Guide · Brand deals
How to get brand deals, and keep them coming
Make yourself easy to book, catch the offers already in your DMs, apply to campaigns, and pitch the brands you want.
By HelloDM · Updated 10 November 2026
The short answer
1. Make yourself easy to book
- A clear niche in your bio: who your content is for, in one line.
- A rate card ready to send with each platform’s reach and price. See what to put in a media kit.
- One clear way to reach you. A business email, or a line asking for a budget and deadline, gets better first messages than “DM for collabs”.
2. Catch the offers you already get
Brand messages often land in message requests, between fan replies and spam. Check requests weekly, or let a tool sort them: HelloDM reads incoming DMs and files the ones that look like real offers (an intent to work together plus a budget, a fee, a barter or a deliverable) as collab requests in your dashboard. It deliberately ignores “love your collabs!”; one word isn’t an offer.
3. Apply to campaigns
Brands publish campaigns with a brief, a budget per creator and terms. On HelloDM you see the budget in your own currency, quote in yours, and agree deliverables, dates and payment in chat with the brand. Applying is free.
4. Pitch the brands you want
- Pick brands your audience already buys from.
- Write three lines: who you reach, one idea for their product, and your link in bio.
- Follow up once, a week later. Then move on.
5. Close it properly
- Agree in writing: deliverables, dates, the fee, usage rights and how many revisions.
- Watch for fakes: a real deal never asks you to pay first or log in somewhere.
- Invoice when it’s done. HelloDM’s invoice generator creates the invoice for you on Starter and Pro.
Everything in one place: link in bio and brand deals.
Questions
How many followers do I need for brand deals?
There's no fixed number. Brands buy an audience that matches their customers, so a small account in a precise niche can get deals a bigger general account doesn't. What matters is that a brand can see who you reach and what you charge.
Where do brand offers on Instagram end up?
Often in message requests, mixed in with fan messages and spam, which is why they get missed. HelloDM flags DMs that read like a real offer (an intent plus a budget, fee, barter or deliverable) and files them as collab requests in your dashboard.
How do I spot a fake brand deal?
Be careful when a 'brand' asks you to pay first: buy their product at a 'discount', pay a fee to join an ambassador programme, or click a link and log in. A real paid deal names the deliverable and the fee, and the money flows to you.
Should I pitch brands myself?
Yes, alongside waiting for offers. A short pitch that names one idea for their product, your audience and your link in bio does better than a long message.
Do I need to send an invoice?
Most brands need one to pay you. HelloDM's invoice generator creates it for you, with your details filled in and any tax worked out (10 invoices a month on Starter, unlimited on Pro).
Try HelloDM free
A free link-in-bio page and brand campaigns, plus Instagram DM automation. No card.