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How To Work With Brands with Less Than 10K Followers

Ana Cahill • Nov 04, 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.

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


Miramar Beach: Travel Guide

By Ana Cahill • 30 Mar, 2022
Last month, me and my girls took a much-needed girls trip to the beach and had the best time laying in the sun, lounging in the hot tub, and eating. (because let's be honest - what else are girls trips for?) We spent just under 72 hours in Miramar Beach, but did our best to hit as many cute shops and delicious restaurants and cafes as we could, so I put together a little guide if you're planning on visiting the area this summer! It's only a 7 hour drive, or hour long flight from Nashville, and legitimately the cleanest beach I have ever seen. If you fly into Pensacola like we did, I'd recommend renting a car for getting to the beach and having more options for getting around. However, we did walk a ton of places and totally could've just gotten a ride from the airport. The ~vibes~ in Miramar are super low-key, making it the perfect place to chill and unwind with your partner or gal pals. 10/10 would recommend. Watch my recap reel here for a quick overview of our trip!

Spring Cleaning Checklist

By Ana Cahill • 30 Mar, 2022
'Tis the season for resetting, organizing and and getting rid of all the things that no longer serve you - physically and metaphorically. A recent study actually found that 78% of people notice a boost in wellbeing when their home is tidy, and 53% say a clean home helps them feel productive. I put together a checklist that includes a complete list of things you clean in your space + in your virtual world over the next few weeks - grab it for free below!

7 Sustainable Undie Brands to Shop

By Ana Cahill • 04 Aug, 2021
Today's National Underwear Day, and it's got me reminiscing on one of my favorite jobs ever - a bra specialist at Victoria's Secret. When I started working there at 18, it was a dream job. I adored the brand, worked with some amazing girls, and the company took great care of us in terms of competitive pay and all the free things. At this point in my life, I didn’t really know anything about sustainability or fast fashion, but I remember the first time I was asked to cut a garbage can full of “damages” (merchandise with small holes, minor stains or other imperfections) to shreds before tossing them in the dumpster, like it was yesterday. I asked my manager why we couldn’t just bring them home or donate them and she said “because the company doesn’t want anyone wearing an imperfect version of their product.” Excuse me?! I was shook by this statement, and it inspired me to start asking questions and doing my research on things like what other companies were doing with their damaged goods, who was making them, why we were getting so many imperfect items we could afford to just throw away. And so began my pursuit into sustainable fashion, supporting brands who do good for people and the environment, and educating others on how to be conscious of the brands they’re buying from. Does Victoria’s Secret still make some dang cute clothes + lingerie? Heck yeah they do, but at what cost? Good On You (my favorite app for learning about brands ethics) rates them “not good enough” in both labor and environmental impact. Thankfully, there are so many INCREDIBLE alternative brands available now that are doing good for both people and the planet. And nothing makes you feel good like looking good AND doing good. Here are a few of my favorites: Third Love Third Love was founded by women, for women, with the goal of celebrating every body type, every dimple, scar, and blemish. If they are unable to sell a product for any reason, it's donated to charities or to other causes where it can be repurposed. The founders believe in giving back to the community, and are actively donating to women’s charities across the nation. You can use the code " TL-UNDIES " to get 10% off 3 for $30 or 10% off any undie packs on your first purchase! 2. Azura Bay Azura Bay is the first sustainable undie brand I ever shopped, and I absolutely adore them. They're a small, female-owned business dedicated to providing a variety of cute and comfortable options for loungewear, bras, undies and more! You can use the code " ANA10 " for 10% off your purchase! 3. Organic Basics "Basically Better Made” is Organic Basics motto, and they live up to it with their super comfy everyday underwear from high-quality organic materials, They even weave silver into the organic cotton for their SilverTeach pieces which makes them antibacterial and heat regulating! 4. Boody Wear The most comfortable bras and bodysuits I've ever worn, and they make everything from activewear to loungewear and more, all crafted from organically-grown bamboo viscose for comfortable, sustainability, and health. Use code " ANA15 " for 15% off your first purchase! 5. Cuup Cuup is a great option for sustainably-made underwire bras. They offer forty sizes ranging from AA to H, and they partner with a vertically integrated production facility to ensure that every bra is of the highest quality. 6. Wama Underwear Wama Underwear is on a mission to "pioneer the hemp underwear industry by making the best hemp undies in the world and constantly improving the fit, function and design." Hemp fabric has many benefits like being naturally anti-bacterial , super soft and breathable, and of course it's environmentally-friendly - and unbelievably comfy! 7. Pact Their cotton basics are perfect for building a sustainable stable wardrobe. They go to great lengths to make sure their entire supply chain, from the growing and harvesting of the organic cotton to the final sewing and all the processes in between, is as clean and responsible as possible. I hope you love these brands as much I do! xx, Ana
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