How to Get Brand Deals as a Content Creator

Let's talk about something that can really transform your content creation journey - brand deals. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your partnerships, I'm going to break down exactly what you need to know.

What are Brand Deals?

Think of brand deals as a win-win partnership - you promote a company's products or services, and they pay you for your influence. A brand deal can be anything from a one-off Instagram post to becoming a long-term brand ambassador. The best part is, there are so many ways to do this now - Instagram stories, YouTube videos, TikTok challenges, podcast sponsorships, you name it!

How to Reach Out to Brands (Without Being Awkward)

You might be wondering how to get brand deals as an influencer. Well, first impressions matter, so here's how to approach brands professionally:

• Do your homework! Make sure you know the brand inside out before reaching out
  
  
• Make your pitch personal (nobody likes copy-paste emails!)
  
  
• Highlight what makes you unique
  
  
• Be transparent about your numbers (followers, engagement, etc.)
  
  
• Showcase examples of your best content

Here’s a pro tip: Create a well-designed media kit (using tools like Canva) so you can show brands your portfolio, including your brand, audience, past work and what you can offer. Make it count!

Pricing Your Work and Negotiating Brand Deals

The big questions everyone asks are: how much do brand deals pay? how much should you charge for a brand deal? There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but there’s a few things to keep in mind.

It's important to value your work properly. Whether it’s recording 3 Instagram reels or a YouTube video, try to negotiate depending on the deliverables for the campaign. Think about whether it is a one-off project or has the potential to become a longer partnership. You could begin around £100 per 10,000 followers for a single post. But here's the thing - your rates should reflect your unique value. When considering pricing, think about:

• Your engagement rate (sometimes more important than follower count!)
  
  
• The type of content you're creating
  
  
• How the brand can use your content
  
  
• Any exclusivity requirements

Don't be afraid to negotiate - your content is valuable!

What to Discuss in a Brand Deal

When discussing the deal, make sure to get all the information upfront. Ask the brand if they have any requests when it comes to usage rights or exclusivity (not working with competitors for a specified time). Always get these points clear in writing:

• Exact deliverables: what exactly are you creating?
  
  
• Timeline: when does it need to go live?
  
  
• Payment terms: how and when will you get paid?
   
• Usage rights: can the brand reuse your content?
  
  
• Exclusivity clauses: are you allowed to work with their competitors?
  
  
• Content approval process: any requests to make changes or reshoot?
  
  
• Success metrics: how did the content perform?

Once you’ve agreed the deliverables and you reach the contract stage, ensure that the terms in the contract are exactly what you had agreed. Read and double-check the contract! Before you start creating content, ensure you meet the conditions and have any materials the brand requests (or sends you) within the content.

Juggling Multiple Brand Deals

As you grow, you might find yourself managing several brand deals at once. Here's what you can do to stay organised:

• Use a content calendar for tracking deadlines
   
• Be transparent about your other partnerships
  
  
• Stay true to your personal brand
  
  
• Don't take on more than you can handle
  
  
• Keep your content quality high (quality over quantity!)

If you’d like to know more about managing multiple brand deals, check out our blog post here. 

Building Long-Term Brand Relationships

Something most people don't talk about is long-term partnerships. This is where the real magic happens. They can provide a more stable income, which often leads to better opportunities.

Thinking of turning a one-off deal into a long-term partnership? If you have a long-term strategy in mind you could think about the potential for further opportunities with the brand after completing your first project. Through your initial collaboration, you could benefit in the long run by doing the following:

• Over-delivering on your promises
  
  
• Being professional but personable
  
  
• Sharing insights about your audience
  
  
• Keep suggesting fresh ideas
  
  
• Propose fresh collaboration ideas

Conclusion

The truth is that success with brand deals doesn't happen overnight. But if you have the right approach, you can build a sustainable income stream while creating content you're proud of.

If you’re ready to start landing brand deals or want to add more, you should focus on creating valuable content, building genuine connections, and staying true to your audience. Just remember that every successful creator was once in the position where you are now.

For any help managing your brand deals or your finances, we’re here to support you. At Capture, we let you focus on what you do best - creating content. Book a call with us to find out how we can support you.