Brand deals aren’t just for big creators - anyone can land them with the right moves. If you’ve got the content, it’s time to get the checks. This guide breaks down how to land brand deals, pitch with confidence, and price your work.
What is a Paid Collaboration?
Skip to the next part if you already know this…
Paid collaboration is when a brand pays you to talk about their product in your video or post. You might give a shoutout, show how you use it, or create a full review.
In return, you get paid, in cash, products, or both.
The brand reaches your audience, and you turn your content into income. It’s a win-win when done right, just keep it real and always disclose the partnership.
So, let's find out how to ask brands for paid collaboration.
Use Creator Platforms
How to ask for paid collaboration? Firstly, пo where brands are already looking for creators.
Sites like YouTube BrandConnect, Grapevine Village, Aspire, and Influencity match you with paid campaigns that fit your niche.
Just sign up, build a solid profile, and start applying. Show off your top videos, highlight your audience stats, and keep it real. The better your profile, the more invites you’ll get.
Quick tip: Add past brand mentions, even if they weren’t paid. It shows you know how to promote without sounding fake.
These platforms make it easy: you skip the pitch, and get straight to the deals.
Build a Media Kit
Think of your media kit as your highlight reel, the one thing that makes a brand say yes.
What to include:
- A short, punchy bio;
- Key audience stats (age, gender, top countries);
- Your top videos (show results!);
- Any previous brand collabs;
- Clear contact info.
Now the best part: you don’t need fancy design skills. Tools like pin.top do the heavy lifting. In minutes, you get a clean, clickable page that shows brands everything they need. No messy PDFs, no endless back-and-forth.
Why pin.top? It’s like a digital storefront for your content. Drop the link in your DMs, emails, or bio. Brands click, scroll, and boom, they get the full picture.
If you’re serious about paid collaborations, this is how you stand out fast.
Reach Out Directly
Got a favorite brand? Don’t wait, message them first.
Brands love creators who take the lead. Just keep it short, real, and clear:
- Who you are (“Hey, I’m a beauty creator with 20K subs on YouTube…”);
- Why you love the brand (“I’ve used your serum in 3 of my GRWM videos - it’s my go-to.”);
- What you’re offering (“Would love to collab on a review or short-form tutorial for your new launch.”);
Attach your media kit (or just drop your pin.top link), so they see your stats, content, and past work in one click.
Just a solid pitch and proof you’re the right fit.
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Price Your Work Smart
When it comes to paid collaborations, know your worth.
How much do you get paid for collaboration? Rates can vary based on factors like subscriber count, engagement, content quality, and niche. Here's a general guideline:
- Nano-influencers (1K–10K subscribers): $30–$200 per video;
- Micro-influencers (10K–100K subscribers): $200–$5,000 per video;
- Mid-tier influencers (100K–500K subscribers): $5,000–$10,000 per video;
- Macro-influencers (500K–1M subscribers): $10,000–$50,000 per video;
- Mega-influencers (1M+ subscribers): $50,000+ per video.
These categories are usually based on subscriber count, but what really matters is views. Always disclose that number to brands upfront - it gives you a better chance of closing the deal.
But don’t stop there - adjust based on:
- Your engagement rate;
- The niche (tech and finance usually pay more);
- The workload (scripted video? integration? shoutout?).
Close the Cash Gap
Let’s talk about the money lag. Brands can take forever to pay—some settle up in 2 weeks, others take 2+ months. That’s a long wait when you’ve got content to invest in or bills knocking.
But there’s a smarter way to keep things moving.
With MilX, you can unlock up to 6 months of your YouTube earnings upfront. No credit checks. No traditional loans. Just fast access to the income you’re already on track to earn.
Use it to:
- Grab that new mic or lens you’ve been eyeing;
- Pay your editor or thumbnail designer;
- Book travel or shoots for your next brand deal;
- Or just give yourself some breathing room.
Try the free MilX app and see if your channel qualifies for upfront funds. It might just change how you budget your content.
And there’s more you can do with MilX:
- Transfer your YouTube income through 10+ methods, with the lowest creator fees for creators;
- Get paid in 30+ currencies, including crypto;
Send and receive funds via fee-free P2P—great for collabs and team payouts.
When brands delay, you don’t have to.
Cash flow matters. MilX makes sure creators stay in control—even between payments.
Disclose Paid Collabs
Do you get paid for collaboration? Say it loud and clear.
Use YouTube’s “paid promotion” tag and mention the partnership in your video. Something simple like: “This video includes a paid partnership with [Brand Name].”
It keeps you legal, transparent, and trustworthy, and brands appreciate that.
No one likes sneaky ads. Be upfront, and your audience will respect you more.
Deliver Value
Saying the brand name isn’t enough, show it in action.
Work the product naturally into your content. Use it, react to it, explain why it fits your life or routine. Make it feel like part of the story, not an ad break.
Keep it authentic. Viewers can spot forced promos a mile away - and so can brands.
When you create content that feels real and useful, everyone wins: Your audience stays engaged. The brand sees results. You get hired again.
What YouTubers Say About Brand Deals
Marques Keith Brownlee, better known as MKBHD, isn’t just a top tech YouTuber. He’s also a pro ultimate frisbee player and a trusted voice with 19M+ subscribers and nearly 5 billion views as of late 2024.
He’s proof that you can score big brand deals, stay honest, and still dominate the platform. Here’s how he does it, and why brands keep coming back, according to his interview to Business Insider.
Brand deals are his biggest income source - but also the most demanding.
While ad revenue and YouTube Premium bring in steady income, sponsored content is the most lucrative part of MKBHD’s business. However, Brownlee notes these deals come with serious effort - “they take the most work,” he says.
Brand deals involve lots of back-and-forth.
From initial pitching to final approvals, negotiating with brands can be time-consuming. So much so, Brownlee has a full-time employee dedicated solely to managing brand collaborations.
He stays honest - even if brands don’t like it.
Despite sponsorships, Brownlee makes it clear he doesn’t compromise on his reviews. He openly criticized products like the Humane AI Pin, calling it “The Worst Product I’ve Ever Reviewed… For Now,” despite knowing it could affect how companies feel about working with him.
Integrity matters more than appeasing sponsors.
He told “I don't care how companies feel about my reviews.” His focus is on being accurate and entertaining, not on protecting brand relationships at the expense of honesty.
Already monetized on YouTube?
Get paid on your terms - upfront, in 40+ currencies. Send your YouTube income to a bank, card, e-wallet, or even crypto. With MilX, it’s free to start and fully in your control.
Final Take: Land Deals, Stay Real, Get Paid
How to get brand deals?
Use creator platforms - brands are already looking. Build a slick media kit with pin.top to show off your stats and content in one click. Don’t wait around, DM your favorite brand with a clear pitch and a link.
And use MilX for extra cash and flexibility in managing your YouTube earnings.