How to Get Your First Brand Deal as a Small Creator:
A Step-by-Step Guide
You do not need a huge following to work with brands. You need a clear niche, a few strong samples, a simple media kit, and a steady habit of pitching. Here is the full plan, with templates and a 60-day schedule.
- Pick a clear niche and create three brand-ready sample posts using products you genuinely use.
- Build a one-page media kit with your audience details, best content, and contact information.
- Set your starting rates and decide in advance when you will accept free product only.
- Build a list of about 30 relevant brands, find the right public business contact, and send short, personalized pitches.
- Follow up once or twice, deliver well, and use the results as proof for your next deal.
What to Know Before You Start
What Brands Look for in a Small Creator
Follower count is only one signal. Brands usually check these five things before they reply.
The 8-Step Plan to Your First Brand Deal
Pick a clear niche and audience promise
Brands find it easier to say yes to a creator who is clearly "the person for X." Decide who your content is for and what they get from you, and keep your posts consistent with that.
Create three brand-ready sample posts
Show products you already use in realistic, useful content: a review, a how-to, or a routine. Brands want to see how you would present a product, so make samples that look like the content you would make for them.
Build a one-page media kit
Include who you are, your niche, audience details from your native analytics, your best content, and how to contact you. Keep it to one clean page. Our guide shows how to make a media kit. Read the guide →
Decide your starting rates and your rules on free product
Know what you would charge for a post or video, and decide in advance when you would accept free product only. Having clear rules stops you from agreeing to unfair deals when you are excited about a first offer. For benchmarks by creator size, see nano, micro, and macro influencer rates.
Build a target list of 30 brands
List brands you already use and like, smaller brands in your niche, and direct-to-consumer brands that regularly work with creators. A brand you genuinely use makes for a more authentic pitch.
Find the right contact for each brand
Look for a creator or partnerships page on the brand's site, a business email in their social bio, or the marketing, social media, or influencer manager on professional networks. Use only publicly listed business contact details.
Send short, personalized pitches
Mention something specific about the brand, propose one concrete idea, and link your media kit. Send a few each week rather than a huge batch once, so you can learn from replies and improve.
Deliver well and turn it into proof
After a first deal, deliver on time, share results with the brand, and save screenshots and numbers. A good first partnership becomes your best pitch for the next ones.
Where First Brand Deals Come From
Free Product vs. Paid: A Simple Decision Rule
3 Pitch Templates: First Email and Two Follow-Ups
Replace every bracket with real details and mention something specific about the brand. Never send these unchanged.
Subject: Content idea for [Brand] from a [niche] creator
Hi [Name], I am [your name], a [niche] creator with an audience of [audience description] on [platform]. I have been using [product] for [time] and love [specific detail].
I would love to create a [format, e.g. honest review or routine video] showing how [audience] can use it. My media kit is here: [link].
If that sounds interesting, I can send a short outline. Thanks for your time. [Your name and contact details]
Subject: Following up: content idea for [Brand]
Hi [Name], I wanted to follow up on my note from last week. I put together a short outline for a [format] featuring [product], and I would be happy to share it. My media kit is here again: [link]. Thanks!
Subject: Last note from me about [Brand]
Hi [Name], I know you are busy, so I will keep this short. If a creator partnership is not a fit right now, no problem at all. If it could be later, I would love to stay in touch. Thanks for your time. [Your name]
Your 60-Day Action Plan
Red Flags to Avoid
Eager new creators are common targets for bad deals and scams. If you see any of these, slow down. Read the full list in our guide to brand deal contract red flags.
Common First-Deal Mistakes
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my first brand deal as a small creator?
Choose a clear niche, create three brand-ready sample posts, build a one-page media kit, set your starting rates, and build a target list of brands you genuinely use. Find the right contact for each, send short personalized pitches, follow up once or twice, and deliver well so your first deal becomes proof for the next one.
Can I get brand deals with under 10,000 followers?
Yes. Many brands work with nano and micro creators because of their engaged, trusting audiences and flexible terms. Niche clarity, content quality, and professionalism matter as much as follower count.
How do I pitch myself to a brand?
Send a short email that mentions something specific about the brand, proposes one concrete content idea, links your media kit, and invites a conversation. Use the business contact the brand lists and follow up once after about a week.
Should I accept free products as payment?
Sometimes. Free product can make sense for small asks with full creative freedom from a brand you like. Ask for payment when the brand wants a dedicated post, specific requirements, content reuse rights, or exclusivity.
How do I find a brand's contact email?
Check the brand's website for a creator or partnerships page, look for a business email in their social bio, or find the marketing or influencer manager on professional networks. Only use contact details that are publicly listed for business inquiries.
How many brands should I pitch?
Start with a list of about 30 relevant brands and send five to ten personalized pitches per week. Replies are often few, so focus on relevance and keep refining your samples and messages based on what gets responses.
How do I avoid brand deal scams?
Never pay to be considered, never share account passwords, and always get terms in writing. Be cautious about unlimited content rights, pressure to decide quickly, and unusual payment requests. Check our contract red flags guide before you sign anything.
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