Four Easy Steps! How Brand Deals Work
LYNNIE VERSION
Would you like to read this article in more grown-up words, still easy to understand? Jump here.
Hi! I’m Lynnie! Today I’m explaining how brand deals work. For sponsorships AND UGC!
Lynnaider draws every way to earn as a little map. Grown-ups call it a process flow. Brand deals have just four steps. And they’re super easy to do with brands in other countries!
Step 1: make content, again and again
It all starts with making content for your fans. Regularly! That helps more people find you over time. And it becomes your collection, proof of what you can do.
Step 2: pitch to brands
As your page grows, asking brands becomes the main way to get deals. You write to brands yourself, or use creator websites. Our how to pitch to brands article explains how.
Step 3: make it, and share it
When a brand says yes, you make special content for it. In a sponsorship, you also post it for your fans. In UGC, you just hand it over, and the brand posts it.
The important part: you’re paid for making content, and in sponsorships for being seen. NOT for how much the brand sells!
Step 4: get paid
The brand pays you the price you agreed on. It doesn’t matter if your content made anybody buy. So brand deal money is easier to count on than affiliate money!
Brand deals vs. selling to shoppers
- Your customer: a brand, or lots of shoppers.
- Getting paid: a bill or creator website, or a checkout with payment helpers.
- Shopper rules: mostly not the same way, or lots of them, like refunds.
- Your job for your fans: saying it’s an ad, or rules pages, delivery and customer help.
Where your time goes
Mostly into steps 1 and 2: your normal content and pitching. Step 3 needs focus for each deal. Step 4 is usually quick.
Lots of creators pick fixed pitching times each week, separate from their creative time.
Who can use your content?
In UGC especially, the brand pays to use your content. So agree where it’ll show up, like normal posts or ads, and for how long. Using it more or longer should cost more! Write it down.
Changes and waiting
Brands often check your content before it goes live, and might ask for little changes. Agree how many rounds of changes are included. Be open, but protect your style. Your style is why they picked you!
And brand deals can take weeks or months, from pitch to payment. So keep pitching while you wait!
Three oopsies
- Stopping your normal content once deals come. Your normal content keeps you growing!
- Starting without a written agreement about what you make and what you get paid.
- Forgetting to say it’s an ad. Always label it! Our misleading advertising rules article explains.
A story
A creator posts short videos about packing light for trips. After six months, she pitches a luggage brand in another country, with her page link and a sample video. The brand says yes to a sponsorship: one video on her page, with the suitcase in action.
She makes it, posts it with a clear “sponsored” label, and sends a bill. The brand pays the agreed price, even if nobody buys a suitcase!
What’s next?
The next article shows where creators find brand deals. The whole module is in the book on our products page. Want a grown-up to help? Go to our services page.
What grown-ups usually ask (and I answer)
Do I need a contract every time?
Yes, always something in writing!
How long until I get paid?
It depends on your agreement. Often a few weeks.
How do brand deals work?
Make content, pitch, create and share, get paid.
Am I paid for sales?
No! For content and being seen.
How do I get paid?
A proper bill, or through a creator website.
Can I work with brands far away?
Yes! It’s one of the easiest ways.
Content first or pitching first?
Content first!
Will there be step-by-step lessons for each of the ten ways?
Maybe! If lots of people want them. Join the waitlist and you’ll know first.
Is there a cheap way to start?
Lynnaider shows you ways that cost nothing, or very little. You’d be surprised! And a free robot helper called Lynnaider Compass helps you step by step.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be regarded as legal, tax, or business advice. Pursuing an online business does not guarantee income; results depend on many factors including the business environment, individual effort, skills, and consistency. Some links on this site may allow Lynnaider to earn a commission at no additional cost to the reader.
