How to: Approach and Discuss Paid Work with Brands

The best paid work with brands and long-term collaborations often come organically.

This guide outlines how to engage with brands, get to know the people behind marketing teams, and bring value to partnerships you can confidently pitch for paid opportunities, even as a small or growing content creator.

Before You Aim For Paid Work With Brands

Before we jump in, please note: if you are still accepting PR samples or products in exchange for work, this article may not yet be relevant for you – as that’s the first step to address. 

If a brand knows you are consistently working for free, it becomes much harder for them to justify bringing you into paid campaigns, and furthermore grow an authentic audience. 

Please read these first:

• How to Not Work for Free And Grow Brand Relationships
• Go from Gifted to Paid Partnerships With These Easy Steps

1. Create Your Dream Brand List For Paid Collaborations

The first step towards paid work with brands is creating a list of five brands you genuinely love and have already purchased from. These are brands whose products you have incorporated into your daily life and feel excited to share with your audience.

I personally love sharing with brands what I already enjoy from them – it shows that I am invested.

Better yet, make this process positive and motivating. Dream big and set clear goals for where you want your creator journey to go.

2. Engage And Connect With Brands Organically

It is time to connect with these brands on a more personal level.

Start by following them on their social media platforms, whether that is Instagram, TikTok, or other relevant channels. 

Make a conscious effort to engage with their posts, like their content, and respond to their stories. Show genuine interest in their messaging and products.

Spend at least a week actively interacting with their content. The goal here is visibility and authenticity, not pitching.

A Side Note From A Marketing Perspective

While working as a Marketing Executive, there were multiple creators who did not follow the skincare brand I worked for, yet consistently emailed or sent DMs asking for PR samples or collaborations. 

I assume this was because we were actively working with creators in the community and caught their eye.

Let’s think about that.

• How genuine did their request feel to someone representing the brand?
• Was it driven by FOMO?
• Did their profile resonate with the brand?
• Has their audience shown engagement for similar products or price points?

These are exactly the things brands and PR agencies consider when deciding who to work with.

Read: What Brands Consider When Engaging Content Creators And Influencers

So, what is the best policy when contacting brands? Honesty. Every single time.

I would have responded far better to:

“Hey Team! I’ve seen X brand on my feed through some of my favourite creators. I haven’t tried anything from X yet, but I would genuinely love to trial something you think would suit me. 

I’ve also noticed [insert something unique the brand does]. Looking forward to chatting about opportunities.”

As opposed to:

“I LOVE X brand!! I’d love to post about it for a PR sample.” (When they had never tried it.)

3. Share Your Authentic Love For Brands You Use

If you already own and genuinely love products from the brands on your list, it is time to share that organically.

Create content highlighting the benefits and features of the products that you love. Share your personal experiences and how these products have enhanced your routine.

Authenticity is key. Audiences can tell when enthusiasm is genuine, and that authenticity is what draws brands closer.

Make sure to tag the brand when you post about them.

4. Request Contact Information Professionally

Once you have established a presence and connection with a brand, it is time to take the next step.

Send a direct message requesting the appropriate email contact for collaboration discussions. Do not pitch in the DMs.

Your message should be courteous and professional, expressing your interest in the brand and openness to collaboration. This small step opens the door to more meaningful communication.

PS: Do not ask someone for someone else’s email if you have not messaged the brand yourself first, as this is confidential information. 

5. Craft A Professional Email To Brands

With the email contact in hand, compose a professional outreach email to the brand’s collaborations team.

Introduce yourself, briefly explain who you are, and outline why a collaboration would be mutually beneficial. Highlight your passion for their products and your audience’s interest.

Keep the email concise, confident, and clear. Attach relevant media kits, portfolio links, or performance statistics that demonstrate your value.

Read: How to Make a Stand-Out Media Kit for Content Creators (With Free Templates)

6. Email Templates For Paid Work With Brands

Email templates below are used with permission from An Instagram Blogger’s Guide To Perfecting Your Personal Brand And Getting Paid by Amanda Cummerford.

Important: Always personalise emails and include links to your social profiles so brands can easily review your content.

Requesting To Move From Gifted To Paid

Hi X,

I hope you are having a great week!

I am genuinely loving your X, Y and Z products. I am seeing X results.

I wanted to touch base as my page has grown in the last month and I can already count at least X people who have messaged me and said they have purchased X because of me.

Are we able to look at paid collaboration for next month? (Or, if there is a specific campaign coming up, refer to that campaign here). I know my niche in X and X can be extremely valuable to your brand and I am able to provide you with exposure to my engaged community.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Kind regards

X

Responding To A Gifted Campaign Offer

Thank you so much for your email.

I really appreciate you thinking of me, and your brand sounds amazing.

However, in an effort to be more sustainable I am working through my current products and not accepting new gifts currently.

Being a content creator is my job, and because of my experience and access that I can provide to my community, I am prioritising paid collaborations.

If you are interested in booking my services, please let me know and I can send you my media kit with rates.

I wish you all the best.

Kind regards

X

Reaching Out To A Brand You Have Never Worked With

Hi X (brand or PR contact),

My name is X and I am a X and X influencer on Instagram @X.

I have been following the growth of X and I am in love with X about your brand. I would like to try a selection of your products to incorporate these in my X to promote to my engaged X community.

Of interest are the X products.

Please let me know if you are open to this?

Kind regards,

X

When A Brand Wants “Organic First” Before Payment

Hi X

Thank you but I am not currently accepting offers to provide my time and resources to make a brand money in return for something I could have easily purchased. Organic posting is very different to being provided with a list of deliverables and a deadline.

When you are able to provide payment for my work please let me know. Alternatively, I accept gifted products with no obligation to post.

All the best!

Kind regards,

X

7. Maintain Engagement While You Wait

While waiting for a response, continue engaging with the brand’s content. Share authentic experiences, participate in campaigns, and stay active within their community.

Consistency keeps you top of mind and strengthens long-term relationships.

8. What Brands Love (And Hate) In Collaborations

Brands rarely return for a second collaboration if the experience is drawn-out or unprofessional.

Late deliverables, missed briefs, and poor communication quickly add up – especially when multiple creators do the same thing.

If timelines shift, communicate early. Do your best to meet revised deadlines and, where appropriate, consider offering extra content such as B-roll, an additional story slide, or UGC for organic reposting as goodwill.

Tips For A Smoother Paid Collaboration

• Read the brief twice and clarify if unsure
• Ask brands for examples of content they love
• Be realistic with timelines – always advise the maximum time you need
• Upload files correctly, clearly labeled, and to a easy to access platform like Google Drive.
• Send invoices as PDFs with clear due dates

Read: How to Invoice as a Freelancer in Australia – A Simple Guide for Aussie Content Creators

Marketing and PR teams typically work from desktops and require correct file formats and access.

In Conclusion

Turning your passion for a brand into paid work with brands requires genuine interest, strategic relationship-building, and professional communication. When done well, it leads to sustainable partnerships built on trust and mutual value.

This is not just about promoting products – it is about creating meaningful relationships between brands, creators, and audiences over time.

Let me know in the comments below if there’s any questions, or topics you’d like me to write about.

FAQs: Paid Collaborations And Brand Deals For Content Creators

How Do You Collaborate With Brands As A Content Creator?

Collaborating with brands usually starts with building genuine relationships. Brands look for creators who already engage with their products, align with their values, and create content their audience trusts before moving into paid collaborations.

How Do Paid Collaborations With Brands Work?

Paid collaborations involve a brand paying a creator to produce agreed content within a set brief and timeframe. Payment reflects the creator’s time, creative skill, audience trust, and ability to communicate a brand’s message effectively.

How Do You Get Brand Deals As A Content Creator?

Brand deals are typically secured by clearly positioning your niche, creating consistent high-quality content, and communicating professionally. Brands want creators who understand their audience and can add value beyond just posting content.

How Do Small Creators Get Brand Deals?

Brand deals for small creators are very common. Many brands prioritise engaged, niche audiences over follower count. Strong engagement, reliability, and aligned content often matter more than size.

How Do You Get Paid Work With Brands?

Getting paid work with brands usually requires setting clear boundaries around unpaid work and confidently positioning content creation as a professional service. Once deliverables, timelines, or usage are involved, the collaboration should be paid.

Do You Need A Large Following To Get Paid Collaborations?

No. You do not need a large following to secure paid collaborations. Brands often work with creators of all sizes, focusing on relevance, trust, and content quality rather than reach alone.

What’s The Difference Between Gifted And Paid Brand Collaborations?

Gifted collaborations involve receiving products only, while paid collaborations compensate creators for their time, creativity, and expertise. Paid work is expected when brands request specific deliverables or deadlines.

What Do Brands Look For Before Offering Paid Collaborations?

Before offering paid collaborations, brands assess content quality, audience engagement, brand alignment, professionalism, and reliability. Creators who communicate clearly and deliver on time are far more likely to be rebooked.

How Do You Work With Brands As An Influencer And Get Paid?

Working with brands as an influencer usually involves building a clear niche, creating consistent content, and showing brands how you add value. Paid work typically comes once you position content creation as a professional service and move away from unpaid or obligation-based collaborations.

How Do Beauty Influencers Make Money?

Beauty influencers make money through paid brand collaborations, UGC creation, brand ambassador programs, affiliate commissions, sponsored content, and long-term partnerships. Income is based on creativity, audience trust, and content quality – not just follower numbers.

What Beauty Brands Work With UGC Creators?

Many beauty brands work with UGC creators to produce content for ads, websites, and social channels without requiring the creator to post on their own platforms. These brands value strong on-camera presence, product education, and polished content over audience size.

You can find what brands are actively looking via third party platforms like Tribe and Vamp, or by seeing the recent work on the brand’s social media profiles.

Are Brands Looking For UGC Creators In 2026?

Yes. Brands are actively looking for UGC creators in 2026 as part of performance marketing and paid advertising strategies. UGC is often used for ads, product launches, and website content, making it a growing income stream for creators.

What Brands Work With Micro Influencers In Australia?

Many Australian beauty brands work with micro influencers, especially those with niche audiences and high engagement. Local brands often prioritise creators who understand the Australian market, climate, and consumer preferences. It’s best to start pitching brands you already know and love.

How Do You Get Paid Work With Beauty Brands In Australia?

Paid work with beauty brands in Australia usually starts with strong brand alignment, professional communication, and consistent content. Brands often look for creators who understand Australian regulations, audience expectations, and industry standards. See our creator & career category to read more and upskill.

Are There Beauty Brands Offering Paid Work In Sydney Or NSW?

Yes. Many beauty brands and agencies based in Sydney and NSW work with creators on paid campaigns, UGC creation, and ambassador programs. Location can be an advantage for events, shoots, and local brand activations, but remote work is also common. Some brands even invite creators in person for on site filming.

What Are Brand Ambassador Programs In Australia?

Brand ambassador programs in Australia involve longer-term relationships where creators represent a brand across multiple campaigns or content drops. These programs are often paid and may include monthly retainers, content deliverables, or affiliate structures. Amazon has a popular influencer program that’s easy to apply to, as well as LTK, and ShopMy.

Do Brands Work With UGC Creators Outside Australia?

Yes. Many brands work with UGC creators globally, including Europe and other regions. UGC is often commissioned remotely, making it accessible to creators regardless of location, as long as content quality and communication meet brand standards.