10 YouTube Sponsorships to get inspiration from (with examples)
In the current creator economy, sponsorships are one of the most common ways for YouTubers to monetize their YouTube channel, and for brands to advertise their products.
In this article, you'll see a few examples of YouTube sponsorships in different types of videos, you will learn how these sponsorships work, what are their advantages, and what are the best sponsorship opportunities for creators and brands.
Understanding Sponsored Videos
Definition of Sponsorships on YouTube
YouTube sponsorships are a paid partnership between YouTubers and brands. The sponsoring brand pays the content creator, and they bring promotional exposure on their platform, providing brand awareness, sales, and a better reputation to the brand. Unlike traditional advertisements, good sponsorships are well integrated in the online video, where the brand deal is aligned with the content creator's niche and branding.
Note: Be careful to not confuse sponsorships and with affiliate campaigns. Creators that use an affiliate link in their videos are not necessarily sponsored by the brand. This is because most of the time, anyone can sign up to a brand's affiliate program and will only receive commissions for every purchase, but will not be remunerated just for talking about the brand.
For example, NordVPN has an affiliate program, but also a program for YouTube sponsored videos and other kinds of social media content.
Some affiliate sponsorships also exist, where a creator is sponsored by the brand, but also has an affiliate link that gives them commissions.
Benefits of YouTube Sponsored Videos
For YouTubers:
Additional Revenue Stream:
You don't necessarily have to be a big YouTuber already to get a sponsorship. It's a great way to get your channel kickstarted as your sponsors pay for your video(s) with CPMs that can be higher than what YouTube provides. This allows you to invest in your content quality and production value earlier than if you had only relied on Adsense's YouTube ad revenue.
Resource Access:
Sponsored content often comes with free access to products or services that the sponsor is trying to promote. Creators can get easy access to these within the brand deal. Another less obvious advantage is expanding your knowledge and network because getting in touch with a brand's media buyer can help you grow your business by by getting more insider knowledge about the brands in your niche or other creators.
You don't necessarily have to be a big YouTuber already to get a sponsorship. It's a great way to get your channel kickstarted as your sponsors pay for your video(s) with CPMs that can be higher than what YouTube provides. This allows you to invest in your content quality and production value earlier than if you had only relied on Adsense's YouTube ad revenue.
Resource Access:
Sponsored content often comes with free access to products or services that the sponsor is trying to promote. Creators can get easy access to these within the brand deal. Another less obvious advantage is expanding your knowledge and network because getting in touch with a brand's media buyer can help you grow your business by by getting more insider knowledge about the brands in your niche or other creators.
Audience Engagement:
Creators can use a sponsored videos and branded content to their advantage by creating more original concepts that can help with engagement when done smoothly. While a lot of viewers might find advertisements a bit annoying, a good advertisement will make people curious, laugh and go "Oh, I see what you did there!", gaining more respect for the YouTuber and the brand as they wouldn't feel like their time is wasted by a generic sponsorship they've seen countless times.
Creators can use a sponsored videos and branded content to their advantage by creating more original concepts that can help with engagement when done smoothly. While a lot of viewers might find advertisements a bit annoying, a good advertisement will make people curious, laugh and go "Oh, I see what you did there!", gaining more respect for the YouTuber and the brand as they wouldn't feel like their time is wasted by a generic sponsorship they've seen countless times.
Credibility:
This especially applies to small channels that start making money on the platform: creating sponsored content makes the channel more credible in the eyes of other sponsors, creators, and viewers.
This especially applies to small channels that start making money on the platform: creating sponsored content makes the channel more credible in the eyes of other sponsors, creators, and viewers.
When sponsorships on YouTube videos are done well, not only other brands will discover your channel, but your current YouTube sponsors will also want to collaborate again, which creates even more trust and credibility and is a virtuous cycle. Long-term partnerships are also an amazing and stable way to monetize YouTube channels.
For Brands:
Targeted Exposure:
With this type of influencer marketing, brands automatically get direct access to the audience that matches the YouTuber's viewers. The potential sponsors will want to look for creators that align with their customer base or ICP (Ideal Customer Profile) in order to get higher engagement rates and sales.
With this type of influencer marketing, brands automatically get direct access to the audience that matches the YouTuber's viewers. The potential sponsors will want to look for creators that align with their customer base or ICP (Ideal Customer Profile) in order to get higher engagement rates and sales.
Authentic Promotion:
Viewers often already have a sort of familiarity with the YouTuber, so a paid sponsorship can feel more organic and credible, which can come off as a lot more genuine compared to a traditional ad because of this parasocial relationship.
Viewers often already have a sort of familiarity with the YouTuber, so a paid sponsorship can feel more organic and credible, which can come off as a lot more genuine compared to a traditional ad because of this parasocial relationship.
Influence Leverage:
Sponsoring influencers with good reputation and an engaged audience can also significantly boost the brand reputation within communities that watch their videos as well, earning more credibility in the process.
Sponsoring influencers with good reputation and an engaged audience can also significantly boost the brand reputation within communities that watch their videos as well, earning more credibility in the process.
Creative Marketing:
YouTubers are able to showcase the products in creative ways with their authenticity and their personal brand. Brands will need to look for media buyers who know about YouTube, who know what makes a great video and who know their audience very well.
YouTubers are able to showcase the products in creative ways with their authenticity and their personal brand. Brands will need to look for media buyers who know about YouTube, who know what makes a great video and who know their audience very well.
Giving the creators some freedom to experiment while still creating a sponsored segment that resonates with your branding can be an interesting option to consider.
In the next part of the article, I will be introducing various types of youtube sponsorships, with tips and examples on how to seamlessly integrate sponsors into your YouTube content.
In the next part of the article, I will be introducing various types of youtube sponsorships, with tips and examples on how to seamlessly integrate sponsors into your YouTube content.
Types of YouTube Sponsorships (common video examples)
Unboxing Videos
Unboxing videos are sponsored YouTube content where creators open and explore new products on camera, offering viewers a vicarious experience of discovery while promoting the sponsoring brand's items.
This video from the creator The Tech Chap was sponsored by Insta360, and goes through what is inside the product, how to start the product and a thorough walkthrough of the sponsored product. Unboxing videos are one of the easiest product sponsorships you can do and the entire video can be sponsored.
Tutorials and How-To Videos
Sponsored tutorials and how-to videos involve integrating a brand's product or service into instructional content. This approach allows creators to showcase the product's practical applications while providing value to their audience.
This is an example from Blender Guru, a creator that makes content around the 3D software Blender. You might have heard about the infamous donut tutorial series made by him. In this tutorial video where he shows his viewers how to make a quick photorealistic interior design on Blender, he uses the service Poliigon to help him get quick access to different add-on tools through his creative process, and is also sponsored by Poliigon.
Giveaways and Contests
Giveaways and contests that are sponsored partners up creators with brands to offer prizes to viewers in exchange for engagement, often requiring participants to perform specific actions to enter like sharing content on social media, thereby promoting both the creator's channel and the sponsor's products or services.
In this video, the brand Hellcase is sponsoring the creator KennyS, where he announces a giveaway of the products of the brand. He puts media links in video descriptions to direct his viewers to participate in giveaways, which provides a list of leads (potential clients) to the brand.
Day-in-the-Life Videos
A "Day in the Life" video, often referred to as a vlog (video blog), is a popular format on YouTube where content creators document and share their daily activities, routines, and experiences with their audience. These videos attract audience with an intimate angle at the creator's life.
Here, creator Juicystar07 talks about her daily routine after her 8-5 work. She introduces her work outfit and her lounge/workout outfit which are both products from the brand sponsoring the video, Halara. She manages to integrate the products into her everyday routine, gaining trust from her viewers on the satisfaction that she gets out of these products on a daily basis.
Product Placements in Skits or Comedy Videos
Product placements in skits or comedy videos for YouTube sponsorship involve creatively and humorously incorporating branded products or services into scripted, comedic scenarios to promote them while entertaining viewers.
In this video from PICKGO, a South-Korean entertainment company that makes "web dramas", aka short reality skits on YouTube, tell a story of a person who is very dependent on her surroundings. The video is sponsored by Zinus, a mattress brand that advertises their product as easy to set up. At the end of the video, the main character has a character development and slowly starts to act independent, starting with setting up the sponsored product by herself.
Travel Vlogs
Travel content for sponsored YouTube videos introduce exciting and out of the ordinary destinations, experiences, or outdoor activities while incorporating a brand's products or services as essential elements of the journey.
Here is a video made by content creator TDR Explorer, where he travels to Disneyland Tokyo. The sponsored brand, Klook is a booking platform to help tourists get a better experience out of their travels. TDF Explorer has booked his tickets to the theme park using the sponsorship to get good deals, and this shows the utility of the service to his audience, who are probably viewers who are interested in traveling.
Cooking Shows
Cooking content for sponsored YouTube videos demonstrates recipes, techniques, or culinary tips while seamlessly integrating a brand's products or services into the cooking process.
In this video content made by the creator Cheap Lazy Vegan, she used products from her sponsor Thrive Market to make her recipes. While sharing her recipes to be more creative with vegan diet, she also compliments this with products from her sponsorship deal to show how efficient their service and product are.
Educational Content
Educational content for sponsored YouTube videos concisely presents valuable information or skills while incorporating a brand's message or product in a relevant and engaging manner.
Ali Abdaal, a creator in the self help niche, made this video informing his audience about dopamine and how to control it. The sponsor for this video is Rize, a software that helps you track productivity and keep one's focus. He implements the app as a great tool to help people with controlling dopamine.
Fitness and Health Videos
Creators in the health niche demonstrate workouts, share wellness tips, or review health products, often incorporating sponsored fitness equipment, supplements, or wellness apps to provide value to viewers while promoting partner brands.
Here, creator Jenn Im shows what she eats and does for workout for a week. The sponsored product, a fitness app called Trainwell is well shown throughout her fitness journey. She shows what kind of features of the app helps her have a healthier lifestyle.
Feature in Music Videos
Music videos with product placement are artistic promotional content that subtly integrate sponsored products or brands into the visual narrative, combining entertainment with advertising to reach the artist's audience on YouTube. But they can also be less discrete by being an open collaboration between the artist(s) and the brand.
In this music video from the K-pop idol group New Jeans, they collaborated with the brand Coca-Cola to promote their product Coca-Cola Zero, hence the song name being 'Zero'. We see the drink throughout the whole video, and even in the lyrics.
In this music video from the K-pop idol group New Jeans, they collaborated with the brand Coca-Cola to promote their product Coca-Cola Zero, hence the song name being 'Zero'. We see the drink throughout the whole video, and even in the lyrics.
Approaching YouTube Sponsors & Tips for YouTubers
Tips for Reaching Out to Brands
When approaching brands for sponsorships on YouTube, crafting a compelling sponsorship proposal is crucial. Start by thoroughly researching the brand to understand their values, target audience, and current marketing strategies. Personalize your proposal to highlight how your content aligns with their goals and can benefit their marketing efforts. Clearly outline your channel's demographics, engagement rates, and unique selling points. Also, think about including specific ideas for integrating their product / service into your content in a way that feels authentic and valuable to your audience. Provide concrete data on your channel's performance, such as view counts, subscriber growth, and audience retention rates. Be professional in your communication, and consider creating a media kit that showcases your best work and channel statistics. Remember to be clear about what you're offering and what you expect in return, but remain open to negotiation.
To find brands, you can for example use our pro tool that constantly looks for brands sponsoring creators on YouTube and shows you which creators they sponsor.
The importance of building and maintaining relationships with sponsors cannot be overstated. Long-term partnerships can provide stability for your channel and often lead to more lucrative opportunities. To foster these relationships, consistently deliver high-quality content that meets or exceeds the agreed-upon terms. Be proactive in communicating with your sponsors, providing regular updates on campaign performance and audience feedback. Show genuine interest in their brand by staying informed about their latest products or initiatives.
You can overdeliver by offering additional value, such as sharing insights about your audience or suggesting new collaboration ideas. Be reliable, meet deadlines and respond promptly to communications. Remember that trust and mutual benefit are the foundations of long-lasting partnerships. By demonstrating professionalism, creativity, and a commitment to their brand's success, you'll position yourself as a valuable long-term partner rather than just a one-time collaborator.
How much should I charge for a YouTube sponsorship?
Sponsorship prices depend on multiple factors
- Channel Size: Subscriber count and average views per video.
- Audience Demographics: Viewer age, location, income, and interests, which can be found in YouTube studio.
- Engagement Rate: Like-to-view ratio, comment-to-view ratio and overall audience interaction.
- Content Niche: Some topics are more valuable to advertisers than others since some fields like finance or real estate can provide higher returns on investments to sponsors.
- Video Length: Longer videos may command higher rates for extended sponsorship segments.
- Sponsorship Placement: Pricing varies for pre-roll, mid-roll, or end-of-video placement. The sponsorship will be a bit more expensive if there are multiple ad placements.
- Exclusivity: Whether the creator can work with competing brands simultaneously.
- Integration Type: How the sponsorship is presented (dedicated video, brief mention, etc.).
- Creator's Reputation: Past performance with sponsorships and overall brand image of the YouTuber.
- Seasonality: Rates may increase during peak shopping seasons or holidays.
- Campaign Duration: Longer-term partnerships may offer different rates than one-off sponsorships. Since a multi-video campaign provides safer and more predictable revenue for the creator, the price per video sponsored can be a bit cheaper for the brand.
- Production Quality: Higher production value may justify higher rates since the brand will be perceived as more qualitative because of the Halo effect.
- Geographic Location: Creators in certain countries or regions may command different prices, for example, the United States and other first world countries have higher rates than developing nations for example.
- Market Demand: Competition for influencer partnerships in the creator's niche.
We know that all of this can seem like A LOT and be too overwhelming to calculate, so we built a free and easy-to-use YouTube sponsorship calculator that allows you to get a complete estimate of how much you can charge as a creator in less than 100 seconds!
Closing off on getting sponsored on YouTube
I hope that these sponsorship tips gave you some interesting ideas to grow your creator business with paid sponsorships. From product reviews and unboxing videos to challenge videos, the opportunities on YouTube are endless. If you manage to use sponsorships to your advantage on your content, you not only get a more entertaining experience for your audience but also build an interesting video portfolio for potential YouTube sponsors in the future, and keep valuable relationships with brands that you work with.
If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level with sponsorships, you can discover a huge database of information about brands, creators and sponsorships on our site. ✨
Tips for brands looking for a YouTuber to sponsor
Why sponsorships can help you grow your business
YouTube sponsorships offer brands a direct path to engaged, targeted audiences. By partnering with youtube creators, you can leverage their influence to boost brand awareness and credibility. This approach integrates your message into content viewers already trust and enjoy, potentially leading to higher conversion rates than traditional advertising. Sponsorships can be a cost-effective way to reach new customers and drive growth to your business.
How much should sponsors pay for a brand deal
Depending on the channel you want to sponsor, your niche, and dozens of other factors, the price of the sponsorship will vary, so we recommend using a YouTube sponsorship calculator to get a better idea of how much sponsoring a channel would cost you. We built a free calculator that you can get access by clicking here!
How to find YouTube channels to sponsors
If you want to find YouTube channel to sponsor, you can discover a huge database of information about hundreds of thousands of creators on our platform. ✨
Alexandru Golovatenco
Founder of Sponsorship