How To Work With Brands with Less Than 10K Followers

Ana Cahill • November 4, 2020

Over the past two years, I've worked with 100+ brands for sponsored posts, giveaways, product reviews, and more - all with less than 7K followers. I've been able to make extra cash, and receive thousands of dollars worth of free product not because I have the most followers, but because I have set myself up for success in the way I represent myself online, communicate with brands, execute campaigns, and continue to build and maintain relationships.


Whether you have thousands of followers, or just a few hundred, I want to share my best tips and tricks with you so you start collaborating with brands and putting your insight and/or content creation skills to use in exchange for product or compensation. This three-part series is going to help you set yourself up for success, learn how to best reach out to brands, and where to look to find collaboration opportunities.


These tips will help you position yourself as an account brands can’t wait to work with - even with a small following! 


1. Define your brand! If you want to work with a home decor brand, but only posts pictures of you out with your friends, you’re going to have a hard time convincing them that you are a good fit to represent them. Define what your core values are, and what your page is about, and stick to that content. That doesn’t mean you can’t ever post something that doesn’t “fit”, but by sticking to your brand, you make it easier for companies to determine what you’re about, and if you will be a good fit to represent them. By the same principle, if you’re trying to promote sustainable living, and a fast-fashion brand reaches out to collaborate with you, don’t accept it just for the payment or free items. This compromises your brand, and can prevent the brands you better align with from reaching out in the future.


2. Get to know your audience and interact with them! One of the biggest reasons that brands are opting to work with more micro influencers is because their followers are more engaged, and more likely to feel more connected to you than they might with an influencer who has a 100,000 followers. That being said, you need to be actively showing that you do engage with your audience, and you know the kinds of things that they like, so when you’re agreeing to promote a product, you already know it’s something your audience will be interested in! A brand wants to feel confident that if you post their product, you are going to be actively engaging when your followers ask questions or leave a comment. 


3. Post quality, consistent content! Brands like to know exactly what they’re going to be getting when they work with you, whether you’re known for your clean white photos, your funny captions, etc. Your personality and aesthetic should shine through in your posts so a brand feels confident in the type of content you will be creating for them. If your photos and captions are all over the place, or low quality, a brand is probably not going to be willing to take the risk in not knowing what you’ll produce for them.


4. Showcase all of your skills ! If you’re great at editing videos, or creating graphics, make sure to show this off on your page where it’s easy for brands to access! Brands love to work with influencers who can provide multiple types of content for their brand, so you want to make it easy for them to see everything you have to offer.


5. Fake it until you make it! This doesn’t mean to pretend like a post is sponsored if it isn’t, as that is a big red flag for brands, but it does mean that you should be sharing your honest reviews of products on your page even if it’s not sponsored. This helps brands get an idea of your style, especially when you’re just starting out and don’t have any previous sponsored posts in your portfolio. I love doing this on my stories with new makeup, snacks or drinks, local businesses, etc. and saving them to my highlights for brands to check out later!


Stay tuned for more in this blogging series - including how to reach out to brands and my favorite influencer marketing platforms for finding brands to work with! Is there something specific you'd like to know about working with brands? Shoot me an email or message on Instagram!


xx, Ana

Our Cozy Treehouse Stay At HoneyTree in Fredericksburg, Texas

By Ana Cahill • May 22, 2025
One thing about me is I'm always looking for a cozy retreat, an excuse to slow down, and a bathtub. When I stumbled across Honeytree on Instagram, I knew I had to add it to my list for my next trip to Texas. A few weeks ago I was there to celebrate Peter's birthday, and wanted to do something relaxing that wasn't just a typical stay-cation, and I knew Honeytree would be the perfect spot. It ended up being everything I wanted and more, and I thought I'd share a little bit more about the property, the cabins, and experience so you can book the perfect retreat for yourself, a gift, or honestly any occasion you just want to unwind. The Properties: Blue Sage & The Meadow HoneyTree actually has two separate locations in Fredericksburg: The Meadow and Blue Sage . Both feel thoughtfully removed from the noise of everyday life but each has its own energy. The Meadow is a bit closer to town and home to five original treehouses, all perched among old-growth trees with views of Palo Alto Creek. These cabins are a bit more tucked away and wooded if you want to feel like you're glamping in the trees. Blue Sage , where we stayed, is a newer property about 10 minutes from downtown, with 12 uniquely designed cabins with views of wide open Hill Country land. This spot is a little more spacious and less wooded, and has a common space with grills and a fire pit. They're in the process of adding some fun wellness perks that I can't wait to go back and enjoy like a sauna, cold plunge, hot tub, and more. Each cabin is privately tucked into its own space for privacy, and the only noises we heard our whole stay were the neighbors roosters which in my opinion really authenticated the Texas Hill Country experience. The Cabins One of the things I loved most about HoneyTree is that every single cabin feels intentional and unique. The husband-and-wife founders, Jacob and Katie, designed the cabins by alternating creative lead, with one designing the even numbers and the other designing the odd numbers. You can feel the balance of perspectives and care in every detail. It was honestly so hard to choose which one to stay in, but you know I'm a sucker for a good bathtub, and Peter had one on his roof growing up and I love nostalgia, so I landed on Cabin No. 7 , aka, The Rooftop Soak Tub. We woke up to the sunrise through our giant window with a view of the hills, tanned on the roof, and of course took advance of the soak tub as much as we could. The views were wide open and uninterrupted, but the cabin still felt secluded and peaceful. It was equipped with everything we needed - towels, robes, cooking supplies, games, bug spray, blankets, all the essentials and more.
The cover of a travel guide to croatia with boats in the harbor

Croatia Travel Guide: Split, Brač + Dubrovnik

By Ana Cahill • October 13, 2024
Everywhere we went, stayed, ate and what we did in Croatia!

Fall Cleaning Checklist

By Ana Cahill • October 13, 2024
There’s no better time than the fall to give your home a refreshing reset. Fall cleaning is the perfect opportunity to tidy up, reorganize, and prepare your space for the cozy months ahead. Whether you’re welcoming holiday guests or simply wanting to enjoy a more serene and organized home, this fall cleaning checklist will help you tackle all the essential tasks. From decluttering to deep cleaning, this checklist includes all of my seasonal "to-do's" that will leave your home feeling warm, peaceful, and ready for the season.