How to Find Brands as a Talent Agent

If you’re building or running an influencer talent agency, your ability to consistently find and connect with brands that have influencer marketing programs and are casting, can make or break your roster. A creator’s success depends not just on their content, but on brands knowing they exist—whether that’s through smart outreach or inbound buzz. That’s why pitching, building relationships, and being proactive is a non-negotiable part of working in influencer talent management. The truth is, even the most talented creator will struggle to grow without strategic brand partnerships.

Whether you’re pitching directly to the brand, a destination or experience or reaching out to a marketing agency, knowing where to look—and how to approach—is one of your biggest superpowers.

This is exactly what I teach in both Week 4 & 7 of my 8-week influencer talent management coaching program. Yes, it’s so important that it’s a topic that comes up twice! We go deep into sourcing brand contacts, identifying warm vs. cold leads, and how to set up a repeatable system that brings brand deals in regularly. One coaching client said, “I walked away from that week with a totally new outlook—and my first brand deal landed the next month.”

Where to Find Brands to Work with Your Influencers

The internet is vast—and while that’s a blessing, it can also be a bit overwhelming when you’re trying to track down the right brand contacts. Like, where you do you even start?! As a talent manager, it’s easy to feel like you’re sending emails into the void or endlessly scrolling without direction. And as the queen of being as efficient as I can, that’s the last thing I’d ever want you, or me to do.

The good news? There are clear places to start. Once you align your search with your roster’s niche, audience, and social media presence, it becomes much easier to find the people behind the campaigns who are actively looking for talent like yours. Start building out your list with the brands that your creator mentions organically in their content. Who are they already tagging? Who are they already mentioning in their comments, stories and content?

Once you’ve got that starter list of brand names, the real work begins: identifying who at each company you need to connect with. That’s where the magic happens—and where strategy matters.

Here are a few go-to places I recommend talent managers use when finding brand opportunities:

LinkedIn is a goldmine for finding brand marketers, PR reps, and agency professionals behind the scenes. This is where I love to hang out. Feel free to visit my Linkedin Profile and connect with me to get some Talent Manager inspo. Start by searching for job titles like “Influencer Marketing Manager,” “Casting Director,” or “Social Media Strategist” within companies that align with your influencers’ niche.

There’s also a lot of people on Linkedin who are often sharing casting calls. You can add your name to their posts and get on their lists.

How to reach out: Send a warm, personalized message or connection request. If possible, grab the contact’s email from their profile or the brand’s site and send a direct email referencing a recent campaign or brand move.

Pet peeve alert: Please, please don’t write something generic like “I’d like to connect and learn more about what you do.” We already know you want to connect. That kind of outreach is lazy—and ineffective. Do your homework. Read their profile, check out recent brand campaigns, Google them, or even listen to a podcast they’ve been on. Then, ask a specific question—maybe something about their role, a campaign they led, or a piece of insight they shared. Specificity shows effort—and it makes people want to respond.

Instagram

Scroll beyond the pretty posts. Instagram is a major tool for spotting brands that are already working with top influencers—especially those who mirror the content, values, or demographics of your roster. You can also analyze which content formats and campaign styles they favor.

How to reach out: If the brand has a media contact or press email listed, use that. If not, DM with a quick introduction and ask for the best person to connect with for influencer marketing partnerships. Mention the talent that you’re reaching out about, share some exciting #’s about them and why you want to connect on their behalf. Better yet, share over your roster and ask to connect with whomever does casting.

PR Agency Websites

Many campaigns are run by PR firms, not directly by brands. Identifying which agencies represent which companies can open up dozens of warm leads. PR agency sites often showcase case studies, client lists, and recent media coverage.

Just a heads-up: PR agencies might not always have budget for influencer partnerships. Sometimes, they’re looking for unpaid media opportunities or earned coverage—not necessarily a paid campaign. That’s not always a dealbreaker, but it’s important to clarify expectations early.

How to reach out: Email the agency directly with a short pitch and a link to your talent roster or media kit. Keep it tight, polished, and professional.

Industry Newsletters

There are truly no shortage of newsletters that share casting calls. I recommend googling it, looking on Substack & asking for recommendations on IG stories and threads. This way you’ll be up to date with what’s timely and relevant for your niche or creator type. Other options are sites like Adweek, Glossy, and Digiday announce brand campaigns, influencer launches, and content marketing strategies. These insights act like breadcrumbs—giving you names, timing, and direction to guide your outreach.

How to reach out: Track down the campaign contact or agency mentioned. Use LinkedIn or tools like RocketReach to get their direct email and connect from there.

Your Network (Yes, It’s a Place!)

Don’t overlook your own network—past brand reps, other talent managers, creators you’ve worked with, or even agency-side pros you met at an event. These warm contacts are often the fastest path to a “yes.” I’ve got a great network of talent managers and we’re constantly sharing casting opportunities and contact info

How to reach out: A quick check-in, “Thought of you when I saw this campaign!” or update on a recent influencer campaign can spark new conversation and opportunity. I always recommend you give what you want to get…meaning before asking for things, offer up intel and be helpful to others.

Nurturing Established Brand Relationships

Finding the brand is one thing. Keeping the relationship going? That’s where your talent management skills really shine. If a campaign went well, don’t wait six months to reappear. Follow up within 1–2 weeks of the campaign wrap with performance highlights and a thank-you note. Keep them updated on your creator’s milestones or new content launches. Even a thoughtful gesture—like tagging them in relevant social content or sending a small holiday gift—goes a long way.

(I dive into nurturing and renewing brand relationships in Week 4 of my coaching program. That week of my program is titled “Cultivating Connections and Fostering Bonds for Business Growth”. If you’re struggling with how to get repeat deals for your roster, this one’s a game-changer.)

Ready to find more (and better) brand deals for your influencer talent? My 8-week coaching program for talent managers gives you the scripts, systems, and confidence to land consistent campaigns—and grow your agency with ease.

Applications are open now—join us and start pitching like the pro you’re meant to be.