The paid influencer life is something to which many people aspire in the age of social media. After all, who wouldn’t want to be handsomely compensated to promote products and post aesthetically pleasing content?
While it’s not nearly as easy as it sounds and requires a lot of hard work and marketing savvy, it’s still a pretty sweet way to create an extra stream of income using social media accounts you’re already posting to anyway.
Aside from working with brands that speak to your audience, you should also be sure only to promote products you like and use. Authenticity is the key to success here.
But is this lifestyle out of reach for cam models that may not have the “family-friendly” appeal many brands look for? No! You too can partake. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to find social media brand deals and sponsorships.
POLISH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES
Once you decide to try your luck at the influencer game, your first move should be to organize your social media feeds and make sure they are visually appealing. They don’t have to be awash in farmhouse filters and photos of you sipping pumpkin spice lattes or anything. Just make sure your feeds have a theme that makes it clear who you are and what you’re about.
If you’re shooting for TikTok influencer status, you should also pin videos with high engagement to the top of your page, making them easier for brands to find. Make sure to put covers on all your videos as well so your feed is easier to navigate.
Once your accounts look pretty and polished, do a bit of housecleaning to ensure every post adheres to the platform’s TOS. It’s a fine line to walk as a cam model, but brands will be far less willing to take a risk on you if your accounts are likely to get banned, as that means less visibility for their products.
Finally, switch over to a business account if you haven’t already, as that gives you access to tools and user analytics that can help you in ways we will discuss further in this article.
UNDERSTAND YOUR FOLLOWERS
Remember, you’re not just selling yourself, but also your following as they’re the ones advertisers want to reach. If you post a gorgeous photo or story advertising a product and no one buys it because you’re pitching it to the wrong audience, the brand won’t feel inclined to work with you again.
To get a good grasp on who your followers are, check your user analytics, a feature most platforms give you once you switch over to a business account. There, you can view a breakdown of users by gender, location and even the times of day they engage the most. This information is a gold mine, and many brands will ask to see it before they decide to work with you, so knowing this information ahead of time will always work in your favor.
CHOOSE YOUR BRANDS WISELY
Take a look at other webcam models and adult entertainers in your niche and see what kinds of sponsorships they’re getting. Then, make a list of those brands and anyone else you may want to work with. You’re unlikely to get a bite from brands that are predominantly mainstream, but there are plenty of companies out there that recognize the potential value of the adult audience.
For example, if you find your following consists of other cam models and adult content creators, reach out to eyelash, hair extension and cosmetics companies. Appearance is a big part of cam modeling, and these companies know that, so they’re more than willing to work with an influencer within this niche that can get them visibility in the adult space. Other ideas include companies that offer lingerie, fitness supplements, sex toys and even CBD products.
Aside from working with brands that speak to your audience, you should also be sure only to promote products you like and use. Authenticity is the key to success here. If you’re advertising a product you clearly don’t like or aren’t really familiar with, your followers will sense it immediately and not engage with your posts or buy the product. Your credibility means everything here, so make sure your followers know they can trust you.
PUT TOGETHER A SOLID MEDIA KIT
Once you’ve found brands you want to work with, put together a pitch they can’t say no to. Create a stellar media kit — a quick internet search will pull up tons of free tools you can use — that tells potential partners who you are and what you can offer their brand. Include your total followers across all platforms, audience demographics and a dazzling bio that makes you stand out in the saturated influencer market.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a huge following just yet, as the micro-influencer market is super hot right now. Many influencers get brand deals with fewer than 10 thousand followers if their engagement numbers are good, so don’t think you have to have followers in the millions to impress a brand.
Other things to put in your kit include high-quality photos, as well as your contact information and price list. If you’re not sure what to charge, Buzzfeed published a great breakdown on current market rates that you can find with a simple Google search. Once you have a few sponsorships under your belt, you can also include testimonials from brands you’ve worked with in the past to show you have a proven track record of success.
GET YOUR MEDIA KIT INTO THE RIGHT HANDS
Once your kit is ready for prime time, check out brand websites for contact information, so you know who to reach out to. If a brand doesn’t list contact information for their PR or media team, reach out the old-fashioned way via DM and ask whom you can speak to about brand partnerships.
CULTIVATE YOUR BRAND RELATIONSHIPS
Your reputation is everything, so always be respectful when approaching brands. Do your best not to come off as bossy or entitled, as that’s a huge turn-off. Also, use extreme care when approaching small business owners, as they don’t always have the budget to pay for influencer marketing or even send you free products.
Once you get those sponsorships, always follow through and be super professional in all communications, as that could be the difference between a onetime deal and a long-term, highly lucrative business relationship.
Jackie Backman is the content manager for Cams.com. She has been working in the industry for over 15 years and specializes in copywriting, beauty and social media management. Follow Jackie on Instagram at @beautychaoticofficial.
