Here’s the truth, follower count doesn’t guarantee brand deals. Just ask all of those mom creators with tens of thousands of followers who keep asking me how am I getting so many brand deals with 5000.

Brands want to see high-quality content, a strong portfolio, and proof you can connect with your audience. Even if you already have a big following, brands don’t automatically line up in your inbox. With more followers, you often have more leverage to negotiate, but the process of getting brands to notice you is the same foundation no matter your size.

I know creators who have over tens of thousands of followers and are trying to charge $1K for one reel, but they don’t have any proof of influence, they automatically think “because I have a lot of followers I should charge a lot, right?”. The answer is “only if you can proof you can make them money or reach enough people (based on past brand deals, not your regular mom humor content) to make paying you that much worth it”.

But how do I get brands to notice me? Some of the content I post is intentionally for brands, so they notice me and reach out. Other content is for building community. I tag brands strategically as well to get them to pay attention. Together, that balance brings opportunities.

If you don’t have a large following, sell UGC (content that brands post themselves). If you do have a large following, layer in influencer services to double your opportunities & paycheck. Learn about UGC with my free 7-week roadmap or purchase my $27 guide, which includes templates, a pricing calculator, negotiation techniques, and more.

Below I will give you some of my secrets to get brands to notice me, and to find brands WITH a budget.

This is exactly how I get brands to notice me, step by step, which makes them more likely to message or email me and negotiate a brand deal. I have included not only the actionable steps I take but also two email/message templates I use once I’ve captured their attention.