Pitching Brands for Your First Sponsored Post
To pitch your first brand, choose a brand that already fits your content, find the right marketing contact, and send a short message with who you are, who watches you, one specific video idea and a link to your best work. Follow up once after a week.
Pick brands that already make sense
Start with products you genuinely use or that your audience asks about. A pitch to a brand you already feature naturally is far more believable than one to a random big name.
Smaller and local brands are often easier first partners. They have fewer creator requests and may value a creator with a focused, engaged audience.
Find the right person to contact
Check the brand's profile for a business email, look at their website contact page or find their marketing or partnerships team on professional networks. A message to the right person beats ten messages to a general inbox.
Note who already makes sponsored content for them. That tells you they work with creators and what style they like.
Write a pitch that fits on one screen
Use four short parts: a one-line intro, a sentence about your audience, one concrete video idea, and a link to two or three of your best videos or your media kit. For example: 'I make 30-second budget breakfast videos for students. I would love to show your oats in a five-minute exam-week breakfast.'
Avoid long life stories and vague offers like 'let me know if you want to collaborate'. Brands reply to clear ideas they can picture.
Follow up and learn from replies
If you hear nothing, send one polite follow-up after about a week, then move on. Keep a simple list of who you contacted, when and what they said.
A 'no' or 'not now' is useful feedback. Ask if they would consider you for a future campaign and keep posting work that shows you are a good fit.
Frequently asked questions
Should I work for free products only?
Early on, a product-only deal can build your portfolio, but treat it as a business decision. If the work takes real time or the brand wants usage rights, ask for payment.
Do I need a manager or agency to pitch?
No. Many first deals come from creators pitching directly. A clear message and good sample videos matter more than who sends them.