Gone are the days when only mega-celebrities got brand deals. In 2025, micro-influencers — creators with between 5,000 and 100,000 followers — are the new marketing gold. If you’ve been trying to figure out how to pitch brands as a micro influencer, you’re already ahead of most creators.
Brands have realized what audiences already knew: authentic engagement beats vanity metrics. Micro-influencers bring real connection, niche expertise, and community trust — three things money can’t buy.
This guide will give you the step-by-step system to go from “unknown creator” to “in-demand partner” — even without a huge following.
Step 1: Know Your Influence (and Prove It)
Before you send a single pitch, you need clarity on what you bring to the table.
Define Your Niche
Brands don’t want generalists — they want specialists. Identify your unique lane:
- Are you a beauty creator who reviews cruelty-free products?
- A fitness coach focusing on postpartum wellness?
- A tech reviewer obsessed with startup gadgets?
When your niche is clear, your brand pitch writes itself.
Tip: The tighter your focus, the higher your perceived authority.
Quantify Your Impact
Brands love data-backed influence. Track metrics such as:
- Engagement rate (likes + comments ÷ followers × 100)
- Average story views
- Click-through rate on link in bio
- Content reach per post
Use tools like Notion, Canva Analytics, or Instagram Insights to compile these.
Pro move: Create a short “Influence Snapshot” — a one-page summary of your stats, top-performing posts, and audience demographics.
Step 2: Create a One-Page Media Kit
Think of your media kit as your creator resume. It tells a brand: “I’m a professional, not a DM beggar.”
What to Include:
- Profile Summary – who you are, what you create, and your mission.
- Audience Data – age, location, gender split, interests.
- Engagement Stats – average reach, likes, comments, story views.
- Brand Alignment – list 2–3 past collaborations or mock-ups.
- Rates (Optional) – either a range or “custom quote upon discussion.”
You can build one in Canva, Google Slides, or tools like Collabstr or Pallyy.
Example tagline:
“I help wellness brands reach millennial moms through authentic storytelling and short-form videos.”
That one sentence helps a brand immediately visualize the partnership.
Step 3: Find the Right Brand Contacts
Pitching is 80% about targeting and 20% about writing. You can have the best email in the world, but if you send it to a random “info@” address, it’ll die unread.
Here’s how to find the right person:
- LinkedIn: Search “Influencer Marketing Manager at [Brand Name].”
- Instagram: Check who manages partnerships in recent tagged collabs.
- Hunter.io / Apollo.io: Find company email formats.
- Press pages: Some brands list PR/partnership contacts publicly.
Keep a Google Sheet of brand names, contact names, and email addresses. Update weekly.
Bonus: Don’t just target mega brands. Mid-tier and local brands are easier to close and often pay faster.
Step 4: Craft a Magnetic Pitch Email
Your pitch is your digital handshake — short, confident, and clear. No begging, no buzzwords, no “I love your brand so much .
The Perfect Pitch Template
Subject:
Partnership Idea: [Brand Name] x [Your Handle]
Body:
Hey [Name],
I’m [Your Name], a [niche] micro-influencer reaching [audience type — e.g., young entrepreneurs and startup founders]. I recently featured your [product name] in my content, and my followers loved it.
I’d love to explore a potential collaboration where I can create [type of content] showing how [brand/product] helps [target audience benefit].
Here’s a snapshot of my audience & engagement:
- 12.7K Instagram followers
- 6.2% average engagement rate
- 28% US audience (mostly entrepreneurs)
Would you be open to a quick chat this week to explore ideas?
Best,
[Your Name]
[@handle | Media Kit Link | Website]
Quick Pitching Tips:
- Personalize the first line — mention a campaign they recently ran.
- Keep it under 150 words.
- Always include your handle + media kit link.
- Follow up after 5–7 days.
Follow-up line example:
“Hey [Name], just checking if you had a moment to look at my idea for [brand name]. I think your audience would really resonate with the content format I suggested!”
Step 5: Prove You Can Sell
When brands partner with creators, they want ROI, not just aesthetics.
Show Social Proof
If you’ve worked with brands before, even on gifted collaborations, include results:
- “Generated 15,000 views in 48 hours.”
- “Drove 200 clicks to product page.”
- “30% of my followers saved this post.”
No past deals? Create mock collabs:
- Feature your favorite products organically.
- Tag brands — some will notice and engage.
- Add them to your media kit as sample collaborations.
Build a Track Record
Start with smaller paid deals ($50–$150) to collect testimonials. Once you have 3–5 case studies, you can 3x your rates and target bigger names.
Step 6: Master the Follow-Up Game
Most deals happen after the first email.
Use a 3-step follow-up rhythm:
- +7 Days: “Just checking in — would love to collaborate this month.”
- +14 Days: “If you’re not handling collabs, could you point me to the right person?”
- +21 Days: “Hey [Name], looping back one last time — I’d love to feature [brand name] in an upcoming campaign.”
If they still don’t reply, archive — then re-pitch 60 days later with a new idea or content angle.
Step 7: Deliver Like a Pro
Once a brand says yes, professionalism separates you from the crowd.
Agree on Deliverables
Confirm:
- Post format and number of deliverables
- Deadlines
- Payment terms
- Approval process
Use a short creator agreement (many free templates online) or platforms like Collabstr and Aspire for structure.
Post-Campaign Follow-Up
After posting:
- Send performance analytics (reach, clicks, engagement).
- Suggest a follow-up campaign or long-term ambassadorship.
- Ask for a testimonial — this becomes your sales weapon for the next pitch.
Step 8: Turn One Deal into a Relationship
Long-term brand partnerships = stability + recurring income.
To nurture relationships:
- Engage with brand posts even after campaigns end.
- Send periodic updates (“Hey, here’s a new content angle I think your audience will love.”)
- Offer creative ideas proactively.
Think like a creative strategist, not just an influencer.
Conclusion: Small Following, Big Leverage
You don’t need a million followers to land paid deals. You need:
- A defined niche
- A strong pitch
- Professional presentation
- Consistent follow-up
Master those four — and you’ll never have to “hope” a brand notices you again.
