Lesson 3 of 6 · all lessons
What brands check before a deal
A brand pays to reach a group of people in a style it likes. It checks six things.
One clear niche
Posts about one topic show the brand who you talk to.
An audience they sell to
Your followers' countries and ages match the brand's buyers.
Steady views and replies
Your recent posts get views, comments and saves, not one lucky hit.
Posts they can picture
Your past work shows how their product would look in your style.
Easy to reach
A business email in your bio and on your page, so nobody has to ask.
A clean record
Past deals labelled as ads, real followers and a tone that fits the brand.
Places to get brand deals
| Where | How to start | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Brands you already use | Find a creator or partnership page on their website, or use the contact form | Any account size, because you can show the product in use today |
| Local shops and cafes | Email or visit the owner with one idea for their busy season | Bakers, florists, coaches and food creators with local followers |
| Meta Creator Marketplace | Check that your account meets Instagram's rules, then complete your profile there | Instagram creators who meet those rules |
| Marketing teams on LinkedIn | Search the brand's name with partnerships or influencer, and send a short note | Creators who pitch larger brands |
Read the brand's last 10 posts before you write. Your idea should fit what the brand posts now.
The pitch message
A pitch is read in seconds on a phone. Keep it under 120 words and end with one question.
Weak pitch
- Hi, love your brand, can we collab?
- No numbers and no link
- Asks what the brand can pay
- The same text sent to 50 brands
Strong pitch
- Names one product and one post idea
- Shows views on three recent posts
- Links a media kit and a bio page
- Ends with one clear question
Pitch lines to copy
- Email subject
Video idea for [product]: a 7-day [result] test
- Opening line
I make [topic] videos for [who], and I've used [product] for [time].
- The idea
One idea: a Reel where I [show the product doing X], posted the week of [date].
- Proof
My last three Reels got [views], [views] and [views] views. Most of my audience is in [country].
- The ask
Can I send you a short plan and my rates?
- Follow-up, 7 days later
Hi [name], I'm checking that you saw my idea for [product]. I can change it to fit your launch dates.
Rates in plain words
There is no fixed price for a sponsored post. Your rate comes from what the brand gets, so ask what it needs before you quote.
Ask for the brand's budget first. If they ask you first, quote a package, such as one Reel plus three Stories, and price usage rights as a separate line.
A free product is a form of payment too. If a brand sends one in return for a post, treat it as a deal and label the post.
| What sets the rate | Why it matters | What to ask the brand |
|---|---|---|
| Your average views | Views show how many people will see the post | Which platform and format do you want? |
| Number of posts | A Reel, three Stories and a TikTok take more work than one post | How many posts, and on which dates? |
| Usage rights | The brand may run your video as an ad | Will you use the video in ads, and for how long? |
| Exclusivity | You may have to refuse rival brands for a time | Do I need to avoid other brands, and until when? |
| Deadline and edits | A short deadline or many rounds of changes takes more of your time | When is it due, and how many rounds of changes? |
A Work with me section on your bio page
Before they reply, many brands tap the link in your bio. Give them what they check in one scroll.
On More.You, a collection block groups these links under one heading. Place it high enough that a brand sees it without much scrolling. The media kit lesson covers the kit itself.
Mia Bakes
Easy weekend baking for families
- CollectionWork with me
- LinkMedia kit, updated November
- LinkPast brand work: 3 Reels
- BookingBook a 20-minute brand call
- FAQDo you work with brands? Yes. Email hello@miabakes.com
Checks before you say yes
In the US, the Federal Trade Commission tells creators to disclose any financial, employment, personal or family relationship with a brand. Put the label with the endorsement, where people cannot miss it. The guide is Disclosures 101. Other countries have their own rules, and the contract may add more.
Before you sign
MistakeA pitch with no idea in it
FixName one product and one post idea, so the brand can answer yes or no fast.
MistakeOld numbers in the media kit
FixChange the numbers each month, and check them again on the day you pitch.
MistakeFive follow-ups
FixSend one follow-up after a week. Then pitch the next brand.
MistakeSaying yes before the terms are clear
FixGet posts, dates, usage rights and payment in writing first.
Your task this week
- 1
List 10 brands you already use and like.
- 2
Write one pitch with one idea and proof from three recent posts, and send it to three of them.
- 3
Add a Work with me collection to your bio page, with your media kit and your email.
You are done when three pitches are sent and a brand that taps your bio link finds your media kit in one scroll.
Questions
How many followers do I need to start getting brand deals?
How do I ask a brand for a collab?
How much is a typical brand deal?
How to get sponsors from brands?
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission, Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers
- Instagram Help Center, Get started as a creator on Meta Creator Marketplace
Sources checked on 11 November 2026.
