PITCH YOURSELF
You don’t have to wait for opportunities to find you. Learn how to find the right contacts, write pitches that get attention, confidently promote your value, follow up professionally, and turn outreach into real brand partnerships and opportunities.
-
One of the biggest shifts you can make as a creator is realizing:
You don't have to wait for opportunities to find you.
Brands, restaurants, hotels, PR agencies, and other businesses are constantly working with creators. Sometimes they'll discover you. Sometimes they'll invite you.
But sometimes you need to introduce yourself and ask.
That's where pitching comes in.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PITCH YOURSELF?
Pitching simply means proactively contacting a brand or company about a potential opportunity.
You might pitch because you want to:
Create sponsored content for a brand
Cover a restaurant or hotel
Attend an event or launch
Create UGC
Partner around an upcoming trip
Work together on a seasonal campaign
Introduce yourself for future opportunities
You aren't begging for something.
You're proposing a potential business relationship.
DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE A HUGE FOLLOWING
A common mistake is thinking:
“I'll start pitching when I hit 10K.”
or:
“Brands won't take me seriously until I have 50K followers.”
There is no universal follower number you need before you can pitch.
Brands work with creators of many different sizes.
If you have:
A clear niche
Good content
An engaged or relevant audience
Examples of what you can create
A professional profile
you have something to pitch.
BUT MAKE SURE YOU'RE READY
You don't need a massive audience, but there should be something for the person receiving your pitch to evaluate.
Before pitching, ask:
Is my profile clear?
Do I have enough content to show what I create?
Would a brand understand my audience?
Do I have examples relevant to what I'm pitching?
Is my contact information professional?
If you pitch a hotel and your account contains no travel, lifestyle, destination, or experience content whatsoever, you'll have a harder time explaining why you're a fit.
Build some proof first.
WHEN SHOULD YOU PITCH?
You can pitch year-round, but some situations create especially natural opportunities.
For example:
You already organically use the brand
You've created content about the brand before
The brand is launching something new
You're traveling somewhere
A seasonal moment is approaching
A restaurant or hotel is opening
You have a content idea that fits the brand
Your audience has shown interest in something the brand offers
You've worked together before and want to reconnect
The strongest pitches usually have a reason for happening now.
THINK AHEAD
Brands often plan campaigns well before you see them on social media.
If you want to pitch:
Holiday content
don't necessarily wait until December.
If you're planning a trip, don't email a hotel the night before you arrive.
If you want to work with brands around a major event, season, or holiday, start thinking about it in advance.
Give the other side enough time to actually consider your idea.
START WITH BRANDS YOU GENUINELY LIKE
If you're new to pitching, make a list of brands you already use or businesses you genuinely want to experience.
Ask:
Would I naturally talk about this brand even if they weren't paying me?
That's usually a much easier pitch to write.
You already know the product.
You can explain why you like it.
You may already have organic content to show them.
And if a partnership happens, it will make sense to your audience.
PITCH WITH A PURPOSE
Avoid emailing a brand just to say:
“Hi! I'd love to collaborate!”
Collaborate how?
Instead, know what you're hoping to accomplish.
Maybe:
You want to create a Reel around a new product.
You're visiting Miami and want to pitch a hotel stay.
You cover NYC restaurant openings and want to feature a new restaurant.
You have a holiday gift-guide series and think the product would be a great fit.
You don't necessarily need a fully developed campaign concept yet.
But you should have a reason you're reaching out.
DON'T PITCH EVERYONE THE SAME THING
If you send the exact same email to:
A skincare company.
A hotel.
A restaurant.
A clothing brand.
Something is probably wrong.
Your basic structure can stay the same, but the reason you're a fit should change.
A hotel might care about your travel content.
A restaurant might care about your local audience.
A skincare company might care about your beauty content and ability to demonstrate products.
Personalization doesn't have to mean writing an entirely new essay every time. It means making the pitch relevant.
SOMETIMES YOU'RE PITCHING NOW. SOMETIMES YOU'RE PLANTING A SEED.
Not every pitch needs to result in an immediate deal.
A brand may respond:
“We don't have anything available right now, but we'll keep you in mind.”
That's not necessarily a failure.
You just introduced yourself to someone who may be building another campaign three months from now.
Keep creating.
Keep growing.
Keep building the relationship.
DON'T LET REJECTION STOP YOU
You will send pitches that get no response.
You will hear:
“We don't have budget.”
“We're not looking for creators right now.”
“We'll keep your information on file.”
And sometimes you'll hear nothing at all.
That's part of pitching.
Don't let one unanswered email become:
“Brands don't want to work with me.”
It was one email to one person at one moment.
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PITCHES
Once you start pitching regularly, create a simple tracker.
Record:
Brand
Contact
Email
Date pitched
What you pitched
Follow-up date
Response
Outcome
This prevents you from accidentally sending the same pitch repeatedly and helps you learn what's actually working.
We'll include a Pitch Tracker in Templates & Tools.
CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT PITCHING
Instead of thinking:
“Why would this brand work with me?”
start asking:
“What can I create that would be valuable to this brand and useful to my audience?”
That changes the entire tone of your outreach.
You're not asking someone to do you a favor.
You're showing them why working together could make sense for both of you.
-
A great pitch sent to the wrong person may never go anywhere.
Before you spend time writing the perfect email, figure out who actually handles creator partnerships, PR, influencer marketing, or collaborations.
WHO SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR?
The right contact depends on what you're pitching.
For a brand collaboration, look for titles such as:
Influencer Marketing
Creator Partnerships
Social Media
Brand Partnerships
PR / Public Relations
Communications
Marketing
For restaurants, hotels, events, and experiences, you may also find:
Marketing Manager
PR Manager
Communications Director
Social Media Manager
Partnerships Manager
Sometimes the person works directly for the brand.
Other times, an outside PR, marketing, influencer, or communications agency handles creator relationships for them.
START WITH THE BRAND ITSELF
Check the company's:
Website
Contact page
Press or media page
Instagram bio
LinkedIn
Recent press releases
Creator or ambassador program
You may find a dedicated email such as:
press@brand.com
influencers@brand.com
partnerships@brand.com
creators@brand.com
A dedicated creator or partnership email is usually a better starting point than a generic customer-service inbox.
FIND OUT WHO HANDLES THEIR PR
This is especially important for:
Events
Restaurants
Hotels
Beauty and fashion launches
Product gifting
Media previews
Pop-ups
Grand openings
A brand may not handle these opportunities internally at all.
Search the brand name along with terms such as:
"[Brand] PR agency"
"[Brand] public relations"
"[Brand] influencer marketing"
"[Brand] communications"
Recent press releases can be particularly helpful because they may include a media contact or PR agency at the bottom.
USE LINKEDIN STRATEGICALLY
LinkedIn can help you identify the type of person you should be contacting.
Search the company and look at employees working in:
Influencer marketing
Creator partnerships
PR
Communications
Social media
Brand marketing
You don't necessarily need to immediately DM everyone you find.
The goal may simply be figuring out:
Who handles this?
Once you have a name, you can look for a legitimate professional contact method.
PAY ATTENTION TO OTHER CREATORS
Other creators can sometimes give you clues.
If several creators attend the same brand event, look at:
Who they tagged
Whether a PR agency was mentioned
Who hosted the event
Which agency employees are interacting with the content
This can help you identify the team behind an opportunity.
Don't copy another creator's private contacts or pressure them to give you someone's personal information.
But information that is publicly shared can help with your research.
WHAT IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT PERSON?
Don't spend three hours hunting for one email address.
If you can only find a general professional contact, use it.
You can write:
“Hi! I'm a [NYC food/beauty/travel/etc.] creator interested in potential creator partnerships with [Brand]. Could you point me toward the person or team who handles influencer or creator collaborations?”
Sometimes the easiest way to find the right person is simply to ask.
SHOULD YOU DM THE BRAND?
Yes, sometimes.
A professional Instagram or TikTok DM can be useful when you can't find a creator contact.
Keep it short:
“Hi! I'd love to connect with the person who handles creator partnerships for [Brand]. Is there a preferred email where I can send my information? Thank you!”
The goal isn't necessarily to send your entire pitch through DMs.
You're trying to get routed to the right person.
DON'T EMAIL EVERYONE AT THE COMPANY
If you find five people who might handle influencer marketing, don't send the same pitch to all five at once.
That can look like spam.
Choose the person who seems most relevant.
If you don't hear back, follow up appropriately or try another reasonable contact later.
KEEP YOUR CONTACTS ORGANIZED
When you find a useful contact, save it.
Track:
Name
Company or agency
Job title
Email
Brands or clients they represent
How you found them
When you contacted them
Notes
Over time, you're building something extremely valuable:
your own professional network.
And remember, people move.
Someone representing a beauty brand today might join a completely different company next year.
The relationship with the person can sometimes become more valuable than your connection to a single brand.
USE PROFESSIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION
Stick to publicly available business information and professional channels.
Don't hunt down someone's personal email, phone number, home address, or private account because you can't find a business contact.
There's a difference between being resourceful and crossing a boundary.
DON'T OVERTHINK FINDING THE “PERFECT” CONTACT
Finding the right person improves your odds, but don't let research become another reason not to pitch.
Sometimes you'll find the exact Influencer Marketing Manager.
Sometimes you'll find the PR agency.
Sometimes you'll have to start with a general inbox and ask to be directed.
Your goal isn't to uncover a secret email address. It's to get your pitch in front of someone who can actually do something with it.
WANT TO SKIP SOME OF THE SEARCHING?Finding the right brand, PR, and creator contacts can take time.
Our PR & Brand Contact Directory gives you access to a curated, frequently updated collection of PR contacts, agencies, brands, creator and influencer platforms, submission links, and other opportunities to help you connect with the right people faster.
→ ACCESS THE PR & BRAND CONTACT DIRECTORY
Optional premium resource. Sold separately from Creator Academy.
-
You've found the right person. Now you need to give them a reason to keep reading.
The best creator pitches usually aren't long or complicated. They're clear, personalized, professional, and easy to respond to.
Your goal isn't to tell someone your entire life story.
It's to quickly answer:
Who are you?
Why are you contacting me?
Why are you a good fit?
What are you proposing?
What should I do next?
START WITH A STRONG SUBJECT LINE
Your subject line should make it immediately clear why you're emailing.
Examples:
Creator Partnership: [Your Name] x [Brand]
Collaboration Idea: [Your Name] x [Brand]
NYC Creator Partnership Opportunity
UGC Collaboration: [Your Name] x [Brand]
Holiday Gift Guide Partnership: [Your Name] x [Brand]
Travel Collaboration: [Your Name] x [Hotel]
Avoid vague subject lines like:
Hi!
Collaboration
Opportunity
Let's Work Together!!!
Clear beats clever.
KEEP YOUR INTRODUCTION SHORT
The person reading your email may receive dozens or even hundreds of pitches.
You don't need three paragraphs explaining your background.
Try something like:
“Hi [Name], I'm [Your Name], a NYC-based creator covering food, events, and things to do for an audience primarily interested in discovering experiences around New York.”
In one sentence, they understand:
Who you are + what you cover + who you reach.
SHOW THAT THIS ISN'T A MASS EMAIL
Add one genuine reason you're contacting this particular brand.
For example:
“I've been using [Product] for the past year and have featured it organically in my content.”
Or:
“I saw that you're opening your first NYC location this fall, and I think it would be a great fit for my audience.”
Or:
“My audience consistently responds well to affordable NYC experience content, which is why I thought of [Brand].”
You don't need to write an essay proving how much you love them.
One specific sentence can make a pitch feel personal.
EXPLAIN WHY YOU'RE A GOOD FIT
This is where many creators make a mistake.
They focus entirely on:
“I would love...”
Instead, think about what the brand might value.
Rather than:
“I would love to receive your new skincare collection.”
Try:
“I create approachable beauty content focused on new product discoveries, and I think the launch would be a natural fit for my audience.”
You're still asking for an opportunity, but you're explaining why the partnership makes sense.
INCLUDE RELEVANT PROOF
You don't need to dump every statistic you've ever collected into the email.
Choose the information that strengthens this particular pitch.
That could include:
Follower count
Average Reel views
Monthly reach
Engagement
Audience location
Audience demographics
Previous brand partnerships
A particularly successful piece of relevant content
For a local business, having an audience concentrated in that city could be more valuable than your total follower count.
For example:
“More than 60% of my audience is based in the NYC metro area.”
That may be much more compelling to a Manhattan restaurant than simply saying:
“I have 25,000 followers.”
Use your strongest relevant information.
LINK TO YOUR WORK
Make it easy for someone to evaluate you.
Depending on the opportunity, include links to:
Your social profile
Media kit
Portfolio
Website
Relevant examples of your content
If you're pitching a hotel, link to one or two strong travel or hotel examples.
If you're pitching a beauty brand, show them beauty content.
Don't make someone search through 500 posts hoping to find an example.
DON'T SEND A NOVEL
A pitch doesn't need to include:
Your entire creator history.
Every brand you've ever worked with.
Every social media statistic.
Your complete media kit written into the email.
Your life story.
Your goal is to get them interested enough to look at your work and respond.
A SIMPLE PITCH FORMULA
Use this structure:
1. INTRODUCTION
Who are you?2. CONNECTION
Why this brand?3. VALUE
Why are you and your audience a good fit?4. IDEA OR ASK
What are you proposing?5. PROOF
Relevant stats, examples, portfolio, or media kit.6. NEXT STEP
Make it easy to respond.HERE'S WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE
Subject: Creator Partnership: [Your Name] x [Brand]
Hi [Name],
I'm [Your Name], a [location/niche] creator sharing [type of content] with an audience interested in [audience interest].
I've been following [Brand] and especially loved [specific product, launch, location, campaign, etc.]. I think it would be a natural fit for my audience because [brief reason].
I'd love to explore a partnership around [brief idea]. My content reaches [relevant audience/stat], and you can see examples of my work here: [link].
I've also included my media kit here: [link].
If you're currently considering creators for upcoming campaigns, I'd love to discuss what might be a fit.
Best,
[Name]
[Social Handle]
[Email]
[Website]This is a starting point, not something you need to copy word-for-word for every pitch.
SHOULD YOU ATTACH YOUR MEDIA KIT?
If you have one, absolutely make it easy to access.
You can attach a PDF or provide a link depending on your preference and what the recipient requests.
Your media kit should quickly show:
Who you are
Your niche
Your audience
Your key analytics
Examples of your content
Past partnerships, when relevant
How to contact you
We'll build this out in Look Professional, and we'll add an actual Media Kit Example + Template to the course resources.
PERSONALIZE WITHOUT SPENDING AN HOUR
You don't need to write every pitch from scratch.
Create a strong base template.
Then customize:
Brand name
Contact name
Why you're interested
Why your audience fits
Your proposed idea
Relevant stats
Relevant examples
That allows you to pitch efficiently without sounding like you sent the same email to 200 brands.
PROOFREAD BEFORE YOU HIT SEND
Especially check:
The person's name
The brand name
Links
Spelling
Attachments
Nothing says mass email quite like:
“I'd love to partner with Sephora!”
when you're emailing someone at Ulta.
DON'T LET PERFECTION STOP YOU
Your pitch does not need to be brilliant.
It needs to be:
Relevant. Clear. Short. Professional.
The biggest mistake may simply be never sending it.
WE'LL GIVE YOU THE ACTUAL TEMPLATES
You won't have to create every email from scratch.
In Templates & Tools, we'll include copy-and-paste examples you can customize for different situations, including brand collaborations, paid partnerships, PR introductions, event requests, UGC opportunities, follow-ups, and more.
For now, remember the basic formula:
Who you are + Why them + Why you + What you're proposing + Proof + Easy next step.
That's the foundation of a strong pitch.
-
There is a big difference between:
“Hi! I'd love to collaborate with your brand.”
and:
“I'm creating a series featuring affordable NYC date-night ideas, and I'd love to feature your new location.”
The second gives the recipient something they can actually imagine.
One of the easiest ways to make your pitch stronger is to stop pitching only yourself and start pitching an idea.
GIVE THEM A REASON TO SAY YES
Brands aren't necessarily looking for another creator who “loves their products.”
They're looking for content, exposure, storytelling, sales, awareness, or access to a particular audience.
Think about what you could create that helps accomplish one of those goals.
For example:
Instead of:
“I'd love to work with your hotel.”
Try:
“I'm visiting Miami in October and creating a weekend guide for my audience. I'd love to explore featuring your property through a Reel and Stories highlighting the hotel, pool, and surrounding neighborhood.”
Now the hotel understands what you're proposing.
YOUR IDEA DOESN'T NEED TO BE COMPLICATED
You don't need to present a 20-page campaign proposal.
Sometimes one sentence is enough.
BEAUTY
“I'm creating a fall skincare reset series and think [Product] would fit naturally into an upcoming Reel.”
FOOD
“I'd love to feature your new location in my NYC restaurant-opening series.”
FASHION
“I'm creating a series styling one piece three ways and would love to build an upcoming edition around [Product].”
TRAVEL
“I'm visiting Charleston next month and creating a weekend itinerary for my audience. I'd love to discuss including your property.”
PARENTING
“I'm creating a summer activities guide for families and think your experience would be a great fit.”
HOME
“I'm documenting my patio refresh and would love to incorporate [Product] into the transformation.”
The idea gives your pitch context.
USE WHAT YOU ALREADY CREATE
Don't invent a completely different content style because you think a brand wants it.
Look at what's already working on your account.
Maybe you have a recurring series:
Things to Do This Weekend
Three Things I Loved
Worth the Hype?
What I Ordered
One-Minute Hotel Tour
Amazon Finds I Actually Use
Under-$50 Outfits
Easy Weeknight Meals
Brands can often fit naturally into formats your audience already recognizes.
This is especially valuable because you can show the brand examples of the series you're proposing.
LOOK FOR A TIMELY HOOK
Timing can make an ordinary pitch much stronger.
Think about:
Holidays
Seasons
Product launches
Grand openings
Fashion Week
Back-to-school
Summer travel
Mother's Day
Major sporting events
Award season
Festival season
Local events
Your own upcoming travel or life moments
Instead of randomly pitching a luggage brand, you might pitch them before a trip when you have a natural reason to feature luggage.
THINK LIKE THE BRAND
Before pitching an idea, ask:
What might this brand be trying to accomplish right now?
Maybe they're launching a new product.
Opening a location.
Trying to reach a younger audience.
Promoting a seasonal collection.
Building awareness in a particular city.
Driving people to an event.
Your idea becomes stronger when it connects what you create with what the brand needs.
SHOW THE CONTENT, NOT JUST THE CONCEPT
If you've created something similar before, include it.
For example:
“Here's an example of a recent hotel Reel in this format: [link].”
That can be much more persuasive than telling them:
“I make really engaging videos.”
Let your work prove it.
MAKE THE IDEA SPECIFIC, BUT LEAVE ROOM TO COLLABORATE
You want enough detail for the brand to understand your vision without making the pitch so rigid that there's nowhere for them to participate.
For example:
“I'd love to create a Reel featuring three reasons to visit [Hotel] this fall, supported by Stories during the stay. I'm also happy to discuss any upcoming campaigns or priorities your team is currently focused on.”
You brought the idea.
But you also opened the door for the brand to say:
“Actually, we're launching our holiday package next month. Would you be interested in that?”
PITCHING A RESTAURANT OR EXPERIENCE
If you cover local experiences, be clear about what you're offering.
Instead of:
“Can I come in for a free dinner?”
Think:
“I'd love to feature [Restaurant] for my NYC audience through a Reel highlighting the space, signature dishes, and overall experience.”
You're proposing coverage rather than simply requesting something complimentary.
PITCHING A HOTEL OR TRAVEL PARTNERSHIP
Travel pitches should be especially clear because the value of the experience can be significant.
Include:
Your travel dates
Who you're traveling with, if relevant
What you'd like to feature
What content you're proposing
Why your audience fits
Examples of previous travel content
And give hotels plenty of notice whenever possible.
PITCHING UGC
UGC is different because the primary value may be your ability to create content, not the size of your audience.
Your pitch might focus on:
Your filming style
On-camera ability
Product demonstrations
Voiceovers
Lifestyle content
Editing
Examples of UGC-style videos
For example:
“I create natural, short-form beauty content and would love to create UGC for [Brand] that your team could use across its social channels. Here are a few examples of my work: [link].”
You can pursue this even if you're still building your own following.
WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN IDEA?
You can still reach out.
Try:
“I'd love to be considered for upcoming creator campaigns with [Brand]. I create [type of content] for [audience], and I think there could be a strong fit. I'm happy to share ideas or learn more about campaigns your team is currently planning.”
Not every pitch requires a fully developed concept.
But when you do have a relevant idea, use it.
DON'T GIVE AWAY AN ENTIRE CAMPAIGN FOR FREE
There's a difference between pitching a concept and doing unpaid strategy work.
You can share enough to make the idea compelling without sending:
A complete script.
A detailed shot list.
Every caption.
A full campaign strategy.
Ten concepts.
Your pitch should show that you're creative.
The actual creative work begins when you have a deal.
YOUR BEST PITCHES CONNECT THREE THINGS
Think about the overlap between:
WHAT YOU CREATE
WHAT YOUR AUDIENCE WANTS
WHAT THE BRAND WANTS TO PROMOTE
That's where some of your strongest partnership ideas will come from.
Instead of asking:
“What can this brand give me?”
ask:
“What could we create together that makes sense for the brand, my audience, and my content?”
That's when a pitch starts sounding less like a request and more like an opportunity.
-
You sent the pitch.
Now what?
Sometimes you'll get an enthusiastic response immediately.
Sometimes you'll hear:
“We don't have budget.”
Sometimes they'll offer gifting instead.
And sometimes you'll hear absolutely nothing.
Knowing how to handle what happens after you pitch is just as important as writing the pitch itself.
SHOULD YOU FOLLOW UP?
Yes.
People are busy. Emails get buried. PR teams and brand managers may receive hundreds of messages.
No response doesn't automatically mean:
“They're not interested.”
A short, professional follow-up can put your pitch back at the top of their inbox.
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU WAIT?
There isn't one perfect rule, but generally you don't need to follow up the next day.
Give them several business days to respond.
If the opportunity is time-sensitive, you may need to follow up sooner.
For most pitches, about a week is a reasonable starting point.
KEEP THE FOLLOW-UP SHORT
You don't need to resend your entire pitch.
Try:
Subject: Re: Creator Partnership: [Your Name] x [Brand]
Hi [Name],
Just following up on my email below in case it got buried. I'd still love to explore a potential partnership with [Brand] and would be happy to discuss any upcoming opportunities that might be a fit.
Thanks so much!
[Name]That's enough.
HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD YOU FOLLOW UP?
Don't turn persistence into harassment.
One follow-up is completely reasonable.
A second may make sense if there's a specific opportunity or time-sensitive reason.
After that, it may be better to move on and reconnect another time when you have something new to say.
You want your name to become familiar for the right reasons.
IF THEY SAY: “WE DON'T HAVE BUDGET”
This is extremely common.
It doesn't necessarily mean:
“We don't like you.”
It may genuinely mean there isn't budget for that campaign.
You can respond:
“Thanks so much for letting me know! I'd love to stay in touch and be considered for future paid campaigns if an opportunity comes up that's a fit.”
Now you've made your preference clear without burning the relationship.
IF THEY OFFER GIFTING INSTEAD
You pitched a paid collaboration.
They respond:
“We don't have budget, but we'd love to send you product!”
Now you decide whether the product itself is worth it to you.
If you're interested:
“Thanks so much! I'd be happy to receive the product and try it. Just to confirm, there are no guaranteed posting requirements associated with the gifting?”
If they expect specific content in exchange, that's no longer simply no-obligation gifting. You should evaluate the requested deliverables and decide whether the exchange makes sense for you.
If you're only interested in paid work:
“Thank you so much for the offer! I'm currently prioritizing paid partnerships for dedicated content, but I'd love to stay in touch for future campaigns with budget.”
You don't need to be rude or apologetic.
IF THEY ASK FOR YOUR RATES
Great.
Don't panic and immediately send the lowest number you can think of.
Make sure you understand what they're asking you to provide first.
You can respond:
“Absolutely! I'd be happy to share rates. Could you send over the requested deliverables, usage requirements, timeline, and any exclusivity so I can provide accurate pricing?”
Then you can price the actual opportunity.
We'll cover exactly how to do that in Get Paid.
IF THEY ASK FOR YOUR MEDIA KIT
Send it promptly.
Keep your response simple:
“Absolutely! I've attached my current media kit. Please let me know if there's any additional information or analytics that would be helpful.”
Don't make a brand wait a week because your media kit isn't ready.
That's one reason we'll build yours in Look Professional.
IF THEY SAY YES
Exciting, but don't immediately start creating.
Now you need the details.
Confirm:
Deliverables
Compensation
Timeline
Usage rights
Exclusivity
Approval process
Payment terms
Then get the agreement in writing.
A “yes” to exploring a collaboration isn't necessarily a finalized deal.
IF THEY SAY NO
Respond professionally.
You can simply say:
“Thanks so much for getting back to me. I'd love to stay in touch and be considered if something comes up in the future that's a fit.”
That's it.
Don't ask:
“Why not?”
Don't argue about your analytics.
Don't try to convince them they made a mistake.
A no today can become a yes later.
IF THEY SAY: “WE'LL KEEP YOU ON FILE”
Treat that as exactly what it is:
A door that isn't currently open, but isn't necessarily closed forever.
Continue creating.
If you have a meaningful reason to reconnect later, do it.
For example:
Your audience has grown significantly
You created content that would be especially relevant to them
You're traveling to their market
They're launching something new
You have a strong new campaign idea
You've had great results with a similar brand
Now you're not simply sending:
“Just checking again!”
You're bringing them new information.
IF THEY GHOST YOU AFTER SAYING YES
This happens too.
A brand might sound enthusiastic and then disappear.
Follow up professionally.
But until the campaign is actually confirmed, don't assume the deal is happening.
Don't purchase expensive supplies, turn down other work, travel somewhere, or create an entire campaign based only on a vague “We'd love to work together!”
Get the important details confirmed.
DON'T TAKE REJECTION PERSONALLY
There are countless reasons a brand may not move forward:
Budget.
Timing.
Campaign goals.
Audience demographics.
Location.
Internal changes.
A full creator roster.
Client preferences.
Another creator already selected.
Sometimes it has very little to do with the quality of your content.
Your job isn't to convince every brand to work with you.
It's to find the brands where there is a mutual fit.
TRACK THE RESPONSE
Update your Pitch Tracker after each interaction.
Over time, you may discover patterns:
Which subject lines get responses?
Which types of brands respond most often?
Which pitches turn into gifting?
Which turn into paid work?
How many pitches typically lead to a deal?
Which contacts should you reconnect with?
Now pitching becomes something you can actually improve instead of something that feels random.
A NO CAN STILL HAVE VALUE
Think long-term.
Today's:
“We don't have budget right now.”
could become:
“We're planning a campaign next month and thought of you.”
Be professional when you pitch.
Be professional when you follow up.
And be especially professional when the answer is no.
You never know which contact may become your next opportunity.
-
You've learned when to pitch, who to contact, what to say, how to pitch an actual idea, and what to do after you hit send.
Use this checklist before and after every pitch.
BEFORE YOU PITCH
☐ Make sure the opportunity fits my niche and audience
☐ Research the brand, business, hotel, restaurant, or organization
☐ Look at the creator content they're already sharing
☐ Identify a genuine reason I want to work with them
☐ Think about what I can offer, not just what I want
☐ Decide what I'm pitching: paid collaboration, UGC, event coverage, travel partnership, restaurant feature, etc.
☐ Consider whether I have a specific content idea
FIND THE RIGHT CONTACT
☐ Look for the person handling creator partnerships, influencer marketing, PR, communications, social media, or marketing
☐ Check the brand's website and press pages
☐ Search recent press releases
☐ Check LinkedIn
☐ Look for an outside PR or influencer agency
☐ Use publicly available professional contact information
☐ Save useful contacts in my tracker
Can't find the right contacts? Remember, our optional PR & Brand Contact Directory can help you skip some of the searching.
BEFORE YOU HIT SEND
☐ Use the person's name when possible
☐ Write a clear subject line
☐ Introduce myself quickly
☐ Explain what I create and who my audience is
☐ Personalize the pitch to the brand
☐ Explain why we're a good fit
☐ Make a clear ask or propose an idea
☐ Include only the most relevant analytics
☐ Link to relevant examples of my work
☐ Include my media kit or portfolio when appropriate
☐ Give them an easy way to respond
☐ Keep the email concise
DOUBLE-CHECK EVERYTHING
☐ Correct contact name
☐ Correct brand name
☐ Correct social handle
☐ Working links
☐ Media kit attached or linked
☐ No obvious spelling or grammar mistakes
☐ Didn't accidentally leave another brand's name in my template
That last one happens more often than you think.
AFTER YOU SEND IT
☐ Record the pitch in my Pitch Tracker
☐ Record the date sent
☐ Set a follow-up reminder
☐ Follow up professionally if I don't hear back
☐ Don't repeatedly message the contact
☐ Update my tracker when I receive a response
IF THEY RESPOND
If they're interested:
☐ Get the deliverables
☐ Ask about budget
☐ Confirm timeline
☐ Ask about usage rights
☐ Check exclusivity
☐ Understand the approval process
☐ Confirm payment terms
☐ Get important terms in writing
If there's no budget:
☐ Decide whether gifting or exchange is worthwhile
☐ Don't feel obligated to create guaranteed content for free
☐ Let them know I'm interested in future paid campaigns when appropriate
If they say no:
☐ Respond professionally
☐ Keep the relationship positive
☐ Save the contact
☐ Reconnect later only when I have a meaningful reason
KEEP IMPROVING YOUR PITCHES
Don't judge your pitching strategy based on one email.
Pay attention to:
Which brands respond
Which pitches get ignored
Which ideas generate interest
Which opportunities become paid
Which contacts turn into relationships
Which content examples get results
Then adjust.
REMEMBER THE FORMULA
Research → Find the right person → Personalize → Show your value → Make a clear ask → Provide proof → Follow up → Track → Build the relationship
You don't need every pitch to work.
You need enough of the right pitches to turn into opportunities.
And the more you pitch, the easier it becomes.
Eventually, sending an email to a dream brand won't feel intimidating.
It will feel like business.
READY FOR THE NEXT STEP?
You've learned how to find the right contacts, introduce yourself, pitch opportunities, and follow up professionally.
Now it's time to talk about getting paid, including what to charge, how to set your rates, negotiate brand deals, price bundles, and charge appropriately for usage rights and other extras.
NEXT MODULE → GET PAID