Let's skip the endless chats with brands that go nowhere and learn some quicker ways to get sponsored! Shall we?
Where to Find Sponsors?
It may not seem like that, but there are plenty of opportunities out there to partner with brands that love your style and want to tap into your audience.
First off, the most direct route is to leverage platforms designed specifically to connect influencers and brands. Sites like FameBit (now part of YouTube’s BrandConnect) are super handy. They act as middlemen, helping you find companies that are keen to collaborate with creators. You just sign up, create a profile showcasing your best work, and apply for campaigns that align with your content and values.
Don't underestimate the power of your own outreach, either. Craft a solid media kit that includes your channel stats, audience demographics, and a few highlights from your portfolio. This is your digital resume. To make it shine you can use tools like pin.top by a YouTube Certified Partner AIR Media-Tech. pin.top is the ultimate page to make money on brand deals. It helps you to be easily discovered by brands, secure 100% prepaid deals, and enjoy smooth operations. Just create your free account and experience it yourself.
Then, start reaching out to brands you genuinely like. A personal touch can make a big difference, so tailor your pitches to show that you know why their brand could be a great fit for your channel.
Social media networks can also be gold mines for connections. LinkedIn, for example, is great for networking with brand managers and marketing execs. Join relevant groups, participate in discussions, and post regularly about your work — visibility is key. To make your social media more converting, you can add a link to your pin.top page in every bio.
Lastly, never underestimate the power of networking within the creator community itself. Collaborating with other YouTubers or joining creator groups can lead to introductions and recommendations to brands. Good thing that one of the biggest events to unleash that networking vibe is coming soon - VidCon 2024.
How to Pitch to Get Sponsored?
Imagine that Brand X receives an email from a creator that starts with "To whom it may concern." No spark, no personal touch, no reason for them to keep reading. So, what’s a better approach? Research the brand inside and out. What are their values? Who's their target audience? And most importantly, how can you add value to their brand?
Next up, craft a subject line. Think short, snappy, and attention-grabbing. You want to hook them from the get-go. Here are just a couple of subject line ideas to get the imagination rolling:
- [Brand Name] Spotlighted by [Creator Name] to 400,000 Followers
- Access 250,000 Eyes on [Brand Name] Products with [Creator Name]
- [Creator Name] x [Brand Name]: Trendsetting Fashion Features
- [Brand Name]: Impactful Gadgets Showcase by [Creator Name]
Now, onto the body of your email. Keep it concise, and keep it compelling. Start with a personalized intro — ditch the generic "Dear Sir/Madam". Show them you've done your homework. Then, dive into why you're reaching out. What makes you the perfect fit for their brand? Include some details about your audience reach, engagement rates, and past collaborations. Numbers don't lie, and brands love data.
A good idea would be to visualize your data to make it speak on your behalf. pin.top comes in handy here as well. You can showcase your followers, demographics, reach, and lots of other media kit details there and then drop the link to your page in your email pitch.
Last but not least about your pitch, close with a call to action. Whether it's scheduling a call, setting up a meeting, or simply asking for a response, make it crystal clear what you want them to do next.
Pitfalls to Avoid with Brand Sponsorship
While crafting pitches and reaching out to sponsors, creators may get lost in a rush and stumble on some pretty common mistakes. So, let’s chat about what to avoid when you're jumping into the world of brand sponsorship.
1. Overpromise & Underdeliver
Maybe you told a brand you'd double their sales with a single video or promised an insane amount of engagement. It sounds great on paper, but if you can't deliver, you’re in for some trouble.
When the final results roll in and they're not as spectacular as you hyped them up to be, brands are left feeling let down. And believe it or not, word gets around. Brands talk to each other, and a reputation for overpromising can make other potential partners wary of working with you.
Here’s a better approach: Keep it real. When discussing a partnership with a brand, be honest about what you can achieve based on past performance and realistic projections. It’s so much better to set attainable goals and then knock them out of the park than to aim too high and miss the mark.
2. Being too Pushy
Navigating brand deals is like a dance, and you definitely don’t want to step on any toes. Being overly aggressive can be a turn-off for brands and can make your interactions a bit awkward, or even end opportunities before they start.
Imagine a brand receives an initial pitch from a creator, expressing interest in collaboration. But before the brand even has a chance to respond, the creator bombards them with follow-up emails, DMs, and even phone calls, demanding an answer. It's overwhelming and off-putting, to say the least.
When you’re too pushy, it sends the wrong signals. Brands are looking for partners, not just promoters. They want someone who's genuinely into their products and can share that enthusiasm authentically with their audience. So, when you come across too strong, it can make brands think twice about whether you're the right fit.
And here’s something else to consider: your audience. They can totally tell when you’re being too pushy with a product. If every video comes off like a sales pitch, you might start to see your engagement drop. Viewers come for your personality and content, not a constant barrage of ads. Keep it balanced!
3. Skipping Follow-ups
Speaking of balance. While bombarding brands with tons of emails is not the best choice, pulling a hard stop after just one email is not a great idea either. You can always add more details to your proposal in your follow-up or even ask for feedback to figure out why your idea didn't resonate.
The communication during the preparation stage when the brand is already sponsoring you may feel overwhelming though. Numerous editing requests and last-minute changes are not the best way to go. You can protect yourself from this with pin.top. Here, you have the number of change requests set upfront. The more reviews the brand wants to make, the higher the price will be.
Once the campaign is up and running, don’t let those follow-ups falter. Send over a quick message after the first major milestone or as soon as your content goes live. You can thank them for the opportunity, share how the video is performing, and maybe drop some viewer comments that highlight positive reactions to the product. This shows the brand that you're engaged and value their partnership.
Don't forget to keep the door open for future projects. Let them know you’d love to work together again. Maybe suggest a few ideas for future collaborations that could be exciting based on the success of the current one. Brands love creators who bring fresh ideas to the table!
What Sponsors Look for in Creators?
Now, let’s unpack some truths about brand deals that might surprise you. First up, it’s not all about how many followers you have. Seriously, not every brand is out to just push products and boost sales. Some are all about raising awareness or gathering cool content from creators like you to show off on their social platforms.
So, whether you've got 1000 or 500,000 subscribers, there's a place for you in the world of brand deals. Brands are often on the lookout for nano-influencers, micro-influencers, and macro-influencers — each tier has its unique appeal.
Next, let’s talk about social media because your Twitter history can seriously make or break a deal. Old tweets or posts can easily resurface, and let's just say some of them might not show your best side. Brands research you because they want to ensure their ambassadors align with their image.
Moving on to being real with your reviews and product/service integrations. It's totally okay to be honest about a product, even if it's not all roses and rainbows. Brand sponsorships put a responsibility on creators but you still owe your biggest responsibility to your audience. If something’s off with a product, it’s alright to share that — just be fair and balanced. Sure, not all brands are going to be ok with it. That's exactly why it's so crucial to team up with the right brands. When you find a good match, it makes all the difference in the world for scoring sponsorships that really click.
Lastly, sometimes you're just not the right fit for a campaign, and that’s okay. If a brand’s message doesn’t align with your values or content, it’s probably not the right partnership for you.
But don’t let that discourage you. Keep showing up! Being visible and engaging where brands hang out can significantly boost your chances of landing a deal. And don’t forget that platforms like pin.top can seriously improve your chances of getting sponsored! Keep at it, and good luck!
