How to Get Brand Deals on TikTok
Complete playbook to land your first (and next) sponsorship—from 1K to 100K followers
What You Need Before Pitching Brands
Before reaching out to brands, ensure you have these fundamentals:
Clear Niche
Brands want specialists. "Fitness for busy moms" beats "general lifestyle". Pick one topic.
✓ Your last 10 videos should be 80% in one category.
Consistent Engagement
Aim for 3-5%+ engagement rate (likes + comments ÷ followers). Low engagement = fake followers.
✓ Calculate: (Total likes on last 10 videos ÷ followers) × 10. Should be 30+.
Professional Profile
High-quality profile pic, clear bio with niche + CTA, business email in bio.
✓ Add "Brand partnerships: youremail@gmail.com" to bio.
Content Quality
Good lighting, clear audio, editing (even simple jump cuts). Brands won't sponsor low-quality content.
✓ Can your videos compete with other creators in your niche? Be honest.
Media Kit
One-page PDF with stats, demographics, past partnerships, and rates. Looks professional.
✓ Include: follower count, engagement rate, top videos, audience age/location.
Understanding FTC Rules
You MUST disclose sponsored content (#ad, #sponsored). This is law in US/UK/EU.
✓ Learn FTC guidelines—violations can result in fines and platform bans.
4 Methods to Get Brand Deals
Use all four methods simultaneously to maximize opportunities:
Method 1: TikTok Creator Marketplace
TikTok's official platform for brand-creator partnerships. Brands browse creators and send collaboration invites.
Requirements:
- 10,000+ followers
- 100,000+ video views (last 28 days)
- 18+ years old
- Account in good standing (no violations)
How to apply:
- Go to TikTok app → Profile → Three lines (☰) → Creator Tools
- Select "Creator Marketplace" → "Apply"
- Complete your creator profile (add portfolio, niche, demographics)
- Wait 7-14 days for review
- Once approved, brands can discover and message you directly
Pros: Vetted brands, built-in contracts, TikTok handles disputes, consistent deal flow
Cons: TikTok takes a percentage, high competition, requires 10K followers
Method 2: Influencer Marketing Platforms
Third-party platforms connecting creators with brands. Great for finding multiple opportunities.
Top platforms for TikTok creators:
AspireIQ (Aspire)
Min: 1K+ • Focus: Beauty, fashion, lifestyle • Best for micro-influencers
Grin
Min: 5K+ • Focus: E-commerce brands • Direct-to-consumer brands
Creator.co
Min: 1K+ • Focus: All niches • Easy application process
Influencer.com
Min: 10K+ • Focus: All niches • Higher-paying campaigns
BrandConnect
Min: 5K+ • Focus: Tech, SaaS, finance • Higher RPMs for business niches
Pros: Lower follower requirements, multiple platforms = more opportunities, some offer free products + cash
Cons: Platform takes 15-25% cut, varying quality of brands, may require exclusivity
Method 3: Direct Outreach (Cold Pitching)
The highest-paying method: pitch brands directly, no middleman. Requires hustle but keeps 100% of earnings.
Step-by-step outreach process:
- Build target list: Make a spreadsheet with 20-50 brands in your niche. Include contact info (marketing email, LinkedIn profile of CMO).
- Research each brand: Check their social presence. Are they already working with influencers? What content style do they like?
- Create custom pitch: No templates. Explain WHY you're a fit (your audience aligns with their customers). Include 1-2 content ideas specific to their products.
- Find decision-maker: Don't email info@brand.com. Find the marketing manager or social media director on LinkedIn. Use tools like Hunter.io to find emails.
- Send short pitch: 5-7 sentences max. Subject line: "Partnership idea: [Your Niche] content for [Brand]". Attach media kit PDF.
- Follow up: If no response in 5 days, send a polite follow-up. If still no response, move on after 2 follow-ups.
Email Template Example:
Pros: No platform fees (keep 100%), higher rates, build direct relationships, creative freedom
Cons: Time-consuming, low response rate (2-5%), requires negotiation skills, you handle contracts
Method 4: Let Brands Come to You (Inbound)
The dream: brands reach out to you. This happens when you optimize your profile for discoverability.
How to attract inbound deals:
- Add business email to bio: "Collabs: yourname@gmail.com" or "Business: email@domain.com"
- Switch to Business Account: Settings → Manage Account → Switch to Business Account. This adds "Contact" button to your profile.
- Create "portfolio" content: Occasionally create videos reviewing products (even unpaid). Brands search for creators already talking about their category.
- Use branded hashtags: If you love a brand, tag them and use their hashtags. They monitor these for potential partners.
- Engage with brand accounts: Comment on their TikToks, duet their content. Get on their radar organically.
- Post media kit as pinned video: Create a "Work with me!" video showcasing your stats. Pin it to profile.
Pros: Passive income stream, brands that reach out often have bigger budgets, less competition
Cons: Unpredictable, requires larger following (usually 25K+), takes time to build reputation
How to Create a Media Kit (Free Template)
A media kit is your professional resume for brands. It should be a 1-page PDF with these sections:
1. Header
Your name, TikTok handle, profile picture, and contact email. Make it visually clean (use Canva free templates).
2. About You
2-3 sentences about your niche and audience. Example: "Fitness creator helping busy moms stay healthy. My audience is 85% female, 25-45 years old, interested in at-home workouts and meal prep."
3. Stats
Followers, average views per video, engagement rate (calculate: total engagements ÷ total views), audience demographics (age, gender, location).
4. Top Content
Screenshots of 3-4 best-performing videos with view counts. Shows your creative style and reach.
5. Past Partnerships
If you have them, list 2-3 brands you've worked with (even if unpaid/gifted). If none, skip this section or say "Open to first partnership".
6. Services & Rates
What you offer: "Single video: $X, Video series (3 videos): $X, Exclusive partnership: Contact for pricing." Use our Brand Deal Calculator to determine rates.
Pro Tip: Use Canva (free) to create a professional media kit. Search "influencer media kit" in Canva templates and customize with your info. Export as PDF.
5 Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
❌ Mistake 1: Pitching Too Early
Reaching out to brands when you have 800 followers and inconsistent content. Brands want proof of reach.
Fix: Wait until you have: 1K+ followers, 3-5% engagement, and 10+ recent videos in one consistent niche. Build first, then pitch.
❌ Mistake 2: Not Disclosing Sponsorships
Hiding that content is sponsored. This violates FTC regulations and can get you fined or banned.
Fix: ALWAYS disclose. Use #ad or #sponsored in caption, say "sponsored by [Brand]" in video, and enable "Paid Partnership" label on TikTok.
❌ Mistake 3: Undercharging
Accepting $50 for a video when you should charge $500+. Brands will lowball if you let them.
Fix: Research rates for your follower tier. Use our Brand Deal Calculator. Start 20-30% higher than your minimum—you can negotiate down but never up.
❌ Mistake 4: No Contract
Agreeing to deals via DMs without written terms. Leads to scope creep, unpaid work, and disputes.
Fix: ALWAYS get a contract (even simple email agreement). Include: deliverables, payment amount, due date, revision limit, usage rights, and payment schedule.
❌ Mistake 5: Promoting Bad Products
Saying yes to every brand for money, even if product is low-quality or doesn't fit your niche. Loses audience trust.
Fix: Only promote products you'd genuinely use. Your reputation is worth more than a $200 deal. If a product sucks, decline or negotiate gifted review (no payment = honest review).
Calculate Your Brand Deal Rate
Use our free calculator to see what you should charge brands based on your followers, engagement, and niche.
Calculate Your Rate →