Getting a paid brand deal or partnership is an exciting accomplishment! In over 10 years of running my online brand, I’ve had many partnerships with studios, fitness brands, theme parks, toy companies, sports drink brands, and many more. Before you land a paid partnership, let’s make sure you’re ready when the opportunity comes knocking on your door, or when you go knocking on a brand’s door.

A brand deal is when a content creator (blogger, podcaster, YouTuber, social media influencer, etc.) partners with a brand to promote its products or services in exchange for compensation. Ideally, that compensation is money, but sometimes it includes free products or services. You don’t have to be an “Instagram influencer” or “TikTok star,”  you can be a school teacher, life coach, closet organizer, or work in any niche. As long as you have some sort of platform, you can make money through brand partnerships.

Six Types of Paid Brand Deals I’ve Done

1. Sponsored Content: You create content (blog posts, podcast ads, social media posts, etc.) featuring a brand’s product or service in exchange for payment. I’ve done this through sponsored blog posts, running ads on my blog and podcast, and more.

2. Product Reviews: A brand sends you a product, and you provide an honest review for payment.

3. Affiliate Marketing: A brand pays you upfront to create content and provides an affiliate link where you earn a commission on each sale. Sometimes a brand may only offer an affiliate link, but, if given a choice, get payment upfront for your time and effort and also include an affiliate link inside your post.

4.Ambassadorship: A long-term partnership where you consistently promote a brand. I was a brand ambassador for years with a large, family-friendly brand, and it gave me the opportunity to spend quality time with my kids when they were young, going to theme parks, movie premieres, and more. They even got free swag! It was a fun and exciting opportunity for the entire family.

5. Giveaways/Contests: A brand provides products as prizes, and you coordinate and promote the giveaway to your audience.

6. Event Collaborations: Brands pay creators to attend or promote events to generate buzz. I’ve attended both paid and unpaid brand events.

Having a Blog Gives You an Advantage

If you have a blog, you have an advantage, especially if that blog is SEO-optimized. One of my first brand deals was almost 10 years ago. It was a sponsored blog post I wrote for a newer sports drink company that has since grown into a massive brand. That blog post is still ranking in the top 30 for its keywords on Google! I probably got paid only $100, yet that ad is still getting views after nearly a decade.

Related: Blog vs. Podcast — Which Is Best for Your Brand?

Tips to Land a Brand Deal

• Know Your Niche: Be clear on your audience and content focus. What segment of a larger market are you targeting? You might be in the same niche as a potential brand, so be sure your niche aligns with their marketing goals.
• Define Your Ideal Audience: Brands want to work with creators whose followers align with their target customers.
• Build a Strong Platform: Choose where you’ll consistently create content, whether it’s a blog, podcast, YouTube channel, or social media. 
• Produce Quality Content Consistently: Ensure your content aligns with your brand’s voice and theme. Show up with high-quality content consistently.
• Set Your Pricing: Consider the time it takes to create content and price accordingly. Brands will pay for valuable, well-produced content. If you’re just starting out, determine how much you want to make per hour. Calculate how long it will take you to produce a reel, for example, and use that as a baseline for pricing. It’s a work in progress, so refine your rates as you go. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, Influencer rates vary widely, some charge $2 per post, while top creators earn $10,000+ per post. Even a $100 brand deal is a great starting point; you can build on that and increase your rates as you grow.
• Create a Media Kit: A media kit allows you to showcase your brand and everything you offer. Use a graphic design tool like Canva to create a document featuring your platforms, bio, audience demographics, and engagement metrics. Even if your audience is small, having a media kit ready is essential.
• Research Potential Brands: What products or services do you currently use that could turn into a collaboration? Look for brands that already work with influencers. You can search LinkedIn for “Influencer Marketing Manager” to connect with brands investing in creators. You can also browse social media to see which brands are running campaigns, or have run them in the past.
• Send a Pitch Email: Before you pitch yourself, make sure you: Know your niche and ideal customer. Have built a strong platform. Have a media kit ready. Have set your pricing. Being prepared before reaching out will ensure you’re ready if a brand asks for more details. In your pitch, highlight why you’re a great fit and how your audience aligns with their brand.
• Send Your Media Kit & Pricing: Once a brand expresses interest—congrats! Now, send over your media kit and rates, and hopefully, you’ll secure a partnership.

It’s okay to start small, build your portfolio, and grow your business. Every partnership gets you one step closer to landing bigger and better brand deals!