Cold calling potential brand partners is a scary and often disheartening practice, but it doesn't mean it NEVER works.

Here we have shared a few tips after years working on the receiving end of a lot of plea's to partner on campaigns and product launches.

1. Shooting your shot in the DM’s

   Don't get us wrong, a good DM will spark curiosity but it's not where the deal happens. Make sure you use this moment to find an email or number to the right person on the right team who can help make it happen.

2. Pitching to brands you don't love

   It's easy for a brand to spot a copy and paste ask, and believe me they will scroll back on your feet to see if you're telling the truth. Even better would be if in your pitch you shared some previous examples of you showing your love or appreciation for their brand or something similar in a creative way that showed high levels of engagement.

3. Not not giving enough time to execute

   If you were talking about today, tomorrow, next week, then these are all dates far too soon. Big brands take a long time to react, even to great ideas. So give yourself the best chance by pitching a plan for an upcoming moment or event that has enough time to allow for deliberation or feedback on their side, as well as negotiation on yours.

4. Not showing what you can do for them

   Chances are that these brands have dozens of prospective asks a day, everyone wanting to be the next postal person for a product and get some stash. To stand out make sure you do your research on the brand objectives, where are they trying to achieve engagement? who are they trying to talk to you? and can you help with this? If you present yourself as a no lose opportunity, and we mean no lose, not win-win, then you put yourself in the best place to get the deal you want.

5. Taking no as an answer, forever.

   It's not over until it's over, and sometimes it's not even over then. Even if you get a no to your first pitch, don't think that that's it. The Brand/influencer agreements are more of a relationship, make sure you follow up and maintain the connection, demonstrate that you are entrepreneurial and creative in your approach, and if you keep the vibe good, more than likely it's an easier ask to get a yes next time.