10 Tips to Land a Brand Partnership as a Micro-influencer
Brand partnerships can turn an average social media user into a micro-influencer. It can also be a great way for college students to make some extra cash. What exactly is a micro-influencer? A micro-influencer is a curator who has less than 100,000 followers. Micro-influencers have grown in popularity because they are seen as trustworthy and have a strong relationship with their followers. Influencer marketing is a growing industry that 89% of marketers think is effective.Many brands are choosing to work with smaller content creators because it is more cost-effective and relevant to their target market. If you are looking to monetize your personal brand, then getting a partnership is the first step in the right direction.
1. Find your niche. What are you passionate about and how do you like to express that in your content? What makes you unique? Look within and discover what makes you stand out from the rest. My brand is focused on fashion and lifestyle, but yours could be fitness or sports.
2. Start posting consistently. Know your audience and post when they are most active. This shows that you are dedicated and passionate about the content you’re making. Remember to engage with people who comment on your photos to build a solid sense of community. This will attract new followers that want to engage with your content. There are phone apps like Planoly that help you plan your feed and schedule posts. It also has a feature that can be a secondary resource to track follower count and engagement.
3. Add your email to your Instagram bio to express that you are open to business inquiries.
4. Tag the brands you’re wearing or using in your photos. This will help you get noticed by your favorite companies, especially if they are small businesses.
5. Add locations to your posts to get discovered by the local businesses and people in the area you’re visiting.
6. Use hashtags to broaden your profile’s reach. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags, but a study found nine to be the most effective number. Hashtags should be niche and relate to your content. Utilizing broad hashtags will cause your post to be lost in the millions of others that also used that tag.
7. Create a list of brands you want to work with. Start by researching local businesses that match your aesthetic. Smaller companies will help you build your portfolio and media kit. Don’t be afraid to do unpaid collaborations to get yourself started. Many sponsorships could also be gifted instead of paid. Big brands such as Nike, Amazon and Google have started working with smaller influencers as well, so don’t be afraid to reach out
8. Do your research on the brands you chose. Write down important details such as their key messages and their target market. Brainstorm how you relate to the company and how you can personally help them. They have to believe it will be a worthwhile investment to work with you.
9. Get creative and craft a media kit. A media kit tells brands everything they need to know about you and your Instagram profile. They are typically one to four pages long based on your experience. It should include a photo of yourself, a brief description of background information, contact details, follower amount, engagement rate, recent analytics, demographics and any past brand partnerships. You can set a rate for yourself or negotiate with each brand. There are many free templates online or you can purchase one on Etsy. Add your personal touches by using your signature fonts and color palette.
10. Pitch yourself to the brands you want to work with. It is best to email them with an explanation of who you are, what kind of content you make, any past collaborations you’ve done and a description of what your ideas are for the collaboration. You are more likely to get a response if you have a clear outline of what your plans are for the sponsorship. It’s also important to include key details from your research to show you know what the brand is all about. Express why you love the brand and how it would be a pleasure to work with them!
Brand collaborations will truly take your Instagram to the next level. Put yourself out there using these tips and you will be getting responses in no time. Remember to have fun, show your genuine self and be clear about all you have to offer. If you want more information on micro-influencing, check out Chloe Miller’s course: Micro-Influencing 101. This course has worksheets, examples and tutorials on how to establish yourself as a professional micro-influencer. Email and direct message templates are also included in this $30 package.
