"How do I make money from this?”

For influencers and creators, the most lucrative and sustainable answer often lies in mastering brand outreach strategies to secure profitable brand partnerships. Of course, the moment we realize this, a new wave of questions hit, this one in particular: 

"How do I reach out to brands so they will notice me?" 

I’ve been there. When I first started creating, all of this felt overwhelming. There weren’t many clear resources or examples that showed how to use your voice, your actual personality, to connect with brands authentically. It was a lot of guessing, rewriting, and hitting send with sweaty palms. My experience taught me that success in this area isn't just about having a great portfolio, but it's about understanding and implementing powerful outreach strategies for influencers that communicate your value effectively.

So, I’m sharing what I’ve learned. This is how I craft a brand outreach message that actually opens doors for UGC creators and influencers like us.

Start With the Hook (And Make It About Them)

Here’s a tip I really wish I had learned sooner: Outreach isn’t about you. It’s about what you can do for them… and how that aligns with their goals, product, or community. When I reach out, I always start by showing that I’ve done my research. I’ve followed their latest launch, used their product, or resonated with their brand mission. That way, I’m not just some random DM in their inbox; I’m someone who sees them and understands their world. This deep dive is one of the most crucial outreach strategies for influencers.

Example of an Effective Hook:

"I've been genuinely impressed with how your [specific product] has been a total game changer for my [activity/workflow]. Using your new eco-travel gear on my recent hikes has made a tangible difference in how I pack and experience the outdoors: the design and sustainability blend is awesome. I’d love to collaborate and share how seamlessly it integrates into my on-the-go creator lifestyle, specifically highlighting [their unique selling proposition]."

You’re not just pitching a post rather, you’re offering a story they can be part of, a narrative that resonates with their target audience. That matters significantly. Remember, brands are looking for solutions to their marketing needs, and your UGC content can be that solution.

Keep It Personal, Not Just Professional

A while back, I sent a pitch to a brand I really wanted to work with. I shared how their product helped me get through a creative rut and how it made me feel. 

No fancy language. No template. Just honest connection.

…They responded the next day.

That was the moment it clicked: Brands are made up of people. And people connect with authenticity. Don’t be afraid to let your personality come through. A short personal story can make you memorable in a sea of generic pitches. In the world of UGC, your unique perspective is your superpower, and it’s a key component of successful outreach strategies for influencers.

Here’s What One of My Own Messages Looks Like (and it works!):

"Hi [Brand Name] 👋 my name is Siena & I’m a full-time outdoor adventure + travel content creator. I [love / have heard amazing things about your product name] and would LOVE to chat about the potential of working together on a content partnership! My audience, which largely consists of [brief audience demographic, e.g., young, eco-conscious travelers], would truly resonate with your mission to [mention their mission/values]. Is there someone I can send more information to, perhaps a portfolio of my recent UGC work?

A few quick tips I live by for any successful outreach strategies for influencers:

• Keep it short and respect their time.
• Always end with a question (it invites a reply and feels more conversational.)
• Don’t oversell, just be clear and direct, and let your genuine interest and value proposition shine through.

Once You Have the Right Contact, Send Your Info

Once they give you a contact email, follow up with your brand kit (aka your media kit). This is your digital resume or your one-pager that shows:

1. Who you are + what you do: Your niche, your unique style, and what makes you you.
2. Your audience stats: Demographics, engagement rates, and why your audience is valuable to them.
3. Past collabs: Showcase your successful partnerships and the results you delivered.
4. Content examples: Link to your best UGC content that aligns with their brand aesthetic. If you're struggling to organize your best content examples, consider a platform like Popfly which can help you create a polished portfolio quickly and effectively.
5. Contact info: Make it easy for them to get back to you.

Stay Organized or Stay Stressed

I highly recommend creating a Google spreadsheet or Canva influencer outreach template to track your outreach. In mine, I have columns like this:

I include dream brands, smaller brands, and even the products I already use. That way, I’m consistently reaching out to brands that actually fit my lifestyle and content because that’s where the most authentic (and fun) partnerships happen. Staying organized is key to scaling your outreach without feeling overwhelmed. I've found that a well-maintained spreadsheet is your secret weapon for managing a pipeline of potential collaborations. 

For more advanced tracking, you might even consider adapting a simple CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool like HubSpot's free CRM for your creator outreach.

Should I Send Pricing In my First Outreach Email? 

No! 

Why? Because you might undervalue yourself before you even understand their needs or budget. Let the conversation develop. Understanding their campaign goals and scope will allow you to quote a fair and appropriate price that reflects your true value. It's often helpful to have a baseline of your typical rates, but be flexible. You can even use tools to help you determine appropriate rates based on industry standards, but we'll get to those later.

​​Pricing Calculators/Rate Guides: 

While holding off on pricing in your initial outreach is smart, it's crucial to understand industry-standard rates. Resources like articles on UGC Creator Rate Cards on Etsy (for conceptual templates) or industry blogs can be incredibly helpful for your research. 

For specific guidance on common content formats, check out our detailed blog How Much UGC Creators Should Charge for a Reel or Image Set.
These guides help you assess factors like content type, usage rights, platform, and audience size so you can confidently negotiate your worth and avoid underpricing your services.

Cultivating a Creator Mindset for Brand Work

If brand outreach feels scary or awkward at first, that’s normal. I’ve been there. But once you learn to lead with connection, clarity, and confidence, applying these outreach strategies for influencers gets easier. And better.

You’re not “bothering” anyone. You’re offering something valuable: your voice, your vision, and your ability to tell a story that moves people and drives results for brands. This isn't just about getting free products; it's about providing a service that brands actively seek. Your expertise in creating engaging, authentic content is in high demand.

So pitch with heart, follow up with purpose, and stay true to what makes you you. You've got this! And if you’re looking for more guidance on building a strong brand and showcasing your best work, consider exploring the resources available on this outdoor UGC marketing blog for additional insights and tips on effective outreach strategies for influencers and creators.

One of the Most Asked Questions in the Creator Space…

“How do I make money from this?”

If you're a creator, you've either asked this question or heard it a hundred times. And the truth is—there are a lot of ways to make money as a creator. But one of the most lucrative and sustainable options? Brand work.

Of course, the moment we realize that, a whole new wave of questions hits:
“How do I get brands to notice me?”
“What’s the right way to message them?”
“How many brands can I reach out to in one day without seeming desperate?”

I’ve been there. When I first started creating, all of this felt overwhelming. There weren’t many clear resources or examples that showed how to use your voice, your actual personality, to connect with brands authentically. It was a lot of guessing, rewriting, and hitting send with sweaty palms.

So, I’m sharing what I’ve learned. This is how I craft a brand outreach message that actually opens doors.

Start With the Hook (And Make It About Them)

Here’s a tip I really wish I had learned sooner: Outreach isn’t about you. It’s about what you can do for them… and how that aligns with their goals, product, or community.

When I reach out, I always start by showing that I’ve done my research. I’ve followed their latest launch, used their product, or resonated with their brand mission. That way, I’m not just some random DM in their inbox, I’m someone who sees them.

Example:
“I’ve been using your eco-travel gear on all my recent hikes, and I love how it blends design with sustainability. I’d love to collaborate and share how it fits into my on-the-go creator lifestyle.”

You’re not just pitching a post, you’re offering a story they can be part of. That matters.

Keep It Personal, Not Just Professional

A while back, I sent a pitch to a brand I really wanted to work with. I shared how their product helped me get through a creative rut and how it made me feel. No fancy language. No template. Just honest connection.

They responded the next day.

That was the moment it clicked: Brands are made up of people. And people connect with authenticity. Don’t be afraid to let your personality come through. A short personal story can make you memorable in a sea of generic pitches.

Here’s What One of My Own Messages Looks Like:

Hi [Brand Name] 👋 my name is Siena & I’m a full-time outdoor adventure + travel content creator.
I [love / have heard amazing things about your product name] and would LOVE to chat about the potential of working together on a content partnership!

Is there someone I can send more information to?

‍

A few quick tips:

• Keep it short.
• Always end with a question; it invites a reply and feels more conversational.
• Don’t oversell, just be clear and direct.

Once You Have the Right Contact, Send Your Info

Once they give you a contact email, follow up with your brand kit (aka your media kit). This is your digital resume your one-pager that shows:

• Who you are + what you do
• Your audience stats
• Past collabs
• Content examples
• Contact info

Pro Tip: Do not send your pricing in the first email. Why? Because you might undervalue yourself before you even understand their needs or budget. Let the conversation develop.

Stay Organized or Stay Stressed

I highly recommend creating a Google spreadsheet to track your outreach. In mine, I have columns like:

• Brand Name
• Contacted (Y/N)
• Platform (IG, Email, etc.)
• Contact Person
• Email Received
• Follow-up Date
• Status

I include dream brands, smaller brands, and even the products I already use. That way, I’m consistently reaching out to brands that actually fit my lifestyle and content because that’s where the most authentic (and fun) partnerships happen.

If brand outreach feels scary or awkward at first, that’s normal. I’ve been there. But once you learn to lead with connection, clarity, and confidence, it gets easier. And better.

You’re not “bothering” anyone. You’re offering something valuable: your voice, your vision, and your ability to tell a story that moves people.

So pitch with heart, follow up with purpose, and stay true to what makes you you.

You’ve got this.

‍