How to Get Brand Deals on TikTok in 2024: Complete Beginner’s Guide

Introduction

Did you know that TikTok influencer marketing spending reached a staggering $5 billion in 2023? That’s right! As someone who’s helped countless creators land their first brand deals, I’m excited to share everything you need to know about getting started with TikTok sponsorships. Trust me, you don’t need millions of followers to start monetizing your content – you just need the right strategy!

Prerequisites for Landing TikTok Brand Deals

Let me tell you something that still makes me chuckle – when I first started pursuing brand deals, I thought you needed at least a million followers! Boy, was I wrong. After years of working in the creator economy and helping dozens of TikTokers land their first sponsorships, I’ve learned that it’s not just about the numbers.

Here’s the real deal: while there’s no universal minimum follower count, most brands typically look for creators with at least 10,000 followers. But here’s the secret sauce – engagement matters way more than follower count! I’ve seen creators with 15,000 highly engaged followers land better deals than accounts with 100,000 passive followers.

First things first, you’ll need to switch to a Creator account if you haven’t already. Just hop into your settings, tap ‘Manage Account,’ and select ‘Switch to Creator Account.’ This unlocks tons of features that’ll make your brand deal journey easier, including those detailed analytics that brands love to see.

Finding Your Perfect Brand Match

I spent nearly six months reaching out to the wrong brands before I figured this out – alignment is everything! You’ve got to start by identifying brands that perfectly match your niche and audience demographics. Let me break down my proven process.

Start by creating a “brand wishlist” – I keep mine in a simple spreadsheet with three columns: dream brands, realistic targets, and starter opportunities. I learned this strategy from a mentor who’s landed over 100 brand deals, and it’s been a game-changer!

Pro tip: Look at brands already advertising in your niche. I use TikTok’s Creative Center to spot trending branded hashtags in my category. This helped me land my first deal with a productivity app company – they were already looking for creators in my space!

Creating an Irresistible Pitch

Here’s where most creators drop the ball (yep, I did too at first!). Your pitch needs to be data-driven but personality-filled. I’ve got a template that’s landed me an 80% response rate:

Subject line: “[Your Niche] Creator (XX% Engagement Rate) → [Brand Name] Collaboration”

The body should include:

Your “why” – personal connection to their brand
Key metrics (engagement rate, audience demographics)
Content idea examples
Previous collaboration results (if any)

I always attach my media kit (more on that in a sec) and include links to my best-performing relevant content. One time, I even created a custom TikTok showing how I’d integrate their product – that landed me a $2,000 deal!

Building Your Professional Portfolio

Oh man, if I could go back in time and give myself one piece of advice, it would be to start building a media kit sooner! I spent weeks fumbling through DMs with brands, trying to explain my value proposition without any professional materials to back it up. What a rookie mistake!

Your media kit is like your TikTok resume, and I’ve got a formula that works like magic. Start with a one-pager that includes your best engagement stats, audience demographics, and content highlights. I use Canva for this (nothing fancy needed!), and it’s transformed my brand outreach success rate from about 10% to nearly 40%!

Negotiating Your Worth

Listen up, because this is where I see most creators leave money on the table! When I started, I was charging $50 per post because I was scared to ask for more. Big mistake! Here’s my current pricing formula:

Base Rate = (Followers × 0.05) + (Average Views × 0.10)

Then adjust based on:

Engagement rate (multiply by 1.2-1.5 for high engagement)
Usage rights (add 25-50% for brand repurposing)
Exclusivity requirements (add 50-100%)

To get a rough estimate of your potential earnings, try the Influencer Marketing Hub Calculator

Remember, these are starting points! I recently doubled my rate because a brand loved my authentic approach, even though my followers hadn’t doubled.

Delivering Professional Results

Here’s the truth about sponsored content – your first few attempts might feel awkward (mine sure did!). But I’ve developed a system that keeps both brands and followers happy:

Storyboard your content first (I use simple iPhone notes)
Film multiple versions with different hooks
Include clear calls-to-action
Maintain your usual editing style
Always, always disclose sponsorships properly (#ad or #sponsored)

I learned the hard way that rushing sponsored content is a recipe for disaster. Now I schedule at least three days for creation and revisions. Trust me, brands notice and appreciate the professionalism!

Conclusion

Landing your first brand deal on TikTok might seem overwhelming, but with the right approach, it’s absolutely achievable. Remember to focus on building genuine connections with your audience first – that’s what brands really value! Start by implementing these strategies one step at a time, and don’t get discouraged if your first few attempts don’t succeed. Keep refining your approach, stay authentic, and most importantly, keep creating content you’re proud of.

Ready to start your journey into TikTok sponsorships? Begin by upgrading to a Creator account and building your media kit. And hey, don’t forget to share your success stories in the comments below – I love hearing about other creators’ wins!