South African Twitter influencers should consider Indian brands.

1. India has a Large and Diverse Market

India is home to more than 1.4 billion people and has one of the largest middle classes in the world. According to the World Bank, the share of individuals living on more than $5.50 per day increased from 20% in 2005 to 40% in 2011.

This has led to a growing demand for products and services that cater to the diverse needs of Indian consumers.

2. India has a Thriving E-commerce Sector

According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), India’s e-commerce market is expected to reach $111.40 billion by 2024. The IBEF report further revealed that India’s e-commerce market was valued at $46.2 billion in 2020, which was a growth of 3 times in just 5 years.

This indicates that India is a lucrative market that is technologically adept.

3. The Social Media Environment is Highly Active in India

According to the Digital 2022: India report by Datareportal, there were 468 million social media users in India as of January 2022. This number has increased by 55 million (13%) between 2021 and 2022.

Therefore, India is an active country when it comes to social media. This means that South African influencers can get a good reach by collaborating with Indian brands.

4. India has Strong Ties with South Africa

India and South Africa share a special relationship that is steeped in history. According to the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the two countries have enjoyed a strong relationship since South Africa’s transition to democracy in 1994.

India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the new South Africa.

Most Indians regard South Africans as relatives. There are many Indians who have their roots in South Africa and vice versa.

Given that people are more likely to support brands that represent them, Indian brands can benefit from influencer collaborations with South African influencers.

📋 How South African Twitter Influencers can Collaborate with Indian Brands

The first step to collaborating with Indian brands is to identify your target brands. Here are some tips on how South African Twitter influencers can find Indian brands to collaborate with.

1. Conduct Google Searches

Google is the go-to search engine for most Indian consumers. Therefore, Google searches are one of the best ways to find Indian brands that are in need of social media influencers.

Use keywords such as “Indian brands looking for influencers” or “brands in India looking for influencers”.

You can also add certain niches or products that you are interested in promoting. For example, you can search for “Indian fashion brands looking for influencers”.

2. Search on Twitter

You can find brands that are looking for Twitter influencers on Twitter itself. You can search the hashtag #BrandCollaborations or #BrandCollaborationsInIndia to find tweets where brands are calling on influencers to promote their products and services.

You can also tweet out what you are offering and include hashtags such as #SAAfricanInfluencers and #BrandCollaborationsInIndia to increase your chances of being seen by Indian brands.

3. Use Influencer Marketing Platforms

There are many influencer platforms that can help connect you with Indian brands looking for social media influencers. Some of the leading influencer platforms used by brands in India include:

• Bolo Brand: Bolo Brand is an Indian influencer marketing platform through which brands can connect with influencers. Brands can also manage influencer campaigns, track performance and measure ROI.

• Baoliba: Baoliba is a global influencer marketing platform that connects brands with influencers across the globe. Baoliba has more than 300 influencers in India for brands to choose from.

• Blogmint: Blogmint connects brands with bloggers, influencers and content creators across many niches. Indian brands can choose from a wide range of influencers to partner with.

• Social Beat: Social Beat is an Indian digital marketing agency that offers influencer marketing services. Social Beat has a network of influencers across various social media platforms that brands can collaborate with.

• Influencive: Influencive is an influencer marketing agency based in India. Influencive helps brands create impactful campaigns by connecting them with the right influencers.

4. Contact Indian Brands Directly

Another way to find collaboration opportunities with Indian brands is to contact them directly. Here are some tips when reaching out:

• Explain Why You Are Contacting Them: Brands receive numerous partnership requests every day. Therefore, make sure to mention in the introductory portion of your message why you chose to contact them specifically.

• Showcase Your Achievements: Let them know what makes you the right influencer for their brand. Include metrics, testimonials and other relevant achievements.

• Provide a Value Proposition: Explain to them how they will benefit from partnering with you. This rounds up your pitch and makes it easier for them to say yes.

• Provide Contact Information: Include your contact information in your pitch so that the brand can easily reach out to you.

You can find a list of Indian brands to contact here.

✍️ How to Pitch Yourself to Indian Brands

Once you have identified Indian brands that you want to collaborate with, then the next step is to pitch yourself. Here are some pitching tips for South African influencers.

1. Research the Brand

Before reaching out to brands, make sure to do thorough research about the brand. This will not only help you in identifying the right brands to pitch to, but it will also give you talking points that you can use in your pitch.

2. Tailor Your Pitch

Make sure to tailor each pitch to the brand you are targeting. You can use a template for your pitches, but do not forget to customize it.

3. Keep It Short and Simple

Brands are busy and do not have time to read long emails. Therefore, make sure to keep your pitch short and simple.

You can use bullet points to quickly highlight the important aspects of your pitch.

4. Follow Up

Many brands receive numerous pitches every day and may not have time to respond to each. Therefore, it’s a good idea to follow up on your pitch if you do not hear back after a week or two.

🔍 Legal Considerations for Collaborating with Indian Brands

While influencer marketing is a great way to earn money as a social media influencer, there are some legal considerations that need to be made. Here are some important things to keep in mind.

1. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has Laid Down Guidelines for Influencers

According to the ASCI guidelines, influencers must disclose their relationship with the brand through hashtags such as #ad or #sponsored.

Failure to do so may result in removal from the platform.

2. Make Sure to have a Contract

Make sure to have a legally binding contract that outlines the details of the collaboration. This will help prevent misunderstandings and disputes.

3. Use Secure Payment Methods

Make sure to use secure payment methods such as PayPal or Escrow service to receive payments for your collaboration. This will help protect you from fraud.

🔗 Conclusion

Twitter influencer collaborations can have mutual benefits for both South African influencers and Indian brands.

The demand for influencer marketing is increasing in India and South African influencers are well positioned to take advantage of this opportunity.

If you are a South African influencer, you can pitch to Indian brands for collaborations using the methods discussed in this article.

Baoliba will continue to update South African influencer marketing trends, so be sure to follow us.