Have you ever wondered how influencers are able to receive tons of free products from companies and brands, all while getting paid for their content?
Chip has gotten dozens of free products over the years, ranging from brand new products that haven’t even been launched yet, to high-end expensive items like automatic litter boxes.
How? I’m here to spill the beans on the three methods I’ve personally used, and that countless other content creators swear by to get free products on Amazon!
Whether you’ve been a pet influencer for awhile now or are just starting out, this guide has something for everyone! We’ll be diving deep into the following three ways to get free Amazon products as an influencer.
These are the three ways for pet influencers to get free products off Amazon:
- Ask Brands Yourself
- Let Brands Come To You
- Convert Amazon Influencer Program Earning
Method 1: Asking Brands Yourself
While it may seem like the most obvious route, this is often the one people overlook!
Asking brands for free products is actually very effective! If you’re just starting out, I highly recommend that you target smaller brands, especially ones that are on Amazon.
Larger brands usually have established marketing teams and are harder to contact.
However, don’t let that deter you! Plenty of smaller influencer (~10k followers) have gotten tons of free expensive items, so I know it is possible!
To make your pitch count, follow these steps:
- Craft an email or direct message introducing yourself as an influencer.
- Share your social media statistics and why you’re interested in their product.
- Propose a collaboration, explaining how you’ll promote their product through your content.
Even as a smaller creator, this method can yield big results!
I started with around 50,000 followers and was able to secure a free cat stroller worth up to $250 by reaching out to multiple brands.
It’s a low-effort, high-reward strategy that can pay off in no time!
How To Talk With Brands
Tips for Initiating Conversations with Brands as an Influencer:
- Do Your Homework: Before reaching out to a brand, research their products. Understand their target audience and ensure that your content aligns with their brand. This demonstrates that you’ve put thought into your pitch.
- Prepare a Compelling Pitch: Craft an email or direct message that introduces yourself as an influencer. Clearly communicate the value you can offer to the brand through your content. Explain how you plan to promote their product and what benefits they’ll receive.
- Highlight Your Influence: Briefly mention your social media reach and engagement metrics. Provide statistics including your followers, average likes and comments, and any other relevant data. The more convincing your numbers, the more likely a brand will consider your proposal.
- Showcase Your Previous Work: Share examples of content you’ve created for other brands or products. This allows the brand to see your style and the quality of your work.
- Tailor Your Message: Personalize your outreach to each brand. Avoid sending generic messages that make it obvious you’re mass-emailing several companies!
- Express Genuine Interest: Show a genuine interest in the brand’s products. Mention specific items that have caught your attention, and explain why they resonate with you.
- Propose Collaboration Terms: Clearly outline your terms for collaboration. Whether it’s a sponsored post, product exchange, or you proposing a paid partnership, be transparent about what you expect in return for your promotion.
- Follow Up: If you don’t receive an immediate response, don’t be discouraged. It’s common for brands to be busy and overlook messages! A polite follow-up message can be a gentle nudge to remind them of your proposal. I have to do this often!
Interested in learning more about pet influencing? Get a FREE 2-day course and eBook to start your journey today! Grab your goodies here!
Method 2: Let the Brands Come to You
Once your follower count reaches around 10,000, you may notice brands reaching out to you. This seems to be a common popular follower count number but it not an exact promise.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with clients who got multiple free products from brands before they even hit 1000 subscribers!
Smaller, lesser-known brands are likely to be the first to approach you.
To make this method work for you, ensure your contact information is readily available. If brands can’t find your email or a way to communicate with you, you risk not getting contacted.
A positive experience with a brand can lead to future collaborations, so make it easy for them to connect with you!
How To Negotiate With Brands
- Know Your Worth: Understand the value of your influence and audience!
- Set Your Terms: Clearly define what you need, whether it’s an interest in getting paid to collaborate with a brand or simply free products.
- Consider Your Audience: Ensure the collaboration aligns with both their and your audience.
- Request Creative Freedom: If you’re going to be making content for free, I highly recommend requesting full creative freedom! It can be frustrating to have the brand go back and forth on a piece of content that you are not getting paid for.
- Maintain Professionalism: Throughout the negotiation process, stay professional, communicate openly, and respect both your needs and the brand’s requirements!
As your influence grows, you’ll find your inbox flooded with collaboration offers. As a pet influencer with over a million followers, I receive two to three emails a day on average from Amazon sellers looking to provide free products or discuss potential partnerships.
The opportunities are endless, and it’s essential to be selective, even as a smaller creator, to ensure the collaborations align with your brand and values.
Method 3: Amazon Influencer Program
For those who want a slightly different approach, consider becoming an Amazon influencer!
This program is a step up from Amazon Associates and offers the opportunity to monetize your content on Amazon. While there are no strict guidelines for joining, having a substantial following will work in your favor.
Here’s how you can benefit from being a part of this program:
- Create photo or video content and add it to your Amazon shop page.
- Encourage your followers to visit and engage with your content on Amazon.
- Earn a commission for every purchase made through your content.
But how does this program differ from the more widely known Amazon Associates program, and what benefits does it offer to those who participate?
What is the Amazon Influencer Program?
First, let’s clarify the distinction between the Amazon Influencer Program and the Amazon Associates program.
Amazon Associates is an affiliate marketing program that allows individuals to earn a commission for promoting and driving sales of Amazon products through unique affiliate links.
It’s an excellent option for bloggers, small content creators, and anyone with a website or blog.
On the other hand, the Amazon Influencer Program is tailored specifically for individuals who have built a strong social media following and have the potential to influence purchasing decisions.
This program provides a unique platform within Amazon where influencers can curate their own Amazon storefront, showcasing their favorite products for their followers.
When a follower/subscriber makes a purchase through the Influencer’s Shop Page, the influencer earns a commission.
The Amazon Influencer Program offers several key advantages:
- Monetization Beyond Sales: While Amazon Associates mainly rewards affiliates based on the sales they generate, the Amazon Influencer Program recognizes the value of influencers’ recommendations. Influencers can earn commissions not only on sales but also on the clicks and engagement generated from their personal storefront.
- Curated Storefront: Influencers are given their own customizable Amazon Shop Page, where they can handpick and categorize products to showcase. This storefront acts as a one-stop shop for their audience, making it easier for followers to discover and purchase their recommended products.
- Social Media Integration: The program is designed to seamlessly integrate with social media platforms. Influencers can easily share links to their Amazon shop across their social media accounts, driving traffic and generating more commissions.
- Amazon Gift Card Option: Perhaps one of the most appealing features is the ability to convert earned commissions into Amazon gift cards. This is a fantastic way to accumulate funds and use them to purchase a wide range of products available on Amazon.
- Potential for Growth: Although there are no strict guidelines for joining, the program tends to favor influencers with “bigger” followings. This makes it an attractive option for content creators looking to grow their online presence and earn from their influence.
Although the commissions might seem low, with consistent traffic, you can accumulate earnings that can be converted into Amazon gift cards.
These gift cards can then be used to buy a variety of free products on Amazon, making it a great way to get anything from Amazon without spending a dime!
Summary
By reaching out to brands, making yourself easily discoverable, and utilizing the Amazon Influencer Program, you can get countless free products as a pet influencer!
Don’t be discouraged if you’re just starting out! Whether you choose to ask brands yourself, wait for them to come to you, or become an Amazon Influencer, there’s a method for everyone.
If you want to learn more about pet influencing or becoming a content creator, be sure to get your free ebook and the two-day mini-course here!
This is your gateway to unlocking the secrets that no one tells you about the world of pet influencing. Get ready for a world of free pet products and endless opportunities as an influencer!
