So, you've put in the hard work building up your streaming community. You've got a solid follower count, your content is engaging, and your viewers are active and passionate. Now it's time to take the next step and turn your streaming hobby into a full-fledged money-making machine.
Collaborating with brands is one of the most profitable ways to monetise your stream. Whether it's through sponsorships, affiliate programs, or straight-up paid promotions, working with brands can be a game-changer for streamers looking to take their earning potential to the next level.
But where do you even start? What kinds of partnerships should you be pursuing? And how do you ensure you're getting the best possible deal? Fear not, my streaming friends—I'm here to walk you through the ultimate guide to monetising your stream through brand partnerships.
Laying the Groundwork
Before you even begin reaching out to potential brand partners, it's crucial that you take some time to get your own house in order. Understanding your audience, establishing a clear streaming brand, and obtaining the required analytics and performance data are all necessary to achieve this.
Start by taking a close look at your content, your personality, and the unique value you bring to your viewers. What's your streaming niche? What kind of vibe do you give off? How would you describe your brand to an outsider? Perfect these essential components of your brand, as they will serve as the cornerstone of any fruitful collaborations.
Next, dive deep into your audience analytics. Who are your viewers? What are their demographics, interests, and pain points? How engaged are they, and what kind of conversion rates can you offer potential partners? The more you know about your community, the better you'll be able to pitch your value proposition to brands.
Finally, get your performance metrics in order. Compile data on your total follower count, average concurrent viewers, watch time, engagement rates, and any other relevant analytics. This quantifiable proof of your reach and influence will be crucial when negotiating brand deals.
How to Identify the Right Brand Partnerships?
After establishing the foundation, it is time to begin looking for possible brand partners. However, you must be picky and look for businesses that complement your streaming style and target audience.
Think about the products or services that your viewers would genuinely be interested in. What kinds of brands or businesses naturally complement your content and community? As a gaming streamer, for instance, you may want to collaborate with game studios, peripheral businesses, or even energy drink companies. Red Bull, for instance, is one of the companies that sponsors various streamers, gamers, and competitions.
Once you've identified some promising prospects, do your research. Dig into their brand values, target audience, marketing strategies, and current sponsorship/influencer partnerships. This will help you understand how you might fit into their larger marketing mix, and allow you to craft a compelling pitch.
How to Craft the Perfect Brand Partnership Pitch?
With your target partners in mind, it's time to start reaching out. But instead of sending a generic email pleading for a sponsorship deal, you should prepare a well-thought-out pitch that highlights your contribution.
Start by highlighting the key elements of your streaming brand and community. Use the audience data you compiled earlier to paint a vivid picture of who your viewers are and why they'd be a great fit for the brand. Provide details about your conversion rates, engagement rates, and any other performance metrics that could help close the deal.
Next, outline the specific partnership opportunities you have in mind. This could include:
- Sponsored stream or video content
- Product placement or endorsements
- Giveaways or other interactive promotions
- Exclusive discount codes or affiliate links
- Social media collaborations
Be sure to quantify the potential reach and impact of each opportunity, and provide a clear breakdown of what you'd need from the brand (e.g. free product, advertising budget, etc.) in exchange.
Finally, close strong by reiterating your enthusiasm for the partnership and your confidence in its ability to deliver value for both parties. Offer to hop on a call to discuss the details further, and make it clear that you're ready to hit the ground running.
How to Negotiate the Best Possible Deal With Brands?
If your pitch is a hit, the brand is likely to come back with a proposed deal. To make sure you are getting the best deal, take your time carefully negotiating the terms rather than accepting the first offer that is presented to you.
Start by carefully reviewing the contract and breaking down each element. What are the specific deliverables you're expected to provide? How much creative control will you have? What kind of exclusivity or usage rights is the brand seeking? Make sure you understand all the fine print before signing on the dotted line.
When it comes to the financial side of the deal, don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. Research industry benchmarks for similar partnerships, and use your audience data and performance metrics to make a strong case for your worth. Gently decline the brand's initial offer if it does not match your value assessment and bargain for better conditions.
You have a lot of power in these negotiations, so keep that in mind. Brands are coming to you because they see the value in accessing your engaged community. Use that leverage to secure the best possible deal, whether it's a higher flat fee, a more favourable revenue split, or additional perks and benefits.
How to Maintain a Successful Partnership?
Once you've hammered out the details and finalised the partnership, the real work begins. To ensure the arrangement is a success for both you and the brand, you'll need to put in the time and effort to deliver on your commitments.
That means creating high-quality, authentic sponsored content that resonates with your audience. Avoid the temptation to simply read a script or awkwardly shoehorn in product placements. Instead, find natural, organic ways to weave the brand messaging into your regular streaming persona and style.
Be proactive in tracking and reporting on key performance metrics, too. Regularly share viewership data, engagement numbers, and any other relevant analytics that demonstrate the value you're driving for the brand. This will help build trust, showcase your reliability, and pave the way for future collaborations.
Perhaps most importantly, always prioritise your community and their experience. Don't let brand partnerships come at the expense of the authentic connection you've built with your viewers. Strike a careful balance, and be transparent about any sponsored content or promotional materials.
If you can pull all of this off, you'll be well on your way to turning your streaming hobby into a lucrative career. But if the idea of all that outreach, negotiation, and content creation has you feeling overwhelmed, there's an easier alternative worth considering.
What Is The Easiest Way To Partner With Brands?
Enter Onezee.io, a game-changing platform that takes the headache out of monetising your streams. Instead of having to constantly hunt for brand partners, negotiate contracts, and manage sponsored content, Onezee handles it all for you.
Simply register, connect to Twitch, and install the Onezee OBS or Streamlabs plugin to get started. That's it - the platform will automatically start displaying ads during your streams after you join branded campaigns, and you'll start earning a cut of the revenue without lifting a finger.
Onezee is building a massive library of pre-vetted advertising campaigns just waiting for streamers like you to sign up. All you have to do is choose the ones that align best with your brand and community, and Onezee will handle the rest. It is automatic monetisation, so there is no need for cold outreach, tiresome negotiations, or worries about compromising your content.
And the best part? It's the perfect solution for streamers who want to maximise their earning potential without the hassle of traditional brand partnerships.
So if the thought of navigating the world of influencer marketing and sponsorship deals has your head spinning, be sure to check out Onezee.io. It just might be the missing piece in your quest to turn your streaming passion into a profitable career.