How to get your first brand deal
Your first brand deal is the hardest one to get, and the most important. Once you have one real collaboration to point to, the next ones come easier. The good news: you do not need a big following to land it. Brands work with small creators every day. You just need to be set up right and look in the right places.
Here is a realistic, step-by-step path to your first deal, whether it is a free product or a paid post.
Get your account ready first
Before you look for a deal, make your account something a brand can say yes to. Pick one clear niche so a brand knows exactly what you cover. Pin two or three of your best videos. Add a contact email in your bio. Switch to a Creator or Business account so you have analytics to show. None of this takes long, and skipping it is the most common reason small creators get passed over.
Decide what a first deal means for you
There are two common shapes for a first deal, and it helps to know which you are chasing.
- Gifted: a brand sends you free product in exchange for a post. Easier to land first, since the brand risks only a sample.
- Paid: a brand pays you a fee, often with product included. Harder for a first-timer, but not impossible with strong engagement.
Most creators start with gifted deals to build a portfolio, then move to paid as they have real posts to show.
Where to actually find your first deal
You have three realistic routes. You can pitch brands directly, which is slow and gets a low reply rate but is free. You can wait to be discovered, which is unreliable. Or you can apply where brands are already looking for small creators, which is the fastest. Campaign platforms exist for exactly this. On Collaboom, you complete a profile once and apply to live campaigns from brands that want nano and micro creators. When you are approved, the product ships free and you earn a cash reward, typically $10 to $50, per approved video. It turns hoping into applying.
Make the first one count
When you land it, treat it like an audition for the next ten. Follow the brief exactly, deliver on time, post real content you would make anyway, and disclose the partnership properly. Save the video and its engagement numbers. That first post becomes the proof you show to land bigger and better deals. Reliability is what turns one collaboration into a steady stream.
Frequently asked questions
How many followers do you need for your first brand deal?
Fewer than most people think. Gifted deals and product campaigns open around 1,000 followers, and strong engagement matters more than the exact count.
Should your first brand deal be gifted or paid?
Gifted is usually easier to land first because the brand risks less. Use it to build a portfolio, then pursue paid deals once you have posts to show.
How long does it take to get your first brand deal?
It varies, but applying to campaign platforms is faster than cold pitching. Some creators land a first gifted deal within a few weeks of setting up properly.
Want your first deal without months of cold pitching? Join Collaboom free and apply to campaigns for small creators. Get started free.