Brand Deals and Affiliate Links for Beginners

Brand deals and affiliate links are often the first real income for small creators. They also work in countries where platform payouts are not open yet, because the brand pays you directly. This guide covers how to start and how to stay honest with your audience. It is not legal advice.

Do I need a big audience?

No. Many brands, especially local ones, like small creators with a clear topic and an engaged audience. A cooking channel with 3,000 loyal viewers can be more useful to a spice brand than a random channel with 100,000.

How to get your first sponsor

Pick a clear niche. Brands want to know exactly who watches you.
Post regularly for a few months. Brands check your recent videos.
Make a simple media kit. One page with: who you are, your topic, follower and view numbers, audience country and age (from your analytics), and two or three of your best posts. Our Post & Thumbnail Designer can help you lay it out.
List brands you already use. Products you honestly like are easiest to talk about.
Start local. Restaurants, clothing shops, tutors, apps and online stores in your city.
Send a short, personal message. Say who you are, why your audience fits their product, and one idea for a video. Attach your media kit.
Follow up once after a week. Then move on.

How much should I charge?

There is no standard rate. Prices vary widely depending on:

Your views per video, not just followers.
Your niche (some topics attract higher budgets).
Where your audience lives.
What the brand wants: a quick mention, a full video, usage rights, or a long contract.
How much work it takes you.

Start with a price that is fair for your time. Ask the brand for their budget. Raise your price as your results grow. Be wary of anyone promising a fixed "rate per follower".

Get the deal in writing

Even a simple email agreement helps. It should say:

What you will make, and on which platforms.
Deadlines and how many changes the brand can ask for.
How much, how and when you will be paid.
Whether the brand can reuse your video in ads, and for how long.
That you will disclose the partnership.

Disclosure: the rules

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has clear guidance for influencers. Even if you live outside the US, the FTC says US law can apply if it is reasonably foreseeable that your post will affect US consumers. Your own country's laws may apply too.

When to disclose

When you have any financial, employment, personal or family relationship with a brand.
When you got the product free or at a discount, even if no one asked you to post.
Even if you think your review is fair and unbiased.

How to disclose

Use simple words like "ad", "advertisement", "sponsored" or "Thanks to [brand] for the free product".
Put it with the endorsement, where people will see it. Not only in your profile, not hidden at the end, and not lost in a group of hashtags.
In videos, put the disclosure in the video itself. Saying it and showing it on screen works best.
In live streams, repeat it from time to time.
Use the same language as your post. If you speak Urdu in the video, disclose in Urdu.
Avoid vague words like "sp", "spon", "collab" or just "thanks".

Platform labels too

YouTube: tick the paid promotion option in video details. YouTube then shows a disclosure label at the start of the video.
Instagram: branded content rules require the Paid partnership label.
TikTok and Facebook: both have their own branded content settings. Check their current branded content policies.

The FTC says a platform label alone may not be enough. Use the label and say it clearly yourself.

Be honest about the product

Only talk about products you have actually tried.
If you did not like it, do not say it is great.
Do not make claims you cannot prove, such as health benefits.

Affiliate links basics

An affiliate link is a special link that tracks sales. When someone buys through it, you earn a small commission.

Join an affiliate program from a store or brand that works in your country.
Get your personal link for each product.
Put it in your description or bio, and mention it in the video.
Disclose it, for example: "If you buy through my link, I earn a small commission."

Affiliate programs, payment methods and country rules differ, so read each program's terms before joining.

Questions

How many followers do I need to get brand deals?

There is no fixed number. Brands, especially local ones, often work with small creators who have a clear niche and engaged viewers.

Do I need to disclose a free product?

Yes. The FTC says free or discounted products count as a relationship with the brand, even if you were not asked to post.

Is the YouTube paid promotion box enough?

Use it, but also say it clearly in the video. The FTC says platform disclosure tools alone may not be enough.

Do FTC rules apply if I live in Pakistan?

The FTC says US law can apply if your post will reasonably reach US consumers. Laws in your own country may also apply.

Sources

Platform rules change often. Always check the official pages before you rely on them.

Brand Deals and Affiliate Links: A Beginner's Guide