LinkedIn has quietly become one of the most lucrative platforms for creators who know how to show up with purpose.
While most people associate brand deals with Instagram influencers or YouTube creators, LinkedIn offers something unique: high-intent audiences and decision-makers. I landed my first brand collaboration on LinkedIn with under 5,000 followers—no media kit, no agency help, and no viral posts.
This wasn’t luck. It was the result of a clear, repeatable system.
Here’s exactly how I did it—and how you can, too.
Step 1: Optimized My Profile Like a Media Kit
Before I ever thought about posting content, I treated my LinkedIn profile like a pitch deck.
Your profile is your storefront. When a potential brand partner clicks on your name, they should instantly see clarity, credibility, and collaboration potential.
Here’s how I prepped mine:
- Headline: Instead of a job title, I used a positioning statement that hinted at my niche and openness to work with brands.
- Banner: I uploaded a custom header image with a soft CTA and my value proposition. Think of this as your brand billboard.
- About Section: Rather than a career summary, I wrote this section like a copywriter. I included:
- Featured Section: I pinned my strongest posts—especially those that showcased results, thought leadership, or aligned with the kind of brands I wanted to work with.
Step 2: Posted With Purpose, Not Pressure
Brand deals aren’t a volume game—they’re a relevance game. I didn’t post every day. I just posted with a clear rhythm and intent to attract a specific type of reader: decision-makers and marketers at startups and SaaS companies.
I followed a three-post-per-week system:
- Post 1 (Story): A relatable moment from my creator journey—what I learned, what I overcame, or what I noticed.
- Post 2 (Value): Educational content like frameworks, strategies, or tips that aligned with marketing and brand growth.
- Post 3 (Visibility): A light promotional or community-building post—like celebrating a milestone, spotlighting a tool, or asking a strategic question.
I planned these posts in Baked using its Smart Planner. I could brainstorm a month’s worth of ideas in one sitting and let the tool turn bullet points into clean, on-brand captions. From there, I scheduled everything—freeing up my week for actual engagement.
Step 3: Engaged With the Right People (Without Being Pushy)
Creating great content is half the game. Getting it in front of the right people is the other half. I focused my engagement strategy around three daily habits:
- Comments: I left 5–10 thoughtful comments per day on posts from marketers, founders, and brand managers—especially those working in industries I liked.
- Reposts: When I found a post I genuinely appreciated, I reposted it with my take. This created visibility and positioned me as someone with an informed opinion.
- Tags & Mentions: When relevant, I tagged tools, creators, or brands in my posts. This helped me show up in the right feeds and build social proof.
Step 4: A Brand Slid Into My DMs
After just a few weeks of posting and engaging consistently, it happened: a SaaS brand I had commented on a few times reached out.
“We’ve been following your content and love your voice. Would you be open to collaborating on a short-term campaign?”
They had a specific campaign in mind. They wanted a creator who understood storytelling and had a relevant audience. Even though I didn’t have a formal media kit, I came prepared.
I quickly responded with:
- Links to my highest-performing posts (especially the ones aligned with their niche)
- A clear breakdown of what I could offer (e.g. a post, a carousel, and analytics)
- A proposed rate, based on scope—not follower count
Step 5: Closed the Deal and Delivered Results
I kept the package simple:
- One LinkedIn text post written in my voice
- One carousel post with a product insight or use case
- Post-campaign analytics with impressions, engagement, and DMs received
The best part? It turned into a recurring quarterly collaboration.
Want to Land Your First LinkedIn Brand Deal? Start Here:
You don’t need 100,000 followers. You don’t need a blue check or an agent. You need:
- A Clear Niche: Don’t try to appeal to everyone. Post content that makes sense to specific industries or problems.
- Consistent Content: Show up 1–3x/week with story, value, and visibility posts.
- Intentional Engagement: Build relationships with the right people—before you pitch them.
- A Simple Funnel: Make it easy for brands to know you’re open to collaboration.
- A Tool Like Baked: Take the mental load off. Let tech handle the planning and performance tracking so you can focus on showing up.
How Baked Helped Me Get There
Without Baked, I would’ve missed posts, wasted time formatting captions, and never remembered which content performed well.
Here’s what made the difference:
- Smart Post Planner: I mapped out weekly content themes without overthinking.
- AI Caption Builder: I turned rough ideas into polished, scroll-stopping posts.
- Auto-Scheduling: I stayed visible without being online 24/7.
- Performance Insights: I knew which posts drove DMs—so I could pitch future brands with confidence.
Final Thoughts
LinkedIn is no longer just for job seekers—it’s a platform where creators can build real income and real relationships. If you’ve been creating content but ignoring the potential for brand deals, it’s time to shift your mindset.
You don’t need a big audience—you need the right approach.
Start by optimizing your profile. Show up with value. Engage like a real person. And let tools like Baked help you scale the system.
Your first (or next) brand deal could be one post away.