A Beginner’s Guide to Getting FREE Products
Are you passionate about skincare and beauty products? Do you love researching new brands, trying new products, and sharing your recommendations and thoughts with friends? Do you enjoy creating content and wish you could get products for free?! If you answered yes, this post is for you!
When I started my blog, I knew I wanted to create honest and thoughtful reviews of products, specifically in the clean and green beauty space. I’ve always purchased my own skincare and at first I focused on the products I was using at the time. But when I wanted to create fresh content and experience different brands, I was limited by budget. When I got my first request from a brand to collaborate with them (exchange product for posts), it felt like Christmas! I believe that reviewing gifted products should still remain authentic and honest. Most brands aren’t looking to buy fake reviews from you (if they are, stay away!). Brands are seeking honest feedback and your content helps create more buzz and brand awareness for them. It’s a win-win!
You don’t have to have thousands of followers to get free products from brands! When I started getting collaboration requests, I only had 2K followers. When considering who to work with, brands consider your unique creative vision, your engagement rate (3-4% or higher), and a dedicated following (even if its small!).
How to Start
Curate your feed, CONNECT, and grow your account
- Create content on Instagram. Start reviewing the products you already have and love with your audience. Play around with flatlays, texture shots, bag spills, brand reviews, etc. Make sure to tag brands and use a mix of relevant hashtags.
- Start a blog (not needed, but it helps)! I don’t like to have all my eggs in one basket, but if you can’t do both, at least start with instagram. The benefit of having a blog is that you own it and its another way to expand your reach.
- Authentically engage with your community. Creating great content isn’t enough. When I started spending 30+ minutes a day thoughtfully interacting with other content creators, brands, and likeminded skincare nerds on Instagram, my engagement rate went from 2% to 6-10%. Anything above 5% is really good. But it’s important to leave thoughtful comments, not generic phrases and emojis. I’m pretty sure when someone comments “so cute, babe!”, they don’t mean it. When you read someone’s caption, take a moment to respond like you would respond to a friend you’re sitting down with. These type of authentic responses go a long way.
- Network – Follow brands you love or would want to work with, including small indie brands. Give them love! Some of the loveliest people I’ve met on Instagram are the badass boss babes behind some of my favorite indie brands! Who knows, maybe they’ll reach out to you to work with them!
Great! So how do I to get FREE products for reviews?
- Brands will reach out to you! If brands see that you’re kicking ass with creating awesome content and your audience is engaging with your posts, chances are that they’ll DM or email you for a collab! Tip: Make sure to also include your email in your bio.
- Pitch yourself to brands! Not hearing from brands yet? You can send an email inquiry or DM! When I was starting out, I made a list of small-sized brands I wanted to collaborate with. In each email, I Introduced myself and my blog/IG handle, I shared why I’m interested in their products and why I resonate with their mission/values, and then I ask if they would be open to exchanging product for posts! Lastly I thanked them for their time (because they probably get TONS of requests). Be kind and considerate.
- Sign up for OCTOLY – This influencer marketing platform is an easy way to apply for collab opportunities and partner with big brands! To join Octoly, you only have to have 1000 followers and a 3% engagement rate. Once approved, you can pick which product(s) you want to try.
- Apply to be an influencer on Minisocial.io – This NY-based influencer agency connects brands with micro-influencers. Once you’re approved, they’ll email you potential campaigns you can sign up for.
- Research other influencer marketing platforms. There are more out there that I’m not familiar with, so do some quick google searches! 🙂
I hope this guide was helpful! Remember, it’s less about giant followings and more about a dedicated following! Strive for authentic and organic growth and thoughtful engagement. Brands will soon take notice. It takes hard work and time to build your account so don’t give up if you’re not seeing results right away! Comment below if you have any questions or personal tips of your own!
