Alright bestie, let’s talk pitching.
Because let’s be honest—sending pitch after pitch and hearing crickets? Yeah, that’s the fastest way to want to throw your phone across the room.
But I’m here to save you from ghost town and help you actually get real responses from brands. Whether you're just starting out as a UGC creator or you're ready to start landing higher paying brand deals, this is the post you need in your life.
So grab your matcha (or coffee, I don’t judge), open up your Notes app, and let’s break it down for you.
What Even Is a Brand Pitch?
A brand pitch is basically your job application for a collab. It’s where you introduce yourself, show off your value, and explain how you can help that brand hit their goals through content. The goal? To get a response, open the door, and hopefully secure a paid deal.
But here’s the secret sauce:
It’s not about you. It’s about them. Say it with me. Again. Louder.
It’s not about you. It’s about them.
Step 1: Don’t Pitch Blind – Do Your Homework
Before you even think about sliding into a brand’s DMs or inbox, you need to know who you’re talking to. No generic “I love your brand!” stuff—we want real effort here.
Here's what to look for:
- What products are they currently promoting?
- What kind of content do they repost?
- Do they work with creators already?
- What vibe do they go for: polished and aesthetic or fun and relatable?
This is where stalking becomes a professional skill. Take 10-15 minutes to research the brand’s current marketing style. Scroll through their IG, look at their recent campaigns, read their captions.You’ll want to reference it in your pitch later—it shows you're not just copy-pasting the same message to every brand.
PRO TIP: Keep a spreadsheet with brand names, IG handles, product, and notes from your research. You can also use a spreadsheet to keep track of your pitches. Use this one I created in Canva that helps keep all brands organized and pretty.
Step 2: Slide Into the DMs the Right Way
DMs are not where you dump your whole life story and a 5-paragraph pitch. Your goal in the DM is to make a connection—and then ask for the right email to send your actual pitch to.
DM template you can use:
“Hey [Brand Name] team! I love what you’re doing with your recent [campaign/product]! I had a few content ideas that could align really well—could you let me know the best email to send over a pitch?”
Short, sweet, and professional. Once they reply with the contact info, then it’s go time.
Step 3: Crafting the Perfect Pitch Email
Now that you’ve got the golden email address, it’s time to impress.
This is where creators get stuck, so here’s how to keep it simple but powerful.
Your pitch should include:
- A strong subject line (skip the fluff)
- Personal connection to the brand
- What you can offer them (and why it matters)
- Your portfolio link + social handles
- A CTA (call to action)
Example subject lines:
- “UGC Content Ideas for Your [Product Name]”
- “Love Your Brand—Here’s a Quick Pitch You’ll Want to See”
And please, don’t lead with “I’d love to collaborate.”
Every creator is saying that. Instead, say something like:
“I saw your recent push for [X campaign], and I had an idea for UGC content that could really boost engagement and conversions.”
Let me show you the difference between a basic pitch vs. a GOOD one:
Basic (don’t do this):
“Hi! I’m a content creator and I love your brand. I’d love to work together. Let me know!”
Better (yes please):
“Hey [Brand Name] team! I’ve been following your recent campaign around [specific product or goal], and I had an idea for a short-form video that could really boost engagement and conversions. I’d love to send you a few concepts. Who’s the best person to send that over to?”
See the difference? One says “pick me!” and the other says “I can help you win.” Brands aren’t looking for fans — they’re looking for solutions. Your pitch needs to show that you get their goals and you have content ideas that align. Speak their language. Show them you’re not just looking for free product—you’re bringing value.
Need help writing the actual pitch email? This is where most creators get stuck—which is exactly why I created my UGC Pitching & Outreach Guide for plug-and-play pitch templates, subject lines, and email scripts that have landed me real brand deals.
Step 4: Following Up (Without Being Annoying)
So you sent the email and… nothing.
Before you panic—brands are busy, emails get buried, people forget. That doesn’t mean they’re not interested. The real magic is in the follow-up.
Here’s how to follow up like a pro:
- Wait about 5 business days
- Send a short, polite follow-up
- Reiterate your value and ask if they’ve had a chance to review
- You can follow up again after about a week if they haven't responded.
Example follow-up:
“Hey [Name], just wanted to follow up on my email last week regarding UGC content for [Brand]. I’d still love to explore this collaboration and can send over a few content examples if helpful. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!”
Be chill. Professional. Not pushy.
And YES, it works. Most of my responses have come from my follow-ups, not the first email.
You can also find some follow up email templates in my UGC Pitching & Outreach Guide.
Step 5: Pitch, Track, Repeat
Pitching is a numbers game. It’s not about sending one email and waiting around—it’s about consistent action.
Create a system that works for you. Personally, I also use a Notion Planner to map out my weekly pitching schedule and keep track of all brands and pitches.
And every time I land a deal, I know it’s because I stayed organized, followed up, and didn’t give up when the first 5 brands said no.
Bonus: Tools I Use That Make Pitching 100x Easier
- Canva – for my portfolio, rate card, and pitch PDFs
- Notion – to track pitches (grab my free Notion planner [here])
- Google Drive – for storing video samples and pitch decks
- My Digital Product Store – where I keep all my UGC templates and guides
What If You’re Still Nervous to Pitch?
That’s okay! You don’t need to be perfect to start. Start by reaching out to smaller brands or businesses you already love. Practice your pitch. Track your results.
The first email is always the hardest. And yes, you’ll overthink it. But after the first one? You’re unstoppable. Even if you only have 300 followers or you’re still building your portfolio—you still bring value. Brands care more about quality content and alignment than your follower count.
You’ll get better — and more confident — with every email you send. Start with brands you already use or love. Then level up from there.
Want to Make This Process 10x Easier?
If you’re serious about getting brand deals and don’t want to waste time guessing what to say or where to start, grab my UGC Pitching Guide.
Inside, you’ll get:
- DM templates + follow-up scripts
- Email subject lines that get opened
- Real pitch examples
- Plus: An email tracker so you never miss a step
If you’re tired of being ghosted and want to actually get paid, grab the guide now and get to pitching.
TLDR: Pitching Doesn’t Have to Be Scary
Pitching is a skill—and like any skill, you get better the more you do it.
Start small, stay consistent, and keep learning.
If I can do this (with kids running around in the background and editing videos in my car), you can too.
So this week, I challenge you: pick 3 brands you love, do a little research, and send out your first pitch. Tag me when you land your first deal—I’ll be cheering you on.
If you’re just starting, check out my beginner’s guide to becoming a UGC creator. And if you’re building your whole UGC business from scratch, check out my full [UGC Guide] — it’s like a roadmap to go from clueless to confidently getting paid.
Thanks for hanging out with me for this week’s post! I’ll see you next week with more tips (and maybe a chaotic mom moment or two).