How to Get Brand Partnerships Without a Large Following

In an era where digital influence is omnipresent, securing brand partnerships has become a coveted goal for many content creators. However, the common misconception is that only those with large followings have this opportunity. 

This article dispels that notion, delving into the art of attracting brand partnerships regardless of your audience size. It focuses on leveraging your unique value—a blend of your distinctive style, perspective, and the niche community you’ve nurtured. 

By understanding your specific appeal and aligning with brands that resonate with your values and those of your audience, you can create meaningful, mutually beneficial collaborations. This guide provides practical strategies, from researching potential partners to crafting compelling pitches, aiming to empower you in building impactful brand relationships.

Understanding Your Unique Value

Even without a large following, you can gain brand partnerships by understanding and leveraging your unique value. This is about knowing your audience, what they are interested in, and how you uniquely deliver that.

Knowing your unique value will not only help you stand out to brands, but it will also help you build a more engaged and loyal audience. This could be your unique style, your perspective on a certain topic, or the niche community you’ve built.

Once you have a clear understanding of your unique value, you can use this to attract brands that align with your brand personality and values.

Another strategy to enhance your brand’s appeal to potential partners is through user-generated content (UGC). This doesn’t necessarily need to feature your face or showcase client products. Some creators specialize in travel UGC, capturing hotels and Airbnb locations, which adds more value to their work.

Researching Potential Brand Partners

Time to Identify Brands

Begin the process by taking time to identify brands that not only align with your personal values but also resonate with your audience’s interests. This could include brands that you and your audience frequently use and brands that share the same principles as you do.

Make a List of The Brands

Make a list of the brands that you personally love and already use in your daily life. These are the brands that you genuinely enjoy, and your authenticity will shine through when you approach them for potential partnerships. Your personal connection with these brands can make your pitch more compelling.

Consider Other Brands

Don’t just limit yourself to well-known brands. Also consider smaller, up-and-coming brands that may be more open to partnerships. These brands are often looking for authentic voices to help them grow, and even without a large following, you can provide value to them.

Take Time to Research

Once you have your list of potential brand partners, take time to research each one of them thoroughly. Understand their mission, vision, and the products or services they offer. This will not only help you pitch more effectively, but will also ensure a good fit between you and the brand.

Importance of Alignment 

Don’t overlook the importance of alignment in terms of audience demographics and interests. Ensure that the brands you approach offer products or services that your audience will genuinely be interested in. This can lead to more successful and mutually beneficial partnerships.

Evaluate The Brands

Lastly, it’s crucial to evaluate whether the brand’s values and ethos match with yours. A partnership should be more than just a business transaction; it should also be a collaboration between two brands that share the same values and principles.

Crafting Your Pitch

When crafting your pitch, focus on highlighting your unique value and how a partnership with you can benefit the brand. Tailor your pitch to each brand, illustrating your understanding of their products, mission, and target audience. 

As you organize your thoughts and ideas, you might find tools like free Notion templates handy for keeping things streamlined and coherent, though the main driving force behind your pitch should always be your unique value proposition and detailed understanding of the brand.

Charge Fairly

Before reaching out to potential partners, ensure you have a clear understanding of your value and what you can bring to the partnership. 

Price your UGC services fairly, taking into account the time, effort, and resources you will invest in the partnership. Be transparent about your rates and be prepared to negotiate if necessary.

Maintaining Professionalism in Your Communication

When reaching out to potential partners, ensure that all communication is professional and respectful. Keep your emails succinct and direct, and always maintain a positive tone. It’s important to present yourself as a reliable and serious partner.

Following Up and Building Relationships

After making initial contact with a brand, don’t forget to follow up if you haven’t heard back within a week or two. Building relationships takes time and persistence. Lastly, when you do secure a partnership, ensure that you deliver on your promises and maintain open lines of communication.

Types of Brand Partnerships

Brand partnerships come in various forms depending on the agreement between the creator and the brand. Here are a few common types:

Coupon Code Partnerships: 

In this arrangement, the brand provides a unique coupon code that the creator can share with their audience. Whenever a purchase is made using this code, the creator may receive a commission. This encourages creators to promote the brand and gives their audience a tangible benefit.

Discount Partnerships: 

Similar to coupon codes, discount partnerships involve the brand offering a special promotion or discount specifically for the creator’s audience. This makes the audience feel valued and can incentivize them to try the brand’s products or services.

Free Software Partnerships: 

In technology and software industries, a common form of partnership is providing creators with free access to premium software. The creator can then use, review, or promote this software to their audience. This not only benefits the creator but also provides the brand with valuable exposure and feedback.

Product Exchange Partnerships: 

Also known as xdeal. In this type of partnership, brands provide creators with their products for free or at a discount. In return, the creator agrees to review or showcase the product in their content. This can be an effective way to introduce new products to a wider audience.

Some xdeals available: 

UGC Creator is looking for community ambassadors. Monthsary is looking for someone to promote their new, today’s date countdown feature.

Sponsored Content Partnerships: 

In this type of partnership, brands pay creators to create content that features their product or service, often used by DTC Brands. This can include blog posts, videos, social media posts, and more. In these cases, it’s important for creators to disclose that the content is sponsored.

Affiliate Partnerships: 

This is a revenue-sharing partnership where the creator promotes a brand’s product or service and earns a commission for each sale made through their referral. This is typically tracked through affiliate links or codes, Stan Store does this promotion strategy very well by including a referral code/button on everyone’s store.

Event Sponsorship Partnerships: 

These partnerships involve brands sponsoring an event hosted by the creator. This could be a live event, a webinar, a meet-up, or an online event. The brand might provide funding, products, or services in exchange for promotion at the event.

Long-term Brand Ambassador Partnerships: 

In this type of partnership, creators agree to represent a brand over a longer period of time. They regularly promote the brand’s products or services and may be featured in the brand’s marketing materials. This type of partnership often involves a contract and can provide a steady income for creators.

Conclusion

Navigating the world of brand partnerships without a massive following is not only possible, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. This journey requires a clear understanding of your unique value, strategic alignment with brands, and professional communication. Whether it’s through coupon code collaborations, sponsored content, or long-term ambassador roles, each partnership type offers a unique way to engage with your audience and grow your brand. 

Remember, the essence of successful partnerships lies not in the size of your following, but in the authenticity and quality of your engagement. By maintaining professionalism, charging fairly, and consistently delivering on your promises, you can build lasting relationships that transcend mere transactional interactions, setting a foundation for sustained success in the dynamic landscape of brand partnerships.

How to Get Brand Partnerships Without a Large Following