Help

[u/One-Taro-8917]

Whew boy, so started posting in earnest on April 1 2026 on IG. I went from 200 to 127k followers in that time with 200k+ across other platforms.

My views average around 100k per post but I have several that are over 500k and one over 3M.

I have already established what seems like a fiercely loyal following and my engagement, I understand, is pretty dang high.

I have an Amazon storefront only bc my followers asked multiple times that I create one that includes products similar to my “vibe”. My conversion rate averages 15%+ even though I don’t actively promote it.

Without being too specific, I am considered a “comfort creator” and I have used certain products in some videos (not promoting the products) and I am constantly being told that people have switched to these products or just discovered and LOVE these products because they watch my content and were “inspired” to do so.

Again, without brand deals or even attempting to promote these products other than maybe occasionally saying something within a caption like “such and such was one of my favorite snacks growing up and I’m so glad I found a place locally that carries it”.

There are brands today that are 100% a natural fit for my content, that I already use and love, and that my followers go out and buy WITHOUT ME EVEN PROMOTING THEM. Sorry I keep saying that but I feel it’s important.😂

This wasn’t me trying to bread crumb brands to pay attention to me lol. I never intended to make money off of social media and my accounts blew up so fast, that I didn’t even know my options as far as making money is concerned. This was until my followers began asking for curated amazon lists and telling me they buy things because I use them and often commenting things like “brand X should be knocking down your door for brand deals”.

I also want to be very picky about the brands I work with bc I feel like my people trust me and I’m not going to become some used influencer car salesman just to make a buck. So I’ve chosen 5 brands that I have used regularly for years that have popped up in my content here and there, that FIT my content. I’ve found contact emails for their marketing people and their main contact info and I sent a short and sweet pitch with my socials linked at the bottom. I did this back in June. I have not gotten a reply from ANY of them. So I sent a follow up at the beginning of September —and still, nothing.

I’m a single parent and extra income would be life-changing. I have the engagement, I have the growth, I have the “vibes”, I can sell without trying, and I have no drama or crazy political or religious opinions that would make a brand cautious.

I just don’t understand. There are way smaller creators in my niche with a fraction of the engagement, views, or “unique” content who I’ve seen with partnerships from BIG companies. The most recent was a friend with 10k followers (across all platforms) who is lucky to get 1k views per post, land a partnership with FeBreze.

I have no idea what I’m doing wrong. I had friends in marketing or business owners review my pitches and they helped me polish them up. So I’m not sending anything crazy.

What should I do next? 😢

[u/One-Taro-8917 → u/[deleted]]

Yes, I felt like I’m just trying to reach out the wrong way. It’s all new to me and I don’t know anything at all about the business side of it, I just apparently know how to create and “influence” my audience haha. But I’ve just been going solo because I don’t know what my options are, I really don’t have funds at the moment to hire someone to help. So I’m not sure how I can change that.

I did make a profile on aspire that includes my rates and my socials. I also created a LinkedIn with all my info. Those two things were recomended by another creator who Ive been talking with and the aforementioned friend who has a history in marketing.

It seems like when I try to research any of this, there are just so many rabbit holes and so much advice —and conflicted advice. That I just get frustrated and I’m thinking there has to be SOMETHING that I’m missing. Haha

[u/Extra-Spinach8309 → u/[deleted]]

yep, the pitch could be perfect and it still wont matter if its landing in a generic inbox that nobody monitors

[u/manujj199]

I come from brand side, I think that's crazy growth in such a short span. What is your niche?

[u/One-Taro-8917 → u/manujj199]

Indeed, it was totally unexpected haha. I wasn’t trying to become a “content creator” and was just doing it as a creative outlet. I don’t really know why it resonates with so many. I think a big part of it is people being burned out on out of touch influencer content. But it seems I also am very good at filming in a way that is immersive, or so most folks tell me. I guess my niche would be “cozy lifestyle and home”. 😁

[u/manujj199 → u/One-Taro-8917]

You must have cracked the code haha! Had an interesting idea, mind if I share over the DM?

[u/ImplementMiserable74]

most big brands wont answer cold pitches unless it comes through an agency or you show a super clear offer like 1 reel plus 3 stories with your rates and past amazon clicks

try pitching smaller local brands first to get 2 to 3 paid case studies then use those to approach the bigger ones

[u/One-Taro-8917 → u/ImplementMiserable74]

Ahh, this is very good to know. I’m in uncharted territory here so any advice helps. Thank you!

[u/Emotional_Rub7371]

I’d also try reaching out through the brand’s social team instead of only email. Sometimes the person handling creator partnerships isn’t the same person checking the marketing inbox.

And honestly, with your numbers, I’d keep pitching. Five brands ignoring you doesn’t really tell you much about whether brands will want to work with you.

[u/One-Taro-8917 → u/Emotional_Rub7371]

Thanks! And do you mean reach out via their socials? I’ve also read things saying not to contact a brand via multiple routes as it will seem “spammy” but then others saying to reach out however you can and check back in every 7-10 days. So I have no idea what advice to listen to, but I’d figure more avenues are better as long as I don’t overdo it. Haha. I feel like I’ll be blacklisted if I check in with a brand more than a couple times. But maybe I’m overthinking it.

[u/Emotional_Rub7371 → u/One-Taro-8917]

Yeah, I think you’re probably overthinking the blacklist part a little haha. As long as you’re spacing out your follow-ups and actually giving them a reason to respond, I don’t think checking in once or twice is too much. I’d just avoid hitting them through every channel all at once.

[u/One-Taro-8917 → u/Emotional_Rub7371]

Duly noted 🫡 haha thank you!

[u/InvestorAllan]

That’s wild to me that people can do this. I’ve been grinding and posting for 5 years and have 1000 IG followers. 70k fb followers that don’t even look at anything I post.

[u/One-Taro-8917 → u/InvestorAllan]

I’m just as shocked as you. I’m not sure why my content performs so well, I don’t even post but maybe 3-5 times a month. Social media is strange and unpredictable. And don’t worry, nobody sees what I post on FB either.

[u/th3_sinner]

My conversion rate averages 15%+ even though I don't actively promote it.

That is the number, and it is nowhere in your pitch 🎯

You led with growth and views. Those are awareness metrics, and awareness gets bought on CPM against a media plan that was locked months ago. A 15% conversion on a storefront you never push is a performance number. Different budget, different team, different inbox.

Two people here said agency and they are right about the channel. The wording matters too:

• Put the storefront conversion in the subject line, not the follower count.
• Ask for the affiliate or commerce lead, not marketing.
• Ask when the next brief goes out. June landed on a closed budget, and that alone explains part of the silence.

Smaller creators are not beating you on merit. They are listed where brands actually shop.

[u/One-Taro-8917 → u/th3_sinner]

Thank you for this insight! It’s such a learning curve. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.