Brand deals are one of the top ways influencers and creators make money in 2025—but if you’re new to the space, it can feel overwhelming figuring out how to land your first (or next) paid partnership.

The good news? You don’t need a million followers to get brand deals. You just need a clear personal brand, solid content, and the right strategy.

Here’s everything you need to know to start securing partnerships with brands that align with your content—and pay you fairly.

A brand deal (also called a sponsored post, collaboration, or paid partnership) is when a company pays or compensates you to promote their product, service, or campaign on your social media platforms.

Compensation may include:

• Cash payment 💸
• Free products 🎁
• Affiliate commission 💼
• Usage rights 📸
• Travel or event access ✈️

It’s not all about follower count anymore. In fact, many brands prefer micro-influencers (10K–50K followers) or even nano-influencers (1K–10K) because of their niche engagement and loyal communities.

Brands look for:

• Consistent posting (and good content quality)
• Defined niche or audience (fashion, fitness, lifestyle, etc.)
• Engagement rate (not just likes, but comments, shares, saves)
• Personal branding (does your content match their voice?)
• Professionalism (can you meet deadlines and follow briefs?)

Instead of pitching brands one by one or waiting for DMs, creators in 2025 are using atstarmarket—a dedicated influencer marketing marketplace designed to make finding brand deals simple, fast, and fair.

Here’s how it works:

✅ For Influencers

• Create a free profile to showcase your niche, platforms, and past work
• Get discovered by brands looking for creators like you
• Apply directly to campaigns that match your audience
• Secure paid brand deals without middlemen or cold emails

✅ For Brands

• Browse vetted influencers by category, size, or engagement
• Post campaign briefs and receive applications instantly
• Track creator performance and manage collaborations in one place
• Get authentic content from creators who actually align with your values

Whether you’re a lifestyle creator with 5,000 followers or a brand looking to launch a grassroots campaign, atstarmarket makes the process faster, more transparent, and more effective.

No guessing. No gatekeeping. Just real connections.

🔥 Be easy to work with. Brands will come back.
📈 Share your analytics. Prove your value.
🎯 Only promote what aligns. Your audience can tell when it’s forced.
💬 Stay in touch. Follow up with past brand partners.

• Accepting free products when you should be paid
• Not reading contracts (look for exclusivity or usage rights)
• Saying yes to every deal (protect your brand)
• Not disclosing sponsored posts (required by FTC)

Getting brand deals isn’t about luck—it’s about positioning, consistency, and using the right tools.

With atstarmarket, we make it easier for creators and brands to collaborate with confidence. Whether you’re just starting out or already working with brands, our platform helps you grow smarter—not harder.