photography: Deeana Kourtney
Influencer networks are the easiest ways to connect brands with content creators. Each network offers new opportunities on their dashboard featuring a campaign brief and what type of creator they’re looking to work with. For example, one might say “moms 25-45 with kids in elementary schools to share their love of Crayola markers” while others say “looking for fitness influencers with video experience to share about our new nutrient bars”, etc. There are hundreds out there, but only a few of them provide collaborations worthwhile. I’m not here to waste your time fellow content creators. The ones I’ve listed below are the only ones I’ve worked with and had a great experience with!
Every opportunity is different in terms of compensation, too. There are brands that are notorious for doing product-only partnerships while others will pay a pretty penny to work with an influencer who creates valuable content. There typically isn’t a limit on how many you can apply to at a time as long as you fit the description!
Nope, not at all! Influencer networks are a great way to get your foot in the door as a micro-influencer. You can learn all about how I make money as a micro-influencer in my post here. It introduces you to a lot of big-name players that you really wouldn’t have access to otherwise. My work with Mcdonald’s in this post and Steve Madden in this blog post are the direct result of being selected from a network! There are some sites that only work with OG bloggers who have hundreds of thousands of page views. With the rise of social media, converting blog readers from your Instagram or Facebook isn’t as easy as it used to be. Thankfully, most focus on your social following, reach, engagement, but most importantly, the quality of your content! I’ve started really focusing on over-delivering on my campaign images and that’s definitely helped me be reposted by brands like Starbucks!
Heck no! As I’ve mentioned in this post, there are many ways to make money as an influencer. In fact, I actually make way more in partnerships when I work directly with a brand’s media team and cut out the middle man. However, when I’m feeling a bit tired from pitching email after email or negotiating with PR firms, it’s nice to have these networks do a lot of that work for you. A lot of more established bloggers might try to shame you for working for free or for product only. However, I’m a big believer in proving yourself first. I’m not saying you shouldn’t try and get paid. But it’s possible to work without monetary compensation at the beginning of your career, create amazing photos and videos with what you’ve been gifted, and show that you’re worth the money!
There are very few brands that don’t work with influencers in some capacity. The industry has proven itself to be a necessary part of the marketing mix of many large companies. In addition to the brands I shared above, I’ve also partnered with Lancome, DSW, UV Vodka, NYX Cosmetics, and eBay- solely from influencer networks and without an agent!
Great news- signing up with influencer networks are completely FREE! And don’t join one if they say otherwise. While it can be limiting to the brands offered through each platform there really are very few downsides to joining one.
Here are a few of my favorite influencer networks right now with a few examples of campaigns I’ve worked with them on! It definitely doesn’t include all of them because I’ve been with a few of these since I started in 2015 (with plenty of mistakes I’ve made along the way.) If you’d like to join them, click the name to start working with brands today!
send me a DM on Instagram (@goodtomicha) if you’d like a referral!
examples here with Bed Head Styling and HBO
example here with Old Navy
example here with Motorola
I’d love to answer any additional questions you have in the comments below!
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Wow – I was literally searching to find some influencer networks a few days ago… Glad I found this post! Thank you so much for sharing :)
Jenna ♥
Follow me back? Life of an Earth Muffin
So glad they were helpful!
These are all the networks I use as well! I think the hardest thing is when I send in a really spectacular pitch and get denied, but then see someone work the campaign and post something entirely half-hearted :/ But YOU always NAIL these campaigns, girlfriend. Rocking it when it comes to brand awareness!
Thank you so much Stephanie!