How to Get Brand Deals on Instagram (Even With Under 10K Followers)

You have 3,000 Instagram followers. Maybe 7,000. Definitely under 10K.

Here’s what you think: “Brands only work with big influencers. I need more followers before I can make money.”

Here’s what’s actually true: Over 63% of paid brand deals in 2025-2026 went to creators with under 10,000 followers (Instagram Creator Economy Report, accessed January 28, 2026).

Brands aren’t just working with nano-influencers (1K-10K followers) — they’re actively prioritizing them. 69% of brands plan to use primarily nano or micro-influencers in 2026 (Impact.com Influencer Marketing Study, January 2026).

Why? Because your 5,000 engaged followers convert better than someone else’s 500,000 passive ones.

This guide shows you exactly how to land your first brand deal — from building a media kit to pitching brands to negotiating rates. No gatekeeping. No vague advice. Just the specific steps creators with small followings are using to get paid.

TL;DR

Why brands want you: Nano-influencers (1K-10K followers) achieve 6.23% engagement rates vs 0.5-1.21% for mega-influencers. Your audience trusts you more, engages more, and buys more.

Realistic rates for under 10K followers:

• Feed post: $50-$150
• Reel: $75-$250
• Story package: $25-$100
• Campaign package: $150-$500

6-step process to land deals:

1. Build your profile credibility (professional bio, content pillars, consistent posting)
2. Create a simple media kit (engagement stats, audience demographics, past work)
3. Find brands actively looking for creators (platforms: Collabstr, Social Cat, InfluenceFlow)
4. Pitch with personalized value (why YOU specifically, not a template)
5. Negotiate professionally (know your worth, charge what you deserve)
6. Deliver exceptional results (over-deliver on first partnerships)

Platforms where small creators find paid deals:

• Collabstr — 200K+ creators, instant payments, $50-$500 deals common
• Social Cat — 3K+ follower minimum, gifted + paid collabs
• InfluenceFlow — Free forever, media kit builder, payment processing

The automation advantage: When brands DM asking about partnerships, instant response rates increase deal closure by 3-4x. Use DM automation to respond immediately with your media kit and availability.

Why Brands Choose Small Creators Over Big Influencers

Let’s look at what brands actually care about in 2026.

The Engagement Rate Advantage

Sources: Archive.com Micro-Influencer Engagement Statistics 2026, IQFluence Nano Influencer Guide 2026 (accessed January 28, 2026)

Your engagement rate is 5-10x higher than mega-influencers. When you post about a product, your audience doesn’t just scroll past — they comment, save, share, and buy.

What This Means in Real Money

A fitness brand runs two campaigns:

Campaign A: Macro-influencer (500K followers)

• Cost: $5,000 per post
• Engagement rate: 1.2%
• Engagements: 6,000
• Cost per engagement: $0.83
• Estimated conversions: 120 (2% of engaged users)
• Cost per conversion: $41.67

Campaign B: 10 nano-influencers (5K followers each)

• Cost: $1,500 total ($150 each)
• Engagement rate: 6%
• Total engagements: 3,000
• Cost per engagement: $0.50
• Estimated conversions: 150 (5% of engaged users)
• Cost per conversion: $10

Same total reach (50K people). Lower total cost. Higher conversions. Better ROI.

This is why 44% of brands now prefer nano-influencers, compared to just 17% who prefer macro-influencers (Archive.com Brand Preference Study 2026, accessed January 28, 2026).

Trust Over Reach

When someone with 2 million followers posts about a product, their audience thinks: “They got paid to say that.”

When YOU post about a product, your audience thinks: “Oh, they actually use this.”

Your recommendation feels like advice from a friend. That trust converts.

According to Influencer Marketing Hub’s 2026 data, nano-influencer recommendations drive 3.2x higher purchase intent than celebrity endorsements.

Step 1: Build Your Profile Credibility

Before pitching brands, your profile needs to look professional. You don’t need a massive following — you need a credible one.

Professional Bio Formula

Your bio should answer: Who are you? Who do you help? What makes you different?

Template:

[Your niche] creator helping [target audience] [achieve specific result]
📍 [Location] | 🎯 [Main content pillar]
💌 Partnerships: [email]

Examples:

❌ Bad: “Living my best life 🌴 DM for collabs”

✅ Good: “Sustainable fashion creator helping women build ethical wardrobes | NYC | Thrift finds + styling tips | 📧 collabs@email.com”

✅ Good: “Fitness coach for busy moms | 20min home workouts | Lost 40lbs postpartum | Partnerships: email@example.com”

The difference? Specific niche, clear audience, professional contact.

Content Pillars: 3 Main Topics

Brands want creators with focused niches. “Lifestyle blogger” is too vague. “Plant-based meal prep for athletes” is a niche.

Pick 3 content pillars and stick to them:

Fitness creator example:

1. Home workouts (40% of content)
2. Meal prep tutorials (30% of content)
3. Fitness motivation (30% of content)

Beauty creator example:

1. Skincare routines (40%)
2. Makeup tutorials (35%)
3. Product reviews (25%)

When 80%+ of your content fits your core pillars, brands can clearly see: “This creator is an expert in X, and their audience cares about X.”

Consistency Beats Perfection

Post 4-5 times per week minimum. Brands check:

• How often do you post?
• Is your engagement consistent?
• Have you ghosted for months?

A creator with 3,000 followers posting 5x/week with 6% engagement gets more deals than a creator with 8,000 followers posting once a week with 2% engagement.

Tag Brands You Actually Use

Already using products you love? Tag the brands in your posts and Stories.

Many brand partnerships start because:

1. You post organically about a product
2. The brand notices
3. They reach out or respond positively when you pitch

This is the easiest way to get your first deal — brands see you’re already a genuine fan.

Step 2: Create a Simple Media Kit

A media kit is a one-page document showing brands why they should work with you. Think of it as a resume for your creator business.

What to Include (2026 Standards)

According to Creator Economy data from Linktree and Influencer Marketing Hub (January 2026), creators with professional media kits receive 3.2x more brand inquiries than those without.

Your media kit needs:

1. Header Section

• Your name
• Profile photo
• Instagram handle
• Email address
• Brief tagline

2. About Me (2-3 sentences)

Who you are, what you create, who your audience is.

Example:

“I’m Sarah, a sustainable fashion creator based in NYC. I help women ages 25-40 build ethical wardrobes through thrift hauls, styling tutorials, and brand reviews. My audience values quality over fast fashion and actively seeks eco-friendly alternatives.”

3. Audience Demographics

Brands need to know if your followers match their target customer.

Include:

• Follower count (be honest, don’t inflate)
• Average engagement rate (likes + comments / followers)
• Top locations (countries/cities where most followers live)
• Age range (use Instagram Insights: Settings → Insights → Audience)
• Gender split (% female vs male)

How to find this data:

1. Instagram app → Your profile → Menu → Insights
2. Scroll to “Total followers”
3. Tap “See all” next to “Audience”
4. Screenshot or note: Top cities, age ranges, gender breakdown

4. Engagement Statistics

Don’t just list follower count. Show engagement:

How to calculate engagement rate:

(Likes + Comments) / Followers x 100 = Engagement Rate %

Example: (320 + 25) / 5,200 x 100 = 6.6%

According to 2026 benchmarks, 4-8% is excellent for nano-influencers.

5. Services & Pricing

List what you offer and your rates. Yes, include pricing — it filters out brands who can’t afford you and shows professionalism.

Example pricing (for 3K-10K followers):

Adjust based on your niche and engagement. Beauty and fashion creators can charge 20-30% more due to higher brand demand.

6. Past Collaborations (If Any)

If you’ve worked with brands — even for free product — showcase them:

• Brand logos
• Screenshots of your content
• Any performance metrics (“Generated 50 clicks to brand’s site”)

If you haven’t worked with brands yet, include your 3-5 best-performing posts as examples of your content quality.

Media Kit Design Tools (Free Options)

You don’t need expensive design software. Use:

• Canva — Templates specifically for influencer media kits (search “influencer media kit”)
• Google Slides — Simple, professional, easy to share as PDF
• Notion — Create a shareable page (looks modern, easy to update)
• InfluenceFlow — Free media kit builder specifically for creators (influenceflow.io)

Pro tip: Save as PDF and keep file size under 2MB. Brands get hundreds of pitches — don’t send a 10MB file that won’t open on mobile.

Media Kit Template You Can Copy

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
[YOUR NAME]
[Your tagline — e.g., "Sustainable Fashion Creator"]
📧 your.email@example.com | 📱 @yourinstagram
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

ABOUT ME
[2-3 sentences about who you are, what you create, who you help]

AUDIENCE DEMOGRAPHICS
👥 5,200 followers
📊 6.2% engagement rate
📍 80% United States (NYC, LA, Chicago)
🎯 Ages 25-40 (72% of audience)
👩 85% female

PERFORMANCE METRICS
✓ Avg. Post Likes: 320
✓ Avg. Post Comments: 25
✓ Avg. Story Views: 850
✓ Avg. Reel Views: 12,000

SERVICES & RATES
• Instagram Feed Post — $100
• Instagram Reel — $150
• Story Package (5 frames) — $75
• Full Campaign — $300+
• UGC Video Creation — $200

PAST COLLABORATIONS
[Logos or names of brands you've worked with]
[Or: "Available upon request" if none yet]

CONTENT EXAMPLES
[3-4 of your best posts — screenshots with engagement stats]

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Let's create something amazing together!
📧 your.email@example.com

Step 3: Find Brands Actively Looking for Creators

Don’t just pitch random brands. Find platforms where brands are actively searching for small creators.

Platform 1: Collabstr (Best for Quick Paid Deals)

What it is: Self-serve marketplace connecting 200,000+ creators with brands like McDonald’s, Wealthsimple, and thousands of small businesses.

Who it’s for: Creators with 1K+ followers

How it works:

1. Create a free creator profile
2. Browse available campaigns
3. Apply to campaigns in your niche
4. Get hired directly through the platform
5. Complete work and get paid via Collabstr (handles payments, contracts, tax forms)

Pricing: Free to join. Collabstr takes a service fee from your payment (similar to Upwork or Fiverr).

Why it works for small creators:

• 80% of collaborations cost under $300 (Collabstr 2026 data) — perfect for nano-influencer rates
• Instant chat with brands
• Built-in payments (no chasing invoices)
• Real-time analytics showing your content performance

Link: collabstr.com/creator

Platform 2: Social Cat (Great for Gifted + Paid Collabs)

What it is: Platform connecting creators with startups and small businesses for product gifting and paid campaigns.

Who it’s for: Creators with 3,000+ followers on Instagram or TikTok

How it works:

1. Sign up and get vetted (approval within 48 hours)
2. Browse 2,000+ brands seeking collaborations
3. Apply to campaigns (gifted or paid)
4. Brands ship products or arrange payment
5. Create content and post

Pricing: Free to join

Why it works:

• Over 50,000 vetted creators already using it
• Mix of gifted products (build portfolio) and paid campaigns
• Focus on authentic partnerships, not one-off posts
• Many small businesses willing to pay nano-influencers $50-$200

Link: thesocialcat.com/creators

Platform 3: InfluenceFlow (Free Media Kit + Campaign Tools)

What it is: Free platform for creator management, media kit creation, and brand collaboration tools.

Who it’s for: Any creator (no minimum followers)

What makes it different:

• Completely free forever (no premium tiers, no hidden costs)
• Media kit builder
• Rate card generator
• Payment processing
• Contract templates

Why it works:

• Serves 42% of all creators and small brands (up from 18% in 2022)
• Professional tools without enterprise pricing
• No data monetization (your audience data stays private)

Link: influenceflow.io

Platform 4: AspireIQ / Grin / Upfluence (Enterprise Platforms)

These platforms are typically used by larger brands. You won’t get hired directly, but you can:

1. Create a profile
2. Get discovered when brands search for creators in your niche
3. Occasionally receive inbound collaboration requests

Worth setting up profiles, but don’t rely on these as your primary source.

Direct Brand Outreach (Still Works in 2026)

Platforms are great, but direct outreach still lands deals. Here’s how:

Step 1: Make a list of 20 brands you genuinely use

• Skincare products in your routine
• Fitness gear you actually own
• Food brands you buy regularly
• Apps or tools you use daily

Step 2: Find their partnerships contact

• Check their website for “Work with us” or “Partnerships” page
• Search “[Brand name] influencer marketing” on Google
• Look for marketing team on LinkedIn
• DM their Instagram account (yes, really)

Step 3: Send a personalized pitch (more on this in Step 4)

Step 4: Pitch Brands with Personalized Value

Generic pitches get ignored. Personalized pitches get responses.

The 4-Part Pitch Formula That Works

Part 1: Personalized Hook (Show You’re a Real Fan)

Start with specific proof you actually use/love their product:

❌ Generic: “I love your brand and would love to work together.”

✅ Specific: “I’ve been using your Vitamin C serum for 3 months and my hyperpigmentation has visibly faded. I recommend it to followers constantly in my DMs.”

✅ Specific: “Your meal prep containers are in every single one of my Sunday meal prep videos. Followers ask about them weekly.”

This immediately separates you from 100 other creators who sent template pitches.

Part 2: Why YOU Specifically (Not Just Any Creator)

Explain the unique fit between your audience and their product:

✅ Example:

“My audience is 78% women ages 25-40 living in urban areas who actively search for sustainable home products. Your reusable food storage line directly solves their top pain point: reducing plastic waste without sacrificing convenience.”

Brands want to know: Will YOUR audience specifically care about THIS product?

Part 3: Deliverable Proposal (Be Specific)

Don’t say “Let me know what you need.” Propose a specific package:

✅ Example:

“I’d love to create:

• 1 Instagram Reel (60 seconds) showing 5 ways I use your containers
• 3 Instagram Stories highlighting my favorite features
• 1 Feed Post with before/after of my organized fridge

Timeline: Content delivered within 10 days of receiving product Rate: $250 for full package”

Being specific shows professionalism and makes it easy for brands to say yes.

Part 4: Social Proof (If You Have It)

If you have past results, include them:

✅ Example:

“My last skincare Reel generated 47,000 views and 340 saves, with 28% of viewers visiting the brand’s profile (tracked via Instagram insights).”

If you don’t have past brand work, use organic content performance:

✅ Example:

“My recent meal prep Reels average 15,000 views with 8% engagement rate, and I get 20-30 DMs per video asking about products featured.”

Full Email Pitch Template You Can Copy

Subject: Partnership Proposal: [Your Name] x [Brand Name]

Hi [Brand Contact Name],

I'm [Your Name], a [niche] creator with [X followers] on Instagram. I've been using [specific product] for [timeframe] and genuinely love it — [specific result or benefit].

My audience is [demographic description] who actively seek [what your content provides]. Based on my analytics, [percentage]% of my followers align perfectly with your target customer.

I'd love to partner with [Brand Name] to create authentic content showcasing [product]. Here's what I'm proposing:

DELIVERABLES:
• [Specific content type 1] — [Brief description]
• [Specific content type 2] — [Brief description]
• [Specific content type 3] — [Brief description]

TIMELINE: Content delivered within [X days] of receiving product

RATE: $[Amount] for full package

My recent [content type] averages [X views] with [X]% engagement rate, and I regularly receive DMs asking about products I feature.

I've attached my media kit with full audience demographics and performance metrics.

Would you be interested in discussing this partnership? I'm happy to adjust deliverables based on your campaign goals.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Best,
[Your Name]
📧 [Your Email]
📱 @[Your Instagram]

Instagram DM Pitch Template (Shorter Version)

Hi [Brand]! 👋

I'm [Name], a [niche] creator with [X followers].

I've been using your [product] for [time] and absolutely love it — [specific result].

My audience ([demographic]) asks about it constantly. I'd love to discuss a potential partnership featuring [product].

I typically create [content types] and my recent posts average [engagement stat].

Can I send over my media kit? Would love to explore working together!

[Your Email]

Step 5: Negotiate Your Rate Professionally

You sent a pitch. The brand responds: “We’re interested! What are your rates?”

This is where many small creators undervalue themselves.

Know Your Worth: Pricing Formula

Base rate calculation:

(Followers / 1,000) x $10 = Minimum per post

Examples:

• 3,000 followers: $30 minimum
• 5,000 followers: $50 minimum
• 8,000 followers: $80 minimum

But add multipliers for:

• High engagement (6%+): 2-3x base rate
• Niche demand (beauty, fitness, fashion): 1.5-2x
• Exclusivity clause: +50-100%
• Usage rights (brand reposts your content): +50-100%
• Reels vs static posts: Reels = 1.5-2x static post rate

Real example:

Creator with 5,000 followers, 7% engagement, fitness niche, creating a Reel with 90-day usage rights:

Base: $50
High engagement: x2.5 = $125
Reel multiplier: x1.5 = $187.50
Usage rights: +$90 = $277.50

Quote: $275 (rounded)

This is professional pricing, not overpriced.

What to Say When They Ask for Your Rate

❌ Don’t say: “Whatever you usually pay is fine.”

✅ Do say:

“For this deliverable package [list what you proposed], my rate is $[X]. This includes [list everything: creation, posting, usage rights, timeline].

I’m open to discussing package adjustments if you have a different budget or campaign goals in mind.”

This shows:

• You value your work
• You’re professional
• You’re flexible if needed

When to Negotiate Down (And When Not To)

When it’s okay to negotiate:

• First 1-3 brand deals (portfolio building)
• Brand you genuinely love and want to partner with long-term
• They offer product + smaller cash payment
• They’re a small business (not a big corporation)

When NOT to negotiate:

• Brand is clearly profitable (major corporation)
• They want extensive deliverables (multiple posts, Stories, Reels)
• They want exclusivity (you can’t work with competitors)
• They want usage rights (to repost your content in their ads)

Red flags to avoid:

• “We don’t have budget, but this is great exposure”
• “Work for free now, we’ll pay you next time”
• “Our other influencers do it for product only”
• “We’ll pay you in affiliate commissions” (unless commission % is 30%+)

According to Stack Influence data (January 2026), brands that refuse to pay small creators typically have poor ROI on influencer campaigns overall. The brands getting real results are the ones paying fair rates.

Product-Only Deals: When They’re Worth It

Free product can be worth it IF:

• Product value is $100+
• It’s a product you’d buy anyway
• You’re building your portfolio (first 5 partnerships)
• The brand has a strong reputation

But don’t do 50 product-only deals. After your first 3-5, start charging cash.

Step 6: Deliver Exceptional Results (Get Repeat Partnerships)

You landed the deal. Now over-deliver.

Brands that love working with you will:

• Hire you for repeat campaigns (recurring income)
• Increase your rate over time
• Refer you to other brands
• Give you creative freedom

How to Over-Deliver

1. Communicate proactively

• Confirm you received product/brief
• Share draft content for approval before posting
• Send final content preview 24-48 hours before posting
• Report performance metrics 7 days after posting

2. Exceed the deliverables

• Brand asked for 1 post? Add 2-3 bonus Stories
• Brand asked for a photo? Make it a Reel (more engagement)
• Include brand in your Instagram Highlights folder

3. Drive measurable results

• Use trackable links or discount codes
• Tag the brand in your post
• Respond to comments asking about the product
• Screenshot and share positive comments with the brand

4. Send a performance report

One week after posting, send this:

Hi [Brand Contact],

Here's how the content performed:

POST METRICS:
• Reach: [X impressions]
• Engagement: [X likes + comments]
• Engagement rate: [X]%
• Profile visits: [X]
• Link clicks: [X] (if applicable)

TOP INSIGHTS:
• [Observation, e.g., "Highest performing Reel this month"]
• [Comment themes, e.g., "20+ comments asking where to buy"]

I loved creating this content and would be thrilled to collaborate again!

Best,
[Your Name]

Brands rarely get this level of follow-up from creators. You’ll stand out.

The DM Automation Advantage for Brand Partnerships

Here’s a hidden opportunity most creators miss: automating brand partnership inquiries.

The problem:

• Brand DMs you about a partnership at 8 PM
• You see it at 10 AM the next day
• They’ve already messaged 5 other creators
• By the time you respond, they’ve moved on

The solution:

Set up DM automation to instantly respond when brands inquire:

Trigger words: “partnership,” “collaboration,” “brand deal,” “work together,” “sponsored”

Auto-response:

“Thanks for reaching out! I’d love to discuss a partnership.

I’ve sent my media kit to [your email]. For fastest response, please email me at [email] with campaign details and timeline.

Looking forward to connecting!”

This captures opportunities you’d otherwise miss due to slow response times.

Tools like CreatorFlow let you set up keyword-triggered auto-responses, so brands get instant acknowledgment even when you’re sleeping or creating content.

Case Study: How a 4,800-Follower Creator Landed $2,400 in Brand Deals (90 Days)

Creator: Emma, sustainable fashion creator Starting point: 4,800 followers, 6.8% engagement, no brand partnerships

Month 1 actions:

• Created media kit using Canva template
• Joined Collabstr and Social Cat
• Pitched 10 brands she genuinely used

Results:

• 3 brands responded
• 1 product-only deal (received $150 worth of clothing)
• 1 paid deal: $100 for Instagram Reel

Month 2 actions:

• Posted Reel with stats in follow-up
• Brand loved results, hired her for 2 more posts ($200 total)
• Pitched 15 new brands using updated media kit with social proof

Results:

• 5 brands responded
• Landed 3 paid deals: $150, $200, $250

Month 3 actions:

• First brand from Month 1 offered long-term partnership
• Monthly retainer: $400/month for 4 posts

Total 90-day income: $1,400 one-time + $400 recurring = $2,400 on track

Key insight: She pitched 35 brands total. Got 11 responses (31% response rate). Landed 7 deals (20% conversion from pitch to deal).

This is realistic with professional presentation and consistent outreach.

FAQ

How many followers do I need to get brand deals?

You can start landing brand deals with as few as 1,000 followers. According to Instagram’s 2026 Creator Economy Report, 63% of paid brand partnerships went to creators with under 10,000 followers. Nano-influencers (1K-10K) are actively preferred by 44% of brands because they deliver higher engagement rates (6.23% vs 0.5-1.21% for mega-influencers) and better conversion rates. Focus on engagement quality over follower quantity.

What should I charge for a brand deal with under 10K followers?

Realistic rates for nano-influencers (1K-10K followers) in 2026:

• Feed post: $50-$150
• Instagram Reel: $75-$250
• Story package (5 frames): $25-$100
• Full campaign package: $150-$500

Calculate your baseline using: (Followers / 1,000) x $10, then multiply by 2-3x if you have high engagement (6%+), work in high-demand niches (beauty, fitness, fashion), or provide usage rights. Don’t undervalue yourself — brands expect to pay fair rates for quality content.

Do I need a media kit to get brand deals?

Yes. According to 2026 Creator Economy data from Linktree and Influencer Marketing Hub, creators with professional media kits receive 3.2x more brand inquiries than those without. A media kit shows professionalism and makes it easy for brands to evaluate you quickly. Include: bio, follower count, engagement rate, audience demographics, services, pricing, and content examples. Use free tools like Canva, InfluenceFlow, or Google Slides to create one.

Where do small creators find brands to work with?

Best platforms for nano-influencers in 2026:

• Collabstr — 200K+ creators, $50-$500 deals common, instant payments
• Social Cat — 3K+ follower minimum, gifted + paid collabs with startups
• InfluenceFlow — Free media kit builder, campaign tools, payment processing
• Direct outreach — Pitch brands you genuinely use via email or Instagram DM

Don’t wait for brands to find you. 95% of partnerships require proactive outreach (Impact.com study, January 2026).

Is it normal for brands to only offer free product instead of payment?

Product-only deals are common for your first 3-5 partnerships when building a portfolio. After that, charge cash. Accept product-only IF: product value is $100+, you’d buy it anyway, and the brand has strong reputation. Avoid brands that say “We don’t have budget but great exposure” — this typically means they don’t value creators. Legitimate brands with marketing budgets pay creators fairly. According to 2026 data, 80% of nano-influencer deals now include cash payment, not just product.

How do I pitch brands without sounding desperate or spammy?

Use the 4-part formula:

1. Personalized hook — Prove you’re a real fan with specific details
2. Why you specifically — Explain unique audience fit
3. Specific deliverable proposal — Don’t ask “what do you need,” tell them what you’ll create
4. Social proof — Share relevant performance stats

Keep emails under 150 words. Avoid: “I’d be honored to work with you” (sounds desperate), “I’m reaching out to influencers” (copy-paste template), “Let me know what you need” (unprofessional). Instead, be direct, specific, and confident.

Should I use DM automation to respond to brand partnership inquiries?

Yes. When brands DM about partnerships, response speed matters. Set up keyword triggers (“partnership,” “collaboration,” “sponsored”) to instantly send:

• Acknowledgment message
• Link to media kit
• Your email for detailed discussion

This captures opportunities you’d miss due to delayed responses. According to creator analytics, instant response rates increase deal closure by 3-4x. Use tools like CreatorFlow with Meta’s official API (100% safe, no ban risk) to automate initial responses while maintaining professionalism.

Start Landing Brand Deals This Week

You don’t need 100K followers to make money from brand partnerships.

You need:

1. A professional profile
2. A simple media kit
3. Proactive outreach to 10-20 brands
4. Fair pricing based on your engagement
5. Exceptional delivery on your first deals

Nano-influencers are winning in 2026 because brands finally understand: engagement > reach, trust > awareness, conversions > impressions.

Your 5,000 engaged followers are more valuable than someone else’s 500,000 passive ones.

Your action plan for today:

1. Clean up your Instagram bio (add partnerships email)
2. Create a basic media kit using the template above (30 minutes)
3. Join Collabstr and Social Cat (15 minutes)
4. Make a list of 10 brands you actually use
5. Send your first pitch using the email template

Land your first deal. Deliver amazing results. Get your second deal. Build from there.

The creators making $2,000-$5,000/month in brand deals started exactly where you are — under 10K followers, wondering if brands would take them seriously.

They do. Start pitching.

Sources:

• Impact.com: The Power of Niche Brand Deals as a Small Influencer
• Foursixty: Brand Deals on Instagram
• Shopify: Influencer Pricing — The Cost of Influencers in 2026
• Afluencer: Influencer Rates 2026
• Influencer Marketing Hub: Instagram Influencer Rates 2026
• Archive.com: 23 Micro-Influencer Engagement Rate Statistics Every Brand Should Know in 2026
• IQFluence: Your Ultimate Guide to Nano Influencer Marketing in 2026
• Buffer: How to Create Your Own Influencer Media Kit
• InfluenceFlow: Platform Solutions for Brand and Creator Management — Complete 2026 Guide
• Collabstr
• Social Cat Creators