If you’ve ever sat in your room staring at your phone, wondering why your DM pitch to that skincare brand got “seen” and then ghosted harder than your last situationship… this article is for you.

We’re not doing vague advice. We’re not “just be authentic and they’ll come” merchants. We’re giving you the SFI.COZA real-deal breakdown on how to pitch to brands, like, professionally, persuasively, and with confidence so grown you’d think it paid bills.

Because if you’re going to be out here building a brand, posting fire content, and grinding late nights, then the least you deserve is that “Let’s collaborate” email followed by numbers.

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Why Brands Don’t Respond (Yet You Keep Pitching Like That)

Here’s the thing…

Brands aren’t ignoring you because you’re not talented. They’re ignoring you because you didn’t give them a reason to say “yes.”

Let’s call it what it is: most pitches read like begging letters.

You’re either:

• Talking about yourself the whole time,
• Asking them for free products without giving value, or
• Sending one of those “Hey, I love your brand ; let’s work together!” DMs.

Worse? You’re pitching like a fan. Not a partner.

Change that, and you’ll start seeing replies faster than Uber Eats on payday.

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The Formula You Need

Ready? Here’s the 5-step pitch structure that made creators we know go from “ignored” to “invoicing.”

1. Start With the Hook

Don’t waste the first line. That’s prime real estate.

Instead of:

“Hi my name is Keitumetse and I’m a micro-influencer based in Pretoria…”

Try:

“I’ve been following your brand for months—and I’ve already mentioned you 3 times in content that hit 20K views.”

That hits. That’s confidence. That’s data. Give them something scroll-stopping.

2. Show You Know Them

Don’t pitch to every brand like it’s copy-paste.

If you’re emailing Heineken, your tone shouldn’t sound like you’re pitching Mr. Price Home.

Include something specific:

• A campaign they ran that caught your eye
• A product you actually use (with proof)
• A post they did that aligns with your style

3. Present the Value First

This is where most creators flop.

Don’t start with what you want. Start with what they gain.

Example:

“I can help you reach university students in Joburg through reels that have generated 25% engagement weekly.”

Or…

“My audience has been asking about [product type], and I think your new line would be the perfect fit for them.”

4. Drop the Offer

Now that they’re leaning in, drop the details.

“Here’s what I propose: a 3-part video series on Instagram, TikTok, and a review post on my blog. You get evergreen content and an engaged Gen Z audience.”

Clean. Simple. Outcome-based. Bonus tip: Use words like “exclusive,” “limited,” or “first-look” to create FOMO. Brands fall for it like we fall for Takealot sales.

5. End With a Call to Action

Don’t just say, “let me know.”

Say:

“I would love to send you the media kit and a full content calendar by Thursday. Let me know if that works.”

That’s proactive. And it sounds like someone who respects time.

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Tools That’ll Give You an Edge

You know what separates you from the 90%?
Preparation.

Here’s what your pitch package should include:

• Media Kit – Not optional. It’s the resume of creators. Include stats, past campaigns, audience breakdown, and visuals.
• Portfolio – Show real results. Link to previous collabs, branded posts, and content samples.
• Rates Card – Keep it ready. If they ask, you don’t fumble.

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Where to Pitch and Who to Pitch To

Don’t wait for campaigns to drop on influencer platforms.

Instead, do this:

• Follow brand managers and PR reps on LinkedIn
• Slide into Instagram with purpose—not just vibes
• Use websites like Tagger, Collabstr, or Tribe
• Attend local brand events, pop-ups, and festivals—network in real life, not just digitally

Pro tip: Pitch to new brands trying to build hype. They’re more open. They need reach. They have budgets.

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What to Avoid Like Loadshedding

• Long, boring paragraphs. Keep it punchy.
• Typos. Triple-check everything.
• Sending pitches on weekends. That’s the influencer equivalent of ghosting.
• Being too humble. Be honest, not apologetic.

Oh, and don’t be salty if they don’t reply. Circle back after two weeks with an update or reminder.

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The Secret Sauce: Mindset

Let me keep it a 100. Pitching is personal.

It’ll trigger rejection wounds you didn’t even know you had. It’ll make you question your worth. But here’s the plot twist: every “no” is just data for a better “yes.”

I’ve seen creators go from R500 campaigns to R50K retainers because they stayed consistent and refined their pitch every month.

That could be you.

If you read this far, that already is you.

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In Closing (But Make It Motivational)

You weren’t born just to post pretty content and hope brands notice you. You’re building an empire. A digital legacy. An income stream that could set your family free.

So pitch like it.

You’ve got the sauce, the stats, and now the strategy. All that’s left is action. And when you land that first paid deal—tag @sfi.coza. We’re rooting for you louder than a kasi auntie at a talent show.

📄 MEDIA KIT TEMPLATE

(Think of this as your creator CV. Straight to the point. Sharp. Visually clean.)

NAME:
Thabiso Mokoena
LOCATION:
Cape Town, South Africa
CONTENT NICHES:
Fashion · Lifestyle · Men’s Grooming · Travel

PLATFORMS & ANALYTICS:
(Updated: March 2025)

Platform	Followers/Subs	Avg Reach/Post	Engagement Rate	Audience Top Countries
Instagram	24,500	12,000	6.4%	South Africa, Nigeria
TikTok	18,200	15,400	9.8%	SA, Kenya, UK
YouTube	6,300	1,200 views	4.3%	SA, Ghana, US
Spotify Podcast	3,500 monthly	1,800 avg.	—	SA, Zambia, Namibia

DEMOGRAPHICS:

• Gender: 62% Male · 38% Female
• Age: 18–35 (core audience)
• Location: 78% Africa-based
• Language: English

BRANDS I’VE WORKED WITH:
Adidas · Johnny Walker SA · Mr Price · Nivea Men · Castle Lite

WHAT I DELIVER:

• Authentic storytelling through visuals & words
• Clean, high-quality content aligned with your brand voice
• On-time delivery with creative flair
• Strong engagement & proven conversions

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🔗 PORTFOLIO TEMPLATE

(Here’s where you flex. Show evidence that you’re not just good—you convert.)

BRANDED CAMPAIGNS SNAPSHOT:

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1. Campaign: Adidas “All Originals” Winter Drop
Deliverables: 2 IG Reels · 3 IG Stories · 1 Static Post
Results:
✔️ Reached 44,000+ people
✔️ 7.3% engagement rate
✔️ 13 DMs asking for product link

🔗 [Link to Reel 1]
🔗 [Link to Campaign Breakdown]

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2. Campaign: Nivea Men “Active Start” Collab
Deliverables: 1 TikTok · 1 IG Post · 1 Giveaway
Results:
✔️ 5,400 video saves
✔️ 2,300 new followers gained
✔️ 890 comments

🔗 [Link to TikTok]
🔗 [Link to Giveaway Post]

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3. Collaboration: Castle Lite x Vibes & Views Podcast
Deliverables: Podcast Integration · IG Story Shoutouts
Results:
✔️ 1,200 listens on that episode
✔️ Brand reposted on their official page
✔️ 47 link clicks to Castle Lite campaign

🎧 [Link to Episode]
📸 [IG Story Snippet]

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💰 RATES CARD TEMPLATE

(Show your worth. Keep it simple. Leave room for negotiation.)

STANDARD RATES (as of March 2025):

Content Type	Rate (ZAR)	Description
Instagram Post	R2,500	High-quality photo with full caption + tags
Instagram Reel	R3,800	15–30 sec edited, with music and transitions
TikTok Video	R4,200	Engaging vertical content + 2-day turnaround
Instagram Stories	R1,200	3-frame story with swipe-up link
YouTube Mention	R2,700	60-sec integrated shoutout with CTA
Podcast Sponsorship	R1,800	Branded intro & mid-roll (15–30 sec)
Bundle (Post + Reel)	R6,000	Discounted if booked together

Extras:
✔️ Usage Rights (30 days): +R1,000
✔️ Whitelisting Fee: +R1,500
✔️ Urgent Turnaround (<24hrs): +R900

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⚡️BONUS TIPS FOR PRESENTATION

• Save all 3 docs as a branded PDF
• Include your logo or signature branding
• Always keep them up to date—monthly analytics are 🔑
• Create a “Pitch Folder” in Google Drive with these three docs and a short “about me” pitch note