How do you get brand deals on social media?

Quick answer: pick a niche, build a small portfolio of content that shows products well, find brands that already work with creators your size, and pitch them directly by email with one specific idea. Follow up, pitch new brands every week, and charge for ad usage rights. Most creators get brand deals by pitching, not by waiting to be discovered.

Step 1: Choose a niche brands can match you to

Small accounts can win: brands increasingly work with micro-influencers. Brands buy audiences by category: beauty, fitness, home, food, parenting, pets, tech, travel. A focused profile is easy for a brand to say yes to. You can cover two related niches, but your best posts should make your focus obvious.

Step 2: Build a portfolio before you pitch

• Make three to five posts or videos featuring products you already own, filmed like ads: a strong first second, the product in use, one clear reason to buy.
• Put your best work in one link: a portfolio or media kit with your niche, audience and examples.
• Note one or two real numbers that show results, like average views or saves.

Step 3: Find brands that work with creators your size

• Check which brands tag creators with a similar audience in your niche.
• Search paid partnership and #ad posts on TikTok and Instagram.
• Use platform marketplaces where you're eligible (TikTok One, Instagram's creator marketplace, YouTube BrandConnect).
• Use a directory of brands open to creator collaborations with real contact emails, like Newcollab's brand directory.

Growing brands reply much more often than the biggest names.

Step 4: Write a pitch brands reply to

Keep it under 120 words and make it about the brand:

1. Subject: short and specific, e.g. "Video idea for [product]".
2. Idea: one concrete content idea for their product.
3. Proof: one strong number or result. Leave out weak stats.
4. Links: two of your best posts and your portfolio.
5. Ask: gifted product, or your rate for one deliverable.

Step 5: Follow up and keep pitching

Many brand replies come after a follow-up. Send one about four days later with a second idea, and a final one around day ten offering something smaller. Then pitch new brands every week. Reply rates on cold pitches are low for everyone, so steady volume is what turns into deals.

Step 6: Agree terms and price your work

• Put deliverables, dates, payment and usage rights in writing before you create.
• Price per deliverable, and charge separately if the brand wants to run your content as ads.
• Gifted deals are a fine start when the product fits and the asks are light; move to paid once you have results.

Step 7: Deliver well and get rebooked

Hit the deadline, follow the brief, share results afterwards, and suggest a next idea. Repeat brands are the easiest income you'll get.

Platform tips

Platform	What brands look for	Guide
TikTok	Hooks, product demos, UGC-style videos	How to get brand deals on TikTok
Instagram	Reels quality, saves, a focused feed	How to get sponsorship deals on Instagram
YouTube Shorts	Retention and clear product moments	Brand deals on YouTube Shorts

Do brand deals need to be disclosed?

Yes. Use each platform's paid partnership or disclosure tool, and label gifted content too. In the US the FTC expects clear disclosure of any material connection with a brand.

Put your pitching on autopilot

Polly, Newcollab's AI assistant, matches you with brands that work with creators, writes each pitch for that brand's product, and on Pro sends them from your Gmail every weekday with follow-ups on day 4 and day 10. Replies land in your own inbox.