so you might have this question Srishti, how will i find brands and get paid deals, especially when you’re just starting out?
this is one of the most common questions i get. so today, i want to break this down properly.
the first thing you need is a portfolio.
even if you haven’t done a single paid deal yet, your portfolio tells a brand everything they need to know before working with you.
this is my portfolio, for reference
i made my first portfolio on canva and published it as a website using canva pro. at that time, i picked a few niches i was genuinely interested in like wellness, food and beverages, apps and digital services, and beauty.
your portfolio doesn’t need brand names. it needs to show skills.
for example, reviews don’t have to be complicated.
a simple review video with a voiceover works really well. you can shoot b-rolls and clearly talk about your experience with the product or service.
testimonials are slightly more detailed. you can talk about the problem you were facing, how you came across that product or service, how long you’ve been using it for, and one small thing you didn’t love, just to make it feel real. the overall tone should still be positive and in favour of the brand.
for example when it comes to food and beverages, it’s not about saying “this is the yummiest chocolate”.
instead, talk about why you liked it. maybe the ingredients felt clean, maybe it wasn’t overly sweet, maybe it felt rich without tasting like sugar candy.
this is the kind of detail brands actually care about.
once your portfolio is ready, you work on personal branding.
your instagram becomes your second portfolio. it shows your personality, your voice, and how you communicate.
your portfolio helps you with outbound. your personal brand helps you with inbound.
you need both.
this is just a small part of what i’ll be covering inside my portfolio and personal branding module (course launching on 31st December 🫶🏻)
i’ll also be answering questions like do followers really matter, how i got my first paid ugc deal of ₹5000 with just 300 followers, and how to position yourself so brands don’t push barter on you.
more on this in the next issue.
until then create a portfolio, host it somewhere (canva - personal recommendation) and reply to this email with your new portfolio. i will have a look and give you feedback.
— srishti