How to get brand deals with a small following in India

You do not need 100K followers to work with brands. Many local and D2C brands prefer smaller, engaged creators because they cost less, feel more authentic and often convert better. The challenge is being found and looking professional.

Build a one-page media kit

• Your niche, city and audience age range.
• Followers, average reel views and engagement rate (calculate it with our calculator).
• Three best posts and what they achieved.
• The types of collaboration you offer and your rates or barter terms.
• Contact details and a link to your profile.

Where to look for brands

• Local cafés, salons, boutiques, gyms and clinics.
• D2C brands that tag or repost micro-creators.
• Brand email addresses in Instagram bios.
• Creator marketplaces and agencies that list campaigns.

Pitch like a person

Write two short paragraphs: why you like the brand, what you would make, and what it could do for them. Attach your media kit. Mention one specific product or recent post. Avoid copy-pasted mass emails.

What brands check before saying yes

• Engagement compared with follower count.
• Audience location and age.
• Quality and consistency of your content.
• Past collaborations and how they were disclosed.

Start with barter, then convert

A free product or service in exchange for a reel is a fair first step. Do it well, share results with the brand, then propose a paid collaboration for the next campaign.

Keep your numbers believable

A page where followers and likes line up gets more replies than one where they do not. If you have added numbers, keep proportions sensible and be honest about your audience in the media kit.