{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Why Engagement Beats Followers (And How We Land Brand Deals Without Huge Audiences)","description":"Let\u2019s be honest: if you\u2019ve ever found yourself saying, \u201cI\u2019ll pitch brands when I have more followers,\u201d this episode is for you. We\u2019ve both been there ...scrolling TikTok, watching creators with 100K+ audiences do paid partnerships and wondering when (or if) we\u2019d ever be \u201cbig enough.\u201d But here\u2019s the truth no one told us early on: follower count is not the metric that gets you paid. Brands don\u2019t care how many people COULD see your content, they care how many actually do. That\u2019s where engagement rate comes in...and it's the single most important metric you\u2019re probably not tracking yet. In this episode, we\u2019re breaking down exactly what engagement rate is, how to calculate it (don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ve got tools for that), and why it matters more than your follower count ever will. Because spoiler alert: we landed our first paid brand deals with just 40K followers \u2014 and we could have done it way sooner. We talk candidly about how we underestimated our own influence as EDUcreators, why micro creators actually hold more power in brand partnerships, and how engagement is the clearest indicator that your audience trusts you. And trust? That\u2019s what brands are paying for. If you\u2019ve ever wondered when you\u2019ll be \u201cready\u201d to monetize \u2014 this is your wake-up call. You don\u2019t need a huge audience.  You need a hot one. And in this episode, we show you how to measure it, prove it, and start using it to get paid.   Topics covered on engagement rates and brand deals for micro creators: What engagement rate actually means \u2014 and how to calculate it (without the math headache) Why brands care about actions, not audience size The tool Kate uses to automatically track & update her media kit (hint: it\u2019s not Linktree) How micro creators are outperforming mega creators in ROI What brands are really looking for in paid collabs (and how to position yourself) Why being a real, human creator boosts your engagement \u2014 and your bank account The one mindset shift you need to make to stop waiting and start monetizing Real Talk Challenge for This Week: Go calculate your engagement rate (use a tool like Beacons or do it manually using total engagements \u00f7 views \u00d7 100) Write down 3 dream brands you\u2019d love to work with \u2014 and ask yourself how you\u2019re already serving the same audience they are Start responding to every comment \u2014 build the community you want brands to see   You might have become accidentally influential\u2026 But what you do with it now? That part is intentional.    Resources Mentioned: Tailor Brands - Legitimize your business & start your LLC today! Beacons \u2014 real-time media kit + engagement tracker   More about Accidentally Influential: Accidentally Influential is the no-fluff podcast for educators, experts, and content creators who never set out to become influencers \u2014 but did anyways. Hosted by T and Kate, two edu-creators turned brand deal pros, we\u2019re pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to monetize your content, partner with brands you actually love, and build a business with the knowledge you already have. With over 500,000 followers between us and $500K+ in paid brand partnerships, we\u2019re here to make sure you stop leaving money on the table. Expect unfiltered convos about pitching, pricing, usage rights, UGC, and the mindset shift it takes to stop being \u201cjust helpful\u201d \u2014 and start being paid. Because you may have become accidentally influential\u2026 but what you do with it now? That part is intentional.  @notaninfluencerco on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube   ","author_name":"Accidentally Influential","author_url":"https:\/\/sites.libsyn.com\/596400","html":"