How Can Nano-Influencers Secure Brand Collaborations

As influencer marketing continues to grow in popularity, so does the competition for collaborations. To stand out and secure brand collaborations, nano-influencers need to up their game.

What is more, nano-influencers who are just starting out as opinion leaders, should prove brands that they are worth investing in. So, if you are a nano-influencer looking to boost your career, read on for helpful tips.

Why Should Nano-Influencers Seek Out Brand Collaborations?

There are several reasons why nano-influencers should seek out brand collaborations, as follows:

Make money on social media: You can make good money by working with brands as a nano-influencer. The reason is that you have a smaller but more engaged following which means you can charge brands less for sponsorships and collaborations. Additionally, since your followers trust your recommendations, you are more likely to drive sales for the brands you work with.
Attract more followers: Working with brands can help you attract more followers. When you collaborate with brands as an influencer, your content gets exposure to the brand's audience. If they like what they see, they are likely to follow you. Additionally, if you do a good job representing the brand, the brand will likely share your content with its followers, which can help you attract even more followers.
Become popular in the niche: Another reason nano-influencers should seek out brand collaborations is that it can help them become more popular in their niche. The reason is that when you collaborate with a brand, you are effectively piggybacking on the brand's popularity. As a result, more people in your niche will become aware of you and your content. And if you do a good job representing the brand, the brand will likely share your content with its followers, which can help you attract even more followers.

Now that we've gone over some of the reasons why nano-influencers should seek out brand collaborations, let's take a look at some tips for securing them.

Your social media profile is more like your portfolio. You must ensure that it is up-to-date and represents your personal brand well. Your profile should reflect your work ethic, content quality, and ability to engage your audience.

First, it's important to stick to a consistent theme. Your photos should have a consistent theme or aesthetic. This will make your profile more visually appealing and make it easier for brands to identify if you're a good fit for their image.

Second, you should always use high-quality images. Your photos should showcase professionalism, creativity, and personal style. Use high-resolution images; if you can, work with a professional photographer to bring out the best pictures.

Finally, take care of your bio section. Your bio should be up-to-date and accurately reflect your niche. Additionally, it should include any relevant keywords that brands might be searching for. For example, if you're a digital creator, you might want to add this information, just like Michaela Rae does:

2. Create User-Generated Content for Favorite Brands

User-generated content (UGC) is content that users rather than brands create. UGC is often more relatable and trustworthy than traditional advertising, which is why it's valuable to brands.

As a nano-influencer, you can create UGC for your favorite brands. This step will not only help the brands you love, but it can also help you attract the attention of other brands. For example, one aspiring TikTok influencer has added Cluse's hashtags in her video and the brand commented on it:

First, pick your favorite brands and start following them on social media. Then, look for opportunities to create UGC for them. For example, you might take a photo of yourself using one of the brand's products or write a review of the product on your blog.

When creating UGC, use high-quality images and include relevant hashtags. You should also tag the brands you're featuring in your posts.

3. Become a Brand Ambassador

A brand ambassador is someone who represents a brand in a positive light. Brand ambassadors are often influencers but can also be everyday users who love the brand.

You can become a brand ambassador for your favorite brands as a nano-influencer. This will allow you to work more closely with the brands and receive exclusive perks, such as free products and early access to new products.

To become a brand ambassador, start by reaching out to your favorite brands and asking if they have any ambassadorship programs. You can also check out their profiles as some of them add these options in captions. Check out how BrandHeroes did it:

However, you can still offer to promote their products on your social media channels or write reviews of their products on your blog.

4. Do Product Reviews

Product reviews aim to give potential customers an unbiased opinion of a product. The reviews are a form of product promotion but more subtly.

To start as a nano-influencer, you can do product reviews for small brands in your niche. You don't have to wait until a brand sends you a product to review; you can also buy products yourself, create a review video or write the reviews, and ensure to tag the company.

For the brand to notice you, ensure your review is high quality, informative, and uses relevant keywords. You should also post the review on social media and tag the brand.

5. Offer Partnership to Local Businesses

Nano-influencers often have a loyal following in their local community which makes them the perfect partners for local businesses.

If you're a nano-influencer, you can offer to partner with local businesses in your area. For example, you might promote the company on your social media channels or write a review of its products or services on your blog. One YouTuber dedicated a video to her favorite local restaurant:

You can also offer to host an event at the business or give a discount to your followers. This tip is a great way to give back to your local community and grow your influencer platform. Take the opportunity to showcase your capabilities to help businesses drive sales. This way, other brands will see your potential, and you'll be more likely to secure future brand collaborations.

6. Be Active on Brand Profiles

Again, you must be seen if you want brands to work with you. Constantly remind brands of your existence and how much you love their products or services.

Like and comment on your favorite brand's posts, share their content, and tag them in your posts. You can also join their social media groups and participate in their online conversations. For example, Lulus constantly monitors its comment section and invites active users for collaboration.

The more active you are on a brand's profile, the more likely they will notice you. And, if you're lucky, they might even reach out to you for a collaboration.

For instance, suppose you want to work for a fashion brand. In that case, you should familiarize yourself with the brand, follow them on social media, and engage with its content.

Then, you can reach out to the brand and offer to write a blog post about their latest collection or do a try-on haul video featuring their products.

7. Check out Other Nano-Influencers' Profiles

One way to stand out from the crowd is to see what other nano-influencers in your niche are doing.

Look at their social media profiles and blog posts and see what kind of content they're creating. Also, take note of the brands they're working with. This tip will give you an idea of what kind of collaborations are possible in your niche.

If you see an opportunity to improve your performance, take it. For example, you can create similar content but with your own unique twist. You can only learn from people that have been in the game longer. If other nano-influencers participate in giveaways to drive engagement for brands like in the example below, consider doing the same:

For example, if you are targeting a makeup brand, search for other beauty and makeup influencers. The influencers don't necessarily have to use products from the company you are targeting. Check the kind of content they create in terms of quality and quantity. Also, look at the influencers' engagement levels, i.e., the number of likes, comments, and shares their posts receive. This will give you an idea of their popularity and whether their content is truly valuable to their followers.

Many brands have influencer marketing programs that allow you to promote their products in exchange for a commission on sales. These programs are a great way to earn money while growing your following.

When you sign up for an affiliate or referral program, you get a special code to share with your audience. It allows you to make money while helping other people.

To find out if a brand has an affiliate or referral program, contact them and ask. You can also search for influencer marketing platforms that connect influencers with brands.

As a nano-influencer, you might not be able to secure high-paying brand collaborations immediately. However, by signing up for affiliate or referral programs, you can start earning commission on sales and grow your social media following at the same time.

The Bottom Line

Brand collaborations offer one of the ways to make a living from your social media following. Building a solid influencer platform takes time and effort, but it's worth it.

Even if you're a nano-influencer, you have the advantage of being able to quickly connect with your followers and build close relationships with them. In addition, you can also provide brands with valuable insights into their target market.

The tips above should help you get started on your influencer journey. Remember to be patient, stay consistent, and create quality content that your followers will love. And, most importantly, don't give up.