Your content is great, your community is engaged, now the question becomes how to work with brands as an influencer to get some well-deserved coin to support your ongoing content efforts.
Working with the right brands is the best way to monetize your content. Getting a brand deal as a content creator can boost your credibility and cachet in your audience. The trick is finding the right brands; ones whose mission, values, and of course product, make sense for your content and audience.
But where does an influencer look to secure a brand deal? It can all be a bit intimidating and overwhelming. In this listicle, we’ll explore seven tips for how to work with brands as an influencer.
Where Creators Get Paid
Take the guesswork out of influencer partnerships. The BENlabs AI matching program analyzes your content and audience, and suggests your profile to brands looking for the right creators to promote their products and stories.
Be Brand Friendly
If you want to work with brands, it’s important to create content that is brand-friendly. This doesn’t mean changing your content to fit brand values and messaging. It does mean partnering with brands whose values and messaging are complementary to your own brand as a content creator and influencer.
Before you approach a brand, take some time to research them and understand their target audience. Explore how your content can complement and help the brand reach its goals.
For example, as a fitness influencer, a sports drink brand might be on point. Content that showcases your workout routine and naturally emphasizes the importance of hydration makes sense. Creating this content before you reach out to the sports drink brand will help them to envision themselves in your content. It also shows that you understand their product and can create content that resonates.
Post Consistently
One of the most important things you can do as a content creator and influencer is to post consistently.
Aside from it being just good content strategy, brands want to work with influencers who have a strong and engaged audience, and consistent posting is one key.
Create a content calendar and stick to it, posting at regular intervals so that your followers know when to expect new content.
Consistency also shows brands that you take your work as an influencer seriously and that you’re committed to creating quality content.
Posting consistently and on a schedule is one way you, as a content creator and influencer, can stand out from the crowd. Especially if others in your niche are more haphazard in their approach.
Communicate Often and Openly
Communication is key in all relationships. Brand and content creator relationships are no exception.
Be sure to respond promptly to any communication from brands. Be open and upfront about your goals and expectations. This will help build trust and ensure that you’re both on the same page.
If you’re not sure about something, ask. It’s better to clarify things upfront rather than have misunderstandings later on. Remember, if a brand reaches out to you or accepts a meeting after you’ve reached out, you can assume they want to work with you because they like your content and your audience.
In other words, they want to make the partnership work just as much as you do, and you should expect the same commitment to communication.
Build Your Audience Across Multiple Platforms
Every content creator has a primary platform where their presence is most pronounced. That’s important, but it’s also important to build your audience across multiple platforms. This can help you reach new audiences and expand your opportunities for brand partnerships.
For example, if you’re a YouTube creator, consider creating content on Instagram or TikTok as well. This can help you reach younger audiences and show brands that you have a strong and diverse following. You don’t need to be everywhere, but you do need to think about how you can tailor your content to each platform where you’re active.
Think Outside the Box
When it comes to working with brands, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. An ideal brand partnership for a creator is a collaborative one. Brands tap into content creators and their influence in part because they’re looking for fresh and innovative ideas. A unique, creative, executable idea can help you stand out.
For example, instead of pitching a sponsored Instagram post, consider creating a video series or hosting a giveaway. Or, if you’re a food influencer, consider creating a recipe using the brand’s product and sharing it on your blog or YouTube channel. These types of collaborations fit with your own brand as a content creator and are more memorable and engaging for your audience. In other words, everyone wins.
Join a Creator Community
Joining a creator community is a great way to join other content creator influencers and to get your profile presented to brands looking for their creator match. The BENlabs Creator Community uses AI to match brands and creators, and offers advice for content creators at all stages. Join the BENlabs Creator Community.
Reach Out and Ask!
Don’t be afraid to reach out to brands and ask about potential partnerships. Many brands are open to working with influencers and may have a budget set aside for influencer partnerships. To increase your chances of success, personalize your outreach and show that you’ve done your research on the brand and its values.
If you have a media kit, include it with your outreach. If you don’t have a media kit, create one and be sure to include your audience demographics and engagement rates. This can help the brand get a better sense of your reach and audience.
Not every brand is a good fit for you as a content creator and likewise, you won’t be a good fit for every brand. That’s okay. By doing your research and targeting your pitches, you’ll find the right fit.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get a response or if a partnership doesn’t work out. Keep creating quality content and building your audience, and eventually, the right brand partnership will come along.
If you’re accepted into the BENlabs creator community (if you’re honest and serious about your content, there’s no reason you wouldn’t be), BENlabs AI tools will work tirelessly to find the right opportunity match for you, your content, your audience.
Working with brands as an influencer can be a great way to monetize your content and grow your audience. By being brand-friendly, posting consistently, communicating openly, building your audience across multiple platforms, thinking outside the box, joining a creator community, and reaching out and asking, you can increase your chances of success and create meaningful and engaging brand partnerships.
In conclusion, you got this.
