How to Pitch Brands as an Influencer (Even If You Have Under 10K Followers)

1. Why Brands Work with Small Influencers in 2025

Gone are the days when only mega influencers got deals. In 2025, smart brands actively seek micro (10K–100K) and nano (1K–10K) influencers.

Why? Because smaller influencers often have:

• Higher engagement rates
  
  

• More niche audiences
  
  

• Stronger community trust
  
  

Many D2C brands in India report better ROI with 30 small influencers vs. one big celebrity. If your engagement is real and you talk to a specific audience, you already have value.

Want to see how brands are scaling with smaller influencers? Read how India’s top brands use influencer marketing.

2. What Makes a Brand Say Yes to a Pitch

It’s not about your follower count. Brands say yes when you:

• Show relevant audience fit
  
  

• Demonstrate consistent engagement
  
  

• Personalize your pitch
  
  

• Make it easy to understand your value
  
  

Many brands use INFLUISH to check your profile stats like reach, saves, and past content style. If you’re already on Influish, your credibility goes up.

3. Step-by-Step: How to Craft a Winning Pitch

Here’s a battle-tested structure to follow:

Step 1: Research the Brand

• Check their target audience
  
  

• Review their past influencer campaigns
  
  

• Understand their tone & messaging
  
  

Step 2: Personalize Your Message

• Start with their name (not "Hey Brand")
  
  

• Mention why you genuinely like them
  
  

Step 3: Introduce Yourself Clearly

• Mention your name, location, niche, and audience type
  
  

• Example: "I'm Riya, a skincare influencer from Mumbai with a Gen Z audience."
  
  

Step 4: Share Your Value

• Instead of "I want a collab," say: "Here’s what I can offer..."
  
  

• Add metrics like avg. reach, saves, engagement rate (from your INFLUISH profile)
  
  

Step 5: Suggest a Simple Collaboration Idea

• Example: "I’d love to create a 30-sec reel showing how your product fits into my morning routine."
  
  

Step 6: Attach Proof

• Add 1–2 links to past reels or campaigns
  
  

Step 7: Close Politely

• "Would love to collaborate if it aligns with your goals. Let me know if you’d like more details."
  
  

4. Pitch Mistakes to Avoid

• Copy-pasting the same message to all brands
  
  

• Bragging without backing it with stats
  
  

• Asking for a collab without explaining your value
  
  

• Overloading the message with 10+ links or too many emojis
  
  

5. Pro Tips to Get Noticed Faster

• Use INFLUISH to build a verified profile with all your metrics
  
  

• Post content regularly before pitching (brands check your last 5 posts)
  
  

• Save pitch templates but always personalize the message
  
  

• Focus on brands that are already collaborating with micro-influencers
  
  

Bonus Tip: Start with barter collaborations to build your portfolio—but only if the brand offers real value and exposure.

Looking for campaigns open to new influencers? Check out live campaigns on INFLUISH.