Planning, prepping, and dreaming are all important but at some point, you have to take action. If you don’t hit send, you’ll never know what could have happened. And remember: never asking is always a no.
Make Sure You Have the Right Contacts
Before you hit send, double-check that your pitch is going to the person who can actually make decisions. Here are some ways to make sure:
Check the Brand Website
Look for “Partnerships”, “PR”, or “Contact Us” pages on the brand’s website. Often the right email is listed there. Avoid sending emails to the generic customer service inbox since these are often automated.
Ask via DM
We briefly mentioned this in week 2 but reaching out via DM can be a great way to get the right contact since brands are actively on social media.
Example: “Hi [brand], I love [specific product or detail about their brand]. As a [niche – pet lifestyle] creator, I’d love to explore how we could collaborate. Could you point me to the best email for potential partnerships?”
You’re not sending your full pitch via DM, just asking for the correct email.
Side note: you may get a ‘no’ after sending your DM. That’s totally normal and part of the process.
LinkedIn Search
Use a Third Party Pitching Platform
Platforms like Bento simplify pitching and organizing outreach. Instead of manually digging for emails and forgetting follow-ups, Bento helps you manage everything in one place.
Bento’s brand database includes helpful insights such as whether they’re currently working with creators, follower count, and direct email contacts. You can access the search feature even with the free plan.
If you see yourself pitching long term and want the added structure/tools, here’s my in-depth review of Bento’s free plan.
Send Your Pitch
Now that you’ve double-checked your contacts, you’re ready to start putting the pieces together.
Using your research and draft pitch template from last week, personalize the messaging with a focus on the value you can provide. Reminder, the goal of the pitch isn’t to explain everything – it’s to start the conversation.
Here are a few quick tips before you hit send:
- Send on weekdays: Aim for Monday – Thursday when most people check their work emails
- Send during work hours: Mid-morning to mid–afternoon (9AM – 3PM local time for the brand) is usually best
- Don’t overthink it: Done is better than perfect, keep it simple and hit send.
Track Your Outreach
If you just sent out your first pitch, congratulations! 
You did the hardest part but there’s still more to do.
Tracking your outreach is what keeps you organized and helps you know when it’s time to follow up. A few simple ways to track your pitches include:
- Spreadsheet: Set up columns for brand name, contact name/email, date sent, response within 5 days, and notes
- Notebook: Keep a running list on paper with dates and short notes about replies
- Platform: If you choose to use Bento (or a similar tool), it will track your metrics for you
You’ll be using this information next week to follow up with brands you haven’t heard back from. Having to follow up is a normal part of the pitching process, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back from brands after your initial pitch.
Week Three Challenge: Send Your Pitch
Here’s a simple framework to make this week feel manageable:
- Choose 2 to 3 brands from your list each day
- Personalize your draft pitch (review last week’s template)
- Send your email! Don’t overthink it! Done is better than perfect.
- Track your outreach in a simple spreadsheet or notebook.
- Celebrate the fact that you’ve officially sent your pitch!
What You’ll Gain This Week
By the end of Week 3, you’ll have:
Sent out at least one pitch (or more if you’re ready!) Learned how to double-check your brand contacts. Set up a simple system to track your outreach and responses
This week is all about taking action! Even if you only send one pitch, you’re further along than you were last week. Small, consistent actions are what lead to opportunities.
Final Thoughts
Now you have a real pitch out in the world, a system in place to track your outreach, and the confidence that comes from taking action.
At this point you might be thinking, what now? In the final week of my September Holiday UGC Pitching Challenge, we’ll dive into how to follow up when there’s no response and what to do with the typical replies you’ll receive from brands.
For now, take some time to reflect on your non-negotiable, your base rate, and the types of partnerships that feel like a good fit for you. These will help guide your next steps as you start building relationships with brands that respond.
Want extra support? Join the Instagram channel where I regularly check-in and answer your pitching questions in real time.
