Now you have a Creator Account, and you know your Insights. The next grand step is to get brands to look at your furbaby. It’s time to strike a deal.
Know what makes your furbaby special
Like any other pawrent, our furbabies are our pride and joy. We know what makes them one of a kind, even if it isn’t as apparent to others. When showing your furbabies to the world, it’s important to know what makes them special, and present brands or topics related to them. That is a niche.
When you have a niche, you can work with your furbaby to make an Instagram profile that specially features brands from that niche to attract their attention. For instance, @kiki.catto ‘s niche is in cat fashion, so their profile has been tailored to feature apparel and accessories.
Once you have built your niche, your audience will also shift to be those with similar interests as well. Brands and businesses will also start to identify you with that niche, and contact you for collaborations related to those.
The more your furbaby is comfortable with that specialty, the more content you can both present to potential partners.
Know the people in the scene
It goes without saying that if you have a niche, you should know who provides goods and services for that niche. If your pawpal is a homebody who prefers to laze around, you would not want to reach out to sponsors for outdoor accessories for pets. In kopi.thedog ‘s case, Kopi is good at modelling, so her pawrent chose to let her represent brands like @_furristictales and @how.bow.that that allow her to stay true to her personality.
Profile : @kopi.thedog on Instagram
Reaching out to potential partners — Do’s and Don’ts
DO: Introduce yourself
Let your potential partners know who your furbaby is. Explain what your niche is and why collaborating with you would be a good move — not just for you, but also for their business.
DON’T: Flex
While showing potential partners your follower count does indicate your potential for massive outreach, you should not let that confidence cloud your judgement. Saying “my pet has over 800 followers on Instagram” is not an instant ticket to getting sponsored. Likewise, if your potential partner turns down your pitch, you’ll stand to leave a positive impression by responding graciously.
DO: Show how effective your platform can be for them
It is good to include data like your follower count and your insights. These numbers will give your potential partners the assurance that you can provide the outreach and engagement they are looking for.
Here’s what potential partners might like to know:
- Who is your audience?
- Are they the kind of audience who will support the things you’re promoting?
- What kind of content gets you the most engagement?
DON’T: Make unreasonable demands.
You should know your worth and be confident in asking for what you think you deserve. But you need to be realistic, flexible, and open to discussion.
Do : Be patient
If you’re reaching out to your potential partner, chances are you’re not the only one. In fact, brands receive collaboration requests all the time. Don’t feel discouraged from rejection! Fall seven times and stand up. While you might get a “no” 3 times, it’s the 4th brand you contact that might give you a “yes.”
When a brand contacts you for potential partnerships
- Read the offer carefully
Understand where the brand is coming from, and what exactly they are looking for.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Always make sure you are 100% sure of the terms. If something is not mentioned (e.g. payout, duration, restrictions, etc.), make sure to clarify before taking up their offer.
- Know when to say “no”
Negotiation is key! If you know you are worth more than what they can offer, you can kindly discuss the terms. Don’t be afraid to say no to a partnership that is not mutually beneficial.
Instagram doesn’t have to be all business. Click here to find out how you can do more with your pets on Instagram.
Featured Image by KoolShooters from Pexels