The Complete Guide to Pitching to Brands and Creating Media Kits in 2026

Introduction

Building a successful career as a content creator means mastering two critical skills: pitching to brands and creating media kits that actually convert partnerships. In 2026, the creator economy has evolved dramatically. Generic one-pagers and mass-produced pitches don't work anymore. Brands want to see authentic connections, real engagement data, and clear value propositions tailored specifically to their needs.

Pitching to brands or creating media kits is no longer just about listing your follower count. It's about presenting yourself as a strategic business partner who understands the brand's goals, knows your audience inside and out, and can deliver measurable results. Whether you're a TikTok creator, podcast host, blogger, or multi-platform influencer, having a professional media kit and pitch strategy is essential.

According to Influencer Marketing Hub's 2025 research, 72% of brands prioritize engagement rates over follower counts when evaluating influencer partnerships. This shift means your pitch and media kit need to tell a more sophisticated story. You'll learn exactly how to craft pitches that get responses, design media kits that showcase your value, and negotiate rates confidently.

Let's dive into what it takes to impress brands and build sustainable creator partnerships.

Understanding What Brands Actually Want to See (Brand Perspective)

Most creators pitch blindly without understanding how brands actually evaluate partnerships. This gap costs partnerships.

The Brand Decision-Making Process

Brands receive dozens—sometimes hundreds—of pitch emails weekly. Marketing managers, social media directors, and brand partnerships teams sort through this noise looking for creators who align with their values and can reach their target audience effectively.

The decision-making process typically takes 7-14 days from pitch to initial response. Brands evaluate pitches based on a scorecard of criteria: audience alignment, engagement authenticity, previous brand work quality, and price-to-value ratio. Many brands use collaboration platforms like AspireIQ or HypeAudience to streamline this process and verify creator metrics.

What separates winning pitches from rejected ones? Clear audience overlap between the creator's followers and the brand's target customer. A fitness influencer pitching to a bakery brand likely fails, but a lifestyle creator with an audience interested in wellness, clean eating, and sustainability could be perfect. Brands also want to see that you've researched them specifically—not just sent a generic pitch to 100 brands simultaneously.

Critical Elements Brands Look For

Authentic audience alignment ranks first. Brands want creators whose audiences actually care about products like theirs. Engagement quality matters far more than vanity metrics. A creator with 10,000 highly engaged followers beats someone with 100,000 disengaged followers every time.

Demographic data is critical. Brands need to see age ranges, gender breakdown, geographic location, interests, and income levels. This information helps them determine if your audience matches their customer profile. If a brand sells luxury skincare products to women aged 25-40 in major metros, that specific demographic breakdown is gold.

Previous brand collaboration examples and case studies prove you deliver results. Include screenshots of past brand partnerships, engagement metrics from those collaborations, and any testimonials from previous brand partners. This builds trust and shows you know how to create professional content.

Clear deliverables and turnaround times matter tremendously. Brands need to know exactly what they're getting: how many posts, stories, reels, captions, revision rounds, timeline, usage rights, and posting schedule. Vague deliverables create headaches and lead to contract disputes.

Red Flags That Turn Brands Away

Generic pitches with placeholder names trigger immediate rejections. "Hi [Brand Name] team" tells brands you're mass-pitching, not actually interested in partnering with them specifically.

Misaligned audience demographics are deal-breakers. A beauty brand focused on Black women's skincare shouldn't partner with a creator whose audience is 80% men. Brands lose money on misaligned partnerships.

Poor communication and unprofessional presentation suggest you'll be difficult to work with. Typos, unclear information, confusing formatting, and generic stock photos damage credibility immediately.

Pricing without justification frustrates brands. If you charge $5,000 for a single Instagram post but your engagement metrics don't warrant that price, brands move on. Always connect pricing to value delivered.

Media Kit Essentials: What to Include (2026 Edition)

Your media kit is your business card, resume, and sales pitch combined. It needs to be comprehensive yet scannable, data-driven yet visually appealing.

Core Components Every Creator Needs

Start with your essentials: name, professional photo or headshot, brief bio explaining your niche and brand voice, and your unique value proposition. Keep the bio to 2-3 sentences maximum. Brands need to understand your positioning instantly.

Platform-specific metrics come next. List your current follower counts on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or any platform relevant to your niche. Include month-over-month growth rates. A creator growing 15% monthly looks more attractive than stagnant followers.

Audience demographics are non-negotiable. Break down your audience by age, gender, location (top 5 countries/states), interests, and household income if relevant. Use pie charts or simple data visualizations for easy scanning. If you use tools like Instagram analytics tools, you already have this data.

Engagement metrics show real performance. Include average likes, comments, shares, and saves per post. Calculate your engagement rate: (total engagements ÷ follower count) × 100. Most platforms calculate this automatically now.

Include your content style examples, best-performing post types, and a portfolio section with 6-12 of your best recent posts. Let visuals speak for themselves. Brands want to see exactly what your content looks like before committing.

Platform-Specific Media Kit Variations

Instagram and Reels creators should emphasize feed performance, reel engagement metrics, story completion rates, and IGTV or long-form engagement. Instagram Reels have dominated since 2024, so highlight reel-specific metrics prominently.

TikTok creators need viral reach metrics, video completion rates, sound usage, and trend participation history. TikTok's algorithm rewards consistency and trend adoption, so showing month-over-month growth and viral video examples matters tremendously. Include your average view count per video and share rate data.

YouTube channel media kits require subscriber count, monthly views, average watch time, and audience retention percentages. Brands care deeply about audience retention—if people drop off halfway through your videos, the brand's message didn't fully land.

LinkedIn professional creators should emphasize thought leadership positioning, industry expertise, audience seniority levels, and connection quality. B2B brands value different metrics than consumer brands, so frame your LinkedIn following as business decision-makers, not just engaged users.

Podcast media kits need total downloads, average downloads per episode, listener demographics, and platform distribution (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.). Many podcast creators use Anchor or Buzzsprout analytics for this data.

Blog and writer media kits should include monthly traffic, page views, bounce rate, time on page, and search engine rankings for key topics. Include your email subscriber count if you have one.

Advanced Data to Stand Out

Include your audience growth trends with actual month-over-month or year-over-year data. Show a 3-6 month growth trajectory. Steady growth signals a engaged audience; flat growth suggests declining relevance.

Audience sentiment analysis (if available through tools like Sprout Social or Brand24) demonstrates that your audience talks positively about brands in your niche. Some creators use Net Promoter Score (NPS) data to show audience loyalty.

Previous brand campaign results and case studies are gold. If you've worked with brands before, include metrics from those partnerships: engagement lift, click-through rates, conversion data if available, or social proof like positive comments. Before/after case studies comparing baseline metrics to campaign performance prove you drive real results.

Third-party verification through platforms like HypeAudience or Social Blade adds credibility. Many brands use these tools to verify creator metrics independently, so mentioning you're verified saves them time.

Designing a Professional Media Kit That Converts

Your media kit's design directly impacts conversion rates. Poor design suggests poor professionalism; excellent design suggests someone worth paying.

Design Best Practices for 2026

Modern aesthetic trumps cluttered information. Aim for clean layouts with plenty of white space, clear typography, and strategic use of color. Your design should reflect your personal brand and creator niche—a luxury lifestyle creator's media kit looks different from a gaming creator's, and that's intentional.

Color psychology matters. Use 2-3 primary colors maximum plus neutrals. Colors should complement your brand aesthetic and appear professional, not chaotic. Typography should use 1-2 font families maximum—one for headings, one for body text.

Mobile-first design is non-negotiable. Most brands review media kits on phones while reviewing dozens of pitches during lunch breaks. If your PDF doesn't display clearly on mobile, redesign it. Test everything on iPhone and Android.

Accessibility considerations include high contrast ratios, alt text for images, readable font sizes (minimum 11pt for body text), and descriptions for data visualizations. This isn't just ethical—it's practical. A brand manager with color blindness or vision issues needs to read your media kit easily.

Visual Elements That Matter

Include high-quality photos and graphics. Blurry photos or low-resolution graphics damage credibility immediately. Use a consistent photo style throughout—if you shoot lifestyle photos, don't suddenly include cheesy stock images.

Show content samples through actual carousel posts, reels, or blog screenshots. Let your work speak for itself. Include 4-6 examples of your best content pieces and why they performed well.

Data visualizations for metrics—charts, graphs, and infographics—make numbers more digestible. A simple line graph showing 6 months of audience growth communicates faster than listing numbers. Use tools like Canva or Venngage to create professional charts.

Include testimonials from previous brand partners. A short quote like "She delivered exceptional content that drove 15% engagement lift on our campaign" carries weight. Get permission and use real partner names (unless NDAs prevent it).

Format Options Beyond PDF

Interactive web-based media kits built in tools like Carrd or Notion allow real-time updates without resending files. Brands can bookmark your media kit page and always see current metrics. Include a link to your website media kit in every pitch.

Video presentation format (30-60 seconds) is increasingly popular in 2026. A short creator intro video explaining your value proposition and showing content samples humanizes your pitch. Keep it professional and on-brand.

Canva templates offer affordability and design assistance, but custom design signals premium positioning. If budget allows, invest in a professionally designed media kit. It's your most important business document.

One-pager vs. multi-page depends on your complexity. Micro-influencers with simple metrics can use one-pager formats. Established creators with multiple platforms and extensive case studies benefit from 2-3 page layouts.

Consider using a rate card generator tool like InfluenceFlow's to present pricing clearly alongside your media kit. Transparency about rates builds trust immediately.

Crafting the Perfect Pitch Email

Email remains the primary way creators pitch to brands. Master this and partnerships follow.

Email Structure and Templates

Subject lines determine open rates. Personalized subject lines with specific details (brand name, product reference) generate 50%+ open rates versus generic subjects. Try: "Collab Idea: [Brand Name] + [Your Niche]—[Audience Size] [Demographic]" instead of "Partnership Opportunity."

Your opening hook should reference something specific about the brand. "I loved your recent [product launch/campaign]" or "Your [specific product] resonates deeply with my audience because [reason]" immediately signals genuine interest.

Body structure follows: Introduction (1-2 sentences) → Why you're interested in THIS brand specifically (2-3 sentences) → Your value proposition and audience overview (2-3 sentences) → Media kit attachment mention → Clear CTA (1 sentence) → Signature.

Keep the email under 200 words. Busy brand managers appreciate brevity. Attach or link to your media kit—don't embed metrics in the email itself.

Personalization Strategies That Work

Research the brand's current campaigns before pitching. What products launched recently? What's their brand voice? What values do they emphasize? Reference this research specifically in your pitch.

Explain why YOUR audience is right for them, not why you want to work with them. "Your target audience values sustainability and wellness, which aligns perfectly with my audience's interests in eco-friendly living" is stronger than "I love your brand and would love to work with you."

Mention shared values or audience overlap specifically. If a brand champions women entrepreneurship and your audience is 70% female business owners, highlight that exact alignment.

Customize tone and length for brand type. A pitch to a tech startup can be casual and shorter. A pitch to a legacy consumer brand should be formal and comprehensive.

Common Pitch Mistakes to Avoid

Generic "Dear Brand Manager" openers and using placeholder names tells brands you're mass-pitching. Spend 90 seconds personalizing each pitch—brands can tell the difference.

Focusing on what you want rather than brand benefits kills pitches. Don't say "This would be great for my portfolio." Instead, say "My audience's high engagement with sustainability content positions them perfectly for your eco-friendly product launch."

Including irrelevant metrics or platforms confuses brands. If a brand only wants Instagram Reels, don't spend words on your YouTube subscriber count.

Overly long pitches lose attention. Stick to 150-200 words maximum for the email body.

Forgetting to spell-check or use proper grammar screams unprofessionalism. Use Grammarly or similar tools before sending any pitch.

Pitching incompatible products is common. If you're a parenting blogger, don't pitch to alcohol brands (most won't partner with parenting content due to brand safety).

Multi-Channel Pitching Strategies for Different Platforms

Pitching strategies vary by platform. What works on email fails on TikTok DMs.

Platform-Specific Pitch Approaches

Email remains the professional standard for established brands and larger partnerships. Use email for corporate brands, agencies, and formal partnerships.

Instagram DMs work for smaller brands, micro-influencers, and casual partnerships. Keep DM pitches short (3-4 sentences) since DMs aren't ideal for long-form information. Link to your media kit instead of explaining everything in-app.

TikTok brand partnership requests go through official TikTok Creator Fund and brand collaboration features if you're eligible (typically 10,000+ followers). Some brands also accept pitches via TikTok DM, but email remains more professional.

LinkedIn thought leader pitches emphasize B2B angles, industry insights, and professional audience quality. CEOs and business decision-makers value authentic thought leadership over follower counts. Use LinkedIn messaging or email for B2B partnerships.

Pinterest creator partnerships focus on long-form content potential, link traffic, and seasonal trend participation. Email remains standard for Pinterest collaborations.

YouTube channel collaborations can happen through YouTube Studio partnership features or traditional email pitches to brand contacts found on brand websites or LinkedIn.

Timing and Seasonal Pitching

Q4 holiday campaigns are planned in July-August. Pitch holiday-focused brands 3-4 months before the season. Black Friday partnerships lock in June-July.

Back-to-school season planning happens April-May. Fashion, tech, and education brands are actively recruiting creators during this window.

New Year trends and resolution-focused content get planned October-November. Fitness, health, productivity, and self-improvement brands actively partner in this season.

Industry-specific busy seasons matter too. Tax season for finance creators is January-March. Wedding season for fashion creators is November-February. Summer travel season for travel creators is March-May.

Avoid oversaturation periods. Mid-December gets overwhelming pitches. Mid-August has fewer pitches but creators are on vacation.

Building Your Pitch List

Find brand contact information through brand websites (look for "partnerships" or "influencer contact" pages), LinkedIn sales navigator searches, and influencer platforms like AspireIQ or Klear that list brand contacts directly.

Using brand collaboration platforms like InfluenceFlow connects creators directly with brands actively seeking partnerships. These platforms eliminate the guesswork of finding contact info.

Networking at industry events (virtual and in-person) builds personal relationships that often convert to partnerships faster than cold pitches. Attend creator conferences, brand summits, and industry meetups.

Following brand marketing trends and new product launches helps you pitch at the right moment. New products need fresh creator voices. Follow brand social accounts and industry news to catch launches.

Create a CRM system (or spreadsheet if you're smaller) to track every pitch: date sent, brand name, contact person, platform, pitch angle, follow-up date, and outcome. This prevents duplicate pitches and helps you identify which angles work best.

Pitching When You're Just Starting Out (Low Metrics, High Potential)

Low follower counts don't disqualify you from brand partnerships. Strategic positioning does.

Micro-Influencer Advantages

Micro-influencers (1,000-10,000 followers) often have higher engagement rates than creators with 100,000+ followers. A micro-influencer with 80% engagement rate beats a macro-influencer with 2% engagement rate. Brands know this.

Niche audiences with specific interests are incredibly valuable. A makeup creator with 5,000 followers passionate about sustainable, cruelty-free beauty products delivers better ROI than a generalist lifestyle creator with 50,000 disengaged followers.

Lower partnership costs make micro-influencers attractive for brands testing new creator partnerships or launching new products. Brands can afford to work with 10 micro-influencers instead of 1 macro-influencer, diversifying their reach.

Higher trust and authentic recommendations characterize micro-influencer audiences. People follow micro-creators because they genuinely like them, not because of algorithm or celebrity status. Their recommendations feel more authentic.

What to Emphasize Instead of Follower Count

Engagement rate becomes your primary metric. Calculate it religiously and emphasize it in pitches. "My 8,000 followers generate an average 12% engagement rate" is impressive and specific.

Audience sentiment and brand affinity matter hugely. Show comments from followers asking "where do I buy this?" or "when will you review this brand?" This demonstrates genuine audience interest in your niche.

Authenticity and content consistency prove you're a serious creator worth paying. Show 6+ months of consistent posting and cohesive content aesthetic. Consistency signals reliability.

Growth trajectory demonstrates momentum. If you grew 40% in the last 3 months, that's more impressive than any static number. Show growth charts.

Niche expertise or unique perspective differentiates you. "I'm the only creator focused on sustainable fashion for plus-size professional women" beats generic lifestyle positioning.

Long-term partnership potential interests smart brands. Position yourself as someone growing quickly who could become a much more valuable partner within 6-12 months. Brands invest in rising creators.

Finding Brands That Match Your Level

Bootstrapped startups and local brands often partner with micro-influencers because they have limited budgets but need to build awareness. Search for local businesses in your city or niche startups in your industry.

New product launches need fresh voices and underutilized creators. When brands release new products, they sometimes work with smaller creators first before featuring them alongside major influencers.

Affiliate partnerships operate on performance-based compensation. You make money only when your audience clicks your link and purchases. This reduces risk for brands and is perfect for smaller creators.

Barter agreements let you trade content creation for free products. If you create 3-4 pieces of content featuring their product, they provide the product for free. This builds your portfolio while benefiting the brand.

Brand ambassador programs offer long-term, lower-pay partnerships. Instead of one-off campaigns, you represent the brand for 3-6 months at reduced rates. This provides income stability and portfolio-building opportunities.

Micro-brand collaborations with other creators or small businesses build mutual benefit. Partner with complementary micro-brands for cross-promotion that helps everyone grow.

Rate Cards, Pricing, and Negotiation Tactics

Pricing yourself correctly is critical. Too low undervalues your work; too high loses partnerships.

Calculating Your Rate Card

The foundational formula: (audience size × engagement rate × usage rights) + experience premium = base rate.

Here's an example. You have 10,000 followers with an 8% engagement rate (800 engaged followers per post). For an organic Instagram post (standard usage rights), charge $400-600. Scale this: 50,000 followers at 8% engagement rates command $2,000-3,000. Engagement rate multiplies your value more than follower count.

Platform-specific pricing differs significantly. TikTok and Instagram Reels command higher rates per view since video content is more consumable. LinkedIn rates vary by audience seniority (B2C vs. B2B). Blog sponsorships might operate on CPM (cost per 1,000 page views) instead of flat fees.

Usage rights pricing is essential. An organic post where your brand keeps the content (doesn't license to Instagram ads) costs less than exclusive partnerships or ad library usage. Brands using your content in paid ads pay 2-3x more than organic-only partnerships.

Duration considerations matter. A retainer partnership (monthly payment for ongoing content) commands lower rates than one-time sponsored posts because it offers predictability.

According to Influencer Marketing Hub's 2026 benchmarks, Instagram influencers charge: micro-influencers (10K-50K followers) $200-1,000 per post; mid-tier (50K-500K) $1,000-5,000; macro-influencers (500K+) $5,000-20,000+.

Presenting Your Rate Card

Use tiered options: Starter Package (basic deliverables at lower price), Standard Package (recommended option), and Premium Package (full-service, highest price). This psychology helps brands choose the option you want while feeling like they're saving money versus Premium.

Clarity on deliverables is mandatory. Specify: number of posts, number of stories, number of reels, captions (original vs. provided), revisions allowed (usually 1-2 rounds), timeline, and posting schedule. Ambiguity leads to scope creep and conflicts.

Licensing and usage rights breakdown shows professionalism. Clearly state: organic posting only vs. usage in paid ads vs. exclusive rights. Price each tier differently.

Include rush fees (20-50% premium for faster turnaround) and modification charges (additional fees if brand requests significant changes beyond agreed revisions).

Seasonal or volume discounts attract partnerships. "20% discount for 3+ posts in one month" encourages brands to spend more with you.

Negotiation Psychology and Tactics

Never lead with your lowest price. When brands ask "what's your rate?" confidently state your full rate. Many brands don't counter-offer if the number seems reasonable. Starting too low signals low value.

When brands ask "what's your budget?" never answer first. Instead, ask "what's your budget range?" or "what does a typical partnership look like for you?" This gives you negotiation room. If they insist you name a number, quote 20-30% higher than your bottom line—you'll likely land near your true rate after negotiation.

Understand brand negotiation playbooks. Enterprise brands expect negotiation. Startups often have fixed budgets. Agencies work on lower margins and want volume discounts. Tailor your negotiation style accordingly.

Stand firm on value while remaining flexible on deliverables. "I can't do $500 for a post, but I can do 3 stories + 1 carousel post for $700" adds value without cutting your per-post rate.

Know when to walk away. Brands asking you to work for exposure, product-only, or significantly below your rates aren't respecting your business. Saying no to bad deals preserves your time for good ones.

Long-term partnerships deserve volume discounts. "I normally charge $1,000 per post, but for a 6-month partnership, I can do $750 per post." This incentivizes longer commitments while maintaining strong rates.

When negotiating, always reference your rate card generator for consistency. Showing brands your structured, professional rate card demonstrates you're serious about your pricing.

Following Up Without Being Annoying: Timing and Frequency

Most creators give up after one pitch. Brands need reminders.

The Follow-Up Framework

Send your first follow-up 3-5 days after the initial pitch. Not all pitches arrive. Mailboxes fill. Timing matters. A Tuesday-Wednesday follow-up often works better than Monday (overloaded) or Friday (people mentally checking out).

Second follow-up comes 7-10 days after the initial pitch. At this point, you've reached out twice. The brand has either lost interest or genuinely didn't see it.

After 3 total touchpoints, stop following up. More feels pushy and damages your professional reputation. Some brands take weeks to decide; others never respond. Respect that boundary.

Different channels require different follow-up approaches. Email follow-ups can be fuller with new information. DM follow-ups should be brief (one-liners). LinkedIn follow-ups can reference shared connections or industry trends.

Seasonal follow-up strategies adjust timing. Before big seasons (holiday, back-to-school), follow up more frequently. During slow seasons, space follow-ups wider apart.

Follow-Up Message Strategies

Add new value in each follow-up—never just repeat your initial pitch. If you followed up initially with your media kit, follow up with a case study, new metric, or relevant trend analysis. New value justifies the re-contact.

Reference your previous message so brands know you're following up, not spamming: "Following up on my pitch from [date]—I wanted to share new data from our recent campaign."

Include a clear CTA in each follow-up. "Can we schedule a quick call this week?" or "I'm available to discuss partnership details anytime before [date]" gives brands an easy next step.

Use templates but personalize delivery. Save time with template structure while customizing brand names, specific products, and personal touches. Templates + personalization = efficiency without seeming generic.

Recognize when silence is better. If a brand hasn't responded after 3 quality touchpoints, let it go. Circling back in 3-6 months during a new campaign is acceptable; immediately re-pitching the exact same partnership is not.

How InfluenceFlow Streamlines Pitching and Media Kit Creation

Creating a professional pitch and media kit from scratch is overwhelming. InfluenceFlow simplifies the entire process.

InfluenceFlow's free media kit creator generates professional, visually appealing media kits in minutes. No design experience needed. Choose your template, add your metrics, customize colors to match your brand, and export as PDF or shareable link. Update your numbers in real-time without resending files.

The platform's rate card generator builds professional rate cards that present your pricing clearly and professionally. Tiered options, custom deliverables, and usage rights pricing all integrate seamlessly into your media kit and pitch strategy.

When you're ready to pitch, InfluenceFlow's pitch assistant helps structure compelling emails with personalization tips and proven templates. It's not automation—it's guidance that helps you craft better pitches.

Best of all? InfluenceFlow is completely free. No credit card required. No hidden fees. Ever.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I include in my media kit?

Include your name, professional photo, niche/bio, follower counts across platforms, audience demographics (age, location, interests), engagement metrics, content samples, and your rate card. Add testimonials from previous brand partners and case studies showing campaign results if available. Keep it to 1-2 pages maximum for easy scanning.

How do I calculate my engagement rate?

Engagement rate = (total engagements ÷ follower count) × 100. Total engagements include likes, comments, shares, and saves. For example, if you have 10,000 followers and a post gets 800 engagements, your rate is (800 ÷ 10,000) × 100 = 8%. Most platforms calculate this automatically now.

What's a good engagement rate?

Above 5% engagement is excellent for most creators. Micro-influencers often achieve 8-15% engagement. Macro-influencers (500K+ followers) typically see 1-3% engagement. Engagement rates vary by platform: TikTok averages 5-8%, Instagram 1-3%, YouTube comments 0.5-2%. Your engagement matters more than raw numbers.

Both work. PDFs are easy to email and don't change unexpectedly. Interactive web-based media kits let brands see real-time updated metrics. Best approach: maintain a live web-based version brands can bookmark, plus a PDF for emailing to brands who specifically request it.

How should I price myself as a new creator with low followers?

Focus on engagement rate and niche expertise instead of follower count. Charge based on engagement quality: (engaged followers × engagement rate) rather than total followers. A creator with 5,000 followers at 12% engagement (600 engaged followers) can reasonably charge $300-500 per post. As you grow, raise rates incrementally.

What's the best way to personalize pitches at scale?

Use templates for structure but customize the first paragraph, brand-specific references, and closing for each brand. Tools like Gmail templates or Notion help. Spend 5-10 minutes personalizing each pitch—brands can tell when you've researched them specifically versus mass-pitching.

How many times should I follow up with a brand?

Follow up maximum 3 times total: initial pitch, first follow-up 3-5 days later, second follow-up 7-10 days later. After the third touchpoint, stop. Some brands never respond; that's normal. Respect their silence and move on to other brands.

Should I include pricing in my media kit?

Yes. Transparency about rates builds trust and filters out brands below your rate. Include tiered pricing options. Brands appreciate knowing upfront costs versus guessing and potentially being disappointed.

What if a brand offers way below my rates?

Politely decline if it's significantly below your rates. You can counter-offer: "I understand budget is a concern. Could we adjust deliverables to fit your budget?" Sometimes brands have fixed budgets; sometimes they're testing to see if you'll negotiate. If they won't budge, that's not a fit.

How do I know if my audience aligns with a brand?

Analyze your audience demographics and compare to the brand's target customer. If a brand sells luxury skincare to women aged 25-45 in major cities, check if your audience matches. Look at brand's Instagram followers—are they similar to your audience? Ask yourself: would my followers actually buy this product?

Can I pitch brands on TikTok DM instead of email?

Short answer: yes, but email is more professional. TikTok DMs work for casual partnerships with smaller brands and micro-influencers. For serious, high-value partnerships, use email. DMs get lost in notifications; email creates a record.

What metrics matter most to brands in 2026?

Engagement rate and audience quality trump follower count. Brands want: authentic engagement, audience demographic alignment, previous brand collaboration success, growth trajectory, and content aesthetic fit. Pure follower count matters least if engagement and audience alignment are weak.

How do I make my media kit stand out?

Include case studies from previous brand partnerships with specific metrics (engagement lift, click-through rates, conversions). Add video content (30-second intro video). Use data visualizations for metrics. Include audience testimonials or real comments from followers. Show personality while maintaining professionalism.

Conclusion

Pitching to brands or creating media kits is both art and science in 2026. The brands that respond are those who understand their audience deeply, present themselves professionally, and communicate clear value.

Here's what matters most:

  • Understand what brands actually want: audience alignment, engagement quality, clear deliverables, and previous success
  • Build a comprehensive media kit: include current metrics, demographics, content samples, and testimonials
  • Craft personalized pitches: research each brand, reference specifics, and explain audience fit clearly
  • Price yourself confidently: base rates on engagement quality and audience value, not just follower count
  • Follow up strategically: 3 touches maximum, each adding new value

Start today. Create your first media kit using a professional template or tool. List your metrics. Write 5 personalized pitches to brands you genuinely love. Track responses and follow-ups in a spreadsheet.

As you grow, continuously refine your pitch approach based on response rates. A/B test subject lines. Test different email structures. Refine your rate card based on negotiation patterns.

influencer contract templates ensure you protect yourself legally when brands respond to your pitches. Having templates ready speeds up contract negotiations significantly.

Ready to get started? Create your free media kit with InfluenceFlow today. No credit card required. No hidden fees. Ever. Build your professional media kit, generate your rate card, and start pitching brands with confidence.

Your next brand partnership is waiting—make sure they find you professional, prepared, and worth partnering with.