Hello, I'm Shannon Marie.

I'm a Brand Expert, Entrepreneur, Content Creator, and World Traveler with 15+ years in Product Development + Brand Strategy, including NIKE, INTEL & GAP. I'm here to share insights with Brands & Creators to build and scale your business.

The creator economy will be worth over $100 BILLION in 2023.

Yet, only 10% of creators will make $100k.

So, I created an 8-step strategy to get YOU in that 10%

As a creator, you likely spend a lot of time reaching out to brands via email and DMs.

And yet it takes most creators an average of 6 months to earn their first dollar.

So many of you reach out and ask me: "why can't I land a deal?"

"What am I doing wrong?"

"Why aren't brands responding?"

"What else can I be doing?"

So today, I'm going to share 8 things you can do to start making REAL money.

Do ALL 8 of these, and I GUARANTEE you will see results!

If you were forwarded this link, JOIN our community for FREE!

1) Change Your Pitch

I know, I know, you keep hearing this, but your pitch is critical and has to REALLY stand out, or the brand will not open, let alone read it.

Here are my five tips for creating a killer pitch email that brands actually want to reply to.

• Your subject is everything.

• Kickoff your first sentence with another hook.

• Share a genuine personal story.

• Do in-depth research, not light browsing.

• Give value, and then give even more value.

Get ALL the details on exactly how to execute these 5 steps here:

2) Make a Video Resume

One of the BEST ways to stand out is to create a rejection-proof video resume that commands the brand's attention and send it along with EVERY. SINGLE. PITCH.

Right now, very few creators are doing this, so it's the perfect time to start implementing.

Create yours this week and share it on Twitter!

Here's the step-by-step process:

3) Focus on Your Soulmate Brands

I know you keep seeing creators posting that they are reaching out to 25, 50, or even 100 brands weekly. And while this is completely possible, it's not likely that each pitch is extremely personalized and includes a video resume.

Instead of reaching out to as many brands as possible with sub-par pitches, focus on 5-7 soulmate DREAM brands that align with your niche.

Take the time to draft a super personal email, include your video resume, and go ONE step further and share a killer sample video made especially for that brand.

This is what it looks like to go the extra mile as a business and add value to another business. This is what brands are looking for!

4) Create a Killer Sample Video

Ok, you heard me say it above, so let's talk about what a killer sample video would look like.

I want you to imagine that your soulmate dream brand just approached you and offered you $4000 for one video. You are SO freaking excited and can't wait to make amazing content for them.

We must harness that SAME mindset and energy when creating our sample video. Your goal is to research as much as possible to determine the ideal angle your unique video will offer.

Create a killer sample video that will knock their socks off, add a watermark, and link it via embedded text in your email.

If you REALLY want to work with your soulmate dream brands, this is one of the best ways to offer value as a creative business as it demonstrates exactly what you can do for them.

Do this, and you are officially a NEXT-LEVEL creator!

5) Pitch In-Person

When I first started to create content I was road-tripping on the West Coast, and one of my many stops included Lake Tahoe, California.

As I tend to do, I chatted up business owners at cafes, coffee shops, and farmer's markets. There were so many amazing small businesses that had great products and so little brand exposure.

I asked to follow them on social media to support them and had them recommend their best-selling products. Within minutes it was easy for me to share the benefits of their small business leveraging UGC for brand awareness and increased sales.

It was a very authentic conversation from one business owner to the other. After I would offer to help them by doing a gifted collab to demonstrate the power of UGC and ROI.

While on my road trip, I landed 3 gifted collaborations and later converted 2 of them to paid opportunities.

So, let's NOT forget about all of the amazing small (and large) businesses in our neighborhood, our city, or even our travel destination.

Pitching in person is a gold mine of opportunity for any creator, anywhere in the world.

6) Leverage Platforms in Your Niche

Similar to using Airbnb for travel collaborations, you can use online platforms to reach brands and businesses in your niches.

For example, if you are in real estate, you can write to brokers through Redfin, Zillow, or Remax.

If you find a brand you like on Amazon, you can write to the seller directly through the Amazon platform.

Brands, businesses, and individuals are more likely to open an email from a known platform they spend time on than a random email.

So this helps get your offer in front of them.

7) Partner with High-Calibur Agencies

We all know that there are a lot of creative agencies out there, and more are coming all the time. It's hard to know which ones are vetted and can actually deliver on the promise of connecting you with brands.

Instead of just applying to every agency that sends you a message or pops up, do your research and find three high-profile agencies that specialize in your niches and have a proven track record.

Connect with other creators, ask what is working and what's not, and get their personal recommendations for agencies they get results with.

8) Leverage Facebook Groups

Yes, I know, not many people talk about Facebook, but I'm here to tell you that there are TONS of UGC, Influencer, and Content Creator Facebook groups where brands post partnerships all the time!

Take some time to join 3-5 groups, add value and engage, and be on the lookout for opportunities posted all the time.

This is an untapped resource for paid collaborations, so get on board now.

Next Steps

Ok, I know that was a lot of information, but let's face it, as a creator, you are a brand, and you must constantly level up your business to stay ahead of the crowd.

Take the time to write out a 30-day plan to implement this strategy with actionable steps every week.

Follow it exactly, and let me know your results once you've implemented the strategy.

I know it will be a game-changer for your business and your bank account!!

Have a topic or burning question? DM me on Twitter, and I will include it in a future post!

If you’ve gotten at least one "ah-ha" moment from reading this newsletter, please forward and share so others can benefit!