How to *Finally* Get Sponsored on YouTube: Brand Deal Wizard Review

Brand deals generated the best money I ever made as a YouTube creator, far outstripping the pocket change I’d make through AdSense. And later while working at YouTube, I saw some incredible deals made with top creators, with one of the highest involving $90,000 for a single video.

Now, I’ve not been privy to any deals with Mr. Beast and his 100M subscribers, but I’m sure his fees dwarf even that.

Good for the big guys, right? Well, good good news - even small channels can secure brand deals. If you do the following, invitations should start showing up at your doorstep (or email inbox).

My 5 Keys to Attracting Sponsorships & Brand Deals:

1. Have an audience that clearly loves you. You don’t have to have a huge following, but brands should be able to see how much your fans enjoy you in the comments of your videos. Why? Because the more they like and trust you, the more likely they’ll buy a product that you endorse.

2. Be in a niche that involves products of some kind (ideally). Examples might include yoga, board games, guitars, cars, baking, etc. That’s not to say you can’t get sponsorships as a broad entertainer (I did), but it’s easier when there are products associated with what you do.

3. Be “brand safe”. Look, I’m not saying you have to be a perfect angel on social media, but brands don’t want to be associated with creators who are controversial or who might embarrass them in public. You may want to delete any ranting, angry tweets or videos because no brand wants their company name to show up alongside that.

4. Be professional and communicative. Think of a brand deal as a collaboration, not as you extracting money from a face-less corporation. Be friendly, diplomatic, and clear on how you plan to integrate their product in your video.

5. Make an awesome final video that exceeds their expectations. Unfortunately, YouTubers have a reputation for acting privileged and flaky. Show them that you’re different, and the brand might be back for more since you’re so great to work with.

Btw, here is a throwback episode of “The Fuplers” that I made for Verizon long ago. I was paid $10,000 and it was considered one of the best brand integrations at the time. The ask was for me to accomplish the following:

• Creatively introduce Verizon’s 4G LTE service ✅

• Show how fast the network was ✅

• Specifically demonstrate that it could handle full-motion video ✅

• Mention “4G LTE” four times in the video ❌ (I refused that because it would have been obnoxious. They were fine with it.)

A whole other level of sponsorship expertise

While I was lucky enough to have an agent who found me deals, most YouTubers aren't so lucky. For those of us out there trying to navigate this complex business on our own, creator coach Justin Moore has a lot to offer. His focus on sponsorships alone and his sense of humor make him stand out from the rest.

I first followed him on Twitter @justinmooretfam, joined his newsletter, and watched his free YouTube videos.

And look, I can smell BS in this business from 20 miles away. But with all of Justin’s material, I began to realize… this guy knows a lot more than I do on this subject. He’s also quite funny, which is always welcome with a teacher.

So, when Justin opened up access to his cohort-based course called Brand Deal Wizard, I decided to jump in.

I found the material to be excellent. Justin has created a whole structure and process around what has been a notoriously amorphous part of the creator business. He gives you an understanding from the brand’s perspective, a step-by-step guide for how you should navigate each deal so that you can take on multiple - and of course, there’s plenty of room for interactivity and asking questions.

“The Sponsorship Wheel” from Brand Deal Wizard

Who Brand Deal Wizard is for:

1. Creators with an established YouTube channel and consistent viewership.

2. Those who have already done a few brand deals and has made some solid money from them. (If you haven’t, see Justin’s beginner course described at the bottom of this page.

3. Those who have the extra time to commit to a four-week course (2-3 hours per week).

4. Creators who are engaged and willing to ask questions, participate in the community, and actively learn.

Justin leading a live call with students. This was the least intense face I could find of him. 😆

Practical details to know about Brand Deal Wizard:

• The course runs for four weeks and is delivered in a live, cohort style with recorded replays.

• The course is designed for influencers on various social media platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, blogs, and podcasts.

• The course covers pitching, negotiating, and pricing when working with brands.

• Participants will be part of a group of serious creators, completing the coursework together.

• Live classes with Justin are held every week and run for 90 minutes, providing interactive learning opportunities.

• There are office hours with Justin's team and live guest interviews with industry professionals.

• Participants will have access to a private community on the Circle app, where they can ask additional questions and chat with classmates.

• Video replays come with transcripts and timestamps to make it easy to find specific information. Additionally, PDF guides and other course materials are available in the community.

  “OK but is there anything you didn’t like, Matt?”

  Well, Justin knows this, but I made the mistake of not turning off my Circle notifications, so between his newsletter, his course, AND his community, I got an absolute tidal wave of email from him (like 10 per day!). So just make sure you turn those notifications off… or brace yourself. That wizard logo will haunt your dreams.

👉 Check out the official Brand Deal Wizard course

Or, if you’re not ready for that, consider Justin’s free, 60-minute Masterclass, which is also packed full of tips and advice.

Note: The above are affiliate links, which means I would get a percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. This in no way influences my recommendation; my reputation is much more important than that! If you do end up taking either course, please reach out and let me know what you thought of it.

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Need my thoughts on your channel?

Feel free to book a quick call with me to discuss your YouTube channel and/or sponsorship strategy. It can be intimidating working with professional marketers, so if you feel that way, I’m happy to chime in on your negotiations.

Learn more on this page.