Alright, let’s talk about one of the most overlooked (but wildly profitable) ways to monetize your audience: sponsored emails.
Yes, you read that right. Brands aren’t just throwing money at Instagram posts and TikTok videos—they’re also willing to pay for a prime spot in your email newsletter. And if you’re not pitching them yet, you’re leaving money on the table.
Let’s fix that, shall we?
Here’s how to pitch brands for sponsored emails like a pro—and actually get paid for it.
Step 1: Understand Why Brands Want Your Email List
Before you can convince a brand to sponsor your email, you need to understand why they’d want to.
Here’s the thing: social media is great, but it’s noisy (and those algorithm changes? Brutal). Email, on the other hand, goes straight to the inbox—no fighting for attention, no hoping the algorithm blesses your post.
Brands LOVE this because:
✔ Email marketing converts 3x higher than social media (Source: Campaign Monitor).
✔ Your list is highly engaged—people signed up because they want to hear from you.
✔ It’s a trusted space—subscribers feel a stronger connection to emails vs. a random IG ad.
If you have an audience that’s actively opening your emails, clicking your links, and engaging with your content, you have something valuable to offer.
Step 2: Build Your Media Kit (With Email-Specific Data!)
Brands don’t just want to know your Instagram following—they want to see the hard data on your email list.
Create a media kit (or a one-sheet pitch deck) that includes:
✔ Your total number of email subscribers
✔ Your average open rate (anything above 30% is 🔥)
✔ Your click-through rate (CTR)—how many people click on your links
✔ Audience demographics (age, location, interests—who are these people?)
✔ Past brand collaborations (if applicable)
✔ Pricing options for email placements
💡 Pro Tip: If you don’t have crazy-high numbers yet, focus on engagement rates over list size. A small but highly engaged audience is way more valuable than a massive list of people who never open your emails.
Step 3: Find the Right Brands to Pitch
Not every brand is the right fit for your email list. You want brands that align with your audience’s interests and actually make sense in your emails.
Here’s where to start:
Look at brands you already work with—If they’ve paid for an IG post, they might be open to email sponsorships.
Check your DMs—Any brands already reaching out for collabs? Pitch them a bigger opportunity!
Think about what your audience loves—What products do you talk about often? What brands would your subscribers be thrilled to hear about?
See what other influencers are doing—If you see a competitor or fellow creator featuring a brand in their newsletter, that brand already invests in email sponsorships.
Step 4: Craft a Killer Pitch Email
Alright, it’s go-time. You’ve found a brand you want to work with—now it’s time to pitch them and make it impossible for them to say no.
Sample Pitch Email Template:
Subject Line: Get your brand in front of [Your Audience Type]
Hi [Brand Contact Name],
I’m [Your Name], a [your niche] influencer with an email list full of engaged [your audience type—e.g., “beauty lovers looking for their next holy grail product” or “pet parents obsessed with spoiling their fur babies”].
I’d love to partner with [Brand Name] to feature your product in an upcoming email newsletter. My audience is [key audience insight—e.g., “highly engaged and actively looking for new [product type]”], and my emails have an average open rate of [your %] and click-through rate of [your %].
Would you be open to discussing how we can collaborate on a sponsored placement? I’d be happy to share more details and my media kit if you’re interested.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Info]
💡 Pro Tip: Keep it short and clear—brands don’t have time to read a novel. If they’re interested, they’ll ask for more info.
Step 5: Set Your Pricing (And Don’t Undersell Yourself!)
Now, the big question:
How much do you charge for a sponsored email?
Here’s a general pricing guide:
✔ $100-$500 per email for small lists (under 5,000 subscribers).
✔ $500-$2,000 per email for medium lists (5,000-50,000 subscribers).
✔ $2,000+ per email for large lists (50,000+ subscribers with high engagement).
Factors that affect your pricing:
Engagement rate (higher = more $$$)
Your niche (finance & health typically charge more than lifestyle)
Ad placement (solo email = higher rate; featured in a roundup = lower rate)
Don’t sell yourself short! If a brand is willing to pay hundreds (or thousands) of dollars for an IG post, they should absolutely be paying for access to your email list.
Step 6: Deliver & Overdeliver
You got the deal—yay! Now, make it worth their while so they want to work with you again.
✔ Write a high-converting email—Make sure your copy is engaging, fun, and makes your audience excited about the brand.
✔ Include clear CTAs—Tell your subscribers exactly what to do next (click, shop, sign up, etc.).
✔ Share performance results—Send the brand a recap: open rates, click-throughs, and any feedback you got from your audience.
If you knock it out of the park, brands will come back for more sponsored emails—which means more $$$ for you.
Now Get That Email Money!
If you’re already sending out emails, why not get paid for it? Sponsored emails are an amazing way to monetize your list without pushing your audience into endless hard sells.
Remember:
✔ Brands love direct, engaged audiences—aka, your email list.
✔ Your media kit should highlight your email stats.
✔ Only pitch brands that align with your audience’s interests.
✔ Price confidently—your list is valuable!
✔ Overdeliver so brands want to work with you again and again.
Now start pitching and secure that sponsored email!
