Before You Pitch a Brand, Read This First
Thinking about pitching brands? Before you send that first email, make sure you're actually ready. Discover the five things every creator should check, and why your content is your strongest pitch.
If you've been thinking, "I need to start pitching brands," I'm excited for you.
But before you hit send on that first email, I want to save you from making the same mistake I see over and over again.
Most creators think the hardest part of pitching is writing the email.
It isn't.
The hardest part is making sure you're actually ready for a brand to say yes.
Because here's the truth:
A great pitch can't fix an unprepared creator profile.
Brands don't just read your email; they click your Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or wherever you create. They're looking at your content, your consistency, your niche, and whether they can picture you representing their products.
That's why some creators send dozens of pitches without ever hearing back.
It isn't always because the email was bad.
It's because the foundation wasn't there.
Ask Yourself These Questions
Before pitching, can you confidently answer these?
Is it obvious what type of content I create?
Would a brand know who my audience is?
Does my content feel consistent?
Have I created content similar to what I want to get paid for?
Does my profile look like someone brands can trust?
If you hesitated on any of those questions, don't worry, you are not behind.
You're simply not ready to pitch yet.
And that's actually good news because it's something you can fix.
Why I Created Before You Pitch
Over the last several years, I've worked with brands, managed campaigns, and helped creators improve the way they present themselves online.
I noticed something:
Creators were spending hours trying to perfect pitch emails when they hadn't done the work that makes those emails successful in the first place.
That's exactly why I created Before You Pitch.
Instead of jumping straight into writing emails, this workbook helps you evaluate your creator profile first.
Inside, you'll:
Assess whether your content is brand-ready.
Identify the areas holding you back.
Build a stronger creator foundation.
Gain confidence before reaching out to brands.
Stop guessing whether you're ready to pitch.
Think of it as the step that should happen before you ever send a pitch email.
Your Pitch Starts Before the Email
Getting brand partnerships isn't about having the biggest following.
It's about showing brands that you're someone they can confidently work with.
When your content, profile, and positioning are aligned, your pitch becomes so much stronger.
If you're serious about working with brands, start with the foundation first.
Before You Pitch is available now, and it's designed to help you take that first step with confidence.
I can't wait to see where it takes you.
How to Pitch Brands as a Small Content Creator (Without Sounding Desperate)
Most creators think they’re being ignored by brands because they don’t have enough followers — but that’s usually not the real problem. In this post, I’m breaking down the biggest pitching mistakes small creators make, what brands actually look for, and how to position yourself professionally without sounding robotic or desperate.
When I first started pitching brands, I genuinely thought the reason I wasn’t hearing back was because I didn’t have enough followers.
So I spent way too much time focusing on numbers instead of learning how to actually position myself professionally.
And honestly?
That’s where I see so many smaller creators getting stuck.
They assume:
they need 100K followers
their content isn’t “good enough”
brands only care about viral creators
or that they need to sound overly corporate in emails
But after years of working in this industry, both as a creator and behind the scenes, I’ve learned something important:
Most creators aren’t getting ignored because they’re too small.
They’re getting ignored because their pitch doesn’t clearly communicate their value.
The Biggest Mistake Small Creators Make When Pitching Brands
A lot of creators send emails that sound:
overly apologetic
too vague
too long
or completely focused on themselves instead of the brand
And listen…I get it.
Talking about yourself professionally can feel awkward at first.
Especially when you’re still building confidence in your content.
But brands are not looking for perfection.
They’re looking for creators who:
understand their audience
create trustworthy content
know how to communicate clearly
and feel aligned with the brand
That matters more than follower count way more often than people realize.
You Do NOT Need a Massive Following to Work With Brands
One of the biggest myths online right now is that you need a huge audience before brands will take you seriously.
You don’t.
Some of the most valuable creators are creators with:
engaged communities
niche audiences
high trust
and strong storytelling
That’s especially true in beauty, lifestyle, skincare, motherhood, and niche creator spaces.
Brands care about connection.
Not just numbers.
I’ve personally seen smaller creators land opportunities simply because they knew how to present themselves professionally and genuinely.
What Brands Actually Want From Creators
Most brands are looking for creators who can:
make content feel natural
create trust with their audience
educate or influence purchasing decisions
communicate professionally
and deliver content consistently
That’s why your pitch matters so much.
Your email is often the first impression a brand gets of you.
And if your pitch sounds rushed, unclear, or unsure of itself…brands can feel that immediately.
Stop Trying to Sound “Perfect”
One of the biggest things I had to learn was that pitching is not about sounding robotic or overly polished.
It’s about sounding:
confident
clear
professional
and aligned
You don’t need to write a novel.
You don’t need to oversell yourself.
And you definitely do not need to beg brands for opportunities.
You need to clearly communicate:
who you are
who your audience is
what kind of content you create
and why you would be a good fit
That’s it.
Why I Created “The Pitch That Gets You Replies”
After years of learning through trial and error, I realized that smaller creators are constantly being told:
“Just email brands!”
…but nobody actually teaches creators HOW to pitch professionally.
So I created a workbook that walks creators through:
how to structure a pitch
what brands actually pay attention to
how to stop underselling yourself
what to include in outreach emails
and how to position yourself even if you don’t have a massive following
Because smaller creators deserve opportunities too.
And honestly?
Some of the best creators I know are still growing their platforms.
What’s Inside the Workbook
Inside The Pitch That Gets You Replies, I included:
real pitch examples
outreach tips
ways to position your value
mistakes to avoid
guidance for smaller creators
and strategies I’ve personally used throughout my creator journey
This workbook is designed to help creators feel more confident, professional, and prepared when reaching out to brands.
Grab the workbook here:
And if you’re not already on my email list, make sure you join because I’ll be sharing even more creator resources, PR tips, and behind-the-scenes advice for smaller creators.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a smaller creator reading this, I really want you to understand this:
You do not need to wait until you feel “big enough” to start showing up professionally.
You can build relationships with brands now.
You can create opportunities now.
And you absolutely deserve to take your work seriously now.
Because consistency, trust, and community matter more than most people realize.
How Small Beauty Creators Can Start Receiving PR (Even With Under 10K Followers)
Think you need 10K+ followers to start receiving PR? Think again. This guide breaks down how small beauty creators can attract PR organically through consistency, content, and authentic brand engagement.
One of the biggest misconceptions in the beauty space is that you need a large following to start receiving PR.
You don’t.
In fact, many brands are shifting their focus toward smaller creators with engaged, niche audiences, especially creators who show up consistently and create content that feels real.
If you’re a beauty creator with under 10K followers, this post is for you.
Because the truth is:
PR isn’t about follower count, it’s about how you show up.
Let’s Clear This Up First
I want to be very clear about something:
I don’t pitch brands for PR.
I don’t send emails asking to be added to PR lists.
I don’t DM brands requesting products.
Every PR opportunity I’ve received has come from:
✔️ organically using products
✔️ consistently posting about them
✔️ engaging with brands
✔️ building trust with my audience
That’s it.
And that’s exactly what we’re going to focus on here.
What Brands Actually Look For (It’s Not Your Follower Count)
Brands are paying attention to things like:
1. Consistency
Are you showing up regularly?
Not just posting once and disappearing, but consistently creating content over time.
2. Content Quality
This doesn’t mean perfection.
It means:
clear visuals
good lighting
intentional content
Your content should make someone stop scrolling.
3. Audience Alignment
Does your audience match the brand’s customer?
For example:
If your audience is women 40+, and you’re showing how products work for mature skin, that’s incredibly valuable.
(And this is where you already stand out.)
4. Authenticity
Brands can tell when you actually use a product versus when you’re just mentioning it.
They’re looking for creators who:
use products repeatedly
speak naturally about them
integrate them into real routines
How to Start Getting PR Organically
Here’s exactly what I recommend:
1. Start With Products You Already Own
Look at what’s already in your collection.
Instead of chasing new products, ask yourself:
👉🏽What brands am I already using that I genuinely love?
Then start creating content around those.
2. Post About the Same Brands Consistently
This is where most creators get it wrong.
They post about a brand once…and move on.
But brands notice creators who:
feature their products multiple times
include them in routines
talk about them naturally over time
Consistency builds recognition.
3. Tag Brands (But Don’t Force It)
Whenever you use a product, tag the brand.
Not in a “pick me” way, just naturally.
Example:
in your caption
on the screen
in your tags
This helps your content get seen by their team.
4. Engage With Brands Like a Real Person
This is a big one.
Don’t just post and disappear.
comment on their posts
reply to their stories
engage with their content regularly
Over time, your name starts to feel familiar.
5. Show How Products Work for Your Audience
This is your advantage as a smaller creator.
You’re not trying to speak to everyone, you’re speaking to your people.
For you, that looks like:
mature skin makeup
real routines
honest product feedback
Brands love creators who bring a specific audience perspective.
What NOT to Do
Let’s talk about what slows creators down:
🚫 Only posting when you want PR
🚫 Tagging brands with no real context
🚫 Constantly switching products with no consistency
🚫 Trying to copy what bigger creators are doing
The goal is not to look like everyone else.
The goal is to be recognizable.
Why Small Creators Actually Have an Advantage
This might surprise you, but:
Small creators are often more valuable than large ones.
Why?
Because:
✨ your audience trusts you
✨ your content feels relatable
✨ your recommendations feel genuine
And brands know that.
Final Thoughts
If you take one thing from this post, let it be this:
You don’t need to chase PR.
Focus on:
showing up consistently
using products you love
creating content that serves your audience
And over time, the right brands will start to notice you.
Want to Start Attracting PR Opportunities?
If you’re serious about growing as a beauty creator and getting on brand radars, I created a free guide to help you get started.
✨ Learn how to position yourself as a PR-ready creator
✨ Understand what brands are actually looking for
✨ Start building real relationships with brands