Start with a profile brands can evaluate
A brand usually checks your profile for a few seconds before deciding whether to reply. Make those seconds count. Your bio should say who you are, what you create and how a brand can contact you.
You do not need a perfect feed. You do need a clear niche and a few posts that show how you would present a product. A skincare creator with 12 focused posts is easier to evaluate than a lifestyle account with 200 unrelated ones.
- Write a one-line bio: your niche, your audience and your content format.
- Switch to a professional or creator account so you can add a contact email.
- Pin three posts that best show your style and brand-readiness.
- Keep your media kit or contact link easy to find.
- Post consistently enough that a brand can see you are active.
Define what you are selling
A brand deal is a package of deliverables, not a vague promise to "promote" something. Decide what you offer before you pitch so the conversation starts with clarity.
Most Instagram collaborations include one or more of the following: a Reel, a carousel post, a Story set, a live mention or user-generated content that the brand runs as an ad. Each format takes a different amount of time and should be priced separately.
- A single Reel with one round of revisions.
- A Reel plus two Stories with a link or discount code.
- A carousel post plus usage rights for the brand’s own channels.
- UGC-only footage where the brand posts the content and you do not.
- A monthly bundle for brands that want consistent visibility.
Build a simple media kit
A media kit is a one-page summary of your audience and your work. It can be a PDF, a Notion page or a clean Google Doc. Keep it short enough to read on a phone.
Use real numbers from Instagram Insights. Do not inflate reach or engagement; brands can ask for screenshots, and a mismatch damages trust immediately.
- Followers and growth over the last 30–90 days.
- Average reach and engagement rate for recent posts.
- Top cities, age groups and languages of your audience.
- Three to five screenshots of relevant brand work or product content.
- Your collaboration packages and starting rates.
Find brands that fit
Mass pitches rarely work. A smaller list of relevant brands will outperform a hundred generic emails. Start with brands you already use, local D2C companies, and businesses that are actively running creator campaigns.
Look at who your favourite creators are working with. Check the brand’s recent launches, festive campaigns and new product lines. If there is no obvious fit, it is probably not worth the pitch.
- Write a list of 30 brands in your niche.
- Note what each brand recently promoted and which creator formats they use.
- Find the marketing, partnerships or influencer contact on LinkedIn or the brand’s website.
- Use an opportunity platform such as PromoSetu to discover open campaigns.
- Track every pitch so you know who to follow up with.
Write a pitch that gets replies
The best pitch is short, specific and easy to say yes to. Show that you understand the brand, propose one clear idea and include the numbers that matter.
Avoid opening with "I love your brand" and nothing else. A brand needs to know what you will make, why your audience fits and what it will cost. If you want a copy-ready format, read our brand collaboration email template.
- Use a subject line that names the brand and the content idea.
- Personalise the first two lines with something specific about the brand.
- Share one or two audience metrics, not your entire analytics dashboard.
- Propose a deliverable and a timeline.
- End with a simple question or a link to your media kit.
Price and negotiate
There is no universal rate for an Instagram collaboration. A Reel for a skincare brand is not the same as a Reel for a fintech app. Your price should reflect the work, the audience and what the brand gets to do with the content.
Quote a package rather than a single number. If the brand asks for a lower price, reduce the scope instead of giving away the same work for less. Ask about usage rights, exclusivity and timelines before you agree.
- Charge separately for production-heavy formats such as Reels and UGC.
- Ask whether the brand wants organic posting only or paid usage rights.
- Add a premium for exclusivity or a rushed timeline.
- Agree on the number of revisions before you start.
- Use a simple written scope, even if it is an email confirmation.
Deliver and build repeat work
The first collaboration is a test. The second one is the real business. Deliver on time, communicate clearly and make the brand’s life easier.
After the campaign, share a short performance summary: reach, views, saves, comments and link clicks if available. Ask for a testimonial and a referral. A happy brand is more valuable than ten cold pitches.
- Confirm the brief, deliverables and deadline in writing.
- Send a draft if the brand has approved a script or key message.
- Disclose the partnership clearly with #ad or #sponsored.
- Send an invoice with the agreed amount and payment terms.
- Follow up with results and ask about future campaigns.
Avoid common scams
Most brands are genuine, but creators do get approached by fake pages and unpaid "testing" offers. A few basic checks will save you time.
- Be cautious if a brand asks you to pay a registration or collaboration fee.
- Check the brand’s domain, email address and social history.
- Get the deliverables, timeline and payment terms in writing.
- Be careful with unlimited revisions, perpetual usage or unpaid trials.
- Do not share login credentials or personal documents with an unverified contact.