Want to land more brand partnerships? Here’s how!

Since then, brand deals have become an increasingly significant part of my own income, and it’s seriously such a pleasure to get to partner with brands that I personally love and respect - and share them with my audience. So I want to teach you how you can do the same (because for many of us creators, it means finally getting paid to make the content that we probably would have made for free anyway!) But here’s the thing: I’m not just going to talk about how you can start pitching brands - that’s great and all, but the real business is getting brands to come to you. And if you want to the end of the video, I’m going to tell you how to do just that.

Find your purpose and post consistently

To successfully work with brands, it's essential to have an audience, and growing that audience on social media requires two key elements: finding your purpose and posting consistently. Your content should have a clear reason for people to follow you, whether it's entertainment, visual inspiration, or something else that resonates with your target audience. Having a purpose gives your content direction and helps attract the right followers.

Consistency is also crucial. While it doesn't mean you have to post every day or multiple times a day, it's important not to disappear for months at a time. Building a loyal and engaged audience that brands are interested in requires consistent content creation. Brands are looking for an audience that trusts you, regardless of its size. While having a large following can be beneficial, it's not the only factor that matters.

If you want to work with brands, focus on cultivating an engaged and loyal audience by finding your purpose and consistently delivering valuable content. Remember, it's not just about the numbers; it's about building a community that trusts and supports you.

If you are having trouble with consistency, don’t worry, I have a few habits that can help you stay on track:

Establish a Routine: Creating a consistent routine can provide structure and help you stay focused. Set aside specific times each day or week dedicated to content creation. This will train your mind to be in the creative zone during those designated times, making it easier to produce content consistently.
Plan and Organize: Take the time to plan and organize your content in advance. This includes brainstorming ideas, creating a content calendar, and outlining your posts or videos. Having a clear plan in place allows you to stay on track and ensures that you always have content ready to go.
Set Realistic Goals: Setting realistic goals helps you stay motivated and gives you something to work towards. Break down your larger goals into smaller, achievable milestones. Celebrate your progress along the way, which will keep you motivated and encourage you to stay consistent.
Prioritize Self-Care: Taking care of yourself is crucial for maintaining consistency. Make sure to get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly. When you prioritize self-care, you'll have more energy and mental clarity, allowing you to produce content consistently and at a high level.
Stay Inspired: Surround yourself with inspiration. Follow other creators in your niche, read books or articles related to your content, and engage with your audience. By staying inspired, you'll have a constant flow of ideas and motivation, making it easier to consistently create content that resonates with your audience.
Embrace Imperfection: Perfectionism can be a major roadblock to consistency. Understand that not every piece of content needs to be flawless. Embrace imperfections and focus on progress rather than perfection. Remember, consistency is more important than producing flawless content every single time.

Create a media kit

Having a media kit is essential for content creators looking to collaborate with brands and attract potential sponsors. A media kit serves as a professional portfolio that showcases your brand, audience demographics, and past collaborations.

It provides a concise and visually appealing overview of your content, reach, and engagement metrics, giving brands a clear understanding of your value as a creator. A well-designed media kit can help you stand out from the competition, establish credibility, and make a strong first impression. It allows brands to quickly assess whether your content aligns with their target audience and marketing goals.

By having a media kit readily available, you can streamline the collaboration process, increase your chances of securing partnerships, and ultimately monetize your content more effectively.

Keep it Concise: Your media kit should be clear, concise, and visually appealing. Avoid overwhelming brands with excessive information. Focus on the most important details that highlight your brand, audience, and past collaborations.
Showcase Your Brand: Use your media kit to showcase your unique brand identity. Include your logo, brand colors, and consistent visual elements that reflect your content style. This helps brands understand your aesthetic and whether it aligns with their own brand image.
Highlight Audience Demographics: Provide insights into your audience demographics, such as age range, gender, location, and interests. This information helps brands determine if your audience aligns with their target market and if collaborating with you would be beneficial for their marketing goals.
Include Engagement Metrics: Include key engagement metrics, such as follower count, average likes, comments, and shares per post. This data demonstrates your level of audience engagement and can be a deciding factor for brands when considering collaborations.
Showcase Past Collaborations: Highlight successful collaborations you've had with other brands. Include testimonials or case studies that showcase the results and impact of your previous partnerships. This helps build credibility and shows potential sponsors the value you can bring to their brand.
Provide Contact Information: Make it easy for brands to get in touch with you by including your contact information, such as your email address or a link to your website. This ensures that interested brands can reach out to you easily for collaboration opportunities.

Remember, your media kit should be a reflection of your brand and professionalism. Regularly update it with your latest statistics and collaborations to keep it relevant and impactful.

Pitch brands (or have them pitch to you!)

As an influencer, you have two main options for getting brand deals:

Reaching out and pitching brands yourself OR
Optimizing your online presence to get brands pitching YOU

I’m personally at a point now where I’m not reaching out to a lot of new brands. Every so often, I’ll come across one that I want to connect with, or I’ll have a great idea that I think would pair well with a brand I haven’t connected with yet, so I’ll pitch them. But for the most part, I’m working with brands who reach out to me and want to work together. (and I continue working with brands who have done that in the past - that’s my current version of “pitching” is following up with past brand partners to see if they want to work together again)

So what can you do to get brands to find you and reach out to you?

Make yourself discoverable:
- Use keywords on your profiles that describe you and who your audience is
- Create a blog or website for yourself and use SEO to your advantage
- Get interviewed on podcasts or referenced in blog posts if possible - anything that will help you get your name in front of more eyes and links back to your content
- Use Pinterest to increase traffic to your social platforms and website
- Include an email address in your Instagram bio and a way to contact you on your website.
Build up your portfolio:
- Create the kind of content a brand would want to sponsor
Network / tag / connect:
- Connect with other creators - because making friends is fun, but also because they may be able to help you connect with brands you’d like to work with and might help make an introduction
- Tag the brands you love in that content that you make! That’s one of the best ways for them to find you (especially small brands whose social media manager might also be the partnerships manager)

By following these strategies, you can increase your chances of brands discovering you and reaching out for potential collaborations. Remember to consistently create high-quality content and engage with your audience to further enhance your online presence.

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Brand deals can be a game-changer for creators looking to monetize their content and build a sustainable income. Remember, it's not just about the financial aspect, but also about creating meaningful partnerships with brands that align with your values and resonate with your audience.