Tips for Pitching Brands

You're tired of sending emails to an endless sea of brand contacts and not receiving any positive replies. Worse yet, you start to feel demotivated about being a content creator.

If this sounds like you, here are 7 tried-and-true tips we recommend you follow to boost your success rate when reaching out to brands.

1. Research the Brand Thoroughly

Before reaching out to a brand, it's crucial to do your homework. Understand the brand's products, target audience, values, and recent campaigns. Are you the right fit for this brand, based on other creators who have worked with this brand in the past?

In your pitch email, mention specific products you love or recent marketing campaigns you admired, showing that you are not just sending a generic email. You don't have to know the brand inside and out as if you were an employee, but you should understand what sets the brand apart from competitors.

Things to look out for may be:

• Target audience
• Price point
• Business model/Marketing medium
• Product design priorities

2. Reach Out to Other Content Creators

If you're newer to the process of brand outreach, you should find similar content creators who have collaborated with the brand you're trying to pitch. Reach out to these content creators and ask them about their experience working with the brand. This practice brings more than just context on how to land deals with a brand, but also acts as an opportunity to make friends in the digital space.

You should ask other content creators the following questions:

• How did you start working with X brand? Did you reach out or did the brand reach out?
• How did you grow and scale your content?
• What is your target audience? Who finds value in your content?
• What brands were your favorite to work with?

Try to reach out to content creators of a similar niche and size as you and offer your own perspective if they ask you anything. If you're not comfortable reaching out to strangers, try to set goals for yourself, such as reaching out to one other content creator a week.

3 Propose an Idea for Collaboration

Brands can receive thousands of collab requests daily, so it is imperative that your pitch stands out. In your email, be sure to present the details of your collaboration proposal. In addition to the medium of your deliverables (photo, video, etc.), you should specify details from the content you wish to create if the collab was approved. For example:

• Comparing the brand's product to another specific product and how you think the brand's product is better.
• Spending a beach vacation with a specific brand sunscreen.
• Riding around a major city on the brand's electric scooter for a day.

But what if the brand manager doesn't even see your amazing proposal(s)? We'll solve that problem with the next tip:

4. Craft an Eye-Catching Subject Line

The subject line is your first impression and determines whether your email gets opened. Make it compelling, concise, and relevant. For example, "Collaboration Opportunity: Showcasing [Brand's Product] to [Your Target Audience]" is direct and immediately conveys the purpose of your email. Avoid generic subject lines like "Collab Inquiry," as they are less likely to grab the attention of brand managers.

5. Personalize Your Email

Personalization is key to a successful pitch. Start by addressing the recipient by name and introducing yourself briefly, including your name, niche, and why you are interested in their brand. Showcase your analytics with our media kit embed tool in your pitch email. This allows the recipient to access your media kit in one click and makes the pitch email look more professional:

If applicable, you should mention previous interactions with the brand or other similar brands. If you have been using their product for years, bring that up, as it's unlikely many other potential collaborators have as much usage experience.

Another part of personalizing your email is to bring out your personality. Brand managers are looking for humans to represent their brand, not robots. Stay respectful but avoid sounding too formal or using advanced vocabulary in your pitch. Remember, a brand pitch is similar to a job application, but the two are not the same thing.

6. Be Clear About Your Expectations

Transparency about your expectations helps avoid misunderstandings. Clearly establish what you are looking for in terms of compensation, whether it's a product exchange, a fee, or both. Outline a roadmap of the potential collaboration, including duration, post frequency, and whether you're looking for a one-time opportunity or long-term commitment.

It is important to present your expectations early, as the brand manager can easily make an informed decision about the collaboration proposal. As such, you're more likely to get a response from them, even if the outcome is not what you desired.

7. Follow Up, Follow Up, Follow Up...

If you don't receive a response within a week or two, send a polite follow-up email. Keep this email brief, reiterating your interest in working with the brand and asking if they need any further information. Alternatively, you may also add information to your previous email if you believe you did not present enough context. Brands are busy, and many emails are lost every day.

Conclusion

Pitching brands as a content creator requires preparation, personalization, and professionalism. By following the tips outlined above, you can increase your chances of landing collaborations that are beneficial for both you and the brand. Remember, a successful pitch is not just about selling yourself but about demonstrating how you can provide value to the brand and their audience. With the right approach, your email can be the start of a fruitful partnership.