How to Find Brands That Pay Creators (Without a Big Following)
6 min read
Knowing how to pitch is useless if you don't know who to pitch. The good news: brands that pay creators are easier to find than you think — you just need to look in the right places and prioritise the right ones.
Where to find paying brands
- Brands you already use. Authenticity sells. Start with products in your own life — your pitch writes itself.
- Who similar creators tag. Look at creators in your niche with a similar size. The brands paying them will likely pay you too.
- Smaller and mid-size brands. They reply far more than mega-brands and often have budget set aside for creators. Don't only chase the biggest names.
- Brands actively running creator ads. If a brand already boosts creator content as ads, they clearly value it — and have budget.
- Creator marketplaces and brand briefs. Platforms where brands post collaboration briefs let you apply directly.
How to prioritise your list
Don't pitch 200 brands at random. Build a focused list of about 20 brands that (1) fit your niche, (2) are realistically your size to work with, and (3) you can say something genuine about. A small, well-targeted list with personalised pitches beats mass spray-and-pray every time.
Track every conversation
Once you start reaching out, things get messy fast — who did you contact, who replied, who needs a follow-up. Keep it in one place. Creatrne gives you a deal tracker for exactly this, plus AI-drafted proposals so each pitch is personalised without starting from a blank page. You review and send everything yourself.
Then pitch them well
With your list ready, the next step is a pitch that gets a reply — see how to pitch brands as a creator for the structure and templates, and make sure your media kit is ready to share.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find brands that pay creators?
Start with brands you already use, look at who similar-sized creators in your niche tag in paid posts, focus on smaller and mid-size brands that reply more often, watch for brands running creator ads, and check creator marketplaces where brands post collaboration briefs.
Is it better to pitch big brands or small brands?
Small and mid-size brands typically reply more and are more realistic to land as a smaller creator. Big brands get thousands of pitches and often work through agencies. Build your list around brands your size.
How many brands should I reach out to?
Quality beats quantity. A focused list of about 20 well-matched brands with personalised pitches will outperform mass-messaging hundreds of brands with the same generic note.
Put this into practice with Creatrne
Creatrne helps creators draft personalized pitch proposals, build a verified media kit, and track every brand conversation in one place. You stay in control — Creatrne never messages brands for you.
See how it works