If you've ever wondered how influencers land brand deals, the answer isn’t just about building a following—it’s about strategy and authenticity. We chatted with Jeffrey Boadi, a health and wellness advocate, who built his brand by sharing valuable content and engaging with products he genuinely used. That organic approach eventually led to paid partnerships with brands he already loved.
We put together some tips and lessons from our chat with Jeffrey to help you attract the brands you want to work with:
Use the Product Before Reaching Out
One of the biggest mistakes aspiring influencers make is pitching to brands they’ve never even tried. Jeffrey did the opposite—he used products he genuinely liked and naturally integrated them into his content. He would tag the brands in his posts and talk about why he enjoyed their products. This built credibility and made it clear that he was already a fan, not just looking for a payday.
Be Consistent in Your Niche
Brands want to work with creators who have a clear and consistent message. Jeffrey is known for plant-based nutrition and wellness, and every piece of content he puts out reinforces that. Because of this, when health-focused brands look for influencers, he’s a natural fit.
If you want to attract brand deals, you need to establish a strong niche and stay consistent. Ask yourself: What do you want to be known for? Are your posts aligned with that?
Tag and Engage with Brands Authentically
Jeffrey didn’t just use products—he showcased them in a way that added value to his audience. He shared how he incorporated them into his daily life, whether in recipes or workouts, and tagged the brands without expecting anything in return. Over time, this caught the attention of companies looking for influencers who already aligned with their values.
Let the Brand Come to You
Whilst it’s okay to pitch to brands, why not try letting your content itself be your pitch? Jeffrey’s first brand deal came in 2020 when a company reached out to him after seeing him post about their product. Because they already knew he was a fan, the partnership was a natural fit. When you consistently create high-quality content that aligns with a brand’s values, you increase your chances of being approached for a collaboration.
Know Your Worth and Negotiate Smartly
Once brands start reaching out, it’s important to understand your value. Jeffrey started with small deals (£300 at first), but as his brand grew, so did his partnerships. If you’re just starting out, don’t undervalue yourself—ask for fair compensation while proving your impact through engagement and audience trust.
Think Outside the Box
So, does this strategy really work? Absolutely. It's how I landed my first brand deal, but the key element for me was thinking outside of the box. Here's how it went:
During the pandemic, I decided to take up polymer clay jewellery making as a hobby. I'd also grown a clay community and wanted to monetise it, so I created some clay colour recipes—a concept similar to food recipes that teaches people how to create new custom colours.
I tagged the brand in both my jewellery posts and my colour recipes—but which one do you think caught their eye first? It wasn’t the jewellery - they had seen plenty of clay artists creating pretty pieces. But the colour recipes? That was something new. It was a fresh, valuable idea that helped people in a way they hadn’t seen before, and because of this, they wanted to replicate that success for themselves. It was a pinch-me moment when they reached out, and I secured an ongoing contract with them, which was a game changer for my business.
So you see, whether you’re in wellness, art, or any other industry, this is a strategy that anyone can use to land that brand deal.
Want to hear Jeffrey’s full story, including his insights on social media growth, business strategy, and wellness? Check out the full episode here.
If you're struggling to grow your brand and following, download our free mini-course that teaches you how to borrow established audiences and accelerate growth, without paid ads or burning out on social media!
At Black Income Creators, we help Black entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals gain the insights, strategies, and tools to build financial freedom and generational wealth. Learning from top business and finance leaders can help you grow your Black-owned business.
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