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Struggling to land your first brand deal on LinkedIn? You’re not alone.
Unlike platforms like Instagram and TikTok, LinkedIn lacks clear-cut resources on how to charge for posts or even approach brands in the first place. This leaves many creators wondering: Where do I even start?
The good news? There’s no follower minimum, and you don’t need to be a mega-influencer to make money.
We interviewed Brandon Smithwrick—an award-winning LinkedIn creator—who’s worked with brands like Amazon, Skillshare, and Notion.
In this post, you’ll learn realistic, actionable steps he used to land his first brand deal and how you can do the same.
Let’s get started!
7 Tips to Land Your First LinkedIn Brand Deal
1. Build Credibility First—Focus on Trust, Not Just Followers
A common misconception is that you need a massive follower count to attract brands. The truth is, it’s not about how many followers you have, but how much trust and credibility you’ve built with your audience.
Brandon, for example, has worked with brands like Amazon, not because of a huge follower count, but because he’s earned his audience’s trust.
He’s seen brands willing to partner with creators who have as few as 2,000–3,000 followers, as long as they demonstrate authority in their niche.
In fact, at Creator Match, we’ve partnered with creators with as few as 4,000 followers on campaigns. Why? Because brands are increasingly looking for authentic voices with engaged communities rather than just big numbers.
Speaking of decent numbers doing big things, take a look at this screenshot:
Guess Wide Thomas’ follower count when she published the post.
50,000? Or maybe 100,000?
No. She had under 10,000 followers.
This proves that even ‘smaller’ creators can achieve big feats. It all boils down to how authentic their audience perceives their brand to be.
To build such credibility, consistency is key. Focus on delivering valuable, niche-specific content that resonates with your audience. Over time, this positions you as a trusted voice that brands will want to collaborate with.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of engagement. Responding to comments, participating in discussions, and building relationships with your followers are all part of growing your authority on LinkedIn.
2. Choose a Niche and Stay Consistent
When it comes to landing brand deals, being a jack-of-all-trades on LinkedIn won’t do you any favors. Brands want to work with creators who are experts in a specific area, not those who dabble in everything.
Brandon stresses that consistency in a chosen niche is essential. If your content jumps from topic to topic, it’s harder to build credibility or attract a loyal audience—both of which are crucial for landing brand deals.
Brands are more likely to trust creators who consistently show expertise in a specific subject. By narrowing your focus, you not only establish authority but also attract the right kind of audience. This makes you a more appealing partner to brands that operate within your niche.
For example, two things come to mind when you think of LinkedIn creator Shelley Johnson: HR and leadership. That’s all she talks about.
In fact, analyzing her profile using our free Chrome extension reveals that her most-used hashtags are #leadership, #hr, #culture, and #peopleandculture. This demonstrates consistency.
Consistency is also important when it comes to posting frequency. Like Shelley, stay active on LinkedIn by sharing regular insights, updates, and tips.
Brands want to know that their partners can consistently engage with their audience, and regular posting shows that you’re serious about building your presence.
By focusing on a single niche and staying consistent, you not only grow your audience but also signal to brands that you’re a reliable, knowledgeable creator. This makes it easier to attract deals over time.
3. Leverage Your Past Wins
Even if you haven’t landed your first sponsored deal yet, you can still use past wins to position yourself as a valuable partner for brands. These wins don’t have to be from paid partnerships—think about other areas where you’ve demonstrated value.
Have you written a LinkedIn post that performed exceptionally well? Received high engagement on a thought-leadership article? Built a community around your content?
You can leverage all of these experiences when pitching to brands.
Brandon emphasizes that brands care about results. So even if you haven’t worked with a brand before, showing how your posts have resonated with your audience can help.
It’s about demonstrating that you can engage an audience and deliver value—whether or not it’s tied to a paid deal yet.
So when pitching brands, highlight how your content has made an impact. Maybe you’ve sparked a discussion that led to increased followers or shares, or perhaps your insights have been referenced by others in the industry. These are all wins that can help land your first client.
4. Start Small—Your First Deal Doesn’t Have to Be Huge
One of the biggest barriers for creators looking to land their first brand deal on LinkedIn is thinking that it needs to be a big one right out of the gate. But the reality is, your first deal can (and likely will) be a smaller one—and that’s perfectly fine.
Brandon’s first LinkedIn brand deal was for $350. That initial step paved the way for bigger deals over time with brands like Teachable.
Starting small allows you to gain experience, understand the process, and build confidence in your value as a creator. Once you’ve successfully completed a smaller deal, you can use it as a stepping stone.
The key is to document your success. Brands want to know what you’ve done before, so be sure to highlight the results of each partnership, even if it wasn’t a big-budget deal. This can include metrics like engagement rates, the number of views, or even positive feedback from the brand itself.
Remember, your first deal isn’t about the money—it’s about establishing credibility. By showcasing that you’ve worked with brands, no matter how small the project, you position yourself as someone who has experience in the space.
5. Offer Free Value to Brands You Want to Work With
One of the quickest ways to get on a brand’s radar is to offer value upfront—without asking for anything in return. This might seem counterintuitive, but it’s a strategy that can significantly increase your odds of landing a paid deal later.
Brandon suggests creating free content for a brand you’re passionate about as a way to start building a relationship.
By showcasing what you can do for them, you provide proof of your ability while also demonstrating genuine interest in their brand. This could be something as simple as writing a post that mentions the brand or creating a case study around how you use their product or service.
Content creator Lloyd George recently shared how he used this strategy to land a sponsorship deal. In a LinkedIn post, he revealed how he secured a partnership opportunity with TextExpander by mentioning (and tagging) the brand in one of his posts (see screenshot below).
Brands are always looking for creators who understand their values and can speak authentically about their offerings. By providing value first, you show them that you can deliver, making it easier for them to trust you with a paid partnership down the line.
6. Pitch Brands Already Working with Creators
One of the smartest ways to land your first brand deal on LinkedIn is by targeting brands that are already working with creators.
These brands have already shown that they’re willing to invest in influencer marketing. So instead of pitching cold to companies that may not understand the value of LinkedIn creators, focus your efforts on those that are actively collaborating with influencers. This makes your chances of success much higher.
Start by researching brands that have run campaigns with creators in your niche or similar industries. You can just look at the content shared by LinkedIn influencers in your space. If you notice certain brands being mentioned, add them to your list of potential partners.
The CM Chrome extension can be a powerful tool to speed up this process. It allows you to quickly identify brands that are already collaborating with creators and streamline your outreach efforts.
Simply load the tool while viewing any creator’s profile, and click on the small green boxes to navigate to their sponsored content. It’s that simple.
By using the extension, you can find brands aligned with your niche and increase your chances of landing a deal.
At Creator Match, we often encourage creators to target brands already in the creator economy, as these businesses have a better understanding of the ROI influencers bring.
By pitching to brands that have already invested in creators, you position yourself as part of their existing strategy rather than trying to convince them from scratch.
Here’s a simple pitch template that you can use to reach out to brands:
Subject: Collaboration Opportunity: Let’s Amplify Your Brand on LinkedIn
Hi [Name],
I’ve been following [Brand Name] and I’m really impressed with how you [mention something specific about the brand’s recent campaign, product, or mission]. I’m passionate about [your niche] and have built an engaged audience on LinkedIn that aligns with your brand’s values.
I’d love to explore how we can collaborate to help [Brand Name] reach an even wider audience. My recent content has performed well, driving [mention engagement metrics or other wins], and I believe there’s potential to bring similar success to your brand.
Let me know if you’re open to discussing a possible collaboration. I’d be happy to provide more insights on how we can work together to achieve your goals.
Best regards,
[Your Full Name]
[Your LinkedIn Profile Link]
Keep in mind that you’ll get better results when your email lands in the right inbox. Instead of sending your email to generic addresses like inquiry@website.com, connect with decision-makers in the company.
For influencer marketing opportunities, you may want to reach out to staff members with titles like ‘Influencer Marketing Manager’ or ‘Creator Partnerships Manager.’ Just target decision-makers in the social media or marketing team, depending on the company’s organizational structure.
7. Build a Community First—Monetization Will Follow
The truth is, brand deals shouldn’t be your sole focus when you’re just starting out on LinkedIn. While it’s tempting to chase after that first paycheck, the real long-term success comes from building a strong, engaged community.
Brandon emphasizes that monetization will naturally follow once you’ve established yourself as a trusted voice within your niche.
Instead of focusing on immediate revenue, focus on providing value to your audience. Engage them with insightful content, spark conversations, and create a space where people want to interact with you.
The more you nurture your community, the more attractive you become to brands. They’ll see that you’re not just chasing deals but are genuinely invested in your niche and audience.
As your audience grows, so will the opportunities to monetize your content. You’ll be in a stronger position to negotiate bigger, more lucrative deals because you’ve built a solid foundation of trust and credibility.
Remember, brand deals are the reward for the value you bring—not the starting point. Focus on building your community, and the rest will follow.
Take Action Today and Land Your First Brand Deal
Securing your first brand deal on LinkedIn isn’t about chasing opportunities. It’s about building trust, staying consistent, and leveraging what you’ve already achieved.
The key takeaway from our chat with Brandon boils down to this:
Focus on growing your community, and the deals will follow.
Ready to take the next step? Use the Creator Match Chrome extension to quickly find brands working with creators and fast-track your outreach.
Want to connect with paying brands directly? Join the Creator Match Creator Network today by filling out this form, and start leveraging your LinkedIn presence for influencer marketing opportunities.
Remember, every step you take brings you closer to landing your first brand deal—so stay persistent and keep going.
Wishing you all the best on your journey!
