How to use AI to get brand deals: Tips to make more than your day job
Lots of Prompts included
There is soooo much to discuss here. This is another good one to bookmark.
Landing brand deals can be a lucrative side hustle (or even a full-time gig!), and AI tools can help you find leads, reach out effectively, and build relationships—all key ingredients for a steady stream of brand partnerships. Here’s how to use AI to boost your chances of landing those deals and making more than your day job.
1. Leverage Conferences for Lead Generation
Going to conferences in your niche can be a goldmine for brand deals. Use AI to research attendees, find key contacts, and even plan your approach.
AI Tip: Before you go, use ChatGPT to craft an elevator pitch or conversation starters specific to the brands you’ll meet. It can also help you practice different ways to approach a booth and make a lasting impression.
Prompt Examples:
For Preparing Elevator Pitches: “Create a 15-second pitch introducing myself as a lifestyle influencer to brands at a wellness conference. Highlight my focus on mental health and my 60k Instagram followers.”
For Crafting Follow-Up Messages: “Write a follow-up email to a brand representative I met at a recent conference. Mention our discussion about collaboration and suggest a time for a brief call to explore partnership opportunities.”
For Practicing Conversations: “Generate a list of conversation starters for networking at a fashion industry conference. Include questions that show my interest in potential brand collaborations.”
2. Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator & AI Tools for Targeting
LinkedIn Sales Navigator can help you build a list of the brands you want to work with. But AI can take your outreach to the next level by crafting tailored messages and automating email follow-ups.
AI Tip: Use ChatGPT to write compelling connection requests, emails, or LinkedIn messages to the decision-makers. You can even use AI to track open rates and set follow-up reminders.
Prompt Examples:
For Connection Requests: “Write a connection request message for LinkedIn to a marketing manager at a beauty brand. Mention my beauty blog and interest in potential collaborations.”
For Personalized Outreach: “Create a LinkedIn message to introduce myself as a fitness influencer to a sportswear brand's marketing director. Highlight my audience demographics and recent engagement rates on my fitness-related content.”
For Email Outreach via Attio: “Draft an email introducing myself to a health food brand. Include my background as a nutrition influencer and propose a collaboration where I feature their products in my meal prep videos.”
3. Craft Cold Emails That Get Responses
Cold emailing brands may seem daunting, but it’s an effective strategy. AI can help you find the right words to spark interest, keep your messages short and sweet, and personalize each email for maximum impact.
AI Tip: Use AI to write short, compelling emails that cut through the noise. Target the right contact by asking ChatGPT to help you research companies and find marketing or influencer managers.
Prompt Examples:
For Initial Cold Email: “Write a cold email to the general support team of a skincare brand. Introduce myself as a beauty influencer with an engaged audience. Ask if I could connect with the influencer marketing manager to discuss potential collaboration opportunities.”
For Follow-Up Email: “Create a follow-up email for a brand I contacted last week. I recently reviewed similar products on my platform and would love to explore a potential partnership.”
For Tailored Pitches: “Draft a cold email for a vegan food brand, focusing on how my plant-based audience aligns with their products. Include an offer to create recipe videos featuring their products.”
4. Ask for Introductions & Use AI for Follow-Up
Your network is your best friend when it comes to finding brand deals. A warm intro can be much more effective than a cold email. And once you have that intro, use AI to help you follow up professionally and consistently.
AI Tip: ChatGPT can help you craft the perfect follow-up messages after getting a referral, ensuring you stay top of mind without being overly pushy.
Prompt Examples:
For Requesting an Introduction: “Write a short message to a friend asking for an introduction to the marketing director at their company. Mention my interest in discussing potential influencer partnerships.”
For Post-Introduction Follow-Up: “Write a follow-up email to the marketing manager I was introduced to. Thank them for their time, express my enthusiasm for working together, and suggest a call to brainstorm ideas for a potential campaign.”
For Ongoing Relationship Building: “Generate a friendly check-in email to a brand manager I’ve worked with. Mention a recent trend in our niche that aligns with their brand and suggest collaborating on new content.”
The Secret Sauce: Consistency & Relationship Building
Consistency and nurturing relationships are key. Brand deals often come down to timing—keeping up regular communication can make the difference when an opportunity arises. AI tools can help schedule reminders for check-ins, track interactions, and even suggest content ideas for nurturing relationships.
AI Tip: Use ChatGPT to brainstorm regular check-in messages that add value, whether sharing an idea for collaboration, congratulating them on a milestone, or simply catching up.
Prompt Examples:
For Monthly Check-Ins: “Create a monthly check-in email for a brand I’ve been in contact with. Mention a new campaign idea and ask if they have any upcoming initiatives where we might collaborate.”
For Sharing Value: “Draft an email to share a recent social media post that features one of their competitor's products. Use this to showcase my content style and highlight the potential for a partnership.”
For Nurturing Long-Term Relationships: “Write a friendly email congratulating a brand manager on a recent product launch. Offer to create a series of unboxing videos to help them promote their new products to my followers.”
Takeaway: Building Long-Term Relationships for Consistent Brand Deals
Building brand deals takes time, consistency, and relationship-building. It took me 8 months of nurturing relationships before landing my first brand deal with Spotify. But you'll be ahead of the game by using AI to streamline your outreach and stay on top of your connections. The more you refine your approach, the more likely you are to turn your side hustle into something that out-earns your day job.