How to do brand collaborations on Instagram

Brand collaborations (collabs) are one of the main ways to turn Instagram into income: paid posts, Reels or Stories (or product/service in return). To do them right you need to know how to find brands, how to price and how to stay authentic. This guide covers the basics.

When it's useful

• When you have an engaged audience and consistent content.
• When you're ready to treat yourself as a "service provider" to brands – with pricing and proposals.
• When you're willing to work only with brands and products that fit your values and content.

Steps for successful collaborations

1. Build a relevant audience – Brands look for audiences that fit their product. Consistent content in a clear niche attracts brands. Read How to get more followers on Instagram.

2. Prepare a media kit – Document with: follower count, engagement rate, content samples (links to posts/Reels), pricing range (optional) and contact details. PDF or landing page works.

3. Set your rates – Decide a range, e.g.: one post, Reel, package (post + Stories). Ask creators in your niche or check platforms. Clear pricing helps in negotiation.

4. Reach out to brands – Pick 5–10 small–medium brands you like and send a short message: who you are, why you're a fit, what you offer (post/Reel) and price or "happy to discuss." Attach a link to your media kit.

5. Stay transparent – Label collaborations in posts/Reels (e.g. "Paid partnership" or #ad) per local rules. Authenticity keeps your audience and brands.

6. Work only with brands that fit – Collaborating with products that don't fit you hurts credibility. Fewer, better deals are better.

Common mistakes

• Taking every offer – Irrelevant collabs hurt credibility. Politely decline if it doesn't fit.
• No pricing – "We'll see when you offer" is weak. Come with a clear price range or packages.
• Not labeling collaborations – Can violate rules and be seen as misleading. Full transparency is better.
• Ignoring terms – Read contracts and clarify rights (photo usage, duration, exclusivity). Signing without reading can cause problems.

Summary

Do collaborations on Instagram: build an engaged audience, prepare a media kit and rates, reach out to brands that fit, label collaborations in posts and work only with brands and products you believe in.

Next steps

• How to make money on Instagram – monetization overview
• How to get more followers – audience growth
• How to create a business profile – professional setup