🎯 How I find brand sponsors for my newsletter

(and how you can monetise yours too)

Finding Brand Deals That Actually Work is not a small feat.

When I first started pursuing brand deals, I had no idea they would become such a major part of my income. Back then, it felt like a long shot—who would want to partner with someone just starting out?

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Before we go on, at the end you will find some useful resources to help you create your media kit, pitch to brands and a free webinar for all membership subscribers. Check them out.

If you find this helpful, consider resharing. Substack creators need to know they got options, and these reads makes a huge difference! ♻️

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I quickly realized something: brand deals aren’t just about audience size. They’re about trust, alignment, and value.

I started small—reaching out to brands I genuinely loved and wanted to share with my audience.

Here’s what I did:

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I stopped trying to be everything to everyone and focused on my people.

Solopreneurs, freelancers, portfolio career builders—people who are done with the 9-5 grind and want to build their own thing.

Once I was clear on that niche, things changed.

My engagement skyrocketed, and that’s when brands started to notice.

Shortform, for example, one of the best reading hubs out there, reached out to me after I posted a simple tip on growing a personal brand.

They didn’t care that I wasn’t clocking 100K followers—they cared that I was speaking directly to the people they wanted to reach.

We are now partners beyond a brand sponsorship as I became their lifetime ambassador too. (I only recommend products that I love and I mostly end up partnering for a longer period of time with brands like these):

That’s the beauty of a niche audience: you don’t need to shout, because your people are already listening.

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I focused on building relationships and proving the value I could bring.

I didn’t have massive reach, but I had an engaged audience, and that counted for a lot.

The first brand deal was a turning point. It was small ($50 deal for a post), but it was proof that I could do this. From there, I kept refining my approach—focusing on what worked, tweaking my pitch, and showing the results I could deliver.

Fast forward 14 months: brand deals now make up 30% of my monthly revenue.

It’s by far the most lucrative income stream I’ve built, and it’s been transformative for my career.

Not only do they provide consistent revenue, but they also help grow my audience and connect me with brands that align with my values.

I’ve worked with brands like Canva, HubSpot, and ClickFunnels, just to name a few.

These collaborations didn’t happen overnight. They were the result of consistent effort, building trust, and knowing how to align my audience with what these brands needed.

And if I’ve learned one thing, it’s this: you don’t need to be the biggest creator in your niche. You just need to be strategic, authentic, and consistent.

Brand deals are about finding the “right” match—one that benefits both sides and delivers real value.

Does This Sound Familiar?

If you’re a creator looking to grow your revenue, you’ve probably faced these challenges:

• Feeling like you need a massive audience to even be considered for brand deals.

• Not knowing where to start—how do you find brands that align with your content?

• The fear of pitching—what do you say to make a brand take you seriously?

I get it. I’ve been there. And it can feel overwhelming.

But I’m here to tell you that it’s absolutely possible to make brand deals a significant income stream—even if you’re just starting out.

The Action Plan: How to Find Brand Deals That Work

So, how do creators and brands find the perfect partnership?

In my experience, it’s all about strategy—and a bit of finesse. Here’s how you can navigate this landscape to find deals that actually add value.

For Creators 🤳

Want brand deals that resonate with your audience? It starts with leveraging what’s already working:

1. Look at Your Past Wins

- If a certain kind of brand has done well with your audience before, that's a great place to start. Look for similar brands—those in the same space—on platforms like LinkedIn.

2. Use Creator Directories

- Platforms like Passionfroot and Paved offer directories sorted by category to help you find relevant creators.

3. Showcase Proof, Not Promises

- When reaching out, lead with your past wins. Include:

- Case studies or links to previous campaigns.

- Testimonials from past brand partners.

- General performance metrics (clicks, conversions) for that type of campaign. (But always get permission to share specifics!)

4. Watch out the Barrier to Entry

- Not all brands want to go all in right away. Consider offering:

- Secondary sponsorship slots at a lower price.

- A/B tests to a smaller part of your audience (higher CPM, but lower upfront cost).

These moves make it easier for brands to test and validate your audience fit before they commit to something bigger.

For Brands 💼

Finding the right creator to work with takes effort, but it’s worth it for the results. Here are a few key resources to streamline your search:

1. Use Creator Directories

- Platforms like Passionfroot and Paved offer directories sorted by category to help you find relevant creators.

2. Test Before You Commit

- When trying out new creators, look for smaller sponsorship options. Segment tests or secondary placements allow you to get a feel for performance before going all in.

3. Track What Works

- Test partnerships across multiple creators. The more data you gather, the better decisions you can make on where to double down.

The key takeaway here? Finding the right brand-content-audience fit is what turns a good sponsorship into a great one.

But if the idea of searching, pitching, and negotiating sounds overwhelming—I get it.

That's why I’m hosting an exclusive live mastermind on brand deals: how to find them, pitch them, and get the most value out of every partnership.

Join me for the webinar to learn more about nailing brand deals that actually pay off. Spots are limited, so grab yours now!

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Here are your membership bonuses now as promised. Claim them below:

(P.S. Annual membership is now at 52% off, only until November 16th. Spots are limited, claim it now)

1. Free live masterclass on Monetising your content online (recorded)

2. Free live masterclass on Brands pitching (upcoming)

3. Your media kit template to pitch brands

4. 50 headline templates for inspiration

5. My swipe file of most successful Notes yet

6. Content idea generator

7. 10 prompts for your content creation

8. How to identify your ideal target audience - practical guide

9. Creating an expert marketing strategy prompt

10. How to get inspiration form your favorite Youtube videos

11. My favorite tools so you can grow your portfolio

12. Plus, you will get invited to a Notes boost this Saturday.

13. and more