Sponsors—they’re where the money’s at. Your favorite YouTube’s probably rocking one, whether it’s Shadow Legends, NordVPN, or one of those horrible mobile games with ads that look nothing like the actual product.
But do you actually get one? As money changes hands and streamers promote brands, how does someone like you get in on the action?
That’s what you’ll learn in this article. I’ll teach you how to get high-quality sponsorships the smart way.
Let’s dig in:
Note: this guide assumes you already have a YouTube channel that you post content on consistently. If you don’t have one yet, create one and come back.
1. Create a dedicated landing page
The cornerstone of your sponsorship strategy actually lies outside of YouTube.
You need a landing page side including all the key information potential sponsors need to know about you, like:
- Your audience breakdown (demographics, interests, etc.)
- Your current viewership and engagement stats
- A portfolio of your past work if you have any (collaborations with brands, media appearances, etc.)
- A list of topics and genres you can cover
- A list of platforms you’re active on
- Your contact information
This page will serve as a one-stop shop for all of your YouTube stats as well as a reflection of your brand’s identity. It should be simple, concise, and well-designed.
If you don’t have a website yet, use Carrd. Carrd exists specifically for landing page creation, making it extremely simple to create a genuinely beautiful landing page.
2. Reach out to brands directly
Once your landing page is set up, you’ll be ready to reach out to potential sponsors.
You can start by searching for brands in your niche. If you’re a gaming channel, then you might look into gaming monitors, gaming chairs, or game publishers.
Once you’ve identified potential sponsors, try to find contact information associated with that company. Most companies will have a dedicated email address or contact form for sponsorship opportunities.
When emailing, it’s essential to be direct and professional.
Start by introducing yourself and your channel, give a brief overview of your channel and its audience, explain what type of collaboration you’re looking for, and end with an invitation for them to visit your landing page for more information.
Don’t be afraid to follow up with sponsors if you don’t hear back from them. You may need to send multiple emails to get a response.
Optional: use an outreach tool
Hunter is an incredibly helpful tool for finding email addresses associated with websites.
Simply type in the website, and Hunter will scrape its database to find email addresses associated with it. Even better, you can also use it to manage outreach campaigns.
3. Make yourself visible on social media
Social media is an excellent way for sponsors to find out about you and understand the kind of content you create. Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and even LinkedIn are all perfect fodder for self-promotion.
Be sure to link to your YouTube channel (as well as your landing page) in your social media bios, so potential sponsors know where to find you.
Lastly, participate in conversations relevant to your niche to expand your audience and make meaningful connections with potential sponsors. LinkedIn and Twitter are both fantastic for this.
4. Monitor your analytics
Sponsors will want to know the hard numbers associated with your channel. So you should check and track your analytics regularly to ensure you’re growing your audience.
YouTube Analytics is a great place to start. It allows you to
- Check your viewership stats
- Measure engagement (e.g., likes, shares, comments)
- Analyze content performance
- Check your subscriber count and watchtime
By regularly monitoring your analytics, you’ll be able to present potential sponsors with accurate and up-to-date information about your channel’s performance.
5. Be patient
Finding sponsors, and building relationships is an ongoing process. It can take time and diligence to reach out to potential partners and build relationships.
It’s also important to remember that not all partnerships will work out. Saying no to sponsors is okay if their offers don’t align with your values or the content you create.
The key to success is to be persistent, patient, and professional. Don’t give up; stay true to yourself, and eventually, you’ll find the right one.
6. Maximize video quality
Sponsors will likely want to see quality content, so you will have to make sure that your videos are of the highest quality possible.
Invest in good equipment and use video editing software to ensure your videos are as professional as possible. This will help you to stand out from your competition and to make sure that you can attract potential sponsors.
This includes everything from shooting your video to editing it and ensuring that your titles, descriptions, and thumbnails are of the highest quality.
7. Leverage influencer platforms
Finally, consider leveraging influencer networks and platforms.
These platforms allow you to create a profile and connect with potential sponsors. They also provide detailed analytics and help you find exclusive opportunities you may not find anywhere else.
Popular influencer platforms include Grapevine, FameBit, and Intellifluence.
8. Continue growing your channel
As your channel grows, so does your potential for lucrative sponsorship opportunities.
Work on growing your subscriber count, improving the quality of your content, and building relationships with other influencers in your niche—all of these things will increase your visibility and help you to attract more sponsors.
How to filter out bad sponsors
As you work to attract sponsors, it’s essential to be sure that you’re taking the right partnerships.
You don’t want to end up with a sponsor that has either a bad reputation or does not align with your values.
Here are some tips to help you filter out the bad sponsors:
1. Do your research
Before you agree to any sponsorship, do a quick online search to see if the brand has any questionable past practices or
2. Reach out to current partners
If the brand has current partnerships, contact them and ask how the brand typically works with its partners.
3. Read the contract
Carefully read the sponsorship contract and make sure that it clearly outlines each party’s expectations and responsibilities. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask the brand—or your lawyer.
4. Listen to your gut
If you feel like it’s not the right fit, it probably isn’t. Don’t be afraid to turn down a sponsorship if it doesn’t feel right.
How to maximize sponsor relationships
Once you’ve found a sponsor you’re compatible with, you need to get everything you can out of the relationship.
Don’t take good sponsors for granted, assuming you can always find another. You might drop a relationship expecting to find another great deal and struggle to find someone as great as your previous one.
So instead of going from brand to brand, focus on cultivating each relationship as effectively as possible. Here’s how:
1. Be clear on the expectations
If your sponsor is expecting something in return for their sponsorship, make sure the expectations are realistic and reasonable. You should also be clear on the timeline and the deliverables and guarantee you will hit them.
2. Maximize the partnership
The point of having a sponsor is to gain exposure. Make sure you’re leveraging their brand as much as possible—this includes actively mentioning them in your videos and using their hashtag.
3. Show appreciation
It’s a simple gesture that can go a long way.
Follow them on social media, send a thank-you gift, or even send them regular updates on the progress of your channel and the success of your partnership. After all, they took a chance on you and deserve some recognition.
4. Keep in contact
Reach out regularly, not just when you need something. Keep them updated on your latest videos and any other big news, and invite them to events or viewings.
Wrapping Up
Sponsorships can take your channel to the next level—but they don’t come easy. Before you can even think about getting a sponsor, you need to build a platform and attract an audience.
From there, you’ll need to reach out to potential sponsors, respect their expectations, and maximize your relationship to get the most out of it.
With a little bit of effort and a lot of patience, you’ll be well on your way to attracting sponsors. So get out there, and get those sponsors!
