How I Message Brands for Free Products
Sep 14, 2026
Setting up templates will help your business scale faster
Quick Answer
The good news is brands are looking for creators who can make useful product content, and you don’t necessarily need a huge following or years of experience to start reaching out. You just need to give them a good reason to say yes. Keep it useful AND short.
If you’re a new Amazon Influencer, at some point you’re probably going to realize that buying products to create content gets expensive and you are going to run out of things in your house to film.
The good news is brands are looking for creators who can make useful product content, and you don’t necessarily need a huge following or years of experience to start reaching out. You just need to give them a good reason to say yes. So, let me help you break down how to do that.
First, you are going to need a program that helps you reach out with templates, I use OINK for Influencers for this.
If you haven’t downloaded it yet, try OINK for Influencers here (affiliate link). Use code Barb for 10% off
Don’t Write Every Brand Message From Scratch
One of my favorite things about OINK is the ability to create messaging templates.
Instead of sitting down every time you find a product and thinking, Okay...what do I say to this brand?, you can build a solid base message once and then customize it. By changing 1-2 sentences you won’t come off sounding like you are mass messaging brands.
Even if you decide NOT to use a program just yet, this video will still help you to figure out what to say!
What Should You Say When You Message a Brand?
Keep it useful AND short.
Introduce yourself, tell them what kind of content you create, and show them where they can see your work.
I like to include things such as:
A link to my storefront
Examples of my videos
My social platforms when they’re relevant
My media kit
How quickly I can create content
Other places I may share the content, such as YouTube or Pinterest
I also make it very clear which product I’m interested in by including the ASIN or product URL.
Remember that the person reading your message is busy too. Make it easy for them to understand who you are, what you’re asking for, and what they could potentially get in return.
Give Them a Reason to Say Yes
You don’t have to send a paragraph telling a brand all about yourself. Tell them why you make sense for their product.
If you’re pitching dog products and you regularly create content with your dogs, say that.
If you’re approaching a craft brand and you have an audience that loves crafts, tell them.
If you live near the beach and you’re requesting a beach product, that’s useful information. You can actually show their product being used in the environment it was designed for.
You could also be working on something specific:
I’m putting together a series of teacher gift ideas.
I’m creating holiday gift content.
I’m working on back-to-school product recommendations.
Those details can be much more convincing than a generic influencer pitch because it shows that you have put thought into selecting their product already.
How Do You Ask Brands for Products When You’re Brand New?
Everyone starts somewhere. I started asking for products the minute I turned Bronze and I got quite a few of them. A lot of the yes is in how you ask and who you ask. Look at smaller brands in Creator Connections. Ninja is not likely to answer your message just yet!
Tell them you’re a new creator, you’re building your content library, and you’d love the opportunity to feature their product to help you both grow.
What matters is that you’re professional, clear about what you’re offering, and realistic about what you can deliver.
How Does OINK Make Brand Messaging Faster?
Once you’ve created a few good templates, the whole process becomes much easier.
When I find a product with a Creator Connections opportunity, I can use OINK to open the messaging center, select the appropriate template, customize what needs to be customized, and send the request. This will make your life infinitely easier as you scale.
Video: How to Set Up OINK Messaging Templates
If you have been nervous to start asking for products, this is for you. I recorded a complete walkthrough showing exactly how I create my OINK messaging templates, what I put in them, and how I use them to contact brands.
Want to Try OINK?
You can check out OINK for Influencers here. Use code “Barb” for 10% off monthly.
https://oinkforinfluencers.com/extension/?via=barb
Disclosure: This is my affiliate link. I may earn a commission if you sign up through my link, at no additional cost to you.
Read: Q: How Do I Message Brands for Free Products?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I message a brand for free products?
Keep it useful AND short. Introduce yourself, tell them what kind of content you create, and show them where they can see your work.
What should I include in a message to a brand?
I also make it very clear which product I’m interested in by including the ASIN or product URL. Make it easy for them to understand who you are, what you’re asking for, and what they could potentially get in return.
Can a new Amazon Influencer ask brands for free products?
Everyone starts somewhere. I started asking for products the minute I turned Bronze and I got quite a few of them. Look at smaller brands in Creator Connections.
Why use message templates for brand outreach?
Instead of sitting down every time you find a product and thinking, Okay...what do I say to this brand?, you can build a solid base message once and then customize it. By changing 1-2 sentences you won’t come off sounding like you are mass messaging brands.
Struggling with trying to figure out the Amazon Influencer Program? After reading this guide, you'll know what to film next and have a manageable plan for getting to your first 100 videos.
About Barb | Founder of Storefront Launch
Barb was working with brands before “content creator” was a job title.
Back in 2008, she helped develop branded Twitter parties: live, hashtag-based conversations that brought companies and consumers together. She helped turn those conversations into something brands could buy, then spent years pitching campaigns, recruiting paid bloggers, organizing events, and teaching other women how to use social media for business.
She was part of the original wave of “mommy bloggers” (because apparently women building successful online businesses needed a cute little nickname). Her work included brand ambassador roles with Disney, Kraft, Verizon, and GMC.
Today, Barb brings that experience—and a master’s degree in education—to Storefront Launch. She helps women make sense of Amazon Influencer, Walmart Creator, and affiliate marketing, with practical ways to earn from the content they’re already creating. Less hype. More “okay, here’s how you actually do it.” Because, to loosely quote Lin-Manuel Miranda, she was “in the room where it happen(ed).”
