As an influencer, getting a brandโs attention requires a lot of work. So how do you do it? While thereโs no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, there are many proactive ways to up your noticeability on your social platforms. Whether youโre fielding negotiations yourself or youโve got a kickass team handling it for you (shout-out to you, CookIt Talent Team!), here are our top 5 tips for attracting brands as an influencer.
Find your niche and stick to it. Optimize your bio to reflect your niche. Create consistent, high quality content that fits your niche. Donโt be afraid to (politely) turn down sponsorships if they donโt align with your current content strategy. Brands are looking for influencers whose values align with their own, so make sure to market yourself with clear motives in mind.ย
Not everything needs to be sponsored! In fact, too many branded partnerships can decrease your engagement rate and make you appear less authentic. Instead, consider creating organic content that incorporates (and tags) brands you love and use all the time. Organic content helps the brand see how much you truly value their product! When you tag the brand, you (or your management team) can see how the post performed with your audience. Youโre able to use those stats to reach out to the brand with the message that you are already an ambassador for their product, and that they would be smart to see you as a partner for future paid collaborations.
Take advantage of trends, from songs and hashtags to trending foods (remember that viral baked feta pasta?) and seasonal flavors (looking at you, pumpkin spice). This will help you stay relevant and make your content appeal to the masses. Brands want to be a part of the larger conversations and trends that are happening in social media. Working with a creator who understands their audienceโs interest in current trends/holidays/seasonal moments will better ensure their product becomes a part of those conversations.
An easy way to do this is to use trending audio on an Instagram Reel or TikTok. Donโt know whatโs trending? Later posts monthly roundups of the top Instagram Reels and TikTok trends on their blog. If youโre looking for hot topics for your editorial calendar, check out our monthly trends blog posts.ย
Love a brand? Let them know! Brands’ social teams are always paying attention to who is engaging with their social pages. It’s an easy way to get noticed. Tag them in your content, leave meaningful comments on their posts, reply to their stories, and use their branded hashtags. Pay attention to the aesthetic of the brands youโd like to work with and post content that falls in line with that aesthetic. As we mentioned earlier, posting about brands authentically is a great way to get their attention for paid partnerships in the future.ย
Who said you have to wait around for brands to notice you? Get out there and shoot your shot. Target brands that you are genuinely interested in working with, send them a thoughtfully crafted DM or email, and get your media kit ready. Make sure to let the brand know the value you bring to the partnership, how your following aligns with the brandโs audience goals, and your authentic connection to the product (brands love to know when a creator really does love them!).
Do you have any hacks for getting brandsโ attention? Let us know in the comments!
Weโve said it before, and weโll say it againโyeah, thereโs a game on Sunday, but letโs be realโฆ itโs all about the food. ๐ Here are some top-notch recipes from our roster that have to be at your game day watch party! ๐
In-N-Out Animal Style Sliders by @noflakeysalt
Spicy Buffalo Snack Mix by @kasimjhardaway x @hormelfoods
Crab Rangoon Dip by @yessidothecookingg
Cheesy Buffalo Chicken on Texas Toast by @cookinginthemidwest
BLT Dip by @aldentediva
Italian Sushi by @thecookingmawma
Fresh from @specialtyfoodassociationโs Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas! โ๏ธ We had an incredible time exploring the latest and greatest in food innovation. Here are the top trends we spotted that are set to take over 2025!
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฌ: Beans and legumes are stepping up as protein powerhouses! Shoutout to @beanvivo for their innovative salad toppers.
๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ-๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: From seafood to dairy, plant-based alternatives are booming for all diets! We loved the vegetarian pรขtรฉ from @alexian_pate.
๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฎ: Yuzu is everywhere! Think chips, popcorn, mayo, and even @celebrity_goatโs Yuzu Citrus flavor.
๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ: Monk fruit, stevia, and allulose are redefining sweet treats! Weโre loving @lakantoโs selection.
๐๐จ๐ฐ & ๐๐จ-๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ: The sober-curious movement is thriving, with sophisticated non-alcoholic wines, spirits, and beers.
๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ฌ: Protein-packed crisps, plant-based jerkyโฆ snacks are getting a serious upgrade to fit busy lifestyles!
๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐: Big-name spots like @masala.pizza are making their way onto store shelves!
๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ: Ready-to-eat meal kits are on the rise! @mycookingbox_na caught our eye.
๐
๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง: Butter, step aside! Kraftโs Mac & Cheese popcorn is shaking up the snack aisle.
๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: Eye-catching designs are stealing the spotlight, with brands like La Narval redefining the tinned fish category.
Weโre counting down the days to the Winter Fancy Food Show by @specialtyfoodassociation in Las Vegas! โ๏ธ In addition to connecting with our favorite brands, @lauriebuck (CEO & Founder) and @molls.benton (EVP) will be trend-hunting and, of course, product tasting!
Weโll hit the ground running on Sunday, 1/19, and be back bright and early on Monday, 1/20.
Laurie will also be joining her classmates from the Maker Prep courseโa program sponsored by the Specialty Food Association. ๐ป Their goal: to learn how to create, finance, distribute, and market a proprietary food business.
Will you be there? Letโs catch up! Email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. ๐ฌ Hope to see you soon!
CookIt has been nominated for the 2024 Creator Agency Award in the Top Creator Agency category, presented by BTI & @withjulyhq! ๐
This recognition means the world to us, and we couldnโt have made it this far without the support of our brand and agency partners, as well as our exclusive talent roster. โค๏ธ
As a women-owned, service-focused agency, we pride ourselves on bringing together brands and influencers who share a passion for food and lifestyle. Our deep niche expertise continues to fuel our growth, and weโre incredibly proud to see our roster of 30+ talented creators continue to thrive.
Voting is LIVE and ends on January 31, 2025! Click the link in our bio to cast your vote.
#CreatorAgencyAwards
If youโve ever wondered what the journey from print media editor-in-chief to influencer marketing/talent agency CEO looks like, our founder Laurie Buckle joined the Next in Creator Media podcast to share her story. ๐๏ธ
Tune in for insights on empowering food creators, building brand/influencer collaborations and diversifying revenue streams, along with her thinking on why food content is increasingly becoming intertwined with lifestyle content (hint: food is no longer just sustenance itโs a reflection of personal values and lifestyle choices).
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